BHG Financial Leadership

Tyler Crawford is the President of BHG Financial. He is a seasoned executive with more than 15 years of experience in financial services, business building, product strategy, and business development. Since joining BHG Financial in 2012, Tyler has held numerous executive roles across the organization, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer, and now leads company strategies around enhancing customer value, expanding market reach, and optimizing business efficiencies.

His deep-rooted understanding of the lending industry has enabled BHG Financial to set records in origination, revenue, and income, forging multiple new products, partnerships, and business operations and development initiatives. These include BHG Financial's consumer lending program and credit card program, which have collectively served hundreds of thousands of customers and generated billions of dollars in revenue.

Tyler leads the company's strategic partnerships and investments and currently holds a board seat at a number of BHG Financial's portfolio companies. His expertise has been quoted in top tier publications, including Forbes and CBS News. Tyler earned a bachelor's degree from Gettysburg College.

Dan McSherry is the Chief Financial Officer for BHG Financial, overseeing the firm’s accounting and finance functions, capital markets activities, and growth and investments strategy. Since joining the company in 2013, he has served in management roles for analytics, reporting, and business intelligence before transitioning to CFO. Dan spends much of his time on securing financing for operations and loan distribution as well as the firm’s long-term growth strategy.

Prior to BHG Financial, Dan spent four years at Lockheed Martin Corporation and has significant experience in the financial services industry, having spent time with CIBC World Markets Inc., UBS Financial, and Charles Schwab & Co. He earned a MBA and bachelor’s degree in finance and economics, both from Syracuse University.

As Chief Revenue Officer at BHG Financial, Juan Carlos is responsible for guiding the company's growth strategy and developing innovative revenue programs that create longterm value for customers and the business.

With more than 20 years of experience in financial services, Juan Carlos has been a driving force behind many of the capabilities that have shaped BHG Financial into the industry leader it is today. He joined the organization in 2012 as Senior Vice President of Risk Management, followed by a tenure as Chief Credit Officer before taking on his current role. From developing the company’s first credit scoring model to building a best-in-class data and analytics function, he has consistently leveraged data, innovation, and strategic thinking to create solutions that strengthen the business and deliver meaningful results.

His career reflects a deep belief in continuous growth and perseverance. Early in his professional journey, Juan Carlos worked full-time while attending night classes to earn his bachelor’s degree in finance and management from Florida Atlantic University. The discipline and determination required to balance both responsibilities helped shape the leadership principles he carries today. His contributions to the industry have earned widespread recognition, including being named a 40 Under 40 honoree by the South Florida Business Journal.

While he is proud of the products, programs, and capabilities he has helped build, Juan Carlos considers his greatest accomplishment to be the people he has helped develop along the way. He is passionate about mentoring team members, fostering career growth, and cultivating a culture of excellence. He believes BHG Financial’s greatest competitive advantage is its people and takes immense pride in helping build what he considers one of the strongest teams in the country.

Zachariah Raus is President of the Lending Division at BHG Financial. He is a results-driven leader with over a decade of experience with growth and innovation in lending. Zachariah drives the organization's overall sales and client services strategy, overseeing the development and leadership of BHG Financial’s high-performing sales and customer service teams to deliver exceptional client satisfaction.

He first joined BHG Financial in 2012, establishing a solid foundation and building the health and wellness department, later transitioning into collections, patient lending, card services, and loan origination. His results led to rapid advancement and recognition, rising from sales manager to national sales manager, culminating in his current executive role.

Zachariah has established a highly successful organization with proven results – facilitating billions in business and personal loans. Recognized for his visionary leadership, genuine passion for developing top-tier talent, and extensive lending experience, he continues to be a driving force in BHG Financial's innovative strides and is a pivotal figure in propelling the lending industry forward.

Meghan Crawford-Hamlin is President of Financial Institutions at BHG Financial, where she leads business development, placement operations, bank marketing, national events, and regulatory relations. As a results-driven executive, she sets the strategic direction and drives execution for BHG Financial’s national bank platform while strengthening relationships across its partner network.

