Banking on Integrity

Hazem Ahmed
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Explore the heart of Houston's business community with Banking on Integrity, brought to you by Integrity Bank. Join founders Hazem Ahmad and Mack Neff as they interview local entrepreneurs, sharing their journeys of success, overcoming challenges, and driving Houston forward.

  1. 5d ago

    Closed in 37 Days: What a Well-Run SBA Loan Actually Looks Like

    Hazem and Mack sit down with Mark Danford, Managing Director of Waterstone and a 14-year veteran of SBA lending. Waterstone is a full-service outsourced SBA division serving 34 community banks across the country, and Mark is the person who knows how it all works. In this episode they cover how the SBA loan guarantee program actually functions, why Houston did $1.1 billion in guaranteed loans in 2025, the 504 versus 7A distinction, policy changes under the current administration, what disqualifies a business from the program, and what it takes to close a deal in 37 days. Learn more about Waterstone (https://www.b1bank.com/waterstone). To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. Waterstone functions as a fully outsourced SBA lending division for community banks, handling everything from initial borrower meetings through underwriting and closing, while the bank retains all credit and funding decisions. It currently serves 34 banking partners ranging from $34 million to $9 billion in assets, with two thirds of those banks outside of Texas. 2. SBA loans are not a rubber stamp or a bailout program. They are commercial loans with a government guarantee designed to extend reasonable terms to creditworthy businesses that fall just outside a bank's conventional risk parameters, whether due to startup age, ownership transitions, or limited collateral. 3. Houston is one of the most active SBA markets in the country, generating $1.1 billion in guaranteed loans in 2025 alone, driven by the city's density of startups, diverse industries, and a culture that rewards entrepreneurship across every sector. 4. The 7A and 504 programs serve different purposes: 7A is flexible and can cover working capital, acquisitions, and equipment alongside real estate, while 504 is designed for long-term fixed assets with a lower blended rate. Beginning July 5, the two programs are being decoupled so a business can access up to $10 million by combining them. 5. Waterstone has maintained a 100% SBA approval rating across 14 years and 34 banking partners by prioritizing complete documentation, proper eligibility screening, and prudent underwriting before any application is submitted, proving that good lender behavior is what preserves the program's integrity and keeps guarantee honor rates above 97%. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro00:31 Hazem introduces Mark Danford, Managing Director of Waterstone00:39 What Waterstone does and how it functions as an outsourced SBA division01:36 Waterstone's relationship with Integrity Bank and its acquisition by b1BANK in 202402:24 How many banks Waterstone serves and where they are located02:49 The size range of Waterstone's banking partners, from $34 million to $9 billion in assets03:09 Why SBA lending capability matters for any bank serving a city like Houston03:26 Houston's $1.1 billion in SBA guaranteed loans in 202504:51 How often deals get declined and what disqualifies a loan from the start05:28 Why about half of what Waterstone reviews moves through the approval process06:01 The origins of the SBA in 1953 and why small businesses drive 97% of employment06:48 What happens to small business growth without reasonable SBA terms07:33 Maximum and minimum SBA loan amounts under the 7A program08:09 The emerging $10 million SBA headline and what it actually means08:34 Explaining the 504 program: fixed assets, real estate, debentures, and blended rates10:54 How decoupling 7A and 504 limits opens a path to $10 million in combined financing11:20 How SBA policy changes happen and how frequently the rules shift under new administrations13:00 The current administration's push to support US manufacturing through higher guarantees14:17 How often the SBA honors its guarantees and what lenders must do to earn it15:08 Why prudent lending behavior is as important with SBA loans as without16:18 How multiple SBA loans to the same entity work and how collateral stacks across transactions19:35 What better terms actually means for a small business borrower: down payments, amortization, cash flow20:00 A concrete example: financing dump trucks at 100% over 10 years versus 20% down over 522:32 How Waterstone engages from the first customer conversation through closing25:39 Waterstone's 100% SBA approval rating across 14 years26:28 Turnaround times: 37 days on one end, 339 days on the other27:23 Why every business owner should maintain an organized financial file before they ever need a loan27:53 How timely tax filings and organized records signal management quality to lenders29:05 How many lender service providers exist nationally and how Waterstone differs29:38 Industries that are and are not eligible for SBA loans30:49 Disqualified business types: nonprofits, marijuana-adjacent businesses, restrictive membership clubs See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min

