Death Care Lending Team

As the Relationship Manager for Live Oak Bank, Kay is able to combine her 18 years of SBA Lending experience with her CPA skills and real estate knowledge to work with Live Oak Bank’s customers who may have been impacted by the recent economic events that have affected small business owners throughout the U.S. She specializes in helping to implement ideas for solutions to business and financing problems that benefit both the Bank and our customers.

Kay originally started working in SBA lending with other members of the Live Oak Bank team at VST Financial Services and is pleased to have reconnected with everyone again. Formerly, Kay managed the franchise lending section of TransAmerica Small Business Capital, was with Temecula Valley Bank and Mountain 1st Bank. She gained her CPA experience in the taxation department at Ernst & Young and also taught taxation classes at Western Michigan University.

After 20+ years of SBA lending, my career at Live Oak is the most rewarding I've ever had.  The entire staff seems aligned in regards to how the customer experience/process is valued.  No other lender empowers employees to make decisions in a way that ensures that the customers' interests come first.  Additionally, the electronic advancements that we have made in loan application, processing and servicing are state of the art and have transformed how we are able to do business.  This allows the decision making process at Live Oak to be transparent to the borrower, instead of being shrouded in “credit committee secrecy.”   It’s an unbelievably focused and positive environment. 

Stephanie Dunn has excelled in the financial services industry since 1999 and has been a leading national SBA lender for over a decade. Her professional background includes serving as a Financial Advisor at Prudential Securities and Senior Vice President / President’s Counsel of Lending for several of the largest government lenders in the country including Temecula Valley Bank and Excel National Bank. Dunn serves as a Founding Board Director at Wessex504 Certified Development Company in Chicago.

In addition to her productive career aiding small businesses across the country, Dunn takes great pride in her philanthropic efforts serving as a Governing Board Director of the Primo Center for Homeless Women and Children.

As a participant on NBC’s television series The Apprentice 2010, Dunn has become a national speaker and media contributor.  She has been featured on international television networks and news publications both in the U.S. and Canada sharing her financial and social opinions.

"I came to work for Live Oak Bank because of the uniquely talented group of individuals committed to one common goal - to be THE premier lending solution for funeral home owners in the country. We are unique among our competitors because all employees truly work as one cohesive team, focused on providing unsurpassed customer service and hassle-free, efficient financing. We pride ourselves on going above and beyond in helping our customers fulfill their dreams." 

Doug Gober began his funeral service career thirty-two years ago as a sales representative in the casket industry.  He has earned numerous national awards from various organizations within the death care industry.  Doug also served as a consultant on various marketing and merchandising projects conducted on an international scale.

In 1995, Doug joined The Doody Group as Executive Vice President.  Working in the United Kingdom and France, Doug successfully directed the European operations for the company.  He has been instrumental in planning and implementing a number of innovative merchandising concepts and products created by The Doody Group, Matthews International and other leading manufacturers.  Doug has been a pioneer in developing the York Merchandising Systems™, which is now being offered in more than 3000 funeral homes in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He has also presented marketing and merchandising seminars to industry professionals worldwide.

In 2011, Doug joined Carriage Services, Inc. as the Director of Development and Marketing.  Doug identifies, develops and leads the execution and implementation of Carriage’s strategic planning initiatives.  He provides leadership through communication, planning and management to support relationships between key personnel.  Additionally, Doug and his staff develop internal and external training programs to improve the service and merchandise offerings of Carriage.

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Doug graduated from the University of Alabama in 1977, where he earned a Business Degree in Accounting.  Subsequently, he became a Certified Public Accountant specializing in industrial audits and corporate taxes.

Doug is married to Victoria Amato and is based in New Orleans.  He is the father of four children and has two grandchildren.

“I’ve heard it said that the great focal point in people’s lives are when opportunity and preparedness meet. My new position as liaison to the Deathcare business with Live Oak Bank is the culmination of over 30 years of promoting solutions for funeral and cemetery providers. The opportunity to help good people attain good financing for the long run is both positive and rewarding. It fits perfectly within the mindset of our funeral home and cemetery clients. Long term permanent business deserves long term permanent financing. Capitalism for caregivers is a necessity today. We are making a difference for the future of our customers.” 

Melody’s experience in SBA lending spans over 15 years.  While the majority of that time has been focused on underwriting, she is also familiar with closing and servicing procedures.   Taking pride in her attention to detail, she strives to insure that each transaction is structured to maximize benefit to each customer while maintaining compliance with SBA’s guidelines.  She finds it fascinating that there’s always something new to learn from each business owner and about the SBA process.

Her SBA career was launched and developed with Temecula Valley Bank in California with positions including Loan Processor, Loan Officer, Underwriting Team Lead, and Portfolio Manager.  She and her husband relocated to North Carolina immediately with the Live Oak opportunity in 2011.  Not only to reunite with Kay and join in Live Oak’s unique venture of specialized lending, but to also return nearby her original roots and family in Virginia.