Since stepping into the role in 2020, Meghan has driven significant growth and expansion. In her second year, the organization achieved the highest single-year total of new bank partnerships in company history under her leadership, with nearly 40% of BHG Financial’s total network growth occurring during her tenure. She has facilitated the placement of more than $13 billion in assets across over 30% of banks nationwide. Under her leadership, the company has expanded its national footprint, strengthened regulatory alignment, and delivered sustained revenue growth.

Meghan joined BHG in 2015 and rapidly advanced through leadership roles, initially managing the firm’s largest institutional portfolio, which included hundreds of community banks. Her career spans sales, strategy, and client success at scale. Prior to BHG Financial, she served as a Director at The Fitch Group Company, where she was responsible for growth across its largest North American client portfolio. She began her career at IAC, a global media and internet holding company operating across 100+ countries.

In recognition of her leadership and industry impact, Meghan was named to the Central New York Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty in 2025. Meghan sits on the boards of Pathfinder Bank and Risk Management Solutions Group (RMSG), a regulatory advisory firm. She is an active member of the American Bankers Association and Independent Community Bankers of America and contributes to community leadership as a Woman of Impact Team Member for Go Red for Women. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University and lives in Skaneateles, New York, with her husband and their two young sons.

April Brissette is the Chief Risk Officer at BHG Financial. She is responsible for safeguarding BHG Financial’s interests and reputation by effectively managing and mitigating its business risks. In this role, she oversees Compliance, Fraud & Financial Crimes, BSA/AML, Quality Assurance, Model Risk Management, Internal Audit, and Special Projects. April has held various leadership roles throughout her 19+ year tenure with the company, including chief of staff to the CEO, president of Fund-Ex Solutions Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of BHG Financial, and chief credit officer of BHG Financial.

April currently serves as treasurer on the board of directors for David's Refuge, a nonprofit organization that supports parents and guardians of children with special needs or life-threatening medical conditions. April is a member of the 2020 class of Leadership Greater Syracuse, has won a Central New York 40 Under 40 Award, and was named "Outstanding Mentor" at the Central New York Business Journal's Successful Business Women Awards.

Matt Ondus is the Chief Compliance Officer at BHG Financial where he oversees the compliance, regulatory, and legal teams that maintain the day-to-day operations of the business. Matt focuses on managing consumer protection, financial service, and federal and state banking laws. An expert in consumer protection laws and regulations, Matt has nearly 40 years of senior-level financial regulatory experience working in the public and private sectors.

Prior to joining BHG Financial, Matt was a commissioned national bank examiner for the Office of the Comptroller of Currency. He also worked for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as the examiner in charge of overseeing two of the largest banks in the country. Matt then moved to the private sector as a director for Promontory Financial Group. He is a member of the Alabama State Bar and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. He is a member of the Alabama State Bar, holding his Juris Doctor degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law.

Katie Barnes is the Chief Human Resources Officer at BHG Financial, where she leads the strategy and direction of the People Development department. As a key member of the executive leadership team, Katie plays a pivotal role in shaping BHG Financial’s dynamic workforce and fostering a high-performance culture that supports both business growth and employee success.

Under her leadership, BHG Financial has navigated rapid expansion while maintaining its core values and award-winning culture — recognized annually by Great Place to Work, Fortune, Inc., American Banker, and regional business journals. Katie has been instrumental in building a scalable HR infrastructure, driving initiatives in talent strategy, leadership development, total rewards, and organizational effectiveness. Her work has helped BHG Financial attract and retain top talent, support a successful transition to hybrid and remote work, and reinforce a culture of trust, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Katie earned a Bachelor of Science in Event and Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida. She is also a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR).

Thomas Davis is the Chief Placements Officer for BHG Financial. He oversees operations for the Funding team, which produces more than 65,000 borrower contracts annually. He also leads the Placements team, managing loan sale platforms and pricing strategies that serve more than 1,700 community banks nationwide, while overseeing collateral delivery for Capital Markets transactions.

