Choosing the most influential rainmakers in the commercial real estate industry is not an easy task even in the best of times. Our criteria is to look for the men and women that have delivered something new, structured a highly-complex deal or introduced a change that bettered a process or transaction. But making those choices during a pandemic, when dealmaking has collapsed, investors are sitting on the sidelines and tenants and landlords are in disarray? The selection process becomes downright difficult. Anyone, it seems to us, who can cut a deal in these times is deserving of the title. However as we went through the nominations we were more struck than ever with the grit, expertise and dedication of the people in this particular slice of the CRE industry. Despite the paralysis, deals did get done, complex structures were put in place and innovation ran amok. On the following pages you will meet these debt & equity rainmakers and learn about their accomplishments.
INDIVIDUALS
VALERIE K. ACHTEMEIER As an EVP in CBRE’s capital markets debt and structured finance group, Valerie K. Achtemeier leads a national capital markets advisory service team focused on debt and structured finance transactions. In her 39-year career, she has closed more than $40 billion in transactions. She also serves alongside Darla Longo and Barbara Perrier on National Partners, an industrial and logistics capital markets team that has closed more than $25 billion of industrial sales and debt capital markets transactions in 2019 alone. In the past three years, Achtemeier has closed more than $3 billion in debt deals, including a $910 million industrial portfolio loan she brokered in 2019. When she isn’t at the deal table, she is leading the industry in other ways. She is a member ULI Women’s Leadership Initiative and National Executive Board and is a mentor for young female professionals entering the industry. Last year, she helped place 80 women in CRE-related internships.
JOE F. BIAOU Joe F. Biaou has built a reputation on providing clients with credible solutions to market changes. He is the founder and managing partner of FRB Realty Capital, and has spent more than a decade as a financial intermediary for debt and equity for real estate transactions. He takes a creative approach to capital solutions, and customizes a unique deal structure for each client. This approach has led him to successfully close deals like the recapitalization on a ground lease on a New York City hotel estimated at $125 million. This is an innovative way to secure more favorable terms for the senior debt position. In the last decade, FRB Realty Capital has grown organically without the need for outside partners, and in 2021, it plans to continue that growth pattern with the integration of mREIT Millennium Mortgage Trust, which will focus on ESG projects, and Millcap.
ABBE FRANCHOT BOROK With a strong track record of sourcing and underwriting commercial real estate debt, Abbe Franchot Borok structures value-add solutions for borrowers. Borok leads Amherst Capital’s commercial real estate lending business, serving as managing director and head of investment management. Since joining the firm in 2015, she has overseen the issuance of $1 billion in loan originations and has provided 41 loans to fund projects in 26 cities in the US. She drives activity through her strong industry relationships with 75% of her loan volume coming from pre-existing borrowers. Recently, she executed the firm’s first collateralized loan obligation, a $400 million portfolio of commercial mortgage assets. This was the firm’s entry into the public market. In addition to guiding significant activity and growth at Amherst Capital, Borok is also a committed mentor to young female professionals entering the industry.
MICHAEL DERK In 18 years at Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp., Michael Derk has built a reputation as an innovator in the mortgage banking business by focusing on the dynamics of each deal and the client’s needs rather than on a specific niche or product type. Derk currently serves as senior managing director of capital markets, overseeing capital markets for the company’s Orange County office. While he focuses on client relations rather than transaction volume, he has still generated impressive numbers. In the last three years, Derk has been named a Chairman’s Club and Circle of Excellence award winner, the highest honors possible within the company. He has earned a National Achievement Award every year for more than a decade, continually breaking his own records for transaction volume. Outside of the office, Derk works with Camp Ronald McDonald, YMCA, Boys & Girls Club of America and the Women & Children’s Shelter of Long Beach.
BRAD L. DOMENICO “Get it done better,” is Brad Domenico’s outlook on closing successful commercial real estate finance deals. He joined Progress Capital seven years ago with one analyst. Today, he is a partner at the firm and manages a team of six, encouraging members to take a creative look at the loan process and cultivating an entrepreneurial environment. As a result, he has expanded his clientele to the New York and New Jersey markets and typically works on deals over $50 million. In the last 12 months, he has closed more $900 million in loan transactions, and since joining Progress Capital, he has worked on more than $4 billion in loan closings. In his role as partner, Domenico is responsible for sourcing customized financing solutions for high profile commercial real estate investors, owners and developers, originating short-term bridge loans, analyzing the market and advising clients.
