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.

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.

Over the last decade, Mary has built a strong foundation of financial expertise with a focus on deal evaluation, due diligence, and industry research. Her journey began as a business valuations analyst, where her passion for meticulous number crunching and financial analysis led her to join our team in 2019.

As Associate Director at First West Capital, Mary plays a pivotal role in crafting innovative junior capital solutions. She is a driven collaborator, keen to help local companies grow and expand.

Mary is dedicated to assisting our clients in achieving growth, facilitating acquisitions, and ensuring smooth transitions. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and a Diploma of Finance with Distinction from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Mary is a CFA charterholder and a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV). Beyond her professional endeavors, she contributes to the development of future professionals by mentoring students through the career mentorship program at the BCIT Student Association.

Artur supports the First West Capital team with deal evaluation, investment analysis and ongoing portfolio management.

With his experience in corporate finance and passion for delivering strong financial advice, Artur provides the team with creative junior capital solutions to help our clients grow.

Artur joins the team with over 4 years as a business partner at First West Credit Union. With his role in the finance department, he brings a focus on financial planning, budgeting, and financial analysis. Prior to moving to Canada, he spent over 5 years managing small and mid-sized enterprises in the Education industry in Brazil. He has also worked for many years as a sell-side analyst which involved completing valuations and providing recommendations for public listed companies. Artur is committed to helping our clients grow, acquire and transition effectively.

Artur graduated with a Masters in Finance at IBMEC University in Brazil and holds a Bachelor in Economics. He is currently working towards his CPA designation.

Bringing a depth of experience in private equity, leveraged lending, advisory and accounting, Ken enjoys getting into the details to really understand each client. Ken supports the team with deal evaluation and investment analysis but also works closely with clients on portfolio management.

Prior to joining the team, Ken worked at CIBC with the Leveraged Finance Group where he was primarily responsible for origination, structuring, and execution of senior and mezzanine debt financings in support of leveraged buyouts and other M&A transactions across Canada and the United States.

Ken started his career working in audit and assurance at a big four accounting firm in Vancouver. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University.

As Operations Advisor, Carmel 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 clockwork and that all our i’s are dotted and t’s crossed.

Carmel’s attention to detail and technical skills to manage the behind-the-scenes funding administration and so much more! Carmel is known for going the extra mile to keep things running smoothly, and is the go-to for transactions, marketing support and client relations.

Having worked in the credit union industry for almost 20 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team, including many years in retail and commercial lending administration.