SFNet’s 40 Under 40 Awards will return on June 12, 2024, at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. The evening will offer great networking opportunities while honoring the secured finance industry’s rising stars.

Nominations for the 2025 40U40 Awards are open until February 1, 2024. The SFNet 40 Under 40 Awards Committee Chair is Jennifer Wallace, Loan Portfolio Manager, Wells Fargo Commercial Capital – Lender Finance. In addition to Wallace, this year’s judges will include Jordan Klein, Partner Co-Chair, Asset-Based Lending Practice & Co-Chair, Financial Services Industry Group, Winston & Strawn; Paula Currie, SVP, internal controls director, PNC Business Credit; Caitlin Sanders, managing director, Origination, Callodine Commercial Finance; Doug Jung, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Managing Director, Hilco Diligence Services, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Managing Director Hilco Performance Solutions, and David B. Kurzweil, co-chair, Global Restructuring & Bankruptcy Chair National Financial Institutions, Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

Here, we speak with Jennifer who shares her insights as a former winner on why SFNet members should consider nominating a rising star this year.

Tell us a bit about your career trajectory, including your experience being a 40 Under 40 recipient, the impact it had.

I’ve had the unique opportunity of being an intern with Wells Fargo twice, once directly out of college in our Home Mortgage division and then directly out of my masters in our Commercial Banking division. While in the commercial banking office in New Orleans, I was a relationship manager serving middle-market clients in the state of Louisiana.  In 2018, I transitioned to a relationship manager within Wells Fargo Capital Finance – Lender Finance group in Dallas. Here, I learned more about secured lending to asset-based lenders and the advocacy of the SFNet. As a relationship manager with Lender Finance I was nominated as a 40U40 recipient in 2020 and it was a great surprise and honor to receive the Award. The Award has given me exposure within my company and allowed me to create connections throughout the industry.  I’ve progressed in my career to a Loan Portfolio Manager within Lender Finance and served on various projects/tasks with my company.

Why did you decide to get further involved as a judge and now as chair of 40 Under 40?
It was important for me to get involved and stay active in the Secured Finance Network.  SFNet is an important resource to the finance industry and the ability to give back by recognizing the younger talent funneling through was important to me. It is an honor to serve as a judge and read through the fantastic candidates who demonstrate their extraordinary talents, accomplishments, and community service early in their career. Serving as the Chair, seeing the nominees/award winners in New York City at the Plaza is a great occasion to celebrate all the winners and company’s hard work.

What would you say to someone on the fence about nominating a team member? Why should they put in the time and effort?
There is a song by Kool  & The Gang – “Get Down On It” and they say “get your back up off the wall” imploring people to get up and dance.  For leaders in position to nominate, I would say “get off the fence” and take the 30 minutes to an hour to submit your team member. The nomination shows your appreciation for the time and effort that the team member puts in on a daily basis and their impact to the company and community.  People want to feel appreciated and your nomination can demonstrate your appreciation for the younger talent in the industry.