MATT DOUGLAS CEO and founder of Venture West Capital, Matt Douglas has more than 30 years of experience in real estate finance and works with prominent owners both in California and across the country. Through his deeply developed relationships, Douglas continually originates high quality loan volumes each year. In the last five years, he has arranged $1 billion in financing for multifamily and commercial properties, and in his 30-plus year career, he has originated more than $5 billion in loans. In the last three years, Douglas has averaged $220 million in loans closings annually across a broad range of loan products, including permanent, bridge, and construction loans for multifamily and commercial assets. In addition to serving clients, Douglas also believes in serving the community. He has been active in funding low-income and section-8 housing units that help provide an affordable housing option in California, a market suffering from a housing crisis. He works closely with developers to explain and secure funding options for these projects.
MICHAEL ELMORE With more than 30 years of experience, Michael Elmore has demonstrated acute financial skills to guide and oversee complex financial transactions. As an EVP and managing director at NorthMarq, Elmore structures debt and equity transactions. During his 27-year tenure with the firm, he has closed 600 transactions totaling nearly $13 billion, and he has regularly been named as a top producer. Advanced Real Estate Services is one of Elmore’s longest standing clients. The firm has a 10,000-unit multifamily portfolio, and Elmore has worked with them to secure $2.3 billion in financing transactions, leading to loan servicing of $1.2 billion for the firm. When he isn’t working with clients, Elmore is mentoring new talent, both students and new entrants into the firm. Brendan Golding is a prime example of Elmore’s mentoring. Golding joined the firm two years ago and worked closely with Elmore to develop his book of business, resulting in $40 million in loan volume.
CHARLES J. FOSCHINI Charles J. Foschini is the senior managing director at Berkadia with more than 22 years of experience in structuring complex financing of commercial and multifamily transactions. Foschini co-leads the firm’s commercial mortgage banking teams in Florida from his Miami office, working with both institutional and private equity clients across property types, funding deals ranging in size from $10 million to $200 million. In his more than two-decade career, Foschini has been involved in the sale or financing of more that $20 billion in transactions, and in 2019 alone, he closed $1 billion in deals across 27 states. Based on this deal volume, he is ranked number two in the state of Florida among commercial mortgage brokers. Even during the pandemic, Foschini has managed to close impressive transactions, including a $97 million construction-to-permanent loan for two new Miami apartment towers totaling 256 units on behalf of developer, The Brunetti Organization. The activity is a testament to Foschini’s relationships and track record in the market.
PAUL M. FRIED In his two-decade career, Paul M. Fried has established himself as the go-to source for debt and equity placement. He takes a holistic approach to financing solutions and aims to help optimize and grow his clients’ existing real estate portfolio as well as navigate market turbulence. He joined Greystone Capital Advisors in 2016 and currently serves as the executive managing director, but his career includes tenures at L&L, where Fried worked on projects totaling $4 billion, Deutsche Banc Mortgage Capital and Allegiance Capital as well as at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy as an attorney. In leading Greystone’s equity capital markets group, Fried has worked on significant transactions, including the $160 million equity placement for Douglaston and Ares’ Hudson Yards mega-development, a 931-unit luxury mixed-used residential development in Manhattan and a $63 million speedy bridge loan for a client needing a tight turnaround to acquire a three property, 731-unit portfolio.
MAX FRIEDMAN As the CEO and founder of Mandri Capital, Max Friedman has built a reputation as a leader in structuring and arranging senior debt, mezzanine debt and joint venture equity transactions for middle market operators and investors. Since founding the company two years ago, his overarching goal has been to provide best-in-class financing for sponsors across the capital stack. But, Friedman is also continually looking for ways to break new ground and develop new verticals, and he has made progress by growing the sub institutional debt and equity markets. He has established deep relationships with leading funds to provide clients with the best capital opportunities. In his down time, Friedman takes an active role in the community, working with UCLA’s REAG Endowment Circle, running a an internship program for undergraduates and coaching local youth sports teams.
DANIEL HARTNETT Daniel Hartnett has quickly risen to an elite status in the commercial real estate finance world. He started at Greysteel in early 2016 as a capital markets associate and in four short years, he become the senior director and co-lead of Greysteel’s National Debt & Structured Finance and JV Equity Practice Groups. He focuses on structured debt, mezzanine and joint venture equity placement across asset classes for middle market and institutional clients. Hartnett has driven significant expansion for the firm, creating a top-to-bottom capital market solution for all major asset classes. In the last three years, he has arranged the financing of $267 million in total finance volume, with $126 million in the last 12 months. He has also played an integral role in supporting the adoption of new technologies at the firm. Leveraging Greysteel’s proprietary capital tracking database, Hartnett balances technology adaptation with flawless capital execution to improve a seamless client experience.
