Finance Leaders Network
Welcome to the Finance Leaders Network, a platform designed exclusively for financial leaders of small to mid-sized manufacturing companies in Southwestern Pennsylvania. This is your opportunity to connect with peers facing similar challenges, share experiences, and collaborate on solutions to drive your company’s success.
Enhance Your Leadership Skills
By joining the Finance Leaders Network, you’ll gain insights from top experts and fellow leaders. Develop your leadership and management skills through best-in-class advice on topics such as:
- Tax Incentives and Grants for Manufacturers
- Cash Flow Management
- Structuring Capital for Equipment and Facility Upgrades
- Storytelling through Finance-Driven Forecasting
- Ownership Succession Planning
- And much more!
Don’t miss this chance to expand your network, gain valuable insights, and unlock new opportunities for your business.
The November 1st meeting will be focusing on Unlocking Opportunities – The Role of The Progress Fund:
Join us for an insightful session with Eric Neice, Senior Commercial Loan Officer from The Progress Fund, a pioneering Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) based in Greensburg. Explore how CDFIs can offer greater flexibility than traditional banks, and learn strategies for using debt to fuel growth. Eric will also share success stories, including the inspiring Hazelwood Brewery Project.
Key Takeaways:
- How CDFIs differ from traditional banks
- Strategic use of debt for growth
- Navigating the business loan application process
- Turning a lender’s “No” into another lender’s “Yes”
- Success stories of manufacturing loans
This upcoming meeting will be offered in a hybrid format, allowing you to join either in person or virtually—whichever works best for you!
Meet the Speaker: Eric Neice, Senior Commercial Loan Officer, The Progress Fund
Eric Neice has been with The Progress Fund since 2017, bringing years of experience in commercial lending. With a degree from Slippery Rock University and a background in credit analysis, Eric helps small businesses secure the funding they need to thrive. He also serves in various community development groups and volunteers as a youth basketball coach.
Organizer: Whit Little, VP of Administration, Catalyst Connection
Whit Little is the Vice President of Administration of Catalyst Connection. He joined Catalyst’s leadership team in 2022. He is leading the Finance, IT and HR functions.
He has experience in a broad array of activities including strategy, investments, finance, development of human capital, fundraising, technology development, commercialization, manufacturing, sales and marketing in domestic and international markets with a variety of technology companies.
He was recently CEO of Advantech U.S., Inc., a technology company that successfully developed and commercialized a disruptive additive manufacturing process and equipment to fabricate printed electronic devices. The company was awarded the Pittsburgh Technology Tech 50 award for Advanced Manufacturing in 2016. He has been a consultant, executive coach, and held the roles of Chief Financial Officer for several start-up organizations. He is a member of the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business. He holds an MBA degree from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Parking
There are a few outdoor parking options at Mill 19 Hazelwood Green. Street parking is available at no cost on a first-come, first-serve basis. Additionally, there is a paid lot located across the property from our building. If you require handicap accessible parking, kindly inform us in advance. Click here to view the map.
