Steven M. Ellis, who served as managing director of the corporate investment banking and financial institutions group at Dallas-based Commerce Street Capital, passed away on November 29. He was 62. Ellis had more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry as an investor, executive, advisor and director of financial institutions and other businesses. His responsibilities at Commerce Street Capital included the structuring and negotiating of merger-and-acquisition transactions, private placement of subordinated debt and equity securities, and identification and implementation of strategic alternative investments for businesses.

Prior to joining Commerce Street Capital, he was the chief financial officer of a privately held health care company. Previously, he served as Texas market president for a publicly traded bank, specializing in the development of commercial and industrial banking relationships in Texas. Ellis also spent seven years as an investment banker for a national investment bank executing mergers and acquisitions and strategic advisory roles for financial institutions in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. He was also an executive vice president and founding partner for a privately held investment company that specialized in public and private investments in financial institutions. He started his career with an international public accounting firm as a CPA performing audits and consulting projects for a variety of industries including both public and private banks.

Ellis graduated with a BBA degree in accounting from Abilene Christian University. He was active in a variety of charities, including the American Heart Association and Light Up to Live for military veterans.