TUCKER KNIGHT Tucker Knight joined Berkadia in 2015 to build the firm’s Houston-based practice from the ground up, and in just five-short years, he has placed the office on the map. The office ranks among the firm’s top performers nationally. In the last two years, the office has originated more than $2 billion in debt and equity financing through 80 transactions. Knight himself is consistently ranked among the top five producers at the firm, and workers with a roster of notable clients, including Hines, Venterra and Fowler Property, specializing in multifamily, office and industrial product. As a senior managing director at the firm, he oversees loan origination, equity placement and management. Outside of the office, Knight is actively involved in a number of community organizations, including as the chairman of the board for the Institute of Stem Cell Research and Education and as board member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Committee.
BETH LAMBERT In her 30-year career, Beth Lambert has closed more than $20 billion in debt and equity transactions, and for the last 8 years, she has served as an executive managing director at Cushman & Wakefield where she has continued to close a significant number of deals. She focuses on originating and structuring institutional debt and private and institutional equity for all property types, and the last three years alone, she has closed more than $1.5 billion in real estate transactions. She also recently served on the Operating Committee and Investment Committee that led Cushman & Wakefield’s first M&A transaction, the acquisition of a $750 million national portfolio. This activity landed her a place on the firm’s top 100 list last year. She is currently a member of the ULI IOPC Red Council and a board member of The Real Estate Council. Lambert works closely with the firm to create initiatives that support the growth and advancement of women in the industry.
CHAY LAPIN Since 2012, Chay Lapin has played a fundamental role in driving growth at Kay Properties & Investments LLC, one of the largest DST firms in the US. As SVP, Lapin has helped to drive the firm’s participation in more than $15 billion in real estate offerings, and is considered a top ranked performer in the US. Lapin works with clients nationwide on a variety of transactions, and has sponsored and co-sponsored the syndication of more than $400 million in two million square feet of DST properties, including multifamily, net lease, industrial and office sectors. This year, Lapin led the close of nearly $500 million in real estate transactions. Prior to working with Kay Properties & Investments, Lapin founded Cove Capital Investments, one of the leading asset management firms in the DST space.
NATHAN PROUTY In 2016, Nathan Prouty became the youngest managing director at NorthMarq. Based in the San Francisco office, Prouty completes debt and joint venture equity production and works with the firm’s life company correspondent lenders to finance core stabilized assets. He has a notable roster of institutional investors and structured finance lenders on hand for opportunistic transactions, as well as relationships with traditional financing sources, including Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, institutional equity investors, debt funds and banks. In 2019, Prouty’s office completed $1.42 billion in financing transactions. Personally, his average annual transaction volume is $700 million. In the last five years, he has closed $3.5 billion in debt and equity deals, and he is consistently ranked in the top five producers at the firm. While he specializes in hotel deals, Prouty has closed several notable multifamily deals, including a $336 million Fannie Mae loan on the 1,000 unit Mansion Grove Apartments and a $75 million cash out refinance on Mediterranean Village, a garden-style apartment building.
ADAM RANDALL With deep expertise structuring collateralized loans for conventional multifamily, student housing and seniors housing, Adam Randall is a leader in multifamily debt solutions. As the vice chairman at Newmark, Randall specializes in loan requests with tax-exempt bonds and tax credits, structured complex credit facilities and affordable forwards, and he boasts strong industry relationships that he leverages to connect clients with opportunities and the best capital solutions. In his nearly 20 years with Newmark, Randall has closed more than $8 billion in financing transactions, and this year alone, he has completed $660 million in loan deals, a total of 32 transactions. As became standard for 2020, many of these deals have had challenges, including bad debt, troubled lease up or increased concessions. However, Randall and his team managed to close every transaction. He is a top producer at Newmark and a member of the firm’s Chairmen’s Circle.
STEVE ROTH In his 36-year career, Steve Roth has been a trailblazer in the mortgage banking industry. With a focus on the industrial sector, he has closed record-breaking transactions. Throughout his career, he has structured and arranged $27 billion in capital for more than 1,200 deals, and in the last three years, he has closed $6.2 billion in loan volumes with more than two-thirds of the transactions on industrial assets, which the remaining 25% of transactions were construction deals. He is currently a vice chairman at CBRE, and this year alone, he has arranged more than 30 debt transactions, not including a $330 million deal, a $172 million deal and a $110 million deal that are all scheduled to close in the fourth quarter. On average, he closes between 55 and 60 transactions per year, and he is frequently ranked in the top 1% of producers at the firm.
