After dedicating a decade to the organization in a sales capacity, the board of directors at Florida Business Development Corporation (FBDC) deemed it imperative to usher in new leadership to address the pressing need for cultural transformation, and that leader was Bill Habermeyer. His first task was to embark on a comprehensive overhaul, revamping operations across the board.
As a result, FBDC is now positioned as a prominent figure in the national landscape of small business administration lending. FBDC is a small business administration lender with a mission to fund affordable small business growth by providing superior access to the SBA 504 loan program.
Habermeyer spearheaded FBDCs expansion into the Tampa Bay market, swiftly establishing it as the foremost SBA 504 lender within just two years. During his tenure as chief executive officer, FBDC consistently ranked among the top two nationwide for the past five years.
Throughout this period, the companys impact in Florida, Georgia and Alabama exceeded $4.2 billion. Concurrently, FBDCs portfolio surged from $881 million to $1.25 billion. Habermeyers leadership extends beyond FBDC, as he was elected to the National Association of Development Companys board of directors three years ago and is now serving as the co-chair of the regulatory committee.
Looking forward, Habermeyer said his goal is to continue fostering a diverse and highly skilled workforce, nurturing a culture of creativity and collaboration. Through strong leadership and tailored talent development initiatives, our team will emerge as industry frontrunners, adept at navigating challenges and seizing opportunities, he said.
In the financial services realm, the spotlight often shines intensely on the bottom line, said his staff. Bill stands out for his steadfast dedication to prioritizing the well-being of our employees and customers above all else, they said. Guided by this principle, he is propelled by the belief that fostering a supportive environment for our team members ultimately enhances our capacity to serve customers effectively.
According to Habermeyer, his greatest achievement is that under his guidance, FBDC has retained all employees due to the solidified and authentic culture he has cultivated. No matter who you are, where you’re from, or what your job is, I believe everyone deserves respect and to be heard, he said. I value all people equally. My secret superpower is the ability to genuinely connect and build relationships with anyone.
