LOS ANGELES-GlobeSt.com has exclusively learned that Thomas C. Whitesell has joined Lowe Enterprises Investors as senior vice president to oversee the firm’s high-yield real estate debt investment program, an area where LEI has invested approximately $1 billion since inception. He will focus on senior and subordinated debt and preferred equity investments for commercial and hospitality real estate projects, while working with LEI’s senior team to expand the firm’s debt investment platform.

Previously, Whitesell was the founding principal of Whitehat Capital, a private equity company providing equity and debt placement, consulting and advisory services to financial institutions, investors, and borrowers. Prior to that, he spent 11 years with Fremont Investment & Loan’s commercial real estate division, most recently as its senior vice president responsible for direction and management of the firm’s national construction loan origination platform.

Under his leadership, Whitesell grew the Fremont division from inception to become one of the nation’s leading construction lenders. He earned his B.A. from Luther College and his J.D. from the College of Law, University of Iowa. He has practiced law in Iowa and California and is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the International Council of Shopping Centers and the