  2. Jun 2

    The Bank That Calls You at 11 PM When Something Looks Wrong

    The best defense against fraud is the person who already knows your name. Hazem and Mack sit down with Integrity Bank Chief Risk Officer Christy Bussey, just steps from her office, to unpack what it really means to manage risk inside a community bank, covering the evolution of fraud from card skimming to AI voice cloning, why seniors and lonely individuals are the most targeted, how social media oversharing fuels scams, and what small business owners and everyday consumers can do right now to protect themselves, their families, and their finances. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. The Chief Risk Officer role has evolved well beyond compliance checklists and dual controls. Today it means sitting at the table when strategic decisions are made, actively managing regulator relationships, and serving as the bank's early warning system for anything that looks outside the norm. 2. The fastest growing fraud threat in 2026 is AI voice cloning and deepfake scams, where criminals clone a voice from just a few seconds of audio and use it to manipulate family members. The best defenses are a family safe word, calling back independently, and slowing down whenever a request feels urgent or emotional. 3. Seniors are disproportionately targeted not because they are less intelligent but because they trust people, answer their phones, and often have savings. The same loneliness that makes someone answer a stranger's call also makes them vulnerable to long-running romance and social media scams that can drain savings over months before the victim realizes what happened. 4. Social media oversharing is one of the primary ways scammers gather the personal information they need, including birthdays, pet names, school names, vacation schedules, and voice samples, to make their approaches feel legitimate and personal. 5. For small business owners, internal fraud prevention starts with dual controls so that no single person can initiate and approve a financial transaction alone, paired with a regular review of bank statements or online banking as a simple but effective form of audit. Timestamped Overview 00:31 Hazem introduces Christy Bussey, Chief Risk Officer at Integrity Bank01:05 What a Chief Risk Officer actually does inside a bank01:36 How Christy manages relationships 02:42 What regulators are and are not there to do for banks03:53 What keeps regulators up at night: cyber risk, fraud, and liquidity04:28 How fraud has shifted from card theft to emotional manipulation05:30 AI voice cloning and deepfake scams: how they work and how to stop them06:49 Why vulnerable and elderly individuals are the most targeted07:24 Common elder fraud scams: Medicare, fake tech support, fake investments08:32 How loneliness and isolation increase susceptibility to romance and social media scams09:58 Why community banks catch fraud that big banks miss10:59 The familiarity advantage: knowing customers before they walk in the door11:48 An Uber driver's story and the difference between big banks and community banks12:27 Protective transfer scams and smishing: fake links from fake institutions14:51 Why your email inbox should work like your front door15:40 Social media oversharing: what you are unknowingly giving scammers17:43 Why trusting people is both a virtue and a vulnerability18:39 The importance of talking about fraud inside families and communities19:39 Real-time banking access as a fraud prevention tool and why checking daily matters21:16 Mack on checking his accounts two to three times a day and being available 24/722:45 When banks call customers outside business hours and why it matters23:13 Personal versus business devices and why mixing them creates risk25:17 Why financial tasks should live on a dedicated, protected device25:59 Internal fraud: dual controls and the importance of separating access27:34 Closing thoughts on speed, risk, and protecting everyone who listens28:19 What regulators and technologists are watching over the next 24 to 36 months29:33 Christy's closing message: awareness is still the best prevention tool available See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min

