Leslie Johnson
Regional First Vice President, Business Development
Leslie Johnson joined the Crestmark team in August of 2012. She is based in Southern California and provides working capital solutions to businesses in that region and nationwide, while reporting to the Troy, Michigan corporate office.
Leslie has over 15 years of experience in the banking and commercial finance industry. That experience, along with her background in law, provides her with the unique skills needed to develop creative financing solutions for lower middle market companies. Prior to joining Crestmark Bank, she was with Marquette Commercial Finance for over five years, specializing in factoring and providing asset-based lending through a sister company. She also has an entrepreneurial background, having founded and run Cardinal Funding, a debt placement firm, for seven years.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas School of Law, where she was a Rice Scholar and Editor of the Kansas Law Review.
Ms. Johnson is a member of the California Bar Association, Commercial Finance Association, Risk Management Association, Turnaround Management Association and the Association for Corporate Growth. She was selected as one of the Top 50 Women in Business and to the local Business Times’ Who’s Who in Banking and Finance.
Leslie supports animal rescue and training organizations and has two rescue dogs of her own, one a Hurricane Katrina survivor. She is committed to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Casa Pacifica, America’s Vet Dogs, Wounded Warrior Project and other veteran support organizations. Leslie also enjoys driving her 1957 Ford Thunderbird convertible on sunny California days.
Leslie can be reached at 805.660.7176 or ljohnson@crestmark.com