ORMS’ President, Derek Ezovksi is a familiar face at SBA lender conferences and risk management events. This year, fresh from being honored as the SBA’s Connecticut Small Business Person of the Year, Derek can be found at events across the country. In this article, he explains why visibility and connection are so important in a relationship-based business.

I recently returned from the Southeast Small Business Lenders Conference (SESBLC) in Savannah, Georgia, and the experience reminds me of why I make it a priority every year to attend key industry events and conferences.

The conference was amazing as always, and the planning committee did a fantastic job organizing the event and agenda. It was jam-packed with thought-provoking speakers, energizing activities, and expert-led breakout sessions.

But the real reason I attend SESBLC and other industry events all around the country is for the relationships. It’s all about making (and strengthening) connections with people—ORMS’ current customers, future clients, industry partners, and colleagues.

Attending conferences, participating in seminars, meeting with examiners, and visiting clients’ offices helps me stay current on best practices, regulations, and the evolving needs of community lenders. It keeps me sharp and ensures our work at ORMS remains grounded and accountable.

It’s also one reason why ORMS has never been better positioned to assist SBA lenders with environmental due diligence. As audits ramp up, we are fully prepared to help CDCs self-certify their environmental reports and to continue helping 7(a) lenders enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their environmental processes to protect their government guarantees.

So, where am I headed next? Well, let me open my calendar…

Toward the end of this month, I’m off to sunny Orlando for the 2026 National Association of Government-Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL) Spring Conference, held from April 27 – 29. Then it’s a trip to Washington, DC from May 17-20 for the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO) Spring Summit. Finally, the ORMS team will close out the spring conference season at the RMA by ProSight Chapter Leaders Conference in Nashville from June 1 -3.

In between those events, I’ll be heading to Washington, DC on May 3-4 for the National Small Business Week Awards Ceremony, where I will accept the Connecticut Small Business Person of the Year Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

I am incredibly honored to receive this award from the SBA Connecticut District Office. As the leader of a small business dedicated to helping lenders serve the needs of other small businesses, this is truly a full-circle moment for me.

With a unique focus on SBA lending, ORMS helps community lending institutions provide small businesses with the financing they need to fuel their American dream. The purpose of SBA lending is to enable small businesses—the engine of the U.S. economy— to hire, expand, and serve their local communities. Our role in that process isn’t always immediately apparent, but we help ensure the properties that collateralize these loans do not have environmental liabilities that could potentially impact their value. Our work also helps protect the small businesses receiving their financing.

While the award lists my name, it really honors the work of our entire team at ORMS, every one of which has contributed to our overall success!

After a little break this summer, the fall conference season heats up again with a trip to D.C. August 17-19 for the America East Small Business Lenders Conference. Then I’m back in Orlando in September for the Florida Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (FLAGGL) Annual Conference, before taking off to the west coast in October for the NADCO NOW Conference in Portland, Oregon, and the NAGGL Annual Conference in San Diego. I’m sure there will be other events on the calendar, but that’s how our schedule is shaping up right now.

I’ll admit, I’m privileged to be able to travel from city to city and see all my friends from around the industry. And it doesn’t always seem like work! But this is where the real connections are made—during the coffee breaks following keynotes, in the hallways between breakouts, as we share meals together, and even during late-evening discussions in the hotel lounge.

I look forward to seeing many of you—our good friends who just happen to be our clients, colleagues, and industry partners—out on the road this year. As always, the entire ORMS team is here whenever you need guidance on any topic related to environmental due diligence, risk management, and SBA lending. We’re just a phone call, email, or handshake away.

Happy trails!