Peachtree Group appoints Zach Chandler as Senior VP of Strategy, Government Lending

 

Peachtree Group  announced the appointment of Zach Chandler as Senior Vice President of Strategy, Government Lending, a position that will oversee strategic growth and business development for the company’s government lending activities. This includes programs backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) and other federally guaranteed loan structures that remain relevant for hospitality, rural development and mixed-use commercial projects.

According to the company, Chandler will guide the expansion of Peachtree’s government lending platform at a time when federally supported financing is becoming increasingly important for projects in smaller or underserved markets. These programs often fill gaps where traditional bank lending has tightened, affecting hotel owners, developers and operators seeking long-term capital solutions.

Greg Friedman, Managing Principal and CEO of Peachtree, stated: “Zach’s leadership and experience in the government-guaranteed lending space will be instrumental as we continue to scale our platform.”

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Chandler joins the firm with nearly a decade of experience in government-guaranteed lending and commercial finance. He previously worked at Thomas USAF Group, one of the largest originators of USDA and SBA loans, where he served as Senior Vice President of Government-Guaranteed Lending. In that role, he contributed to expanding lending capabilities, strengthening relationships with borrowers and aligning the company’s growth strategies with financial partners.

Earlier roles at Thomas USAF Group included positions as Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer, where Chandler handled loan origination, credit evaluation and client management. His background also includes due diligence and underwriting for middle-market borrowers, along with the development of tailored financing structures across sectors.

Friedman noted the significance of integrating USDA programs into Peachtree’s wider credit platform, saying: “The addition of the USDA Business & Industry Loan Program enhances our ability to provide flexible, long-term financing for projects in smaller or underserved markets, areas where traditional bank lending has pulled back. Integrating USDA lending into our broader credit platform expands our reach, diversifies our capital solutions and allows us to support borrowers across the full spectrum of commercial real estate and operating businesses.”

Chandler earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.