Institutional Network leadership
Dedicated people delivering custom solutions for your bank.
Our representatives are experienced specialists dedicated to serving your bank's unique needs. These individuals, along with a multifunction support team, will provide sophisticated solutions to support your bank’s success.
Meghan Crawford-Hamlin
President, Institutional SalesMeghan Crawford-Hamlin is President of the bank division at BHG Financial, where she leads business development, placement operations, bank marketing, national events, and regulatory relations. A results-driven executive, she oversees all institutional-facing functions and drives strategy, execution, and relationship development across the division. Since assuming her current role in 2020, she has facilitated the placement of over $13 billion in assets to over 30% of banks nationwide, positioning BHG Financial as a market leader in delivering high-quality loan sale opportunities to institutional partners. She led the division to expand its national footprint, deepen its regulatory engagement, and instilled meaningful revenue growth through operational scale and strategic alignment.
Meghan joined BHG Financial 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, Meghan served as a Director at The Fitch Group Company, where she was responsible for growth across the firm’s largest North American client portfolio. She began her career at IAC, a global media and internet holding company operating across 100+ countries. She sits on the boards of Pathfinder Bank and Risk Management Solutions Group (RMSG), a regulatory advisory firm.
Meghan 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 earned a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University.
Jim Crawford
EVP, Institutional Sales/BHG Board MemberJim joined BHG in 2008. In addition to his role as EVP, Institutional Relationships, Jim also serves on the board of directors for BHG Financial, providing the board with business insight from over 35 years of industry experience. He helps advise the company in matters that ensure profitable and healthy operations.
Before joining BHG, he was the sole owner and president of a successful title and mortgage company.
Mr. Crawford holds a bachelor's degree in math and economics from Muskegon University.
States Served: HI, TX, CA, VA
Melissa Whelan
EVP, Institutional RelationshipsMelissa joined BHG in 2006 as a member of the credit team. She later managed the closing department and held other leadership roles within the company, then continued her career in Institutional Sales.
Melissa grew up in Syracuse, NY, before moving to Louisiana. She earned a degree in exercise physiology from Louisiana State University (LSU), before returning to New York. She enjoys traveling around the country to attend her three children’s sporting events.
States Served: CT, FL, MA, TN
Nellie Szczech
EVP, Institutional RelationshipsNellie joined BHG in 2009. Originally from Odessa, Ukraine, she has lived most of her life in New York.
Nellie received her bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentrations in Finance and Legal Studies from Ithaca College in NY. She also spent a decade in the hospitality industry before changing career paths and joining BHG.
States Served: MO, IN, MI, NE
Tom Badolato
SVP, Institutional RelationshipsTom joined BHG in 2005. Prior to that, he was employed by the Bank of NY/Mellon Bank.
Tom grew up in Rome, NY, and received a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Buffalo State College. Tom enjoys spending time with his family, including coaching and attending his children’s sporting events.
States Served: KS, OK
Courtney Milana
SVP, Institutional RelationshipsCourtney joined BHG in 2015, helping community banks strengthen and grow their portfolios by connecting them with premium, high-quality borrowers across the country. Her great-grandfather was president of a small community bank in upstate New York, which is still in operation today.
Courtney grew up in Phoenix, NY, received her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Brockport, and earned her master's degree from the University of Kent in England.
States Served: AR, LA, MS, AL, MD
Kathleen Connellan
SVP, Institutional RelationshipsKathleen joined BHG in 2020. Prior to that, she was an executive sales representative for one of the world’s fastest-growing publicly traded technology companies.
Kathleen grew up in Cazenovia, New York, and graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences. For the past 10 years, she has been the Committee Chair for Autism Speaks. Kathleen resides in Weehawken, NJ, and enjoys singing and playing piano.
States Served: NM, NV, OH, PA, NJ
Rachel Thornton
VP, Institutional RelationshipsRachel joined BHG in 2020 as an Account Executive before transitioning to her Institutional Relationships role in 2022. Prior to joining BHG, she was an Account Executive at BDV Solutions.
Rachel received a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Wofford College in South Carolina. She volunteers with multiple charitable organizations and enjoys skiing, golfing, and yoga.
States Served: GA, NC, SC, WV, DE