SHARONE SABAR Sharone Sabar has built is 14-year career entirely at Marcus & Millichap, climbing the ladder to senior managing director of capital markets. He has built a reputation as a problem solver with in-depth knowledge of a broad range of property types and the ability to provide solutions for complex problems. With the responsibility of securing commercial debt and equity financing, Sabar is connected to both regional and local funding sources as well as agency lenders, CMBS lenders, life insurance companies and private and public funds. During his career, he has closed more than $3 billion in loan transactions, and in the last three years, he was consistently named one of the firm’s top five originators. In 2019 he was the top originator at the company. Sabar has been regularly highlighted by industry publications and organizations as a leader.
MITCH SINBERG As one of the leading mortgage brokers in the country, Mitch Sinberg works with some of the largest institutional and private equity investors on multifamily and single-asset transactions. Leveraging his network and skill, he has played a crucial role in driving growth in the Florida market at Berkadia, where he is a senior managing director. Since joining the firm in 2013, he has played a significant role in building the business from $200 million in annual deal volume to more than $3 billion in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, his team alone was responsible for $2.2 billion in loan volume, representing 100 transactions in 20 states. He has also grown the team from 15 professionals to more than 50 throughout the state. Prior to joining Berkadia, Sinberg was the co-manager of Beech Street Capital, were he also built a reputation for driving growth by obtaining a Freddie Mac seller-servicer license for the firm.
NICHOLAS WALKER As the managing director at Waterway Capital LLC, Nicholas Walker has helped to develop new debt products at the firm, including construction-permanent credit-tenant-loan financing. Known for his innovation and unique market perspective, Walker works closely with borrowers to create efficient capital solutions. Recently, he has secured construction-permanent credit-tenant-loan financing for a manufacturing facility, a build-to-suit hospital and a distribution facility in Southern California. He has a decade of experience in the mortgage banking industry, and has spent the duration of his career at Waterway Capital.
TEAMS
BERKADIA JV EQUITY & STRUCTURED CAPITAL GROUP Berkadia’s JV equity and structured capital group focuses exclusively on the equity side of the capital stack, but works on everything from large new construction deals to small value-add transactions in a wide range of equity positions, like JV equity, senior equity, preferred equity, stretch senior and co-GP/entity-level. The team, which includes Chinmay Bhatt, Cody Kirkpatrick and Noam Franklin, joined Berkadia in 2019. Since, it has closed 27 deals with a total transaction volume of more than $1 billion. The team’s recent transactions include an $8 million preferred equity investment in Amber Ridge Apartments near Los Angeles and the equity recapitalization of a $138 million multifamily portfolio in Florida and Georgia. The team has also played a critical role in helping clients fill financing gaps during the pandemic as well as driving opportunities and growth at the firm. Bhatt, Franklin and Kirkpatrick have all been recognized by various industry organizations and publications for their impressive track record.
CBRE’S NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MULTIFAMILY DEBT AND STRUCTURED FINANCE TEAM Since 2013, Andrew Behrens and Jesse Weber have been the A-team behind CBRE’s Northern California multifamily debt and structured finance team. Both members of CBRE’s elite institutional group, routinely rank in the top 10% of brokers at the firm. The team has closed more than $15 billion in loans since 2013, consistently increasing loan volumes each year. Last year alone, they closed $3.2 billion in loan volume. Behrens and Weber work with both direct lending products, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and capital sources in the broader capital markets such as life companies, CMBS, banks as well as alternative debt sources and equity capital. In 2018 and 2019, the team was one of Fannie Mae’s top five lenders. This year, they have forged ahead despite the pandemic, closing 50 transactions through October 2020.
JAMES CAPITAL ADVISORS CAPITAL MARKETS TEAM Senior director, Brad Kraus and senior associate, Jorge Gomez took the helm of James Capital Advisors’ debt and equity advisory group in January 2020, growing the platform from the ground up. This year, they have focused on educating the firm’s 40-plus brokers to better understand capital markets and financing structure that can be used to augment deals and support clients through the entire transaction process. This includes hosting educational meetings with brokers and providing weekly market information on changing rates, lender appetite and economic fundamentals. Despite the downward market shift due to the pandemic, Kraus and Gomez have continued to close new deals and were able to complete all deals that were initiated prior to the economic shutdown in March by working with lenders that continued to originate deals, illustrating that the lending market was simply limited and not completely dead during the pandemic.
