Board of Directors | First Southwest Bank

KENT CURTIS

Board of Director President

JJ DESROSIERS

Board Member

KRISTY ESQUIBEL

Board Member

BEATRIZ GARCIA
Board Member

ERIN KECK
Board Member

MARCO LUCERO
Board Member

JASON MEDINA
Treasurer

SONIA PEREZ
Board Member

CHRISTIE SPEARS
Secretary

SHERRY WANER
Board Member

KENT CURTIS

Board of Director President

LinkedIn Profile

Kent Curtis is President and CEO of First Southwest Bank, a $550 million certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) serving primarily rural Colorado and parts of New Mexico. He is also President of First Southwest Community Fund, a 501c3 loan fund, and he is Co-founder of a financial B2B software known as HelloBello Financial. In a unique way, these three entities fulfill the bank’s mission in serving the underserved and unbanked.

Kent began his banking career after graduation from Fort Lewis College in 1982 and he has spent his entire banking career, spanning over 40 years, as a rural community banker on the Western Slope of Colorado. He currently sits on several local boards that address rural community issues, and he is focused on reversing the declining capital availability in rural America. Kent is also proud to be the Immediate Past Chair of the Community Development Bankers Association (CDBA). He and his wife April, son Ben and daughter-in-law Lori, are slowly and meticulously establishing a vineyard southeast of Durango, hopefully with winemaking in their future!

JJ DESROSIERS

Board Member

LinkedIn Profile

J.J. Desrosiers is a passionate advocate for the intersection of economics and people, currently serving as a Prosperity Administrator in local government. He has been involved with First Southwest Community Fund since 2022, beginning as a college student advisor before stepping into a full board member role.

Education has been a cornerstone of J.J.’s journey. He graduated with honors from Fort Lewis College in 2023, earning dual degrees in Economics and Business Analytics. He also serves on the board of the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative, supporting efforts to enhance education and workforce development in the region.

Though early in his professional career, J.J. has already made an impact. An Eagle Scout and dedicated youth mentor, he has been recognized for his contributions to youth development and community engagement. He has spoken extensively on strategies for achieving a debt-free college education and published an environmental impact study on creative parking solutions in an academic journal.

J.J. brings a diverse skill set to his work, with expertise in data analysis, economic theory, business optimization, and operations—valuable tools in shaping sustainable economic and community initiatives.

Outside of work, J.J. finds joy in dancing, guiding rafts down the river, and embracing new adventures. He is also an active member of Durango Community Dance, a total vexillology nerd, and a volunteer coordinator for Roots Youth Group, where he continues to mentor and inspire the next generation.

KRISTY ESQUIBEL

Board Member

Kristy is the Chief Credit Officer at First Southwest Bank. She has worked at FSWB since 2013, serving in various roles including Credit Analyst, AVP/Credit Analyst Manager, VP/Credit Administration Manager, SVP/Credit Administration Manager, and most recently as SVP/Lending Manager, where she was responsible for the overall management and performance, compliance, growth and strategic direction of the Lending Department.

Ms. Esquibel received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, her MBA from Colorado State University, Pueblo, and her banking certification from the Western States School of Banking. She enjoys using her experience and education to teach financial literacy courses to youth and small business owners.

BEATRIZ GARCIA
Board Member

Beatriz Garcia Waddell, born and raised in Guanajuato Mexico, is a dedicated leader and community organizer deeply committed to immigration rights, social justice, and equity. With a background in Social Communication and Politics from La Salle Bajío, she has been actively involved in promoting her culture and volunteering in various countries, tackling pressing social issues like mental health and housing access.

Currently based in Durango, Colorado, Beatriz empowers immigrant communities as the Western Slope Regional Organizer for the Coalition for Immigrant Rights of Colorado. Recognized for her advocacy efforts, Beatriz is passionate about fostering social and racial justice through systemic solutions and empowerment models. She was recently awarded a scholarship to participate in the Culture of Health Leadership Institute for Racial Healing, demonstrating her dedication to creating a more equitable society.

ERIN KECK
Board Member

LinkedIn Profile

Erin Keck was born in Salisbury, MD. In 2003, she moved to Laramie to study at the University of Wyoming and to be closer to family. In Laramie, she met her now husband, Tyler Keck who grew up in Monte Vista. She later relocated to Sweetwater County, WY where she first discovered the Chamber world at the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce.

It was a perfect fit, as it was a fast way to learn about an area and provided endless opportunities to volunteer and contribute. In 2018, she and her husband Tyler decided to relocate to Alamosa, CO. As she loved the Chamber world, she reached out immediately to the local chamber in Alamosa. Not only did a position open up at the perfect time, but within three months the Chamber underwent a large shift to become a stand-alone entity once again, and Erin was offered the leadership role. Erin has no plans to leave the helm any time soon, and is always looking for opportunities to further contribute to her community.