Thomas began his career at BHG Financial as a Lead Analyst, providing insight into loan sale methodologies, auction trends, marketing initiatives, and banking industry dynamics. Prior to joining BHG Financial, he served as a Senior Analyst at National Grid within the PM&CC group. Before National Grid, Thomas spent a decade as Vice President of Sedgwick Capital Corporation, overseeing internal operations related to resort construction and timeshare receivables financing.

A veteran of the New York Air National Guard, Thomas holds a B.S. in Psychology from Le Moyne College.

Ed Durant is the Chief Credit Officer at BHG Financial, leading the Credit Risk Management and Risk Modeling teams. He oversees credit decisions on all BHG Financial personal and commercial loan products.

A vital member of BHG Financial since 2003, Ed was the Chief Financial Officer for more than 13 years, where he helped grow BHG Financial from less than $5 million in revenue in 2003 to nearly $216 million in revenue in 2018. He was also one of the main contributors in developing BHG Financial’s credit risk and pricing framework.

In 2018, Ed was named to Central New York’s 40 Under Forty list, recognizing leadership in the workplace and community. He also received an award from the Business Journal News Network recognizing private company CFOs. Ed earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Colgate University.

Sarah Turner is the Chief Legal Officer at BHG Financial, where she leads the company’s legal affairs across a wide range of areas, including regulatory compliance, contracts, corporate governance, labor and employment, capital markets, collections, and litigation.

As a strategic advisor to the Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team, Sarah provides guidance on managing legal risks while supporting key firmwide initiatives.

Sarah began her legal career in New York City as an associate in the Real Estate practice group at Mayer Brown. From there, she relocated to Rochester, NY and served as Counsel in the Securities and Capital Markets team at Harter Secrest & Emery. Sarah also spent nearly 15 years in various roles at Manning & Napier, including at the executive leadership level as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, before bringing her expertise to BHG Financial.

Sarah was recognized with the Rochester Business Journal’s Corporate Counsel Award. She earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law, where she also served as Notes & Articles Editor of the Fordham Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in political science, magna cum laude, from Allegheny College and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Fred Hamilton is the Chief Information Security Officer for BHG Financial. He is responsible for building and managing the Information Security Program that ensures the highest standards of cybersecurity and protects BHG Financial and its most vital assets – customer, partner, and company data. Fred's insights into risk communication enables him to identify and articulate complex security risks, providing strategic direction in security governance, compliance, identity management, security architecture, and security operations.

An information security leader with nearly 30 years of experience in the banking, government, retail, and fintech sectors, Fred worked for companies such as BankAtlantic, Assurant, and AutoNation prior to joining BHG Financial. He has served on multiple advisory boards for prominent security firms and has advised local industry groups.

John Henrie is the Chief Regulatory Relations Officer at BHG Financial. He plays a central role in navigating all regulatory matters, including reviews from various federal and state authorities. He also supports enterprise risk management programs and reporting. John joined BHG Financial in 2022 as senior vice president of regulatory relations, where he oversaw all business practices and ensured regulations are properly understood and satisfactorily met.

Before coming to BHG Financial, he spent more than 34 years with the FDIC, most recently serving as regional director of FDIC’s Atlanta Region, handling every aspect of their supervisory activities. This role included managing risk management and compliance programs, overseeing regulatory applications and notices, and coordinating informal and formal corrective programs for financial institutions with assets of up to $5 billion dollars. John also led bank regulators and banking industry efforts to identify and respond to emerging, complex banking matters, including challenges arising during the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robert Stacey is the Chief Analytics Officer at BHG Financial, leading the firm’s
modeling, analytics, and revenue strategies.

Mr. Stacey joined BHG Financial in 2018 with significant financial and modeling
experience, previously developing models for GE Capital and JP Morgan.

A visionary leader adept at leveraging data to inform strategic decisions, Mr. Stacey
spearheads many mission-critical BHG initiatives, including credit risk and margin
models, marketing selections and eligibility, lead routing, pricing, fraud strategy,
production analytics, and commission benchmarks.

