As champions for the private lending industry’s reputation and future growth, AAPL realizes it’s crucial to recognize those in the industry who look beyond their own businesses to help our mission.

Our Excellence Awards showcase peer-nominated members who have leveraged their resources to solve problems, kick-start innovation, and improve their communities. The Member of the Year and Rising Star awardees are determined by popular vote, and Community Impact nominees are evaluated by AAPL.

Read on for our 2022 Excellence Award recipients!

 

 


Rising Star

Rising Stars are members who have accomplished outstanding growth in their companies during the past year.

Jack Helfrich // CIVIC Financial Services

Jack Helfrich’s star has been rising since he launched his career as one of the five original founders of CIVIC eight years ago. Starting as an account executive, through grit and determination, he learned the business and earned the trust and respect of his customers, peers, and industry colleagues.

Today, as senior vice president of retail lending, Helfrich is a key member of the team that has built CIVIC into one of the premier private lenders in the nation. To say that he cares about his team, his customers, and the private lending industry is an understatement. Helfrich is the human equivalent of a golden retriever—loyal, kind, and lots of fun, creating a contagiously positive impact wherever he goes. There’s just no stopping this rising star!

—Elizabeth Hillestad, Civic Financial Services

What Helfrich had to say about being our 2022 rising star:

“Winning the Rising Star Award was an honor, especially from such a reputable organization as AAPL. Their presence within the industry is undeniable. AAPL’s support for lenders, borrowers, brokers, and all other private lending service providers is unparalleled. AAPL has been a major contributor to legitimizing and commercializing the real estate finance microcosm of private lending. As an industry, we would not be where we are today without their service. Receiving the Rising Star award from AAPL was certainly a highlight of my career and a privilege I will remember forever.”

 

 


Member of the Year

The Member of the Year award goes to an AAPL member for their deep expertise, unique value, and strong commitment to clients and growing the industry.

Carrie Cook // Ignite Funding

As the president of Ignite Funding for the past 15 years, Carrie Cook has led the company to be one of the most reliable private lenders in the western U.S. and an investment sponsor private investors can depend on for portfolio diversification, growth, and mitigated risk.

Ignite Funding embodies Cook’s philosophy that everything should be handled in-house. This is how Ignite Funding has never missed a funding deadline, providing borrowers with the timely financing they need to be successful in a competitive industry. It’s also the reason Ignite Funding services each loan from cradle to grave, so investors know they are working with an organization that stands behind their investment, not for the fees Ignite Funding earns, but for the integrity they gain from investors.

—Stephanie Fryar, Ignite Funding

What Cook had to say about being our 2022 Member of the Year:

“It is an honor to be recognized by professionals in our industry and the employees that support my leadership.

Working in the private lending industry, it is rarely discussed the impact we make in society. In the last 10 years, Ignite Funding only has funded $1.5 billion into the infrastructure in the Southwest. Our financing has created thousands of jobs, built thousands of homes, created countless amounts of commercial space, and taken private companies to become public companies. All this happened while paying investors $150 million in income.

As a leader, I am only as good as the people around me. My ’tough but fair’ leadership trait pushes people to believe that more is possible. If you cannot take it, then the private lending industry is probably not for you.

I am honored to receive the Member of Year Award from AAPL. Ignite Funding will continue to make you proud!”

 

 


Community Impact

The Community Impact award honors dedicated and innovative professionals and their commitment to bettering their local and/or private lending communities through volunteering, community development programs, or civic/legislative efforts.

Alexandria Breshears // Lend2Live

During the pandemic Breshears started a Facebook group for private lenders, now numbering 7,000+ members. She has done this through her leadership, providing education via live trainings with industry experts covering legal, software, social media, and operations. The sense of community she has created allows for an exchange of best practices that focuses on inclusiveness, regardless of experience level. The mix of knowledge levels prompts an ongoing inspiring environment.

Alex is now a published author on the topic of private lending. “Lend to Live” and its CPR lending system teaches the reader how to manage each step of the loan cycle from beginning to end.

Alex’s leadership and ability to create community in a fragmented industry has brought more people into the industry and taught them to lend the right way. At the same time, she’s helping experienced lenders gain a new perspective about operations, marketing, and legal topics.

—Mike Seidl, Cedar Oak REI

What Breshears had to say about being a 2022 Community Impact Award recipient:

“This was such an honor to win this award. We got stuck in terrible traffic going to the event that morning, so when I missed it, I literally broke down. I really cannot express how much this means to me.

I was honored just to be nominated, but to win the award was mind blowing. I started this journey just wanting to talk to other private lenders and didn’t know where to turn at the time. Over the course of the past few years, I grew in knowledge and network, and AAPL was a huge part of that journey for me. When the opportunity came up to help others learn more about the beginning of their private lending journey, I knew this could be something life-changing for so many people and get more lenders into a community that would help educate, empower, and provide that feedback I wish I had all those years ago. I look forward to being an active member of the lending community with education and advocacy as a central focus. Thank you for the support from within the lending community!”

 

 


Community Impact

Jeffrey Tesch // RCN Capital

The entire RCN Capital Team, led by Jeffrey Tesch, takes pride in giving back to their local communities. RCN Capital has provided tremendous support to their local Children’s Hospital by sponsoring the hospital’s Superhero Day with CT Children’s and supporting their Amazon wish list by hosting companywide toy drives. It is inspiring to watch their company give back to their communities, both in Connecticut and in their satellite office communities through food drives, back-to-school supply collections, and more.

— Erica Sikoski, Bridge Loan Network

What Tesch had to say about being a 2022 Community Impact Award recipient:

“RCN Capital takes tremendous pride in the charitable initiatives we engage in to give back to local communities throughout the U.S. So, receiving the Community Impact Award at AAPL this year was humbling as it affirmed our efforts are being recognized and are making a notable impact.”