MARCUS & MILLICHAP CAPITAL CORP.’S O’CONNOR, AGNEW AND ELLIOTT TEAM Chad O’Connor, Patrick Agnew and Kevin Elliott make up Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp.’s national Southern California team. The trio—which is responsible for securing commercial debt and equity financing across all asset classes—has become known for its innovate and creative approach to capital solutions and the ability to unearth opportunities. They work with a wide range of national and local funding sources, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, commercial banks, CMBS lenders, life insurance companies and bridge lenders. O’Connor serves as senior managing director on the team and is regularly a top originator. He has been a top five producer every year since 2013 and a recipient of the national achievement award every year since 2010. The team is among the top teams within Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp.
NEWMARK SANTA MONICA MULTIFAMILY CAPITAL MARKETS AND DEBT TEAM Newmark’s Santa Monica multifamily capital markets and debt team has an impressive track record. Since Mitch Clarfield founded the team in 2001, it has grown to 15 team members and has closed more than $15 billion in multifamily loans and more than $10 billion in commercial and multifamily mortgage acquisitions and sales. The team, which in addition to Clarfield includes Josh Braceros, Ryan Greer and Meghan Varga, has average annual debt originations of $1.5 billion, and in the last three years, the team has completed $6 billion in total production. Despite the pandemic, 2020 has been a particularly prosperous year. The team has originated $1 billion in the third quarter alone, including closing two credit facilities totaling more than $650 million. The team also established the firm’s analyst training program, which cultivates top young talent through a rigorous two-year multifamily lending training program. The program funnels trainees into the company and positions them for growth.
SABAL CAPITAL PARTNERS’ SERVICING TEAM Led by Vartan Derbedrossian, chief fulfillment and servicing officer, Sabal Capital Partners’ servicing team has originated more than $4 billion nationally and services a $4.3 billion portfolio of both multifamily and commercial loans. Last year, the team began servicing for the largest loan portfolio in Freddie Mac’s Optigo Small Balance Loan history, a $189 million 880-unit portfolio with UPB of workforce housing properties located in Harlem, New York. Along with Derbedrossian, the serving team includes Marilyn Pennebaker, Ken Kraemer, Steve Chung, Donna Kelly, Linda Tran and Jaime Villalobos. It prides itself on being a standout from other companies because it is designed to serve a wide range of borrowers with different needs and it leverages proprietary technology to streamline the capital placement processes. This has launched the servicing team to be a top producer in both up and down cycles. During the current down cycle, Sabal was able to help borrowers through the downturn by navigating repayment, forbearance and refinance options.
ORGANIZATIONS
AZTEC GROUP INC. Boutique commercial real estate investment and merchant banking firm, Aztec Group is focused on more than just volume. In the 39 years since its inception, Aztec has focused on execution, custom solutions and client objectives, working with developers, operators, investors and entrepreneurial clients. Under the leadership of president, Peter Mekras, the firm works with debt, equity, venture partners and investors to create custom solutions, and it structures permanent, construction, bridge and mezzanine loans on all property types and asset classes. Aztec also plays an active role in the local community, working with several charity organizations, including United Way of Miami Dade, Legal Services of Miami, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, University of Miami and University of Florida.
B6 REAL ESTATE ADVISORS B6 Real Estate Advisors lives by a tried and true philosophy: each commercial real estate property is unique, and unlocking a property’s true value requires granular-level knowledge of all factors that make the property distinct. This philosophy is even reflective in the company’s name, B6, which stands for building by building, block by block. B6 employs a Territory Network, which is a unique model that ensures every broker specializes in a specific territory. This enables every capital advisory broker to combine their territory expertise with analytics to deliver the highest value, best financing terms and a superior transaction experience for commercial real estate owners. B6′s capital advisory division, which holds extensive expertise in sourcing debt, mezzanine and equity financings, combined with its customized technology infrastructure, provide the firm with the ability to service investors, developers, corporate users, small businesses, institutional owners and global companies.