Mr. Stacey graduated first in his class at both the University of Miami and Stanford
University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, and management
science followed by his master’s degree in management science with concentrations in
finance and economics.

Jim Martin leads BHG Financial’s technology vision as Chief Technology Officer, driving innovation, scalability, and strategic tech initiatives across the organization. Jim has more than 20 years of experience working in industries including banking, insurance, HCM (Human Capital Management), and customer care. Known for his visionary leadership and collaborative spirit, Jim has played a pivotal role in shaping BHG Financial’s tech strategy with clarity and creativity.

Prior to joining BHG Financial, Jim was the senior director of software engineering at UKG, where he led, developed, and supported software development teams within the organization. Before that, he led and supported teams in the innovation of new SaaSbased products and features at Nuance Communications. Jim earned an MBA from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Miami School of Business.

Danielle Walker is the Chief Operating Officer at BHG Financial. She oversees revenue operations, product vendor and third-party relationships, strategic partnerships, and shared services.

Danielle is responsible for delivering the company's annual revenue roadmap. She works closely with product and technology to implement strategic organizational changes. From data acquisition through visualization, she navigates business intelligence to ensure quality data is delivered to the company while conceptualizing new ways to expand BHG Financial's marketable universe.

Since joining BHG Financial in 2012, Danielle has been an integral figurehead within the company, gaining experience in all divisions, including reporting, analytics, data, marketing, and sales operations.

Danielle completed Stanford University's Executive Education Program and graduated from The University of Florida's Warrington College of Business with a bachelor's degree in finance and business administration. In 2023, the South Florida Business Journal named her to their Most Influential Business Women list. She is actively involved in various charities in her community including the Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army Angel Tree, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Paul Carlisle is the Chief Audit Executive (CAE) for BHG Financial where he provides independent, objective assurance and consulting services for BHG Financial's lines of business and departments. Paul is also responsible for managing the company’s internal audit program (i.e., the third line of defense).

Prior to his current role as CAE, Paul served as the President of Advisory Services for Risk Management Solutions Group (RMSG), a wholly owned subsidiary of BHG Financial, where he established client relationships through various business development initiatives and oversaw engagement execution for banks and fintechs of all sizes, providing them with regulatory and risk management guidance and support. Paul remains a Board Member and Senior Advisor for RMSG.

Before BHG Financial, Paul held various high-level roles in the finance industry, serving as a CFPB compliance examiner, FDIC safety and soundness examiner, compliance officer with USAA, and a consultant with Grant Thornton and Promontory Financial Group.

Hugh Queener is the Executive Vice President of Strategic & Risk at BHG Financial. Hugh was previously Chief Administrative Officer of Pinnacle Bank and Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. in Nashville, TN, a position he had held since the company was formed in 2000. He is a current board member of Pathway Lending, a Community Development Financial Institution, and serves on the boards of two nonprofit organizations serving underprivileged children in South Africa. Hugh was elected to the Board of Trustees of Tennessee Wesleyan University, where he also holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.

Prior to joining Pinnacle, Hugh spent 13 years at First American National Bank/AmSouth in a variety of positions, including Senior Vice President of Operations Support, Executive Vice President of general banking, Executive Vice President of operations and technology, and Executive Vice President of retail lending programs. Hugh has also held executive-level positions at software providers the Kirchman Corporation and Systeme Corporation.

Daniel Okhman is Senior Vice President and Co-Head of Capital Markets. He oversees all aspects of capital markets activities, ensuring strategic alignment with the company’s financial objectives. Daniel leads efforts to raise capital through various channels, which include debt, equity, and structured financing. Daniel is also responsible for market analysis, investor relations, team leadership, reporting, and compliance.

Daniel began his career with BHG Financial in 2010 and was key in helping start the capital markets division of the business in 2019. He has previous experience in sales, operations, and portfolio management and earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Lemoyne College.