  3. May 26

    If You Know Her, You Know Integrity Bank

    The best bankers don't just lend money. They help build lives. Hazem and Mack sit down with Integrity Bank Chief Lending Officer and founding team member Judy Budnik to trace a 40-year banking career that began next door to a small-town Louisiana bank president, wound through Frost Bank, a wedding-day job offer, and Houston National Bank, and ultimately came full circle at Integrity Bank, exploring real estate lending, community banking philosophy, what it takes to go from renter to owner, and why the relationships you build outlast any transaction. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. Judy's path into banking started in Lafayette, Louisiana, where her next-door neighbor, a local bank president, modeled what it looked like to help businesses get off the ground and advised her to pursue a finance degree, get her master's, and move to Houston for greater opportunity. 2. She arrived in Houston in the late 1980s planning to stay a few months, started at Frost Bank under mentor Mike Moser in the special assets department, and received her first offer from Mack Neff at the steps of her own wedding ceremony in 1993. 3. Early experience with problem loans and special assets shaped her preference for real estate lending, where collateral is more stable and the long-term value of property often becomes a borrower's most important financial asset, even when their core business is something else entirely. 4. Community banking, in Judy's view, is fundamentally about education: helping clients understand their cash flow, structure their financials, and find paths to ownership through tools like SBA loans, equity partners, and lease add-backs when they do not yet have 15 to 20 percent down. 5. Joining Integrity Bank was a full-circle moment, filling a real market void left by consolidation and giving her a chance to close out her career the way it began: spending real time with customers, mentoring younger bankers, and watching families and businesses grow across generations. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro00:31 Mack introduces Judy Budnik as a founding team member of Integrity Bank01:01 Growing up next door to a bank president in Lafayette, Louisiana02:20 Moving to Houston, joining Frost Bank, and meeting mentor Mike Moser03:41 Receiving a job offer from Mack Neff at the steps of her wedding04:34 How Mack recruited Judy to Houston National Bank in 199305:43 Moving from credit analyst to lender and building a real estate focus07:33 Judy's role as Chief Lending Officer and her skill at making deals bankable08:10 How Integrity Bank evaluates cash flow, collateral, and multiple repayment sources09:12 The education component of community banking and smart use of leverage10:17 Why real estate often becomes an entrepreneur's most valuable long-term asset11:25 The advantages of owning your business location rather than renting it12:22 What borrowers need to qualify: financials, tax returns, and equity injection13:42 SBA loans, family equity partners, and other paths when 15 percent is out of reach14:21 How Integrity Bank stretches the box while staying disciplined as a lender15:27 Watching clients' families grow and why generational relationships define the career16:31 How new clients find Judy and what the first conversation looks like17:13 Houston's industry diversity and why it makes community banking endlessly exciting19:08 Judy as a teacher inside the bank and why mentorship matters20:06 Why she chose to join a brand new institution rather than stay at an established one21:20 Full circle careers, mentorship, and the meaning of two-generation client relationships23:02 Banking consolidation, displaced bankers, and Integrity Bank's opposite trajectory24:22 The story of housing Integrity Bank's Chief Risk Officer for six months25:18 What that act of generosity says about Integrity Bank's culture and family spirit26:09 Recognizing the 175 shareholders who took the risk to fund the vision27:07 Closing thoughts, how to reach Judy, and why if you know her, you know Integrity Bank See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min

  4. May 19

    Where Families Come First: Serving Houston's Immigrant Community With Integrity

    Justice is built one relationship at a time. Hazem and Mack sit down with Houston immigration attorney and Mendez Law Office founder Matthew Mendez. They trace how a middle-class upbringing, a mentor-driven pivot into immigration law, and an entrepreneurial spark ignited by his father-in-law led to building a 41-person firm in one of the country's most competitive legal markets, exploring faith in clients, the complexity of immigration, marketing in a billboard city, and what it means to serve Houston's most vulnerable families. Learn more about Mendez Law Office at mendezlawoffice.com or in Spanish at abogadomendez.com. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. Matthew's entrepreneurial drive didn't come from his upbringing. Both parents held traditional jobs, but he was awakened by watching his father-in-law run multiple businesses and by his wife Ginny's steady encouragement to bet on himself. 2. He launched Mendez Law in January 2017 after consistently outperforming the firms he worked for, starting with just him and Ginny handling everything from client intake to assembling furniture, and growing quickly by prioritizing marketing in a saturated field. 3. Houston is arguably the epicenter of immigration law in the nation as the largest city in the largest border state. It has the density of courts, judges, and diverse immigrant communities that make it uniquely demanding and important for the practice. 4. Mendez Law distinguishes itself by offering free consultations, operating with radical transparency about what the law can and cannot do, and serving clients who have all come through government-vetted processes. Not individuals who have evaded legal scrutiny. 5. With 11 attorneys and 41 staff, Matthew is now expanding into personal injury law, with an eye toward blending the high-volume, billboard-style visibility of Houston's most recognizable legal brands with the deep client respect of elite, results-driven firms. Timestamped Overview 00:31 Hazem introduces Matthew Mendez and Mendez Law Office00:52 How Matthew launched the firm in 2017 and Ginny's foundational role03:20 The entrepreneurial spark: his father-in-law's example and a shift in mindset04:54 Deciding to become an attorney, writing skills, and finding a passion for immigration07:51 Mentor Juan Reyes and the mentor-shaped path into immigration law08:14 Is Houston the epicenter of immigration law in the U.S.?09:13 Estimating Houston's immigration attorney population (1,500–3,000)10:23 What most people misunderstand about immigration law's complexity12:30 How most Mendez Law clients are government-vetted and legally present13:56 What draws immigrants to Houston: economy, opportunity, and no barriers to entry18:06 Growing to 41 employees and 11 attorneys, and overcoming the fear of hiring20:11 Expanding into personal injury law and the competitive marketing landscape22:23 Houston's "billboard attorney" culture — Mattress Mack, Jim Adler, and brand-building25:05 Plans for marketing, persona-building, and standing out in a short-attention-span world27:07 The business side of running a law firm — cash flow, accountants, and banking relationships28:58 How to contact Mendez Law: free consultations, social media, phone, and bilingual website30:44 Closing thanks, reflections on serving Houston's communities, and final remarks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min