GEORGE SMITH PARTNERS With more than 25 years in business, George Smith Partners has established a reputation as an ethical and innovative capital brokerage firm. Since its founding, the firm has closed more than $58 billion in financing deals, serving both developers and investors to structure acquisition, construction, bridge and permanent loans. The firm also secures mezzanine loans, highly leveraged participating loans and joint venture equity on behalf of its clients. Last year, the company closed its largest transaction to date, a $460 million loan, and even through 2020, the firm has maintained strong transaction volumes, despite the recent market disruption. As a leader in the industry, George Smith Partners does more than just close deals. It publishes a weekly CRE resource called FinFacts, which is read by more than 50,000 people. The firm is also deeply invested in mentoring young talent, operating a rotating analyst program to develop future leaders. Often, these analysts become full-time employees with the firm.
GOWERCROWD GowerCrowd works with clients to raise equity and develop investor lists by leveraging the marketing power of the Internet and new technologies to create a completely passive process for the sponsor. Using this method, all capital is raised online from interested investors, essentially reshaping the way that deals are financed and changing the capital formation. Led by Adam Gower, who has 30 years and $1.5 billion of transactional experience, GowerCrowd clients have raised tens of millions of dollars. Gower has a Ph.D. in risk mitigation, and is known for creating The Investor Acquisition System, a capital formation program. When he isn’t innovating the capital raise, Gower mentors students beginning their commercial real estate careers and gives them insight into crowdfunding and new technologies revolutionizing the industry.
MESA WEST CAPITAL When founded by Jeff Friedman and Mark Zytko in 2005, Mesa West Captial was one of the first companies to focus exclusively on commercial real restate debt. The move has made the firm a pioneer in the debt fund space and its success has earned it a name as one of the top 50 real estate debt fund managers in the United States. For the last decade, the firm has generated $500 million in loans annually and has sourced and closed more than 300 transactions totaling more than $19 billion. Mesa West funds non-recourse first mortgage loans for a variety of deal types, including core and core-plus, value-add and transitional properties with loan sizes ranging from $20 million up to $400 million. This year, notable deals have included providing Sares Regis Group with $65 million first mortgage debt for the acquisition of The Preston, a 169-unit multifamily community in Los Angeles.
MOSAIC REAL ESTATE INVESTORS Founded in 2015 by Ethan Penner and Vicky Schiff, Mosaic Real Estate Investors set out to become a leader in the debt fund space by structuring deals that reduce the impact of economic down cycles—a strategy that has served clients well in this year. In that short five years, the firm has accomplished its goal by carrying out in-depth initial due diligence, structuring strong protective covenants, performing hands-on asset management, and working with experienced sponsors with successful track records. This has culminated in more than $2 billion in originations. The success isn’t surprising. The firm’s leadership team has a collective $50 billion-plus and three decades worth of real estate and lending experience. The team has leveraged that experience to close deals like a $68.75 million dollar loan for the construction of a new UC Merced student housing development totaling 270 units. The founders are continuing to evolve the company and raise the bar by embracing new opportunities. This, the firm says, ensures a bright future.
RED STAR MORTGAGE CORP. As a non-bank lender, Red Star Mortgage Corp. provides financing solutions for self-employed borrowers looking for alternative forms of financing. The firm is able to provide 30-year fixed-rate commercial mortgages—a rarity in the commercial mortgage industry—without the need obtain qualifying tax returns or cash flow analysis. Focusing on the small balance market, the firm funds loans from $250,000 to $7.5 million. It funds permanent private loans up to 75% loan-to-value and fixed rates with flexible credit and underwriting standards on all property types, including retail, office, industrial and multifamily. By serving this niche market, Red Star has continued to see strong lending activity through the pandemic, particularly helping small businesses and investor owners with purchase, refinance and cash out opportunities. When the firm isn’t closing deals, it is mentoring young talent on strategic market tactics and participating in the local community’s Chamber of Commerce.
TURNBULL CAPITAL GROUP Newport Beach-based, Turnbull Capital Group is a leader in the leisure and hospitality investment banking sector. Donald W. Wise and Michael P. Branigan are at the helm of the firm, with a combined 55 years of experience and an impressive track record in the industry. Wise established what today is CBRE Hotels in 1984 and founded the leisure and hospitality investment banking lending practice at Johnson Capital in 2007, which is now at Walker & Dunlop. Branigan has been involved in more than $10 billion in debt and equity placements. Turnbull Capital Group has a team of 15 senior managing directors and has completed nearly $20 billion in preferred equity and debt placement along with several other capital needs, like hospitality workouts, bankruptcies and note sales. Among its most notable deals, the firm has represented a joint venture between the Platt Companies and Marriott International on the purchase of One Beverly Hills.