Cole Taylor Business Capital (CTBC), a division of Cole Taylor Bank, announced the opening of a new regional sales office in Walnut Creek, California and the addition of a business development officer in Chicago. The Walnut Creek office will serve the Northern California and Nevada area markets and will be headed by T. James Giordano, an experienced corporate finance professional. Industry veteran Joseph J. Fobbe will be based at Cole Taylor’s downtown Chicago office. Both join the firm as senior vice presidents.

Giordano comes to CTBC from Union Bank of California, where he was a Vice President - Business Development Officer responsible for originating new middle market Commercial Banking and Asset Based Lending relationships in Northern California.  His career in corporate finance spans more than 30 years and includes positions at Bank of America Business Capital, LaSalle Business Credit, Guaranty Business Credit, and GE Capital.  He is a member of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), Turnaround Management Association (TMA), and Commercial Finance Association (CFA).  He is also a former board member of the San Francisco ACG and past president of the Northern California CFA.  He is a graduate of San Diego State University. 

Fobbe brings more than 20 years of banking and specialty lending experience to CTBC, most recently with Regions Business Capital, where he was Managing Director of Originations, focused on both leveraged cash flow and asset-based transactions for financial sponsors and middle market companies.  He has been in management roles with CIT, PNC Business Credit, and U.S. Bank. He is a trustee and past president of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the TMA, and has served on its International Board.  Fobbe is also an active member of both ACG and CFA.  He is a graduate of the Herberger Business School at St. Cloud State University and holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.

Commenting on the announcement, Mike Sharkey, President of CTBC said, “I’m elated to welcome Jim and Joe to Cole Taylor Business Capital. Both are well respected professionals who will enhance our already successful national asset based lending business and further our mission to expand our presence across the United States to better serve our key partners, prospects, and customers.”