Our Journey
Sequoyah Commercial Partners was founded by Luke Shepard after a successful career in the commercial lending industry. Having served for over 25 years as a Vice President, Commercial Manager and Loan Officer for direct lenders, growing the balance sheet and managing profitable real estate portfolios. A respectable career that successfully navigated both borrowers and lenders through the difficult “great recession” and “Covid Shutdown” along with other various market cycles, Luke was ready to make a change.
With a long career built on trust and performance, clients and employers evolved into trusted friendships and partners. Luke’s years of experience structuring loans, negotiating terms, and advocating for both client and lender alike, ensured the best result for all involved. Over time, the lending industry has changed and consolidated in different ways, some positive and some not.
While valuing and understanding the lending business model, our founder was passionate about advocating for the borrower and enjoying the process of lending. The variety of different loan structures, property types, borrower profiles, and different property uses all require a level of expertise and experience to successfully navigate the loan process.
As a direct lender having interacted with many in the commercial loan brokering industry, Luke was frustrated with the disservice many (not all) loan brokers provided to their clients. From inexperience to incompetence and even unethical treatment of the borrower, he knew there had to be a better way to serve the needs of the commercial borrower.
Sequoyah Commercial Partners was created to be a better way. “Our expertise. Your Advantage. We work for you.” This isn’t a slogan, it’s our mission.
Luke Shepard – Managing Director, Partner
First, a devoted Christian who enjoys teaching, helping, and serving people. Married to his beautiful wife Stephany, a father of two and grandfather to 3 (so far). A life long resident of the Pacific Northwest, a Cherokee and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. In addition to these, Luke enjoys getting to know his clients personally to better understand their goals and helping to make the complicated aspects of lending a bit easier to understand. Staying active in service and getting out in nature when ever possible is a priority.
Known to bring donuts and buy lunch, reach out if you would like to connect, email to info@SequoyahCP.com
By the way, incase you are wondering, Sequoyah is pronounced suh-kwoy-uh.