Team

STEPHEN K. CURRY

Founder

Mr. Curry has provided expert advisory services to management teams and boards of national and regional banks, financial services firms, and private investor groups for over 15 years. Throughout his 40-year career, he has successfully guided organizations through acquisitions and divestitures, merger integrations, digital transformations, operational restructurings, growth strategy implementation, enhanced governance and risk management practices, and the resolution of complex regulatory challenges. Mr. Curry served as President of Beal Bank, a $23 billion wholesale bank; and Chairman & CEO of Gateway First Bank, where he transformed Gateway Mortgage into a full-service bank. He has also served as a Board Member for OneTrust Mortgage, Perot-backed GuideIT as well as the Tulsa Youth Symphony and the Indian Nations Council of Boy Scouts. For more than 25 years, he held senior leadership roles at Bank of America, including executive positions in Business Development, Strategic Planning, and in COO and financial management roles in the Corporate & Investment Banking, Capital Markets, and Community & Commercial Banking divisions at predecessors NationsBank and NCNB. Mr. Curry began his career at Republic Bank in Dallas, Texas, in 1986.

JOSEPH SIEGEL

Senior Managing Director/Commercial Banking and Corporate Finance

Mr. Siegel is a senior corporate and investment banking professional with over 40 years of experience building credit platforms and generating revenue through commercial lending and banking advisory services. Joe has advised clients in leveraged finance, syndicated finance, private banking, credit underwriting, and client management. Mr. Siegel has served in key executive management roles, most recently as Chief Risk Officer at Beal Bank, a $23 billion wholesale bank. Prior to Beal, Joe was Global Head of Credit and Lending Product Solutions for JPMorgan Chase & Co. He served as Chief Banking Officer at a $2 billion regional bank. Before that, he was responsible for Corporate & Investment Banking Corporate Lending, North America for BBVA and Compass Bank (now PNC). He also led the Syndicated Finance Team arranging, underwriting, and executing senior floating rate capital solutions. For over 25 years Joe served as a Managing Director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, focused on debt capital markets, concentrated in leveraged and syndicated finance.

PRAFUL MAINKER, Dallas

Managing Director/Risk Management & Data Science

Praful is a deeply experienced leader in Risk Management, Operations, Data Science, and Technology, and has served as Chief Risk Officer at Community Banks and as a Risk Executive at JP Morgan. An early proponent of Digital Transformation, Praful enhanced compliance operations for Home Lending, Card and Digital businesses at JPMorgan Chase by leveraging Artificial Intelligence, Automation and Visual Analytics techniques resulting in identification of several critical operational opportunities for improvement. As Sr. Director of Regulatory Risk Management, he transformed AML, Fraud and BSA programs to resolve a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with the Department of Justice. While SVP, Operational Risk Management at Citigroup (Mortgage), Praful shepherded the vast organization through the Mortgage Consent Order (MCO) issued by the Office of the US Comptroller of Currency (OCC) and the US Federal Reserve Board (FRB). While at Capital One Financial Services, Praful led the merger of Mortgage Operations acquired from Chevy Chase, Hibernia and North Fork Banks. Praful also strengthened Auto Finance business by implementing significant technology infrastructure upgrades, as well as establishing a new Auto Buying Program.

SANDIP BHATLAWANDE

Founder & CEO, ARMAI Technologies

Sandip Bhatlawande is the Founder and CEO of ARMAI Technologies, an AI-powered compliance automation platform transforming how banks, credit unions and fintechs manage regulatory risk and vendor due diligence. His vision for ARMAI is rooted in firsthand experience across the financial services landscape, where he identified compliance inefficiency as a critical friction point in banking innovation. ARMAI's platform is purpose-built to serve as a second- and third-line control layer, helping institutions accelerate third-party onboarding, increase audit readiness, and modernize governance workflows.

Sandip brings over 15 years of cross-sector financial experience, spanning global investment banking, community banking, and fintech startups. He began his career at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he spent 11 years progressing through diverse roles—from building quantitative risk models and regulatory systems to leading credit strategies for small business lending. He later joined TransPecos Bank, a Texas-based community bank, as Head of Systems & Business Integration and subsequently Head of Business Transformation. He led bank’s core conversion initiative transforming deposit, loan and branch operations. Prior to founding ARMAI, Sandip was a founding engineer at a fintech startup that launched a neo-banking product, successfully acquired 5,000 customers, and built compliant deposit operations from the ground up.

