With loan volume growth doubling in 2012 and continuing into2013, business lending CUSO Michigan Business Connection LLC has made several key personnelmoves to keep up with the pace.

The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based CUSO said it has hired StephanieAlstott as a documentation specialist. She has more than 10 yearsof commercial banking and construction administration experience,according to MBC.

Additionally, as part of its ongoing internship partnership withEastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich., MBC has hiredfinance major Othniel Maidaniuc as a part-time financialanalyst.

Through the internship program, interns perform hands-onfinancial analysis and support duties such as preparing financialassessments of business financial capability and cash flows, MBCsaid.

MBC also announced new roles for CUSO employees Allen Mitchelland Jacqueline Craig.

Mitchell most recently served as a portfolio manager and willnow serve as a business development officer. In his new role,Mitchell will work with businesses and real estate investorsprimarily in northern Oakland, Genesee and Saginaw counties inMichigan to arrange financing and introductions to creditunions.

Craig, a former EMU student intern, has been promoted to afinancial analyst at MBC, which is a fulltime position thatsupports credit underwriting and portfolio management groups atMBC.

“These personnel moves are a reflection of our continued growthand the positive steps credit unions have taken with businessfinancing in Michigan,” said Bill Beardsley, president of MBC.

“We've helped these credit unions share the cost and risk ofnearly a half billion dollars of business and commercial realestate loans made to Michigan business owners. Our loan volumedoubled in 2012 and has continued to grow in 2013,” Beardsleyadded.

Since 2004, MBC said, it has supported the state of Michigan'ssmall and medium-sized businesses and real estate investors byunderwriting, originating and servicing commercial loans forfinancial institutions statewide.

The CUSO said it serves more than two dozen credit unionsthroughout Michigan and manages more than $250 million of loanassets.