Operations

DAVID WATKINS

Senior Vice President - Commercial Underwriting & Operations

Mr. Watkins works closely with our Regional Vice Presidents, Area Market Managers, and Independent Referral Organizations (IROs) to develop, implement and improve workflows that ensure efficient processing and closing of our loan package submissions. 

David has over 20-years of experience in mortgage banking including multiple senior level positions in both wholesale and retail underwriting operations to include Vice President - Sales and Operations, and Area Sales Manager for a leading national wholesale lender. Mr. Watkins also brings extensive origination and operations experience managing retail lending operations throughout Florida and Georgia as a Regional Sales Manager for a Fortune 500 national retail mortgage lender. 

Having lived and worked in the Metro Atlanta area for three decades, Mr. Watkins has cultivated strong relationships throughout the Southeast. David’s in-depth knowledge of the regional market allows him to offer strategic insights and functional solutions for clients.

David is a graduate of the University of Alabama and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Corporate Finance and Investment Management.

JOSEPH F. PINTO, P.E.

Senior Vice President – Design, Development and Construction 

Mr. Pinto provides input on the planning and execution of all new construction, renovation and expansion project loan requests received by Southern Capital Funding Network.  Joseph works closely with our underwriters to ensure our commercial construction loan requests are in compliance with federal, state and local regulatory agency guidelines. 

Joseph is a seasoned commercial construction builder, with over 15 years' experience designing, coordinating and constructing multi-million-dollar hospitality projects, convenience stores, retail buildings, interior fit-out, and other civil design projects.  Joseph has extensive experience in negotiating contracts and regulatory impacts between sub-contractors, owners, and suppliers and developing and managing construction schedules and preparing cost and material estimates.  

Mr. Pinto is the President of the commercial general contracting company GSP, Inc.  Based in Atlanta, and operating throughout the Southeast, GSP, Inc. has successfully provided general contracting services and construction of multiple hospitality projects to include a 100-unit Home 2 Suites in Kingsland, Georgia, a 70-unit Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Springfield, Tennesse and a 100-unit Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Savannah, Georgia.  Other hospitality projects include a 74-unit Quality Inn and Suites, in Warner Robins, Georgia and the ground up construction of 74-unit Hampton Inn hotel in Kingsland, Georgia.

Joseph is a highly accomplished engineer and a proud graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology where he earned both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering.  Mr. Pinto holds professional certifications as a Professional Engineer (PE) and as a Qualifying Agent for general contracting in Georgia and Tennessee.