Jen Zhao is the Senior Vice President and Co-Head of Capital Markets for BHG Financial. With nearly 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, Jen leads the firm’s capital markets strategy, overseeing the sourcing, structuring, and execution of billions of dollars in private and public transactions. Her responsibilities include whole loan sales, 4(a)(2)/pass-through issuance, multi-year term loan financing, warehouse financing, 144A ABS issuance, residual sales, and retained bond financing. Jen is also a voting member of the credit committee, playing a key role in strategic decision-making.

Before joining BHG Financial, Jen worked in investment banking at Credit Suisse, advising clients on debt issuance and financing solutions. She also held advisory roles at Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she honed her expertise in financial strategy and risk management.

Jen is a full member of the Economic Club of New York (ECNY), elected through a rigorous selection process and part of an influential network of senior executives and C-suite leaders engaged in shaping critical economic and societal dialogue. She earned a master’s degree in business from the University of Rochester Simon Business School and a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Beijing University of Technology. Jen is also a CFA charterholder and actively champions women in structured finance.

Mei Han is the Senior Vice President of Finance for BHG Financial. She oversees the company’s financial planning and analysis (FP&A) function, inventory and distribution strategy, cash management plan, and capital markets activities.

Since joining BHG Financial in 2015, Mei has managed teams in marketing analytics, production analytics, as well as institutional and capital markets. In her current role, she leads the financial forecast model, manages the cash and liquidity division, and oversees several strategic planning and budgeting in alignment with company goals. Mei and her team monitor and report the unit economics and lifetime margin of loans originated by the company while analyzing profitability metrics on various loan sale structures to institutional buyers. Mei supports the capital markets and executive teams in investor relations, M&A projects, and growth planning across the organization.

Before joining BHG Financial, Mei held various roles at a large technology firm. She holds an MBA and a master's degree from Syracuse University in New York, as well as a dual bachelor's degree in finance and Spanish from Shandong University in China.

Christopher Capecelatro is the Senior Vice President of Credit Operations for BHG Financial. Christopher leads the credit team in executing the broader strategic vision of the organization, complementing BHG Financial’s modeling and analytics capabilities with precise application of human underwriting expertise to achieve optimal outcomes for borrowers. In growing the company’s credit decisioning function, he focuses on developing application pathways that are low hassle for borrowers, powered by technology, and scalable. Utilizing bank transaction data, he has developed a dynamic approach to underwriting based on timelier financial information, new methods of assessing cash flow, and unique risk flags and markers to drive more accurate decisions.

Before joining BHG Financial, Christopher was a founding employee at Funding Circle U.S. He spent eight and a half years as director of U.S. underwriting, building the underwriting function from the ground up. He also developed, launched, and managed the transition to proprietary web-based underwriting software. Prior to this, he was manager of credit at AIG Global Risk Management, owning and executing strategies to collect outstanding collateral, legal documents, and other receivables while overhauling the underwriting processes to optimize risk-adjusted profitability.

Christopher earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of New Hampshire.

Jenny Mechali is the Senior Vice President of Shared Services at BHG Financial. She oversees business operations and is a central figure focusing on leading transformational initiatives and process excellence, ensuring BHG Financial is in the best position to meet its financial goals. Her role includes handling operational strategy and program management, helping to streamline BHG Financial’s processes, and improving customer experiences. She is also responsible for the enterprise sourcing and vendor management function, which is comprised of vendor negotiations, contracts, sourcing, and RFPs.

An experienced leader with a demonstrated history in strategy, operations, and financial and vendor management, Jenny previously held roles at Ultimate Software and Citrix. She earned a bachelor of business (B.B.A.) from Florida Atlantic University and is certified in Six Sigma methodologies and agile delivery frameworks.

Andrew Stone is the Senior Vice President of Fraud Management at BHG Financial, directing global strategy for fraud prevention, financial crimes compliance, and various enterprise risk programs, including enterprise model risk management.

With more than two decades of financial services and fintech leadership experience, his background includes senior risk management roles at Amazon and OnDeck Capital, alongside high-impact milestones such as the venture exit of Effectiv to Socure.

Extending his industry footprint, Andrew holds board seats at Quantimon and Vouched, where he guides emerging technologies in digital identity, biometrics, and transaction risk.