  5. May 12

    Houston Tex‑Mex Legacy, Part Two: Domenic Laurenzo

    Second acts can redefine a family. Hazem and Mack sit with Houston native and El Tiempo Cantina Executive Chef and President Domenic Laurenzo, grandson of Mama Ninfa, to trace how a Tex‑Mex legacy, bankruptcy, and a detour into professional golf led to building El Tiempo, exploring faith, design, risk, and what it takes to lead a thousand‑person restaurant family in Houston today. Learn more about El Tiempo Cantina here. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. Domenic grew up in a multigenerational restaurant family that helped popularize Tex-Mex in booming 1980s Houston, watching his grandmother lead Ninfa’s and greet lines of guests while his father crisscrossed Texas running stores. 2. Before returning to the family business, he pursued professional golf, even running a mini tour sponsored by Ninfa’s, until the restaurant’s bankruptcy forced a hard pivot back home and a move from Tanglewood to the East End. 3. The loss of Ninfa’s through bankruptcy and a perceived hostile takeover left deep resentment, but a small operation called Dom Burger became a crucible for resilience, quality, and a renewed focus on faith and family. 4. El Tiempo Cantina emerged from this rebuilding period, with its name inspired in Monterrey and captured in a poem about welcoming guests into a Mexican house where past, present, and future meet, paired with a deliberate “romantic industrial hacienda” atmosphere. 5. Today Domenic focuses on leading almost a thousand employees, protecting culture while navigating franchising, delivery, and changing consumer behavior, emphasizing human relationships, training, and his father’s mantra to first be a man of God. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro and restaurant chapter framing 00:31 Hazem introduces Domenic and the interconnected Houston restaurant families 01:38 Early memories of Houston, childhood freedom, and neighborhood moves 03:10 Grandmother’s opening of Ninfa’s locations and Tanglewood upbringing 05:18 How Ninfa’s helped make Tex-Mex mainstream comfort food 06:30 Watching his grandmother work the floor and build a beloved brand 07:57 Stories of her travels, blessings, and public recognition 08:38 Discovering golf, becoming a four year letterman, and turning pro 09:27 Running the Ninfa’s Texas golf tour and life on the mini tour circuit 10:26 News of Ninfa’s bankruptcy and sudden return to the East End 12:30 Reflections on his father’s work ethic, depression, and family fears 13:55 Launching Dom Burger and rebuilding during a two year revival period 15:12 Resentment over the bankruptcy outcome and non-compete constraints 17:54 Opening El Tiempo, the Canal Street phase, and defining “pura calidad” 21:29 Searching Houston for a new site and finding the Richmond location 22:50 Trip to Monterrey and the moment the El Tiempo name was born 24:12 Antonio’s poem about time, home, and carrying the past forward 25:33 Hazem’s reflections on El Tiempo’s dining room feel and time slowing down 26:15 Domenic’s design role and coining “romantic industrial hacienda” 27:45 Atmosphere versus food and why both matter in great restaurants 28:07 Mack on margaritas, memorable nights, and guest experience 28:45 Hazem asks about the future, Galveston franchising, and the Post location 29:24 Adapting to delivery, training staff, and preparing to succeed his father 31:01 Challenges of franchising, culture transfer, and protecting the brand 33:08 Closing appreciation for the family’s contribution to Houston and final thanks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min

