PAGOSA SPRINGS — First Southwest Bank (FSWB) is excited to announce their chief development officer, Sherry Waner, was recently elected and appointed to the position of chairwoman and president of the Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation (PSCDC) for a 3-year term.

“I believe that my strongest asset for PSCDC is bringing people together around a common goal,” says Waner. “And our PSCDC goals are clear, as we recently implemented a new strategic plan for the community. So much time and energy went into developing this strategic plan and I’m proud of the team that worked to bring it to fruition.”

The PSCDC works to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County by focusing on job creation, community enhancement, economic outreach, and maximizing PSCDC resources. “I am so excited about the value that the PSCDC brings to Archuleta County and I can’t wait to move forward with everything we’ve developed, especially as we come out of the COVID-19 crisis later this year,” says Waner.

“I find it very rewarding to help a business owner with their livelihood, as I know they put blood, sweat, and tears into their business.” Prior to her new position at the PSCDC, Waner was on the board for six years — where she was instrumental in facilitating a new microloan program for Archuleta County and actively involved in the PSCDC’s implementation of middle-mile broadband for area residents. With over 25 years of banking experience, specializing in commercial lending that assists small business start-ups and expansions, Waner has enabled FSWB to become one of Colorado’s top SBA lenders, and one of the largest USDA lenders in the nation.

Her current focus is on expanding outreach and impact on rural communities by providing access to credit and capital through public and private collaborations with FSWB’s CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) initiatives, and their related 501c3 non-profit, First Southwest Community Fund (FSWCF).

“I live, eat, drink, and breathe what I do for FSWB and First Southwest Community Fund,” says Waner. “It’s part of who I am, not just what I do. And my work for the PSCDC is folded right into that. Our organizations are very dedicated to the economic health of our communities, through growing small businesses in rural Colorado.”

For more information, please email Amanda Goad at [email protected]. To reach out to Sherry Waner about the work she does for FSWB, FSWCF, or PSCDC, please email [email protected]. To learn more about First Southwest Bank, visit fswb.bank, and First Southwest Community Fund, visit fswcf.org.

About First Southwest Bank

Serving the San Luis Valley and rural Colorado for more than 100 years, First Southwest Bank offers personal and business banking at their six branches, with an emphasis on businesses supporting rural communities. First Southwest Bank and their employees actively live-in and give back to our communities, volunteering with more than 40 local organizations, and donating to 115.

As a CDFI bank, First Southwest Bank is focused on cultivating valuable relationships, investing in economic and social doers, and fostering a well-lived rural culture. First Southwest Bank is a Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, and Equal Opportunity Employer.

About First Southwest Community Fund

First Southwest Community Fund (FSWCF), a 501c3, supports the dedicated entrepreneurial spirit of rural Colorado, by investing in the people, culture, and ideas that fuel innovation and financial knowledge in our communities. FSWCF’s primary mission is to support tangible economic opportunities throughout rural Colorado, with an emphasis on areas of greatest need.

FSWCF makes much needed non-traditional capital (loans) available to businesses that may not yet be bankable, which in turn creates, retains, and grows jobs. FSWCF is supported by First Southwest Bank, a designated Community Development Financial Institution.