Success Stories
Financing to help businesses thrive.
March 2018


Kay Catering
Running her catering business out of a commissary kitchen posed limitations of space, equipment and time. See how an SBA-504 loan made it possible for Kay Kim, owner of Kay Catering, to acquire her own building, enabling her business to easily serve large corporate orders.

Adeptus Partners
Adeptus, a tax and audit firm that specializes in serving the entertainment industry, has grown their range of expertise significantly, in part organically, as well as through strategic acquisitions of smaller accounting firms. “A major challenge with acquiring CPA firms is that we’re purchasing intangible assets,” says Howard Krant, Managing Partner. That means Krant’s firm can’t finance their acquisitions through traditional commercial loans.

Nancy Jo’s Burgers & Fries
A chain of seven old-fashioned burger joints in Oregon, Nancy Jo’s Burgers & Fries was devastated by the pandemic, and facing the likelihood of closing. Owners Richard and Nancy Giddens turned to Key for help with a PPP loan so they could keep their business and support more than 60 employees.

Cazadero Steakhouse
See how a first-time restaurant entrepreneur used the Paycheck Protection Program and her relationship with KeyBank to keep her business going through a burglary, COVID-19 and raging wildfires.

Sigma Telecommunications Services
Launching a telecommunications business in 2020, business partners Corey White and Alvin Johnson knew they had challenges ahead. But in KeyBank, they found a financial institution who understood their company’s potential and helped them secure the capital they needed to get on the path to success.

EuropaKids Preschool
Entrepreneurs Kelly Milbrandt and her husband Colin Wiggins knew that Seattle was ready for a new type of preschool experience. So, they started EuropaKids Preschool, which provides Spanish-language immersion instruction. As parents vied for open spots, they identified the need to launch a second location. See how KeyBank helped them secure various loans to grow while taking care of their staff in the midst of the pandemic.

Señor Taco
Lucia Náñez moved from sunny Mexico to Alaska in January 1986. She and her husband, Jose ("Chepo") had a vision to open a restaurant serving food from their native state of Zacatecas in central Mexico, where Lucia had learned to cook from her family.

Vargas Associates
After establishing a career in project management, Christine Vargas in 2004 decided to build an interior design firm. Although COVID-19 hit the company hard, a loan from the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has helped the company avoid widescale furloughs.

Twede’s Café
When Rachel Bennett and Max Spears moved back to Washington last year, they knew they were ready for the next chapter in their lives, but they never expected it would include buying their favorite hometown diner.

American Foam Products
After thirteen years as a senior manager for a manufacturer specializing in chemical recycling equipment, Bruce Rosenbaum was ready to be in charge.

Buckeye Beer Engine
Peter and Renee were familiar with Buckeye Beer Engine long before they bought it in 2019. Renee had begun working there as a hostess and rose to manager. Peter had been an investor and design consultant. When the founder decided to retire, Peter asked Renee to join him in buying the business. They shared a vision for tweaking and improving the food and service without sacrificing the homey, welcoming atmosphere.

La Palmera Restaurants
Hector and Amelia Mendoza knew everything about running their Mexican restaurant, but when the opportunity came to expand and add locations, they turned to KeyBank for its expertise in SBA loans.