Laura Tucker joined North Avenue Capital as the Loan Architect Team Lead in 2020. In early 2023, she was promoted to Vice President and Credit Products Officer.
She came to NAC after serving more than 10 years with USDA Rural Development in two primary roles: Business & Industry Loan Specialist and Energy Coordinator for the State of Arkansas. As the B&I Specialist, Laura served as the underwriter for the B&I Loan Guarantee Program. This included assisting lenders with new loans, taking them from underwriting to approval, to loan close. She was responsible for servicing, thereafter, the loan portfolio with an average of 30 active loans. As the Energy Coordinator, Laura was responsible for the Rural Energy for America Grant and Loan Programs. She processed, approved, and serviced hundreds of applications for energy-efficient and renewable energy projects for rural small businesses and agriculture producers all over the State of Arkansas.
Laura earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business with an emphasis on Real Estate, Marketing, and Management from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. Additionally, she was a licensed real estate salesperson and licensed real estate broker for more than 15 years. She also earned a Certificate in Business and Commercial Lending from the American Banker’s Association.
Laura brings more than 20 years of experience working with government programs, including tax credit programs and specialty lending programs. Laura served as the manager of the low-income housing tax credit program and tax-exempt bond program for the State of Arkansas, where she assisted real estate developers from across the country with complex projects utilizing tax credit programs and other government financing programs. Upon leaving the State, she opened her own small business, LLT Consulting, LLC, and continued to assist developers with packaging and project submissions to federal and state financing programs. Laura held a real estate broker’s license for more than 10 years and specialized in commercial real estate leasing, sales, and investments. She was the Brokerage Manager for one of the largest commercial real estate firms in Arkansas and became a partner in a small firm that held a national franchise.
Laura and her husband, Greg, live outside of Little Rock and have two sons, Jerry and Zac. Active in the community, Laura and Greg lead the community youth football program with more than 100 youth football players and cheerleaders each year. They are active in their church, Central Baptist Church, where they have volunteered in youth programs and had the opportunity to spread God’s word through domestic mission trips. They met in high school and are lifelong residents of central Arkansas, where they enjoy spending time with their extended family and friends.