Peachtree Group Appoints Chandler SVP of Strategy, Government Lending

November 13, 2025

ATLANTA, GA — Peachtree Group, a commercial real estate investment firm overseeing a diversified portfolio of more than $9 billion, has announced in a press release the appointment of Zach Chandler as senior vice president of strategy, government lending.

In a separate press release, the company also announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire First Western SBLC Inc., dba PMC Commercial Trust, a Dallas-based nationwide direct lender specializing in Small Business Administration 7(a) loans. The closing is subject to the receipt of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s consent as well as certain other closing conditions.

In his new role, Chandler leads strategic initiatives and business development for Peachtree’s expanding government lending platform, which includes programs backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federally guaranteed loan programs.

“Zach’s leadership and experience in the government-guaranteed lending space will be instrumental as we continue to scale our platform,” said Greg Friedman, managing principal/CEO of Peachtree.

“The addition of the USDA Business & Industry Loan Program enhances our ability to provide flexible, long-term financing for projects in smaller or underserved markets, areas where traditional bank lending has pulled back,” Friedman added. “Integrating USDA lending into our broader credit platform expands our reach, diversifies our capital solutions and allows us to support borrowers across the full spectrum of commercial real estate and operating businesses.”

Chandler brings nearly a decade of experience in government-guaranteed lending and commercial finance. He joins Peachtree from Thomas USAF Group, where he most recently served as senior vice president of government-guaranteed lending.

“This acquisition will allow Peachtree to expand its credit platform while bringing the speed, creativity and certainty we’re known for into the SBA lending space,” Friedman said of the pending First Western SBLC deal. “PMC was founded by my grandfather, Dr. Fred Rosemore, over four decades ago to help entrepreneurs access capital and pursue their business goals. Bringing that legacy into Peachtree’s platform will be both personally meaningful and strategically powerful, enabling us to deliver fast, flexible financing solutions to small business owners nationwide.”

Following the closing of this acquisition, Peachtree will offer small business owners streamlined access to SBA 7(a) loans ranging from $50,000 to $5,000,000 to finance acquisitions of real estate or other businesses, purchase equipment, provide working capital and refinance existing debt.

PMC, an indirect subsidiary of Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation, is one of only 12 small business lending companies  actively licensed by the SBA to originate 7(a) loans. Since its founding in 1983, the firm has helped entrepreneurs access growth capital and holds the SBA’s Preferred Lender Program (PLP) designation, granting delegated authority to place SBA guarantees on loans without prior SBA review, allowing borrowers to close faster and advance their business plans.

“Expanding into SBA lending is a natural extension of Peachtree’s vertically integrated platform,” added Michael Harper, president, hotel lending for Peachtree. “With PMC’s PLP designation and focus on hotel owners, along with the network of relationships we can leverage through our originations team, we will be able to provide efficient capital solutions for smaller transactions while supporting small business growth in hospitality and other industries. This addition will broaden our credit capabilities and strengthen our ability to deliver strong returns for investors.”

Peachtree is a financing partner recognized by the Mortgage Bankers Association as the seventh-largest investor-driven commercial real estate lender in the U.S. The firm will offer a full spectrum of financing solutions, including SBA 7(a) loans following the closing of this acquisition, permanent loans, bridge loans, mezzanine financing, Commercial Property-Assessed Clean Energy loans, preferred equity investments and Triple Net Lease financing.