We’re in the business of growth

Steve is passionate about creating long-term relationships with our clients and helping them to overcome barriers to growth.

An entrepreneur at heart, Steve believes in the synergy of great financing and strong partnerships – which led him to join our team in 2019. He understands the ups and downs on the road to growth and truly enjoys collaborating with high-performing businesses to help them achieve their objectives. As Head of First West Capital, Steve leads all facets of the business from origination, deal execution, portfolio management, risk management and is ultimately accountable for the driving the overall growth and profitability of the business.

From start-ups to multinational corporations, Steve has 15+ years of experience in growth and M&A financing and has held roles at BDC Growth and Transition Financing and BMO Asset Based Lending, as well as VanCity Capital and CIBC Leveraged Finance.

He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA Charterholder) and received an honours degree in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University. Steve is also a board member of the Vancouver Chapter of the Risk Management Association, and a member of the Accounting Standards Board, Private Enterprise Advisory Committee.

Debby is a key liaison between First West Capital and our clients and provides deal evaluation, investment analysis and ongoing portfolio management.

Debby plays a crucial role in crafting well-structured junior capital solutions. Highly analytical and relationship-focused, she has a talent for uncovering clients’ needs and establishing strong partnerships. She also provides insights and solutions for improving internal processes and procedures, making us more efficient at serving our clients.

Debby has been in financial services for 10 years, including auditing financial institutions and gaining valuable deal experience at a large investment bank in Johannesburg, the financial hub of South Africa. She graduated with a B.Bus.Sci Finance (Honours) and Accounting from the University of Cape Town and is also a CFA Charterholder and a member of the CPA and South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Based in Toronto, Jason is responsible for deal origination, investment analysis and ongoing portfolio management.

Jason is passionate about financing and growing the Canadian economy. By helping Canadian businesses grow, acquire and transition with junior capital, he turns that passion into action. He also manages and oversees First West Capital’s existing investments, ensuring clients feel supported and empowered in executing their operational and financial plans.

With over 10 years experience, Jason started his career in public accounting and has since built a wealth of expertise in financial services, management consulting and banking. When identifying and crafting innovative junior capital solutions, he looks to foster strong relationships by taking a collaborative and client-focused approach. He also sits on the board for three of his portfolio companies.

Jason graduated from Brock University with an Honours Bachelors in Accounting (BAcc), and is also a Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA).

Based in Vancouver, Geoff is responsible for deal origination and execution, investment analysis, and ongoing portfolio management.

Geoff is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and enabling value creation for his clients. With a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs face while building a company, he is committed to understanding client needs. He values collaborating with high-performing businesses to develop creative financial solutions to help them achieve their goals.

Geoff has over ten years experience in working capital, mezzanine, subordinate and quasi-equity financing and has held roles at BDC in their senior commercial lending and junior capital groups. His professional background consists of a variety of senior accounting roles at early stage and growth companies in technology and professional services, supporting management with his expertise in analysis, reporting and fundraising. Having been on the both sides of the table, Geoff has a great appreciation for the needs of all stakeholders in the financing process and works diligently to ensure all needs are met.

Geoff graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology. Geoff is also a board member of the Fraser Valley Chapter of the Risk Management Association.

Mary is a key liaison between First West Capital and our clients and provides deal evaluation, investment analysis and ongoing portfolio management.

Mary’s expertise in due diligence and underwriting provides our team support with crafting innovative junior capital solutions. With a background as a business valuations analyst, she discovered her passion for number crunching and financial analysis, leading her to join our team in 2019.

Mary has over 5 years experience in finance with a focus on business planning and client relations. She is committed to helping our clients grow, acquire and transition effectively.

Mary holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia, as well as a Diploma of Finance with Distinction from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. She is currently working towards her CBV designation. Mary is also a mentor to students in the career mentorship program of the BCIT Student Association.

As a key liaison between First West Capital and our clients, Brett conducts deal evaluation, investment analysis and ongoing portfolio management.

With his experience in corporate finance and passion for delivering strong financial advice, Brett paves the way for our clients to realize their strategic goals and creates junior capital solutions to help them grow.

Brett has over nine years of experience in accounting, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and business advisory, with a focus on mid-market companies. Prior to moving to Canada, he worked in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Brett graduated with an MBA at EDHEC Business School in France and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting, Hons.) from Otago University in New Zealand. He is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand and is in the final stage of becoming a CFA charterholder.

As Compliance Officer, Jane keeps our team in order. She is responsible for auditing, managing account files, and leading the essential administration on our team. Her client-focused approach ensures all financial transactions run like clock-work and that all of our i’s are dotted and t’s crossed.

Nothing gets by Jane. We depend on her attention to detail and technical skills to manage the behind-the-scenes funding administration and so much more! Jane is known for going the extra mile to keep things running smoothly, and is the go-to for transactions, CRM support and client relations.

Having worked in the credit union industry for over 35 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team, including many years leading a retail lending administration team.