Go on, we dare you to ask this self-proclaimed “car nut” what his all-time favorite automobile is. You’ll enter a world of detail, and if you have a serious interest, can embark on an hours’-long conversation that will vary from rant (what the heck is a four door grand coupe?!), to fanboy (did you know that the Tesla Model 3 Performance can run a consistent 0-60 in 3.2 seconds?). But first, learn more about Nema below:

How long have you been an AAPL member?

Geraci LLP is a founding member – 2009.

What AAPL benefit do you MOST value?

The team at AAPL. They are passionate, understand the industry and are always thinking about ways to add value to their members.

Why did you become a member?

My partner, Anthony Geraci, founded the organization 10 years ago. There was no national organization focused on private lending issues and he saw that as a huge need for the industry. I’ve had the pleasure of working at Geraci LLP since 2010 and have been involved with AAPL since then.

What is your favorite AAPL memory?

I absolutely love the annual conferences. They provide a great opportunity to understand what’s happening in the industry and where it is headed. For example, in 2014 with the proliferation of crowdfunding platforms, we started to see FinTech enter what was a mostly local business model. AAPL is a litmus test of the industry as whole.

Why did you decide to enter the private lending profession?

I went to law school at the University of Miami in Florida. I grew up in Orange County, California and knew I wanted to come back to practice in California. My older brother happened to be playing poker at a friend’s house with Anthony and mentioned that I would work for free over the summer if anyone was looking for a first year law student. Anthony said he would happily take me, and even better, he would pay me! So you could say I was won (or lost) in a poker bet.

I worked with Anthony that first summer and I fell in love with the industry. It was exciting, entrepreneurial and engaging — and has been ever since.

What are some accomplishments you are particularly proud of?

This year we were able to advocate on behalf of AAPL to defeat legislation in Florida which would have required all lenders making business purpose loans to get licensed. This was a coordinated effort with AAPL, its members and other organizations. Together we were able to take on powerful and connected political interests in the state.

What is your favorite book, and why?

How to Win Friends and Influence People. I am out at conferences a lot and I try to think about ways to add value to people and this book was a great tool in doing so.

###

To see yourself in the spotlight or nominate a member, just complete this form with some basic information. A member of the AAPL team will then follow up with you.