Funding Your Start-Up: Beyond VCs, Angels, and Accelerators

Sheryl has been in banking for more than 30 years. She works with both consumer and commercial clients to discover and address needs or gaps in their banking services so they can thrive. She loves making connections with her clients, educating them on the banking products available to them and helping to alleviate their financial stress.

For as long as he can remember, Michael wanted to be a shortstop for the Minnesota Twins, but he said since that was out the question, commercial banking was his next dream job. Now, as Vice President of Commercial Banking for Village Bank, he is living his dream and helping small business owners and entrepreneurs live theirs too. Regardless of the complexity, Michael enjoys facing the challenges that each base of the business journey brings alongside his clients.

Michael specializes in SBA lending, investment and owner-occupied real estate, and equipment financing. He is committed to understanding each of his business clients’ needs to provide strategic financial guidance that helps small businesses thrive. He fields questions, catches details about your business needs, and throws out the best financing options for your business with the expertise of a pro.

Megan Effertz is a marketing executive and entrepreneur at heart with 19 years’ experience building companies through strategic sales, marketing, and leadership initiatives. Megan has owned a business consulting practice as well as an advertising agency that she sold to another agency before joining Village Bank. As part of her consulting practice, she advised local business owners (start-ups to established businesses) on sales, marketing, strategy, and organizational design.

Megan is an MSPBJ 2016 "Women in Business" award winner and is versed in a variety of industries including technology, manufacturing & distribution, health & wellness, retail, food & beverage, and advertising & media. She also hosts a blog, The Business Gist, that she launched while Executive Editor of Minnesota Business magazine. High energy with an entrepreneurial spirit and a love for building teams that drive revenue growth, Megan loves talking business and helping leaders reach their goals.