Meet the Team: Pathway Lending Hires Former CDFI Loan Fund Executive Director

C.J. Sentell Joins Pathway Lending as Vice President of Rural Lending

Pathway Lending welcomes C.J. Sentell as Vice President of Rural Lending. With over five years of experience in the CDFI sector, C.J. comes to Pathway having previously served as the Executive Director of FORGE, a 30-year-old CDFI loan fund in Arkansas. C.J. brings his experience managing a rural portfolio in Arkansas to his new role at Pathway, where he leads efforts to bring capital and resources to rural Tennessee.

“I am honored to join the dynamic team at Pathway. I am inspired by their relentless pursuit of economic opportunity for all, and I look forward to helping advance this mission across rural Tennessee,” said C.J.

He holds graduate degrees from the University of Cambridge and Vanderbilt University and is a graduate of Hendrix College. A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, C.J. is a lifelong entrepreneur and currently owns and operates a grass-fed cattle concern in the Ozark Mountains.

Pathway offers loans and educational services to small businesses with a focus on serving veteran, women, minority and rural business owners and low-to-moderate income communities. With more than $100 million in loans outstanding, Pathway Lending is Tennessee’s largest non-depository CDFI. Pathway anticipates creating more impacts in rural areas across the state through C.J’s role.