Russell Gaston
President and Member of the Board of Directors
Russell joined OSBDA in October 2015 and previously served the role of Executive Vice President/ Chief Operating Officer, until his promotion to President, and Member of the Board in December of 2017. Aside from his Executive duties, Russell is the primary contact for new loan origination. Russell is also responsible for all aspects of managing the operations at OSBDA including lending, underwriting, loan servicing and liquidation, compliance, and customer service.
Previously Russell was SVP-Manager of Business Banking at Coastway Community Bank. Under his leadership, Coastway Community Bank became one of the region’s top SBA-ranked institutions for both SBA 7(a) and 504 loans. Prior to Coastway, Gaston had worked at Textron Financial and BankRI in underwriting and new business roles. Prior to joining OSBDA, Russell was on the OSBDA Board of Directors, and chaired its Loan Committee.
Russell is a graduate of Salve Regina University, where he received his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in management and finance. Notable honors include a General Assembly Citation from the State of Connecticut, and he is a recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration Financial Services Champion Award.
Russell also actively serves on the Advisory Board of the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
Email: rgaston@osbda.com
Phone: (401) 454-4560 ext. 212
Henry A. ‘Bud’ Violet
Vice President of Marketing / Founder
Bud has been the President of OSBDA since it was founded in 1981. Bud is the primary interface between the OSBDA Board, and company management.
Email: budv@osbda.com
Phone: (401) 453-0118
James Tierney
Portfolio Manager and Corporate Secretary
James joined OSBDA in October 2015, and serves the role of Portfolio Manager. Currently, James is responsible for credit analysis, underwriting, customer service, and portfolio management.
Prior to joining OSBDA, James worked for Coastway Community Bank as a Commercial Credit Analyst. At Coastway, James was responsible for both SBA and non-SBA loan underwriting and portfolio management.
James is a graduate of Bryant University, where he received his Bachelor of Science with a concentration in finance. James has also received a certification from the Mass. Bankers Association.
Email: jtierney@osbda.com
Phone: (401) 453-0118 ext. 213
Stephen Renehan
Servicing and Liquidation Manager
Stephen joined the OSBDA in November, 2016, and serves the role of Servicing and Liquidation Manager. Currently, Stephen is responsible for loan servicing, customer service, and liquidation.
His prior work experience includes 20+ years in various commercial banking positions, namely workout, loan servicing and lending. Most recently, Stephen resolved over 100 loans in a 4-year period devising a variety of workout strategies. Stephen possesses significant SBA portfolio management experience and is responsible for ensuring the OSBDA’s loan portfolio is managed appropriately.
Stephen is a graduate of University of Rhode Island, where he received his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in finance.
Email: srenehan@osbda.com
Phone: (401) 454-4560 ext. 214
Amber Perry
Associate Credit Analyst / Portfolio Manager
Amber joined the OSBDA credit staff in November 2016, and serves the role of Associate Credit Analyst/Portfolio Manager. Amber’s duties include credit analysis, underwriting, and portfolio management.
Amber is a graduate of Bryant University, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Amber graduated Magna Cum Laude with a specialization in Finance.
Email: aperry@osbda.com
Phone: (401) 454-4560 ext. 215
Our Support Staff
Brianna Lukowicz
Brianna joined the OSBDA staff in January 2018, and serves as and serves the role of support staff. Brianna’s duties include assisting with closing and servicing responsibilities, along with other miscellaneous tasks.
Brianna is a double major at Rhode Island College, pursuing two bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Finance.