Our Team
John Sawyer, President, FEIF Capital Partners
As President, John co-leads all efforts and activities related to First Encore Income Funds. John also serves as Sunflower Bank’s Chief Investment Officer and Director of Wealth Management and Private Banking. In this role John leads the bank’s efforts to provide comprehensive financial solutions and advice to its client base and helps organize their affairs to prepare them for both retirement and generational planning.
John has over 30 years of investment and fiduciary experience across several market cycles with a proven track record leading trust, investment management, brokerage, and RIA units at various financial institutions. He directs and manages the bank’s investment process and portfolio development. In addition, John is responsible for strengthening and expanding Sunflower Bank’s existing wealth management infrastructure to provide additional services to current clients as well as to grow its client base.
Currently based in Denver, John has spent most of his career in various Texas markets. He received a BS in Finance from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. John also holds the CFA charterholder designation.
Patrick Pullman, Managing Director, FEIF Capital Partners
Patrick is solely dedicated to First Encore Income Funds and as Managing Director he is responsible for all day-to-day operations. He has over 29 years of experience working for six capital providers, primarily providing subordinated debt to lower middle market companies. Patrick has provided financing to more than 69 companies across 113+ transactions, which include venture capital financings of high risk, early-stage companies, to providing senior credit facilities (asset-based and cash flow) to middle market and larger companies that have complex capital structures and banking needs.
He has been intimately involved throughout his career in sourcing, evaluating, structuring, managing, and exiting countless investments. Patrick has deep knowledge of financial and legal diligence, portfolio management, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, as well as forming alternative investment funds, and has assumed a wide variety of roles depending on the type of capital he has provided, from operational and capital-raising roles at portfolio companies to evaluating corporate strategy and acquisitions to participation on various boards.
Patrick resides in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and received his BBA in Finance from Southern Methodist University.
Brian Walsh, Executive Vice President, Sunflower Bank
Brian joined Sunflower Bank in 2020 and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, as well as Managing Director of Commercial Sales. He received his BS in Finance and Accounting from Oklahoma State University and graduated with his MBA from Southern Methodist University. Brian, who is located in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, is also a Certified Public Accountant.
He has over 20 years in the banking industry, and has a 30-year career in various leadership roles in financial services, public accounting, and operating companies. Brian has held leadership positions in finance, risk, operations, and strategic planning and served on various boards. During his career, he has financed numerous acquisitions of operating companies as well as asset pools. Industry expertise includes working with digital infrastructure, technology, and consumer finance companies, and has provided enterprise value and asset-based financing, both domestically and internationally. In addition, Brian has significant experience assisting operating companies with capital raises and operating efficiency. His primary role related to First Encore Income Funds is originating investment opportunities.