Vice president and loan officer Jennifer Elton excels at complicated projects. Wondering about a complex loan with a lot of moving parts?  

Her approach can be easily summed up like the title of the best cheerleading movie of the early aughts: Bring It On. 

Jennifer prides herself on understanding the SBA 504 program inside and out and has an especially strong talent for identifying eligibility issues, structuring projects, and anticipating potential obstacles before they even have a chance to derail a loan. 

Those who have the pleasure of working with Jennifer know her to be responsive, persistent, and highly invested in their projects. A big portion of that is born from her almost preternatural communication skills. She won’t shy away from digging into difficult details but is also able to explain needs and timelines in a way that keeps everyone moving in the same direction – ultimately benefiting the lender and borrower alike.  

We caught up with Jennifer to find out more about her process, journey and what makes this powerhouse of a loan officer tick. 

[Interview has been edited for clarity and content.] 

MWSBF: Kicking off – let’s talk a little bit about your path to loan officer with Mountain West. It’s certainly been a steady of climb of promotion after promotion, but your time with the company extends past these last five years.  

JENNIFER: I started working at Mountain West as a teenager: answering phones and doing “the run”. Eventually, I became a loan assistant. First, in the Orem office and then in the Salt Lake office, working with Robert Edminster. I took a break from working while moving around the country (Pennsylvania, California, and then Idaho) and returned to Mountain West in 2021, working remotely from Idaho as a Loan Specialist/Underwriter.  

I moved back to Utah County almost two years ago and jumped at the chance to step into the role of Loan Officer. I love being involved with a project from start to finish and really enjoy the social aspect of getting to know bankers and borrowers.  

[Editor’s note: “The run” was MWSBF-speak for meeting a colleague from the Salt Lake office at the Point of the Mountain, the ridge of Utah’s Traverse Mountains that splits Salt Lake and Utah counties serving as the informal dividing line between the Salt Lake City and Provo metropolitan areas].

MWSBF: You’re back in Utah County where you grew up. While Mountain West Loan Officers can support clients anywhere in the framework, your focus is Utah County, Salt Lake County and the Boise, Idaho area. Talk a little bit about how being back in Utah County relates to the work you do for MWSBF.  

JENNIFER: I’ve always maintained strong ties here. After living away for 20 years, there are parts of the Wasatch Front I barely recognize! While the traffic is a little hard to get used to after living in small-town Idaho for the last eight years, I think all of the changes here are exciting.  

The Wasatch Front has a strong small business culture and is full of talented, hardworking entrepreneurs. It’s exciting to come back and see that firsthand through the businesses and borrowers I work with.  

MWSBF: What made you want to be part of the MWSBF team? And if you’re willing, share a little bit about your family ties with the company.  

JENNIFER: There are two things that made me want to be part of the Mountain West team: the culture and the work. 

The culture here is incredible. We work hard. We do our jobs well, and we are passionate about what we do, but we do it in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. We genuinely like each other and feel like family. 

I also truly enjoy the work. It is challenging and satisfying, and there is always something more to learn. I sometimes call this my “accidental career,” because I never set out a grand plan to end up here. I just kept wanting to learn the next thing, take on more responsibility, and grow—and somehow, here I am, living the dream. 

I would also like to say that SBA 504 loans are in my blood. My dad, Mike Vanchiere, worked as a loan officer at Mountain West for 30 years. I know I’m biased, but I believe he is considered one of the GOATs in the 504 industry. 

I had the privilege of working closely with him for some of those years. He was a great teacher and was always willing to spend time teaching me whatever part of the job I was curious about. Watching him in action when I was younger, I thought his job seemed pretty cool. He got to connect with people, help small businesses, go out to lunch, and travel a little. Now that I’m doing the same work, I have a much better appreciation for everything that happens behind the scenes, but the fun stuff still applies.  

I have loved working in the same position he did and associating with some of the same people. It is honestly a highlight of my day when a banker—or sometimes even a borrower—shares a funny story about my dad, or, even better, tells me about the impact he had on them. 

[Editor’s note, again: “Big Mike” as the late Mike Vanchiere was lovingly referred to was indeed a GOAT in SBA lending with a storied career at Mountain West and played a huge role in the company’s growth and development,]

MWSBF: Let’s talk about some of the MWSBF projects you’re most proud of – 

JENNNIFER: The projects that present unique challenges and require creative problem-solving are often the most satisfying, especially when that approval finally comes through.  

Kiddie Academy of Saratoga Springs was one of those projects. The primary guarantor already had several active SBA loans, including loans for newer ventures. We needed to demonstrate to the SBA that he had the management experience, financial capacity, and operational support necessary to successfully add another business to his portfolio. We were able to make that case, and the loan was approved 

I’m also especially excited about Harvest Moon Events, a woman-owned event-planning business. Kasey Ploudre’s 504 loan was approved at the end of 2025, and she’ll be using the financing to build her dream event center in a beautiful, scenic location in Heber. It’s incredibly rewarding to help a business owner bring such a personal vision to life. 

