Benetrends announced it has added two finance specialists to its Philadelphia-area corporate team as part of its growth plan for 2014. The company appointed Stacey Kuzniasz as SBA Funding Specialist and Britt Blakeley as Senior Sales Consultant.

"Stacey and Britt each have 10-year track records of providing comprehensive financing solutions for clients and will play a key role in Benetrends' growth this year as we expand our presence around the U.S.," said Rocco Fiorentino, president & CEO, Benetrends, Inc. "The International Franchise Association says franchise businesses are expected to grow faster and create more jobs than the rest of the economy in 2014, so, as the leader in franchise funding, we are expanding our team to meet the growing demand for our services."

With more than a decade of experience in managing SBA loans and mortgages, Kuzniasz's extensive financing background will aid her in her role as SBA Funding Specialist. In this position, she will be responsible for helping clients identify the most appropriate funding program available to achieve their business objectives. She will play a key role in guiding clients through the often-complex process of closing an SBA loan. Kuzniasz previously served as Associate Vice President, SBA Operations, for 1st Colonial Community Bank and has also held finance positions at Bank of America, PNC Bank and CIT.

Blakely brings extensive franchising experience to her role with Benetrends, where she will be responsible for working with clients to help them understand the various funding programs offered by Benetrends and determine which solution is most appropriate for their individual needs. Blakeley has had success as both a franchise consultant and franchise development professional. Prior to joining Benetrends, Blakeley spent more than five years in franchise financing and more than 10 years in the franchise industry.

Benetrends, named a 2014 Future 50 winner by Philadelphia SmartCEO, recently announced the creation of a new proprietary $100 million franchise financing program to help International Franchise Association franchisor members provide qualified candidates with direct access to capital for new store development. Hand & Stone, a rapidly growing spa franchise, is the first franchisor selected by Benetrends to participate in the new fund, and has been provided $10 million in initial capital to assist with its franchise growth.

In addition to the new franchise financing program, Benetrends also offers a full suite of funding options to help entrepreneurs secure the capital needed for their small business or franchise. The company originated the 401(k)/IRA tax-deferred and penalty-free rollover process more than 30 years ago and has created more than 85,000 jobs with $4 billion in retirement assets invested in America's small businesses. Additionally, Benetrends features a wide range of loan options covering every type of business need, including SBA loans, equipment leasing, merchant cash advances, securities-backed lines of credit, and more.

Benetrends is the authority in franchise and small business funding, and is acclaimed for its Rainmaker Plan that enables entrepreneurs to use their qualified retirement plan to purchase or recapitalize a business or franchise, tax deferred and penalty free. Benetrends originated 401(k)/IRA rollover funding helping over 10,000 entrepreneurs in the last 30 years. Benetrends provides a comprehensive suite of small business solutions including SBA Loans, Securities Backed Lines of Credit, Equipment Leasing, Commercial Insurance, Individual and Group Healthcare, Payroll Services and more.