From an early age, I was interested in entrepreneurship. I spent my free time brainstorming new ways to make money and stumbled into starting an eBay store when I was in middle school. I sold my friends’ unwanted holiday and birthday gifts on the site for a commission. In college, I operated a drop-shipping company, trading the volatility of bitcoin on an international exchange for electronics I would then sell on eBay for a small profit. As I neared graduation, I realized the benefits of aligning myself with other entrepreneurs, particularly learning from their challenges and achievements.

At about that time, I met Wes Carpenter through a two-week marketing internship with newly formed Stormfield Capital. Stormfield consisted of the two founders (Carpenter and Tim Jackson), three computers, a printer, and a small office in Connecticut. The energy, creativity, and roll-up-your-sleeves attitude of working at an entrepreneurial investment management firm drew me in.

Stormfield was founded in 2015 to introduce an institutional-quality asset manager into a market where only a limited number of sophisticated players existed—real estate secured direct lending. In summer 2016, I joined Stormfield as its first employee—before we launched our first fund. Joining a startup was certainly a risk to take early in my career, but the founders’ zealous commitment to success was infectious. It’s a risk I’m glad I took.

As the months turned into years, Stormfield evolved from a startup into a proper organization. Throughout my time here, I’ve gained exposure to all aspects of the business and been able to contribute to the company’s success. Alongside my direct responsibility to originate investment property loans, I’ve had the opportunity to work on launching new funds, develop new loan products, launch new websites, and transact with some of the most active mortgage advisors in the country. It has been a remarkable experience to witness the growth and transformation of Stormfield, and I am excited about the company as we continue to adapt, innovate, and thrive in the ever-changing private lending landscape.

Stormfield recently celebrated $1 billion of loan originations, and I can still remember the first loan I originated like it was yesterday. Our reputation has become our greatest asset, and it has been fueled by the trust we’ve earned from our clients, partners, and the community. Our journey has certainly not been without challenges, but the continued focus on fostering an entrepreneurial spirit has and will continue to serve me and the firm for many years.