In 2024, Jenna Williams became the vice president and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) business development officer with the Heritage Bank of Commerce in California, bringing with her an already successful professional track record spanning more than 25 years, achieved through her tireless work ethic, tenacity, and winning attitude. With proven expertise in sales, business development, business administration, investments, and lending, Ms. Williams, in her latest role, interfaces with customers and provides them with information regarding the process of receiving and qualifying for SBA loans.
Committed to and taking pride in providing stellar service to her clients, Ms. Williams works closely with her administrative staff to ensure all loan documentation is completed efficiently and accurately with quick turnaround timelines and consistent results. For more than two decades, she worked at various banks and financial institutions and focused her efforts on commercial lending over personal banking. She credits her accomplishments to her diverse and well-rounded background in commercial real estate. Tremendously active and respected in her field, Ms. Williams is a member of Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), a nonprofit organization focused on female professionals in that industry. With CREW, she has held numerous positions, including serving on the board and as committee chair.
Prior to accepting her latest position at the Heritage Bank of Commerce, Ms. Williams was a real estate investor, loan officer, and commercial relationship manager with Fremont Bank from 2021 to 2023. Further, she was a business development officer with Wells Fargo between 2017 and 2021 and previously spent a decade with the company as an assistant vice president and business payroll sales specialist from 2007 to 2017. In addition to her experience with major financial institutions, Ms. Williams worked in sales for Silicon Maps Inc. from 1998 to 2003 and was a communications consultant for Inter-Tel from 2003 to 2005. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her contributions with multiple banking awards. Among her honors, she was named to the President’s Club and repeatedly received awards for being an exceptional closer. Perennially pursuing excellence, Ms. Williams has remained dedicated to her own development and education by completing yearly banking compliance courses and receiving professional certifications in various vital topics, including in diversity, equity, and inclusion, better known as DEI.
Ms. Williams considers establishing and maintaining her comprehensive professional network in the San Francisco Bay Area to be her most impressive feat. Through the relationships she has built during her career, she has carved a niche for herself as a prominent lending authority in Northern California. She believes that the strength of her word through keeping her promises plus her consistency have been instrumental in her triumphs, as these qualities helped build her reputation as a reliable and trustworthy partner. Moreover, during her tenure at Wells Fargo, Ms. Williams cited the mentorship of her manager, Micah Horgen, as a constant source of motivation and inspiration. She is also grateful for the past president of CREW, Kelly Leanos, who helped her develop emotional intelligence and make strides toward personal growth. Today, Ms. Leanos continues to mentor Ms. Williams.
Ms. Williams ascribes most of her success to her integrity, fulfilling her commitments, and meeting her goals. Possessing a formative love for mathematics and the talents she developed in banking, investing, and much more, she is grateful for the many opportunities she has been afforded and remains devoted to working hard. In this vein, Ms. Williams decided to begin investing in rental properties for herself in addition to offering this service to her clients. She has set a personal goal of owning more than 20 properties by the time she retires.
Outside of working to expand her own or others’ portfolios, Ms. Williams enjoys playing golf, gardening, and cooking. She also practices the pranayama yogic technique focused on breath regulation.
