Community Leader

A MAN

WITH A PLAN

BY LIESEL SCHMIDT RR eality looks a whole lot different for Shane Purvis than he imagined it would, back when he was in college at Southeastern. In fact, the young college student had no intention of a career in finance—the only reason he was pursuing anything related to the big bad world of finance was because he wanted to be well-rounded and knowledgeable about business, for the sole purpose of owning his own music store.

But just as video killed the radio star, the internet brought about the imminent demise of music stores. Luckily for Purvis, his dream shifted before it even took off. “I had a chance opportunity to begin working as a part-time teller in 2008 while I was in school and had a string of great managers and mentors who inspired me,” says Purvis, who is now Vice President, SBA Lending Program Lead at Fidelity

Bank. “I find myself in this industry for a decade-and-a-half and have a hard time imagining what it would be like doing anything else. I’ve done everything from working as a teller to a consumer lender to a learning and development specialist and business banker, and I’ve had great fun along the way. All of those experiences have helped give me the tools to be successful in my current position.”

That current position entails managing Fidelity Bank’s Small

Business Association (SBA) Loan Portfolio and assisting lenders with preparing files for submission for approval. “In a nutshell,

I’m the go-to person for all things SBA at Fidelity Bank,” Purvis explains. “I enjoy helping people, both co-workers and clients alike.

The satisfaction of being able to use my expertise to help a client get access to the capital they need to grow and to show other lenders how to replicate that success is very rewarding.”

The processes involved in his work are, of course, where Purvis shines—and where he proves his greatest value to his clients. “The loan process varies based on purpose, size, and complexity of the business’s operations,” he says. “But to achieve the best chance at success, I recommend that my lenders speak with me early on in their discussions with a borrower or invite me along to the meeting.

If we’re able to cover a lot of detail on the front end of a client making a request, we’re able to gather much of what’s needed early on, lay out a plan, and make the process quick and efficient.

When a lender and borrower work together to get everything they need at the beginning, requests can be turned around very quickly.”

As with any job—and especially one in finance—there are challenges. “The SBA’s guidelines are ever-evolving, and borrowers’ needs are as numerous as they are unique,” Purvis notes. “Staying on top of current requirements while trying to manage a portfolio that has a lot of loans originating under different sets of rules is probably the hardest part of what I do.”

At the end of the day, however, Purvis takes great satisfaction in arriving at an outcome that meets the needs of everyone involved. “I feel the most accomplished when I’m able to look at all the complex issues I’ve solved along with my team and also see all the jobs we’re helping small business owners create by virtue of the funding we provide. “Knowing I had a direct hand in the impact it plays in my community is huge.”

Born and raised in Slidell, Purvis moved to Mandeville with his wife in 2017. As a longtime resident of the area, as well as a husband and now father of a two-year-old daughter, community is important to Purvis. He volunteers with the Small Business Council at the St. Tammany Chamber and with the Southeastern Louisiana University Alumni Association, where he serves as treasurer. “My mother was a teacher, and my father owns a finance company in Slidell, so one of my biggest passions is giving back by teaching financial literacy to small business owners in the area,” he says. “I’ve participated in many roundtables and peer-to-peer groups put on by the Chamber, Small Business Development Center, and SBA.

“I’ve also had several mentors ‘pay it forward’ for me, which is why I’ve gotten actively involved in the SLU Alumni Association,” he goes on. “Helping provide information and resources to the many alumni of Southeastern is a big deal to me, whether it’s professional, career, or business advice.”

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