An Electronics Engineer from India and an MBA in Finance from the University of Rochester, NY, Sandip blends technical fluency with business strategy to build scalable, regulatory-grade fintech infrastructure. His unique background allows him to navigate both the complexity of regulated environments and the speed of early-stage innovation.

PRAFUL MAINKER, Dallas

Managing Director/Risk Management & Data Science

Praful is a deeply experienced leader in Risk Management, Operations, Data Science, and Technology, and has served as Chief Risk Officer at Community Banks and as a Risk Executive at JP Morgan. An early proponent of Digital Transformation, Praful enhanced compliance operations for Home Lending, Card and Digital businesses at JPMorgan Chase by leveraging Artificial Intelligence, Automation and Visual Analytics techniques resulting in identification of several critical operational opportunities for improvement. As Sr. Director of Regulatory Risk Management, he transformed AML, Fraud and BSA programs to resolve a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with the Department of Justice. While SVP, Operational Risk Management at Citigroup (Mortgage), Praful shepherded the vast organization through the Mortgage Consent Order (MCO) issued by the Office of the US Comptroller of Currency (OCC) and the US Federal Reserve Board (FRB). While at Capital One Financial Services, Praful led the merger of Mortgage Operations acquired from Chevy Chase, Hibernia and North Fork Banks. Praful also strengthened Auto Finance business by implementing significant technology infrastructure upgrades, as well as establishing a new Auto Buying Program.

DAVID WHITE

Managing Director/Information Technology

Mr. White has over 30 years of experience in Technology, with a specialization in Application Development, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, Data Centers and Cloud Systems. He advises regional and community banks on technology strategies, evolving FinTech solutions, cybersecurity and operational enhancements. David began his career in Dallas with InterFirst and spent the next 20 years leading technology acquisition integration for the consolidation of banks that ultimately became Bank of America. David’s efforts in the development and implementation of global data center consolidation strategies, and deployment of state-of-the-art systems management and cybersecurity, and IT governance were a critical component of the banks competitive advantage. He held leadership roles in operations, technology, customer information systems, lending systems, banking center, credit card, call center and e-Commerce systems. David’s led technology and operational Integration of over 120 banks and financial institutions, and managed technology assessments and projects at regional and community banks, mortgage companies, fintechs, core system processors, card processors and security platforms.

JOSEPH SIEGEL

Senior Managing Director/Commercial Banking and Corporate Finance

Mr. Siegel is a senior corporate and investment banking professional with over 40 years of experience building credit platforms and generating revenue through commercial lending and banking advisory services. Joe has advised clients in leveraged finance, syndicated finance, private banking, credit underwriting, and client management. Mr. Siegel has served in key executive management roles, most recently as Chief Risk Officer at Beal Bank, a $23 billion wholesale bank. Prior to Beal, Joe was Global Head of Credit and Lending Product Solutions for JPMorgan Chase & Co. He served as Chief Banking Officer at a $2 billion regional bank. Before that, he was responsible for Corporate & Investment Banking Corporate Lending, North America for BBVA and Compass Bank (now PNC). He also led the Syndicated Finance Team arranging, underwriting, and executing senior floating rate capital solutions. For over 25 years Joe served as a Managing Director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, focused on debt capital markets, concentrated in leveraged and syndicated finance.

STEVE EVERBACH

Managing Director/Commercial Real Estate

Mr. Everbach has held leadership positions for several global commercial real estate companies throughout his career and has completed over 8 million square feet of transactions representing an aggregate value over $2 billion. As part of leadership teams over the past decade, he has led strategic initiatives in technology and innovation to provide data-driven insights for clients to help them make the best decisions for their business. Prior positions include President - Central Region for Colliers International, and DFW Market Leader and U.S. Agency Leasing Lead for Cushman & Wakefield. Mr. Everbach concentrates on advising financial institutions, investors and occupiers on strategic positioning, valuations, capital raising and funding, turnarounds, and investment strategies that consistently delivered superior returns to banks, occupier and investor clients. Stephen also leads a Commercial Real Estate investment fund.

JASON PUMPELLY

Managing Director/Commercial Real Estate

Jason’s career in commercial real estate has spanned almost 30 years with expertise in disciplines such as corporate occupier services, development, brokerage, direct lending and capital markets advisory services. In addition to corporate roles at firms such as Cushman & Wakefield, Johnson Capital and HFF, Jason has been integral in building teams and advising clients through many industry cycles and has built practice groups in most CRE asset classes. Jason has also been a principal in forming service businesses and direct investments in CRE assets. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise with many career-long relationships with banks, private and institutional investors, developers, attorneys and capital sources.