 MWSBF: Each Mountain West territory has its own set of challenges and opportunities — what’s something you wish lenders/borrowers understood about the SBA 504 process?  

JENNIFER: One of the biggest factors in keeping an SBA 504 loan moving is timely communication and responsiveness from everyone involved. There are several parties and steps in the process, and each one depends on receiving complete and accurate information from the step before it. When borrowers, lenders, and the MWSBF team communicate openly and respond quickly to questions and document requests, the process moves much more efficiently. Speed is usually a priority for everyone, and responsiveness on all sides is one of the best ways to achieve it. 
 
 

MWSBF: Talking to some of the lenders who have worked with you and your colleagues, they share a general consensus that you’re approachable, accessible, and genuinely invested in helping their projects succeed. According to MWSBF Underwriting Manager and vice president Jeff Vanchiere [who, yes, also happens to be your brother] you are “hands down, the smartest Vanchiere.” So, I guess besides knowing you’re an absolute powerhouse, what should borrowers and lenders know about working with you?  

JENNIFER: I want borrowers and lenders to know that they don’t need to have every detail figured out before reaching out. I’m happy to talk through a project at the earliest stages, help identify potential issues, and work collaboratively toward the best structure. I’ll be honest about what is and isn’t possible, communicate clearly throughout the process, and stay engaged from the initial conversation through approval and closing. 
 
 

MWSBF: OK, so what does Jenn Elton like to do when she’s not working?  

JENNIFER: When I’m not working, I’m usually planning something like our next trip, a night at the theater, a family gathering, or an outing with friends. My husband, Dan, and I have five children and one bonus daughter, so family life keeps us busy and entertained. I love traveling, reading, working on a good puzzle, watching a good TV show with someone I love, and sitting in the sun whenever I get the chance. I’m happiest when I have something fun on the calendar and people I love to enjoy it with. 
 
 

MWSBF: And what are you passionate about?  

JENNIFER: I’m passionate about family history research. I earned my college degree in the field and continue to research my own family, including an extensive personal project focused on historical records from Villarosa, Sicily. Some of my most meaningful travel experiences have grown out of that research—from visiting the churches in Denmark where my ancestors were baptized and married to walking the same streets my ancestors once walked in Sicily. I love the combination of research, history, travel, and the thrill of uncovering a person or story that might otherwise have been lost. 

MWSBF: Amazing. And before we move to the lightning round, what’s something a lot of people don’t know about you that may surprise them?  

JENNIFER: If you looked through the Notes app on my phone, you would be shocked by the number of lists I have. I have lists for my lists.  

A LIST of Jenn’s FAVORITES! (Besides making lists)  

Favorite National Park: I love Yellowstone. I will never get tired of going.  

Family Favorite Fun Spot: Newport Beach. 

Where do you love to vacation? Now that my kids are older, I’m in my “Europe Era.” Most recently I went to Sicily, and I cannot wait to go back.  

Dream vacation? Would love to go to Greece with my husband. He served an LDS mission there, and we’ve always talked about going. I’m always up for a girls trip to the coast, a few quick days in New York or anywhere to visit family. Throughout the year you’ll find me in California visiting my husband at work, St. George visiting family, Idaho visiting old friends, or Wyoming visiting my daughter and her husband.  

Favorite place to catch a play/concert: I love the Theater. I go to every play at The Hale Center Theater and The Ruth. I try to catch whatever comes to Broadway on Eccles as well.  I recently went to New York City and saw a Broadway show every day I was there.  

Let’s talk Sportsball — favorite team/sport to cheer for or favorite venue? I was raised on BYU football. I literally feel “The Spirit” when they take the field.  

Books? I love reading. It’s almost all audiobooks for me these days. The last book I read was Whistler by Anne Patchett.  

Recent Favorite TV Show: The Bear. 

Best Play you’ve seen recently? Our Town at the Hale Center. It absolutely destroyed me in the best kind of way.  

Favorite Mexican: Sol Agave- don’t skip the butter cake 

Best Thai: Bangkok Wasabi- Drunken Noodles 

Dirty Soda/Treat Spot: I’ve developed a Swig habit since moving back to Utah County, Diet Bloody Wild with Strawberry Poppin Pearls or Diet Life’s a Peach.  

Fast-casual fave: Cubby’s Buffalo Chicken Salad – Extra Blue Cheese Crumbles  

Best shake/ice cream: Strawberry Shake at Taco Amigo and Dr. Pepper Coconut from Arctic Circle.  

Jennifer Elton is a vice president, loan officer for Mountain West Small Business Finance and can be reached at the office 801.412.3765, mobile 559-359-8642 and email at jelton@mwsbf.com.