Leadership
Jared Feldman
CEO & Co-Founder
As Fora’s co-founder, CEO, and board member, Jared’s sustained focus and dedication has secured the firm’s position as a best-in-class alternative lender.
During his tenure as CEO, Jared commandeered a game-changing private-equity deal with Palladium Equity Partners, fostered the adoption of advanced technology platforms, and built a closely knit workplace culture of nearly 200 people.
“Watching the members of our Fora family grow professionally and personally has been the highlight of my career,” says Jared. And the firm has grown with them. His stellar achievements have spurred 15 years of consistent, year-over-year direct sales growth. To date, Fora has provided more than $4 billion to more than 55,000 businesses and has been named six times to the Inc. 5000 list of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in America.
Jared looks ahead to setting and achieving new milestones: “As much progress as we’ve made, there’s still much more we plan to do for the Main Street businesses that fuel our economy.”
- Education
- B.S. in Business, Management concentration, Indiana University
- When I’m not working, I’m
- Spending time with my family and being physically active
- I’d never turn down a trip to
- the Amalfi Coast
- My preferred superpower would be
- Time travel
- I’d like an unlimited supply of
- Good health
John Egerman
Chief Financial Officer
John Egerman is the Chief Financial Officer of Fora Financial. In this role, John is responsible for driving the company’s financial operations, strategy, investor relations, capital development, and risk management. John and his team work hand-in-hand with their business partners to ensure Fora Financial delivers small and medium sized business across the U.S. with the flexible financing solutions they need to grow their businesses.
John brings nearly two decades of experience across multiple private and public companies in the FinTech, eCommerce, Retail and Energy Industries. In the last 20 years, John has served in leadership roles in Treasury, Capital Markets, Corporate Finance and Commercial finance functions from startups to Fortune 50 companies. Prior to joining Fora Financial, John served as Vice President and CFO for Pay Pal’s Consumer Businesses.
Prior to PayPal, John held corporate and commercial finance leadership roles at Walmart including leading the finance teams for two of Walmart’s fast growing e-commerce businesses. John previously held leadership roles at Marathon Petroleum, and Plains All American Pipeline.
Among his many professional accomplishments, John is most proud of the people he was fortunate enough to help develop and mentor early on in their careers. “Over my career, I think what I have enjoyed the most is seeing the accomplished careers that many of my former teammates have gone on to have.”
John earned his MBA from Rice University and his Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Colorado.
In his leisure time, John enjoys playing golf, watching sports, traveling, and spending time with his family.
- My favorite travel destination
- Hawaii (Kauai or the big Island)
- An interesting fact about me
- I worked on an offshore oil rig for a summer.
- The weirdest things I’ve eaten
- Crickets and toasted bugs
- Three items I’d bring on a desert island
- A good book, sunglasses, and a cocktail
Dan Smith
Co-Founder & Board Member
Since co-founding Fora Financial in 2008, Dan remains a driving force behind the firm’s success. He served as the firm’s president from 2008 to 2020, now advising the executive team as a board member.
Fora Financial’s cutting-edge technology initiatives, innovative underwriting models, and securement of a private equity sponsor all reflect Dan’s commitment to building the firm, deal by deal, hire by hire. Most recently, he relocated to Miami to spearhead the opening of Fora’s Miami office, which serves southern Florida’s burgeoning business community.
In addition to his many business accomplishments, Dan prides himself on the deep relationships he’s created with his colleagues and business partners: “I love surrounding myself with smarter people. It’s how I’ve evolved as a leader.”
Raised in a family that owns and operates small businesses, Dan gained an early understanding of small business challenges and needs. He shares his experience by serving as a board member of the Small Business Finance Association, a leading advocacy association for the alternative lending industry.
- Education:
- B.S. in Business Management from Indiana University
- I’d never turn down a trip to:
- Hawaii
- As a sports fan, I’m all about:
- the Philadelphia Eagles
- If I could have a superpower, I’d choose:
- Being a healer
- My desert island essentials:
- my bike, my surfboard, and my running shoes