Most recently, Karas, 45, was a managing director with GE Commercial Finance in Dallas. Karas brings more than 23 years of expertise in all aspects of commercial finance to his new role with Marquette Commercial Finance.

At Marquette Commercial Finance, Karas will lead the marketing effort to provide working capital and inventory financing to companies nationwide, with a focus on serving small and middle-market companies. He will be based in Ft. Worth, but will oversee sales offices in Texas, California, New Jersey, Georgia and Florida.

Marquette Commercial Finance is one of the nation’s largest accounts receivable and inventory financing firms. It is a part of Marquette Financial Companies, a $2.6 billion privately held financial services firm owned by the Carl Pohlad family of Minneapolis, Minn.

“Dan brings an impressive credit and marketing background to our team, and we're excited to have him join us,” said Jack Roper, president, Marquette Commercial Finance. “His talent, industry expertise and relationships will be a good addition to Marquette Commercial Finance, and an asset to our management team.”

“I’m excited to be joining Marquette Commercial Finance, as well as the Marquette family of companies,” Karas said. “Marquette Financial is a much larger, more diversified and rapidly growing organization than many realize. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience building businesses to a firm with such a strong growth commitment and an energetic team.” Karas indicated that he expects to open additional offices in new geographic regions across the U.S.

Most recently, Karas led GE Energy Financial Services’ debt origination effort for the Western U.S., where he focused on developing and implementing a strategy to drive growth in the energy sector. He also was instrumental in developing the GE Enterprise Client Group relationship model currently used throughout the U.S. and Europe. He joined GE Corporate Lending, and its predecessor Heller Financial’s Corporate Finance Group, in 1999. His career also has seen successful stays with both JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America in New York and Dallas.

Karas holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and management from Temple University in Philadelphia and a master’s of business degree in finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business in New York City.

About Marquette Commercial Finance / Marquette Financial Companies
Marquette Commercial Finance, Inc. is a nationwide provider of accounts receivable and inventory financing and factoring focused on serving small and middle-market companies. For more information, visit www.marqcfi.com. The firm is part of Marquette Financial Companies, a $2.6 billion privately held financial services company owned by the Carl Pohlad family in Minneapolis, Minn. Marquette Financial has a nationwide presence with consumer, commercial finance, residential construction lending and commercial real estate financing. Pohlad family holdings also include significant interests in the beverage, entertainment and real estate industries, as well as the ownership of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball team. For more information, visit www.marquette.com.