A respected former California state legislator with nearly 40 years of public service, Bruce Thompson brings deep expertise in government and small business advocacy. Appointed by President George W. Bush, he served as Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) from 2001 to 2009. Since joining American Lending Center in 2011, Bruce has been instrumental in transforming the company into one of the most successful SBA 504 first loan lenders nationwide, driving measurable impact for small business owners across the country.

Founder and CEO of American Lending Center, John Shen is a visionary entrepreneur and fierce advocate for small businesses. Since establishing ALC in 2009, John has championed accessible, impactful lending — building a nationally recognized portfolio rooted in the SBA 504 program. His leadership earned him the prestigious SBA 504 Lender of the Year award from the Coleman Report in 2017, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the economic advancement of small businesses across America.

As Chief Operating Officer of American Lending Center Holdings Group and cofounder of Sunstone Management, Stella Zhang is a dynamic leader bridging finance and innovation. A proud UC Irvine MBA graduate, Stella has played a pivotal role in scaling both companies to national prominence — earning repeated recognition on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies. Her strategic leadership continues to shape the future of small business lending and early-stage investment.

Chief Financial Officer of American Lending Center and founding partner of Sunstone Management, Queena Zhao is a driving force behind ALC’s rise as a national powerhouse in non-bank small business lending. With a focus on economic development in underserved and rural communities, Queena has helped guide transformative investments in sectors including energy, agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing. Her passion for innovation extends to public-private tech ventures and nonprofit education initiatives, where she remains actively engaged.

With over 15 years of experience championing small business success, Scott Thompson serves as Chief Lending Officer at American Lending Center. He oversees loan origination, underwriting, and servicing, including the management of ALC’s expansive portfolio of 30,000+ Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans delivered across all 50 states. Scott’s operational leadership ensures businesses receive fast, reliable access to the capital they need to thrive.

A founding member and partner of Blackhall, P.C., Justin Blackhall joined American Lending Center in 2015, bringing a sharp legal mind and deep expertise in complex finance. His leadership in structuring creative capital solutions and streamlining risk management processes has been critical in positioning ALC as a trailblazer in small business lending. Justin’s work continues to enhance operational efficiency, compliance, and profitability across the organization.

An accomplished economist with 15 years of experience across consulting, research, and finance, Scott Wagner joined American Lending Center in 2014. He has helped shape ALC’s rapid portfolio growth while maintaining rigorous compliance with lending and regulatory standards. Previously, Scott worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to modernize the EB-5 investment-for-immigration program. He is also the founding member of Wagner Consulting Group, a firm specializing in economic advisory services.

 As a trusted lender service provider to ALC, Jim Ely brings decades of experience in government-guaranteed lending. He is president of sbfdoc.org, the Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County, which facilitates loan guarantees through California’s Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank. A veteran of SBA lending since 1984, Jim also leads sbapro.com, a resource hub for banks and borrowers. In 2015, Jim was honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration as Financial Services Champion of the Year, a testament to his enduring contributions to the industry.