McKinney-based Independent Financial has added new associates to its middle-market banking team in both the Texas and Colorado markets. The new middle-market bankers are Christina “Crissy” Rivera, Jennifer Baggs Kamacioglu, Matthew Opheim and Jeff Gulczynski. Last year, the bank announced plans to double its growing middle-market portfolio over the next five years with a focus on working with clients of annual revenues between $20 million and $1 billion.
Rivera is based in Houston and has more than 20 years of experience in banking, including commercial lending, middle-market lending and commercial real estate. She previously worked at several major banks where she developed and maintained portfolios of industrial and commercial clients. She is a graduate of the University of Houston and the University of St. Thomas with degrees in accounting and business.
Kamacioglu will serve clients in Fort Worth and is an experienced relationship manager and strategist, having worked in various roles of client relationship development at several major banks. She previously worked in business development, middle-market lending, market growth and acquisition of new client relationships. She is a graduate of Hillsdale College with a degree in accounting.
Opheim is a relationship manager at Independent Financial in Denver, Colorado. He is responsible for new business generation in the middle market. Opheim has more than 25 years of banking experience and expertise in commercial lending and treasury management, and other specialized banking solutions that help middle-market companies optimize their capital structure, enhance cash flows and reduce risk. Previously, he served as head of business development in corporate and commercial banking for another commercial bank. Opheim is a graduate of the University of Iowa.
Gulczynski has more than 20 years of finance and banking experience, including large corporate and middle-market commercial banking. He is based in Dallas and is focused on expanding the Texas middle-market client book and working with various product partners throughout the bank. Prior to joining Independent Financial, he spent nearly 10 years with another commercial bank. Gulczynski earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Houston.
“We are excited to add Crissy, Jennifer, Matt and Jeff to our Middle Market banking team,” “[Rivera, Kamacioglu, Opheim and Gulczynski] bring strong track records and experience with assisting middle-market customers, and this adds depth to an already strong team serving this important segment,” says Tiffany Cason, executive vice president and head of middle-market banking.
Established in 1913, Independent Financial operates 90 locations in four regions: the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, Central Texas and Greater Houston regions in Texas, as well as the Colorado Front Range region.
