Reports to the Board of Directors and has direct management responsibility for the operations of the company. Steve joined GSDC in March of 1993 as an Assistant Vice President and business development officer. Since 1993 he has served as Vice President / Business Development Officer, Senior Vice President Credit Manager, and Executive Vice President Chief Operating Officer. Steve has over 29 years of experience in all facets of the operations of the company.

Prior to joining GSDC Fred was a banking professional with over 18 years of commercial banking experience covering all aspects of commercial lending including; underwriting, credit, business development, and workout. Fred Joined GSDC in 2004 as Business Development Officer working in the New Hampshire and Massachusetts markets. In 2019 he was promoted to Senior Vice President/Chief Credit Officer. Fred now serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Sean has extensive SBA and commercial lending experience. Sean joined GSDC as a Business Development Officer in 2013 and is responsible for the New Hampshire market. Prior to GSDC, he spent 19 years working as a commercial loan officer for two New Hampshire based community banks. Sean also serves his local community volunteering as Vice Chairman of the Cochecho Waterfront Development Advisory Committee. He has a bachelor’s degree from Keene State University and earned his MBA at the University of New Hampshire Whittemore School of Business.

After almost 20 years with Granite State Development Corporation, Matt has retired as of 12/31/25. We are thankful for his years of service and wish him all the best in his well deserved retirement.

Please contact one of the following Massachusetts Business Development Officers for further assistance:

Barbara Arena

Vice President
Massachusetts

Email Barbara
Phone: (781) 294-2244
Fax: (781) 610-7307

Tracey Gaylord

Vice President
Massachusetts

Email Tracey
Phone: (413) 271-0099
Fax: (413) 622-0529

Brant Abraham

Vice President
Massachusetts

Email Brant
Phone: (508) 527-2728

Barbara has over 30 years of experience working with The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Guaranty Lending Programs. Prior to joining GSDC in December of 2010 she was employed by CIT Small Business Lending for over 16 years. In 2019 Barbara was selected by the SBA as the Massachusetts Financial Services Champion of the year. Barbara is an active volunteer in the small business community. She serves as a board member for The New England Brokers Association as well as The Greater Boston Banker’s Association. Barbara is responsible for business development in Massachusetts.

Tracey has over 30 years of commercial banking experience. Prior to joining GSDC in 2016, Tracey was Vice President of Business Development for Easthampton Savings Bank serving western Massachusetts. Prior to Easthampton Savings Bank, Tracey was the Regional Vice President of Union Bank of VT & NH where she was responsible for the management and leadership areas of business development.  Tracey is a graduate of the University of Vermont as well as the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking.

Paul has extensive commercial lending experience in the State of Maine. Paul was born in Vermont and moved to Maine where he now resides with his wife and 3 children. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business economics from the University of Maine Farmington and later earned his MBA from University of Maine Orono. Prior to joining GSDC in August of 2015 he was employed by Androscoggin Bank as a commercial lender/team leader. Paul is responsible for all business development in Maine.

Ethan has extensive SBA and commercial lending experience. Since 2014 he has served the Vermont and Northern New Hampshire market for GSDC. Prior to GSDC Ethan worked as a commercial loan officer with Merchants Bank (now Community Bank NA) in Eastern Vermont. Prior to Merchants Bank Ethan was employed by Northern Community Investment Corporation where he was responsible for marketing, underwriting, and closing SBA guaranteed loans for small businesses. Ethan is a graduate of the University of Vermont.

Prior to joining GSDC in May of 2021, Brant spent 3 years with a Boston based investment management firm. He currently resides in Boston, MA and enjoys playing golf and cheering for the local Boston sports teams. He received a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Miami. Brant is responsible for business development in Massachusetts.