Crestmark welcomes Scott Shapiro, regional first vice president, business development officer, for the West Division. Shapiro, who is based in Crestmark’s Los Angeles office, reports to Ray Morandell, senior vice president, national sales manager. Shapiro is responsible for helping businesses in Southern California obtain financing.

Shapiro comes to Crestmark from Houston-based Briar Capital where he was senior vice president, business development officer for the Los Angeles, California market. Previously he was vice president, business development officer in the Los Angeles, California market for Phoenix-based First Community Financial. Shapiro, who knows the Southern California market, is experienced in securing working capital for companies that have annual revenue between $1 million and $100 million.

Shapiro started his career in the communications industry as a news anchor, reporter and producer for TV stations in Idaho and Washington State. He spent two years as a business reporter for Regional News Network before making a career transition to banking and finance.

Morandell said, “Crestmark has an ongoing commitment to providing capital solutions nationwide, and the Western United States represents an area of continued opportunity. To facilitate growth and a strong connection with our clients, we opened a full-service office in Los Angeles in 2014, and have built the appropriate team to support our plans in the Western United States and Canada. Scott has great experience working with businesses in Southern California, and we are excited to have him on the team that is helping us expand in the West.”

Shapiro has a bachelor of arts degree in communications from the University of California, Santa Barbara.