  6. May 5

    Houston Tex‑Mex Legacy, Part One: Phyllis Mandola

    Legacy starts at the table. Hazem and Mack walk with longtime Houston restaurateur Phyllis Mandola, daughter of Tex‑Mex pioneer Mama Ninfa, through their family’s journey from political exile and a tortilla and pizza factory to Ninfa’s, seafood concepts, and El Tiempo, exploring neighborhood change, grief, generosity, and how hospitality and education continue her mother’s impact on Houston across generations. Learn about The Ninfa Laurenzo Scholarship Fund. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. Phyllis grew up with entrepreneurial parents shaped by exile from Mexico, a grandfather who built the original Ninfa’s building, and a mother who started as a teenage hairdresser before moving into tortillas, pizza, and eventually tacos. 2. The first Ninfa’s on Navigation began as a small tortilla and pizza factory, then added a ten table restaurant in 1973 that introduced tacos al carbon and fajitas to Houston, relying heavily on neighborhood loyalty and family labor. 3. Waiting tables while painfully shy pushed Phyllis into people work, and she came to see front of house roles and host stands as critical points of welcome where guests are treated as entering a home, not just a business. 4. The Mandola seafood restaurants, including the River Oaks move and later building on Waugh Drive, reflect both the upside of owning real estate and the risk of misjudging customer migration, reinforcing how location and neighborhood change can make or break a concept. 5. After losing her mother, husband, and brother, Phyllis channeled grief into the Ninfa Laurenzo Scholarship Fund, extending her mother’s spirit of feeding and uplifting people by funding students and reminding donors that generosity returns many times over. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro and welcome 01:19 Phyllis describes her parents’ personalities and early entrepreneurship 02:32 Family history as political exiles and her grandfather’s construction work 03:12 How tortillas, pizza, and Italian influence came together 04:27 The tortilla machine, early distribution, and delivering pizzas as a teen 05:51 Origin stories around nachos and family restaurant folklore 07:06 Transition from factory to 10 table restaurant and 1973 opening 09:04 Phyllis’s shyness and learning hospitality through waiting tables 11:33 Neighborhood support, Catholic school networks, and early growth 13:36 East End’s evolution into EaDo and reflections on the old barrio 16:46 Meeting and marrying Tony, first restaurants, and seafood pivot 19:03 Shepherd and River Oaks eras and building community around celebrations 20:24 Hospitality philosophy, “mi casa es su casa,” and long term employees 23:11 Mack’s reflections on people contact versus screens for young entrepreneurs 25:09 Building on Waugh Drive, owning dirt, and the realities of customer behavior 26:29 Grief, resilience, and lessons taken from her mother’s example 28:22 Creating the Ninfa Laurenzo Scholarship Fund and its origin story 29:48 Reading student essays, selecting recipients, and the emotional impact 30:07 Mack’s call to give and closing appreciation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min

