CEO AND MANAGING PARTNER

Edward is a seasoned financial services executive with more than 20 years of experience driving innovation, growth, and operational excellence across consumer finance, risk management, and regulatory compliance. As CEO and Managing Partner of UGA Finance and its affiliated companies, he leads with a strategic vision rooted in deep industry knowledge and a commitment to expanding access to credit through modern, tech-enabled platforms.

Edward’s leadership is shaped by a legacy of embedded and point-of-sale lending that traces back to the 1970s. Over the past 17 years at UGA, he has been instrumental in evolving that legacy into a scalable, national lending infrastructure—transforming the business into a forward-thinking enterprise powered by proprietary servicing systems and advanced credit decisioning technology.

Under his direction, UGA has originated more than $2.4 billion in consumer credit, launched multiple new business entities, and established a reputation for regulatory rigor and operational discipline. Edward is known for building systems that are not only compliant and secure, but seamlessly integrated into the customer experience—bridging the gap between finance and everyday access.

Before joining UGA, Edward held leadership positions at Collect America Commercial Services Inc., where he served as Director of Operations, and at NCO Financial Systems, where he was General Collection Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Anderson University.

PRESIDENT

Kellie is an accomplished executive with over three decades of leadership in banking, consumer lending, and strategic growth. As President of UAS, a leading point-of-sale finance and loan servicing company, she drives the company's strategic direction and operational excellence.

With a career that includes leadership roles at prestigious institutions like The Associates, Merrick Bank, WebBank, and Pathward Bank, she has played a key role in expanding consumer lending operations and originating billions in loans. Known for her innovative mindset, she holds two patents in the payments industry and has built scalable, risk-managed systems that enhance customer access to financial products. Her expertise makes her a recognized leader in the financial services sector.

She holds a degree in Business Administration from Utah Technical University and remains actively engaged in the Professional Women's Network. Outside of work, Kellie enjoys cooking, gardening, beekeeping, hiking, and bike riding.

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

As Chief Technology Officer at UGA Finance, Jason leads the company’s technology strategy, innovation, and infrastructure to align with business goals. With over 25 years of experience in fintech, telecommunications, and enterprise software, he oversees application development, security, and IT operations to drive efficiency and scalability. His expertise in cloud solutions, cybersecurity, and compliance ensures the company remains at the forefront of financial technology while maintaining operational excellence.

Throughout his career, Jason has delivered transformative technology solutions that enhance business performance. He built a fintech platform that reduced credit decisioning time from days to under 10 seconds and led enterprise cloud migrations that achieved 99.99% uptime while optimizing costs and compliance. His work designing a loan origination and servicing platform positioned UGA Finance as a competitor to major fintech firms. Additionally, he has implemented pricing tools that reduced quote times from 10 days to 10 minutes, improving client responsiveness and business agility.

Jason has held multiple leadership roles at UGA Finance, including VP of Product & Technology, Director of IT, and IT Manager. Before joining UGA Finance, he led sales systems teams at Sprint/Embarq/CenturyLink and served as VP of Sales & Business Development at ProCore. He holds an MBA from Baker University and a Bachelor’s in Telecommunications Management from DeVry University, along with certifications in cybersecurity (CompTIA Security+) and compliance frameworks (PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, SOC 2). Committed to community engagement, Jason mentors students through High School Northland CAPS and Professional Studies programs. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, coaching and cheering on their soccer and volleyball games.

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND CLIENT SUCCESS

Hannah Montgomery is a dynamic leader in business development and client success, known for her proactive approach to client engagement and operational excellence. As Director of Business Development and Client Success, she is responsible for driving revenue growth, expanding strategic partnerships, and ensuring exceptional client experiences. Her role focuses on identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, developing and executing sales strategies, and fostering long-term client relationships.

Although new to the industry, Hannah has made an immediate impact—boosting client retention and satisfaction through strategic engagement and process improvements. She has led initiatives to streamline onboarding and workforce management, significantly reducing placement ramp-up time and enhancing consultant performance. Hannah manages a large portfolio of over 30 accounts and 200+ consultants, overseeing everything from onboarding and timesheet management to contract renewals and client reporting.

Prior to her current role, Hannah held multiple leadership positions at ECCO Select, where she quickly rose through the ranks with four promotions in five years. As a Client Success Manager III, she led a major overseas federal deployment, coordinating the training of military bases and hospitals on Cerner software. Her attention to detail and operational leadership were instrumental in handling complex logistics, including licensing, scheduling, and compliance requirements across international sites.

Hannah earned her B.S. in Public Relations from Missouri Western State University after studying at Northwest Missouri State University. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her husband and three children.