Sabrina Brown
Sabrina Brown is a commercial loan broker at Alternative Funding Partners whose path into the industry has been shaped by real-world experience, entrepreneurship, and a strong foundation in family values. She spent 15 years working alongside her parents in their family business before continuing her entrepreneurial journey with her husband, launching ventures including an insulation company and a trucking business. These hands-on experiences across multiple industries gave her a practical understanding of business operations, challenges, and growth. After relocating from Denver to Brownsville, she joined her family’s lending business, where she now helps clients navigate the often complex world of commercial financing.
In her current role, Sabrina specializes in sourcing alternative funding solutions for businesses that may not qualify for traditional bank loans. She works closely with business owners and financial institutions, helping bridge gaps when deals cannot be completed through conventional channels. Known for her relationship-first approach, Sabrina prioritizes listening and understanding each client’s unique needs before offering solutions. Her work is deeply rooted in her faith and a genuine desire to help others succeed, and she has built a strong network through both in-person connections and national outreach, including ongoing work that takes her to markets like Chicago.
What sets Sabrina apart is her self-taught approach to business and her belief in the value of lived experience. While she began her college education, she chose to step away to support her family during a critical time—an experience that ultimately shaped her resilience and perspective. Today, she credits her growth to surrounding herself with knowledgeable mentors and continuously learning through experience. Passionate about helping businesses thrive, Sabrina remains committed to serving others with integrity, perseverance, and a belief that with the right support, every business has the potential to succeed.
• Colorado State University
Business Administration and Management
• Former member of Brownsville Chamber of Commerce
• Good Shepherd Community Church in Brownsville
• Texas
What do you attribute your success to?
My family is everything to me. My husband and my son are my world, and they are my greatest motivation. My son just turned 20 and is building an incredible career as a certified welder and pipefitter at Bechtel, working on a huge LNG project. He went straight out of high school already certified in welding and is now waiting until he's 22 so he can join the union and travel. Watching him build his future and knowing that I'm working to support my family, especially after my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in July of 2024, drives me every single day. Our whole world crumbled when we got that diagnosis, but it also gave me the strength to step back into work when my brother-in-law asked me to join the company. I had been taking a break for the first time in my life to be with our son during his last two years of high school, but when everything changed, my family became my reason to push forward and succeed.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Never give up. Never let a no stop you from moving forward. In the business world, you're going to get a ton of nos before you get that one yes, that's for sure. That advice has carried me through every venture I've taken on, from running businesses with my parents to starting companies with my husband, and now in commercial lending. Every no is just part of the journey, and you can't let it derail you from your goals. You have to keep pushing forward no matter what obstacles come your way.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just always have confidence in yourself and make sure you believe in yourself. Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do something, and if they do, that should motivate you to do even better. Stay focused on your goals and don't let anyone's doubts shake you. And if you don't have faith, you should find it somewhere, even if it's just faith in yourself. Have faith in God, have faith in somewhere, because that's what gives you hope for the future. I believe the only way to have hope is to have faith. You've got to have hope for everything you do. There's got to be something better out there, and even if you're at the top of your position, you should still have hope that there's always something better out there for you.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Our economy and the people in office are the biggest challenges right now. I get frustrated with people in those positions because I feel like they don't understand what the real people that run this country go through, the struggles we go through, the financial struggles we go through. For our industry right now, that has been a huge struggle. I used to help fund faith-based entities, and that was a huge part of what I did, but we've recently had to pause that because it's almost impossible to get churches funded right now because of the economy. It's really frustrating that I can't continue to help houses of faith build their congregations and grow, because the funding just isn't there. If you have money, you're good, but if you don't have money, then you're definitely struggling. Everything that you count on to make your life a little more easy has been cut back, and it's unfortunate that people have to decide if they're going to have medical treatment or feed their families. That shouldn't be an option.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My faith is the most important thing in my life, whether it is work or personal. I believe in treating others as I wish to be treated and always putting people before myself. I love helping people and being there for people. My family is very faith-based, and anytime that I can do God's work in my business is a huge attribute for me. We've taken a faith-based approach to our business, and I really believe that has helped grow our business. We've seen God work in our business multiple times. That foundation of faith, service to others, and putting relationships first guides everything I do, both professionally and personally.