Carson Harmonson, vice president of business development at Dare Capital, didn’t always see himself in our industry. “You know, I never thought I’d be in specialty finance,” Harmonson says. “I grew up around it — my dad started FarWest in 2008 — so I was always aware of what factoring and ABL were.”
His official start came in 2020 during the early days of the pandemic, when job prospects were shaky. “I had a brief conversation with Cole about what working together might look like, and we were off to the races,” he says.
Before entering the finance world, Harmonson held jobs as varied as construction worker, bartender and retail associate. That background shaped his approach to business development. “I wear the business development hat, sure, but I do a little bit of everything here — except operations,” he says. “I love seeing the process all the way through, from introduction to funding.”
Harmonson finds pride in building something alongside family. “Getting to grow the business with my dad has been really special,” he says. He also credits mentorship from leaders like Debra Zukonik, Dare Capital’s chief credit officer. “She’s such a wellspring of knowledge. I learn something new every time we talk.”
Though he jokes about being “an old-school dude,” Harmonson embraces innovation where it counts, especially in risk management. “It’s been really rewarding to see Cole and Matt develop NN6, our new portfolio management software,” he says.
Looking ahead, he sees opportunity in generational transition. “There’s going to be a lot of consolidation in the next 10 years,” he says. As for advice to future leaders? “Ask for what you want and work your ass off.”
Harmonson’s own goal is clear: “I’d like to grow our book to $150 million. I’d be really proud of that.”