STEVEN PATRICK

Managing Director/Strategic Planning, Corporate Finance, Mortgage and Liquidity Management

Mr. Patrick is a senior corporate finance professional, with deep expertise in strategic planning, liquidity management, financial management and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Endurance, Steven served as Corporate Treasurer for a $2 billion regional bank and eight years at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago in various planning, research and product development roles. Prior to joining the FHLBC, Steven was a managing director in Bank of America’s corporate finance advisory group and an associate at Merrill Lynch. Over the course of his 13-year investment banking career, Steven executed a wide variety of financing transactions, capital raises and valuation assignments. Steven was also a business strategy consultant with Booz Allen & Hamilton for three years. He has an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago and a BA, magna cum laude, with distinction from Carleton College.

STEVE NICKOLSON

Banking Operations & Technology Consultant

Steve Nickolson, is a seasoned banking operations and technology executive who now partners with clients to improve efficiency ratios, optimize operations, and drive sustainable profitability. His leadership experience as COO and then CIO at ServisFirst displayed a consistent track record of streamlining back-office functions, reducing non-interest expense, and modernizing banking processes through technology and process reengineering.

DONNA OSBORNE

Managing Director/Operations Enhancement, Transformation and Merger Integration

Ms. Osborne began her career with Suburban Trust Company in 1980 and joined Sovran Bank in 1985, which subsequently was acquired by NationsBank. She has 20 years of experience with process improvement, cost reductions, automation and outsourcing initiatives, and technology transformation projections. Donna served as the Lead for operations conversions in over 12 major bank mergers. Donna also managed production support for Consumer Banking at Bank of America, led Fraud Management and was Change Management Executive for e-Commerce. Her work at Bank of America was nationally recognized. Donna is a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt.

LARRY GORDON, Columbus

Managing Director/Risk Management & Compliance

Larry is a senior risk and compliance professional who has designed and implemented industry-leading processes and tools that have transformed the identification and mitigation of risk along with improvement of organizational business processes and culture change. He has worked in senior executive roles within the financial services industry, including executive roles at Huntington Bank and Bank of Ammerica, for more than 25 years across the three lines of defense: Customer facing; Compliance; and Independent Review. Key areas of expertise include strategic risk projects, Fintechs and BaaS platforms, establishment of credit review and underwriting programs for credit, portfolio management, OFAC (sanctions) compliance, BSA/AML, risk assessments, due diligence and merger and acquisition reviews. Larry is a Certified Anti-Money-Laundering Specialist. He also has deep expertise in continuous improvement and Six Sigma. His underwriting experience spans a variety of industries including financial services, manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, retail, business and consumer services, including operating companies with international supply chains and global customer bases. Larry has an MBA from the University of Rochester and BBA from University of Texas.

DAN WARD

Managing Director/Finance and Operations

Mr. Ward is a Consultant with deep content knowledge in program management across all banking and investment businesses. He is a leader in the FinTech community with strong understanding of Operations Management and Intellectual Automation, and highly effective at building consensus and leading change through to successful results. Dan has experience in merger integrations and business transformations and has served as senior change initiative lead managing people, process and IT/digital changes. He also has deep expertise in management accounting, risk and finance, with mortgage product knowledge to implement business strategy and risk control framework. He is a six-sigma master black belt.

JOHN FULTS

Director/Process, Product and Operations

Mr. Fults is a Process, Product, Data and Technology Consultant. He specializes in software selection, product management, process design, and data science. John develops road maps for solution features, priorities, and timelines, and designs improved processes and workflows. He has 20+ years of experience in Banking, Mortgage and Settlement Services. He is a six-sigma black belt and has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Tennessee.

Executive Management

STEPHEN K. CURRY

JOSEPH SIEGEL

RISK MANAGEMENT AND DATA SCIENCE

PRAFUL MAINKER, Dallas

Artificial Intelligence

SANDIP BHATLAWANDE

PRAFUL MAINKER, Dallas

TECHNOLOGY/DIGITAL BANKING/DIGITAL ASSETS/CYBERSECURITY

DAVID WHITE

CREDIT, SYNDICATIONS, RESTRUCTURING, COLLECTIONS, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

JOSEPH SIEGEL

STEVE EVERBACH

JASON PUMPELLY

Strategic Planning, Corporate Finance, Mortgage and Liquidity Management

STEVEN PATRICK

Operations Enhancement, Transformation and Merger Integration

STEVE NICKOLSON

DONNA OSBORNE

ENTERPRISE RISK & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

LARRY GORDON, Columbus

Finance, Operations & Mortgage Accounting

DAN WARD

JOHN FULTS