Lisa Forrest is a seasoned banking professional with over 35 years of experience, currently serving as the Head of Live Oak Bank’s self-funded search lending vertical. Renowned for her expertise in SBA and Conventional lending products tailored to the unique needs of SMBs in the lower middle market, she specializes in guiding searchers and SMB acquirers through transactions of up to $15M in enterprise value. Widely recognized as a national go-to resource for her proficiency in SBA, LMM, M&A deal structuring, Lisa previously held key sales management/business development roles at Banc of California, Union Bank, Fortune Bank, and played a pivotal role in establishing Wells Fargo's SBA sales presence in the Pacific Northwest/Alaska. Her diverse experience includes serving as the COO for The Money Store/First Union.

Lisa, a graduate with a BS in finance and economics and an MBA from California State University, Sacramento, is a sought-after speaker and panel moderator at ETA conferences. She is also a frequent guest on search/SMB industry podcasts and other M&A/ETA association events. Lisa is dedicated to mentoring the military veteran/SMB/search fund community and brings her passion for golf, outdoor activities, and love for dogs into both her professional and personal pursuits.