About Us

Director Biographies

Scott L. Shwayder (Chairman of the Board) is a co-owner and principal of Unique Properties, LLC, and has been involved in the commercial real estate industry since 1987. During this time span, Mr. Shwayder has completed approximately 1000 transactions with total consideration in excess of $1,500,000,000. He has been honored consistently as an industry leader while also recognized as a "top producer" by the Denver Metro Commercial Association of Realtors. Mr. Shwayder has been instrumental in growing Unique Properties, LLC, into one of the largest privately-owned full service commercial real estate firms in the Denver metropolitan area. Unique Properties, LLC currently has 44 active brokers and employs a staff of 7 full time specialists to assist in day-to-day operations. Additionally, he is a principal in, and involved in the day-to-day operations of, Unique Management Solutions, LLC, a commercial property management firm, Stonebridge Capital Advisors, LLC, a full service commercial loan brokerage, Bellaire Funding, LLC, a private lender, and several single purpose limited liability companies to facilitate his activities as a private real estate investor. Mr. Shwayder is a fourth generation native of Colorado and has been very active in the Denver community, while serving on several nonprofit boards. Additionally, he previously served on the Board of Directors for First American State Bank for over 12 years.

Steven C. Leonard formed Pacifica Capital Investments, LLC ("PCI") in 1998 with the goal of achieving the same type of satisfactory results that he produced with his family's portfolio over the preceding twenty years. PCI is an investment adviser registered under the California Corporations Code, and serves as adviser to approximately 250 managed accounts and two investment partnerships with approximately $200 million under management. In 1981, he formed Pacifica Holding Company of California, a commercial management and development company, and Leonard & Ohren, a commercial brokerage company, to establish a portfolio of properties in the South Bay and airport areas of Los Angeles. In 1989, he shifted his focus to Denver and formed Pacifica Holding Company of Colorado which grew to have Colorado's largest real estate portfolio valued at more than $750 million. Recent real estate investments include industrial buildings and land development in Madrid. Mr. Leonard has served on the board of directors for both public and private companies and associations, including Colorado Gaming and Entertainment, BJ's Restaurants, First American State Bank, and the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (Colorado). Mr. Leonard was honored by the NAIOP as Owner of the Year in 1996 and Developer of the Year in 1997. He also is the founder of Brokers for Battered Kids, a charitable organization that has raised several million dollars for disadvantaged children in the Denver area.

Brian M. Soeldner (President and Chief Operating Officer) joined the Bank in May 2007 as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and has served as the Bank's President, Chief Operating Officer and director since January 2008. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Soeldner was a partner with Merit Capital Partners, a private equity fund that provides mezzanine debt and equity capital to middle market businesses, from 2001 until May 2007. After joining Merit in 2001, Mr. Soeldner managed and served on the Board of Directors of six portfolio companies in diverse industries. He also played an active role in managing a number of other portfolio companies. Mr. Soeldner began his career as a Credit Analyst with LaSalle Bank in Chicago, IL. He was also an Assistant Vice President and Commercial Lender in the middle market banking group at Bank of America in Chicago, where he provided asset-based and cash flow loans to middle market companies. Mr. Soeldner also served as Manager of Finance and Operations for the national CPA firm BDO Seidman's e-commerce consulting subsidiary. Mr. Soeldner earned his MBA in Finance and Management Strategy from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and received his BBA in Finance from the University of Iowa.

Christopher H. Luce (Executive Vice President) has served as a director of the Bank since February 2008. He is currently Chairman of the Bank's Audit Committee and is a member of the Bank's Asset/Liability Committee. Mr. Luce has served as the Founder and President of Luce Capital Management, LLC, an investment advisory firm. Prior to founding Luce Capital Management, Mr. Luce was an associate at a middle-market private equity firm where he worked on a number of transactions in various industries including manufacturing, consumer products and information technology. Mr. Luce graduated from Washington University in St. Louis where he earned dual degrees in Economics and Finance.

Jonathan B. Hauser is the owner of Drake Real Estate Services. Drake was founded in 1997 in Denver, CO. as a retail development company. Through the years Drake has expanded upon its experiences to become a full-service development, consulting, management and investment company. From shopping center investments to purchasing residential mortgages, Drake has become an expert in the real estate industry. Over the past decade Mr. Hauser's company has constructed or renovated 92 commercial buildings, completed 33 joint venture partnerships, currently owns a portfolio of 18 properties and manages an additional 35 properties. In addition to real estate services, Mr. Hauser is a partner in a multi-unit restaurant company called The Little Pub Company. The Little Pub Company operates 19 neighborhood restaurants around the Denver Metropolitan Area. Prior to the formation of Drake, Mr. Hauser was director of real estate for Boston Market and Einstein Bagels restaurants and previous to that he was a commercial real estate broker for HC Properties. Mr. Hauser has a business degree from Drake University, is Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and is a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO).

Bradley J. Greenwald is currently the CEO of DLF Capital. DLF invests in and develops early stage service ventures and consumer product businesses. He brings over twenty five years of progressive experience in launching and managing startup and corporate businesses. Brad began his career as a management consultant at Bain & Co. Brad helped raise $600+ million in launching and successfully building WildBlue Communications (broadband), Loyalty Management Group (consumer promotions), Discovery Land Fund (land development) and PrimeStar (satellite TV). Brad also served as a Vice President in sales, marketing and operational functions at Polaroid and Time Warner Cable. Recently, Brad founded and is currently Chairman of Education Funding Partners which is bringing corporate sponsorships to public school districts nationwide. Brad is also the Chairman of MyD8, the largest U.S. text message dating service. Brad currently leads the Executive MBA Strategy and Entrepreneurial programs at the University of Denver’s Daniels School of Business. Brad works at a Board level with nonprofits including Oxfam America, Food Bank of the Rockies and Operation Frontline. Brad received his undergraduate degree in Economics from Princeton University. Brad received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1990. Brad lives with his wife and 3 children in Denver, Colorado.

Robert J. Walcott is co-founder and Principal of Greentree Properties, LLC, a commercial real estate firm specializing in multi-family properties in Denver, Colorado and Hawaii. Mr. Walcott was previously the Director of Acquisitions for Sunderhaus Properties, a syndicator of apartment communities in San Francisco. Prior to Sunderhaus Properties, he held the position of Regional Director of Acquisitions and Finance, for Newport Beach based Clayton Williams & Sherwood, Inc., at the time the largest owner of mobile home parks in the nation. From 1979-1983, Mr. Walcott served active duty in the USAFAD and, from 1989-2008, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a USAR Colonel. Mr. Walcott has served on several boards of directors and associations, including the West Point Society of Denver, Committee on Admissions for Denver University Club, Governor for Colorado Order of Founders & Patriots of America and served as a Director for Front Range Bank in Lakewood from 2001 until its sale in 2007. Mr. Walcott is a distinguished graduate of U.S. Military Academy, West Point, Exeter College at Oxford University – International Graduate Summer School and received his MBA from Harvard Business School.