Stephen is a seasoned professional with a diverse and accomplished career spanning over two decades. Pool has made significant contributions in the military, finance, and technology sectors. After eight years in the Marine Corps, including three tours (one tour in Iraq). Stephen earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance and IT Management at National University. 

Post-military, Stephen took on a significant role at CoreLogic Credco, one of the largest aggregators of data and consumer credit in the United States. Pool managed the Wells Fargo Home Mortgage relationship, ensuring operational and legal compliance. In 2012, Stephen was appointed Director of Compliance, overseeing third-party access to data reporting, credit reporting, and examination requests from regulators.

In 2014, as Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing was gaining traction, Stephen became Deputy Chief Compliance Officer at Renovate America, formulating compliance strategies, evaluating contractor channels, and spearheading the creation of risk management scores. Stephen’s collaborative efforts with legal teams resulted in drafting California’s state-level regulations. Stephen’s work culminated in Renovate America’s compliance rating of 99.5% from 2016 to 2019.

Stephen participated in launching one of the first financing waterfall solutions in home improvement with LendingPoint. Pool has consulted in the point-of-sale financing sector, aiding in the launch of various multi-platforms across home improvement, medical, and retail spaces. In 2022, Stephen helped launch an online ‘green’ bank focused on energy-efficient investments, underscoring his passion for sustainable financial products.

Stephen is currently the Vice President of Partnerships at Finturf, a role he has held since the company was founded. Over the past two years, he has been instrumental in onboarding and integrating 18 lending partners and 3,400 merchants (including contractors, medical providers, and retailers) and managing the launch of Finturf’s loan origination system. Residing in Glendale, California, Stephen continues to innovate and impact the contractor and vendor management landscape through his newest entrepreneurial venture, SafeTurf, a solution designed to manage and monitor contractors in the point-of-sale environment. SafeTurf is versatile enough for broader vendor and third-party management applications. Stephen’s career trajectory showcases his dedication to compliance, consumer protection, and innovative financial solutions.