In February, UHD began offering its first Commercial Credit Certificate classes. The 16-week program was designed to prepare individuals to begin or advance careers in commercial banking—particularly in positions related to commercial credit and underwriting.

Its curriculum is the result of the collaboration between several financial institutions and the University of Houston-Downtown. Commercial credit executives from several national and regional banks, the College of Business faculty and Continuing and Professional Education Unit (CPEU) created a working group to identify the basic concepts, tools, and techniques that lending professionals need for making informed decisions in the highly dynamic commercial lending environment. Members of the working group included employees from Wells Fargo, Bank of America, JP Morgan, Chase Bank, BBVA Compass, Whitney Bank,

Regions Bank and Porter Hedges LLP.

The program has been structured to prepare individuals to gain the understanding and abilities required by bank professionals to bring in qualified business to a financial institution. Credit analysts, business banking analysts, relationship managers, commercial lenders, and lending new hires will benefit from completing the Commercial Credit Certificate. Classes start on September 3, 2014.

Key faculty and staff included Rahul Verma, associate professor; Don Holmes, lecturer; Clara M. Rojas, director of the CPEU; and Tasha Jones, CPEU program manager. Industry experts who will participate in teaching the material include Gabriel Loperena, attorney with Porter Hedges, and Frank Carvelli, regional underwriter with BBVA Compass.

The program recently received positive attention from an article in the Houston Business Journal - read it here.