Wintrust Commercial Finance (WCF), a division of Wintrust Asset Finance, hired Jeffrey Almond as assistant vice president of direct originations and Jeremy Phillips as a financial analyst.

Almond will work out of WCF’s Frisco, TX headquarters and will support the company’s expanding direct originations team in the central region.

“Jeffrey is an accomplished relationship manager with close to 20 years of industry experience and longstanding relationships in the region,” said Justin Piot, central region vice president at WCF. “His hire during these uncertain times exhibits our continued commitment to expand our reach to middle-market companies. We’re thrilled to have Jeff on the team.”

Phillips will also be located in WCF’s Frisco, TX headquarters and will be responsible for transaction underwriting, documentation and portfolio management of equipment loans and leases.

“Jeremy joins us from CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, where he was an analyst,” said Paul Hallauer, chief credit officer at WCF. “He previously interned with us in late 2015 while studying finance at Texas Tech University, and we’re pleased to have him back. He joins our credit team to further support our growing portfolio, funding initiatives, and client needs.”