  7. Apr 28

    The Huynh Restaurant Story: Houston Hospitality with Vietnamese Roots

    Family changes everything. Hazem and Mack sit down with Bryan Hucke and his daughter Reagan to trace an 18 year run of a Huynh Restaurant in EaDo, the shock of eminent domain, the realities of Houston’s restaurant economics, and how ownership, education, and hospitality shape the next chapter for their business and their lives. Learn more about Huynh Restaurant here. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways 1. A corporate career in telecommunications turned into restaurant ownership when Bryan fell in love with a small Midtown spot, its food, and eventually his waitress, whose family recipes became the heart of their Vietnamese restaurant. 2. Locating in EaDo near Houston’s stadiums created opportunity but also long term risk, and after 18 years of operations the family must now relocate because of a long anticipated eminent domain taking. 3. Being an owner operator with family in the kitchen and at the front door has been central to their success, reinforcing consistency, accountability, and a guest experience that feels more like visiting a home than a transaction. 4. Reagan’s journey from four year old hostess to hospitality student at the University of Houston shows how early responsibility, formal education, and exposure to industry leaders can position the next generation to scale beyond a single location. 5. Their approach to hospitality blends value, ambiance, customization, and genuine gratitude, and they see travel, new locations, and careful expansion as ways to grow while protecting culture during a pivotal year of change. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro and host setup 00:31 Bryan and Reagan introduced and current EaDo location described 02:12 Eminent domain timeline and the need to relocate 05:08 Reagan’s early roles in the restaurant and growing responsibilities 07:34 How Bryan met his wife and the origin of the restaurant concept 08:52 Family involvement, second location plans, and dynasty potential 10:28 Keys to surviving 18 years in a tough industry 11:57 Employee tenure, turnover, and building long term staff relationships 13:37 Customer relationships, remembering guests, and becoming part of their lives 16:51 Balancing food, ambiance, cleanliness, and value on the guest’s check 18:06 Mack’s view on execution, hot food, and service discipline 19:19 Bryan’s hopes for Reagan’s career and her post graduation options 21:54 Fertitta’s influence on UH and Reagan’s view of global hospitality 23:24 Houston as a base with global possibilities for a hospitality career 25:18 Matching guests to dishes and curating the menu experience 26:37 Traveling for food and drink, and how trips shape their perspective 28:43 Mexico City as a nearby culinary playground for inspiration 29:11 Houston’s cultural mix, fusion of stories, and closing reflections See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min

  8. Apr 21

    A Million‑Dollar Spin and a Lifetime of Relationships

    Relationships outlast trends. Hazem and Mack talk with Jayne Edison of OFI about growing a furniture business on loyalty and referrals, a 27‑year banking relationship that started on day one, navigating the Stanford Financial collapse, and how Houston’s “big city, small town” feel shapes her approach to risk, giving back, and big opportunities. Learn more about Office Furniture Innovations here. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Key Takeaways Long‑term relationships with clients and bankers can power a business across decades, companies, and market cycles, turning professional contacts into deep friendships. A trusted banker who understands your history, risk, and character can be a stabilizing force through both growth and crisis. In moments of sudden disruption, like the Stanford Financial collapse, quick decisions to protect inventory and cash can make the difference between survival and significant loss. Houston’s “large city, small town” character connects entrepreneurs, bankers, and vendors through shared networks, charity work, and mutual trust. A belief that “numbers don’t pay you back, people do” reinforces the importance of character, integrity, and relationship‑driven business practices. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro00:44 Welcoming OFI’s Jayne Edison02:21 A 27‑year relationship with banker Judy Budnick03:34 “Numbers don’t pay you back, people do”04:05 Entering furniture in 1989 and loving design variety04:58 A first client who’s stayed for four decades05:32 Trucks on the road during the Stanford Financial shutdown06:52 Recovering high‑value rugs and managing losses08:30 Meeting Bobby, a contractor who understands her world09:18 Winning a million dollars on a slot machine in Las Vegas10:41 Using the windfall to buy Tiki Island property, not toys11:41 South Texas roots and parents’ work ethic13:01 Planting palm trees at the hometown school in their honor15:21 OFI’s commitment to community and women‑owned business leadership17:25 Discovering and supporting A Place for Peanut horse rescue19:41 Hundreds of horses saved and rehomed25:55 Seeing her work across Houston, from the Fed to courthouses28:20 Vendors backing her to start OFI and working from a hall closet30:02 Winning major justice center projects and fixing problems head‑on33:44 Landing the Federal Reserve Bank with a creative showroom gambit36:57 Executing large clinic and title‑office rollouts during COVID37:57 Jayne, Hazem, and Mack reflect on family‑style banking and Houston’s spirit See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
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5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Explore the heart of Houston's business community with Banking on Integrity, brought to you by Integrity Bank. Join founders Hazem Ahmad and Mack Neff as they interview local entrepreneurs, sharing their journeys of success, overcoming challenges, and driving Houston forward.

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