Laquanda Franklin is a senior vice president of underwriting in asset-based lending and factoring with White Oak Commercial Finance, where she has worked for more than 13 years. Franklin’s primary focus is managing client relationships and servicing White Oak portfolio loans. She has built an impressive career at White Oak, starting from a training program that allowed her to work and learn in various departments of the business.

After the training program, Franklin worked in client accounting before crossing into credit management, both for factoring and ABL clients. Since then, thanks to her passion for continuous learning, she has become a successful and experienced loan portfolio manager. She continues to seek opportunities to grow and enhance her contributions to her clients and White Oak. Due to her deep understanding of her clients’ businesses, combined with her ability to create a strong rapport with various management teams, she has assisted White Oak with limited attrition, even in volatile market environments.

Franklin successfully navigated the turbulent credit waters of 2022 without any credit losses on her portfolio, primarily as a result of her proactiveness and critical mind. She identified clients’ challenges early and implemented plans designed to protect White Oak’s interests while helping her clients identify and deal with supply chain issues, order postponements and cancellations, inflation and increasing interest rates. She has proactively repriced credit when appropriate and has repeatedly demonstrated her ability to transition between ABL and factoring with minimal oversight.

Franklin’s unique combination of skills and demeanor has earned her great respect within the ABL industry. She is detailed-oriented, patient, inquisitive and knowledgeable, and models an exceptional client service orientation. These factors have helped her become an influential leader both within and outside of the White Oak organization.