Erin is also a mixed media artist, and enjoys traveling every chance she gets, learning as much as possible, and spending time outdoors and in coffee shops. Above all, her biggest priority is her family, and has a wonderful 2-year old son who surprises her every day and is the greatest part of life. She believes life is about testing your boundaries, gaining new experiences, and having a deep appreciation for what you have and the world around you.

MARCO LUCERO
Board Member

My name is Marco Lucero. I was born and raised in Durango, CO and graduated from Durango High School in 1999. My wife, Bella, was also born and raised in Durango. We have three children: Nicolas, Alanna, and Addisyn.

Through my career, I have worked in various roles for several businesses in Durango. My experience includes construction work, The City of Durango, and New Country Auto Center where I was named parts employee of the year three times and promoted to the service department. I have also worked at Morehart Murphy Regional Auto Center, and the Nissan dealer as a Fixed Ops Director.

In 2023 the opportunity to purchase Happy Pappy’s Pizza N Wings presented itself, and in January 2024 my uncle and I purchased the business. It’s a career change, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.

JASON MEDINA
Treasurer

Jason is a 4th-generation San Luis native, but can trace his lineage back 13+ generations in Northern NM and Southern CO. Born in Colorado Springs, his family moved back to San Luis in 1980 to run a family grocery store called “La Tiendita.” After graduating from Centennial High School, he attended Adams State College and received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1996.

Jason has worked with children, youth, and families in Colorado since 1997 in various positions, including seven years in public education, six years in local government, and over 10 years in public housing. Jason is a budding historian and owns a small business in San Luis. Jason also sits on many community boards, including the El Pomar SLV Regional Council, the First Southwest Community Fund, the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, Valley Veterans ReCreation, and his local fire protection district board. He is passionate in seeing his community prosper and thrive, and is very excited to serve as the newest Executive Director of the CFSLV to share his experiences and knowledge about the culture and community. “My goal is to promote equity and inclusion in our SLV communities, with an emphasis on preserving our language and maintaining our cultural identities.”

SONIA PEREZ
Board Member

LinkedIn Profile

As the Executive Director of the San Luis Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and a proud native of the area, I am excited to support and connect with our community. Growing up in the San Luis Valley instilled in me a strong appreciation for hard work and the values of resilience and dedication that define our region. I am committed to helping our community succeed and building partnerships that benefit everyone. It’s so meaningful to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones as we work together to create a thriving community.

Being bilingual in English and Spanish allows me to connect with the many voices that make up our region. I deeply believe in the importance of hard work, collaboration, and fostering opportunities for all. Together, we can leave this world better than we found it. Supporting local businesses is about more than just growth—it’s about creating a long lasting legacy of shared success for future generations in the place I proudly call home.

CHRISTIE SPEARS
Secretary

LinkedIn Profile

Christie Spears graduated from Pine Manor College in Boston with a BA in Art History. She spent much of her time back East where her family lives. She and her husband Will have been married for 25 years and moved to Pagosa Springs in 1999. After raising three children, Christie has spent much of her time focusing on sales and everything else at KWUF Radio, and is also owner of KZBR, KALQ, and KGIW in Alamosa.

Christie is currently on the Pagosa Springs Chamber Board and on a parent’s council board at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.

SHERRY WANER
Board Member

Sherry Waner is the CEO and Co-Founder of HelloBello, an innovative technology platform that simplifies complex lending. A leader in the economic development and entrepreneurial ecosystem-building fields, Sherry has used technology to amplify impact throughout her career – including building software applications for federal assistance programs, using technology-based solutions for solving inefficiencies in the lending processes, and creating data impact and measurement programs.

Her deep knowledge of rural communities and the challenges they face for economic growth, combined with her technology and data expertise has enabled Sherry to create innovative solutions to complex challenges.

Sherry has over 31 years of banking experience, specializing in finding creative ways to provide access to capital that assists small business start-ups and expansions. She has coached thousands of start-ups and small to medium-sized businesses across industries on financing, fundraising, employee-buyouts, acquisitions, strategy, scaling, and other business essentials.

Prior to her role at HelloBello, Sherry served as Chief Development Officer (CDO) for First Southwest Bank, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Bank, and partner organization First Southwest Community Fund, a 501c-3 non-profit. During her time as CDO, Sherry led First Southwest Bank to become one of Colorado’s leading specialized lenders – now known for its innovative financing models nationally. Sherry was also instrumental in the formation and capacity building of the partner 501c-3 First Southwest Community Fund. Sherry attended the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado University – Boulder. She holds various leadership positions locally and statewide including Chair of the Colorado Minority Business Office Advisory Counsel-appointed by the Governor, Counsel Member of the newly chartered Colorado Office of Financial Empowerment-appointed by the Attorney General, President of the Board of Directors for the Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation-elected, and serving on the Advisory Board for Colorado Enterprise Fund focusing on New Market Tax Credit Projects for underserved communities.