No matter what the industry throws at her, Marcia Kaufman thrives. The real estate industry can be tumultuous, but Marcia Kaufman always rides the waves to the top. Kaufman was promoted to CEO of Bayport Funding, a balance-sheet lender based in Long Island, New York, in January, after serving as president since 2018. In a [...]
This article was updated 7.1.25 to reflect a business name change. Private lending attorney has capitalized on serendipitous opportunities throughout his career. Reflecting on his career, Nema Daghbandan can see that luck has played a large part in his success. Today, he is a partner at Fortra Law (formally Geraci LLP) in Irvine, California, general [...]
The private money lenders at We Lend are motivated by helping their clients achieve wealth. Summer 1996. Ruben Izgelov has just spent several hours hawking flyers to pedestrians hustling along busy Queens Boulevard in New York, hoping to persuade them to patronize area pizzerias and sushi restaurants. It was the young immigrant from Turkmenistan’s first [...]
Mortgage Automator’s partners rely on each other’s strengths to move the company forward. Some say it’s not advisable to go into business with your friends, but the founders of Mortgage Automator wouldn’t have it any other way. The Toronto, Ontario, tech company has evolved from a proprietary software project to an award-winning business with 50 [...]
Paul Jackson draws from experience to build Residential Capital Partners. Paul Jackson recognized the appeal of real estate from an early age. “Everybody in my family was in the real estate business,” he said. “It’s in my blood.” Jackson, president and CEO of Residential Capital Partners (ResCap), grew up in Dallas, where he saw his [...]
Former NFL player Josh Baker jets into high gear with his new venture. Josh Baker’s career path has been unorthodox, veering from a major in criminal justice to a stint in the NFL to a career in private lending. Through every step, he’s made forward progress, grinding to make that next first down. Josh grew [...]
Noah Martin’s philosophy background brings a unique perspective to the lending industry. When first meeting Noah Martin, president of AlphaFlow, you might wonder how a philosophy major who casually mentions Jean-Paul Sartre in an interview ended up in private lending. But once you get to know him, you realize Martin constantly seeks to know more about any subject that interests him. So, once he got into finance and lending, he dove [...]
Cindy Nasser's early life experiences taught her lessons about business, empathy, and leadership that drive her success. Cindy Nasser’s career path has been anything but typical. But her life experiences have equipped her with insights that uniquely qualify her to lead teams at PCV Murcor. As chief operating officer, she touches nearly all parts of [...]
Kristina Sawyer draws on experience in all aspects of real estate to offer a cohesive product and experience. When she was young, Kristina Sawyer never thought she’d work in real estate. As it turns out, she’s worked in nearly every aspect of the business, giving her valuable perspective for her role as vice president of [...]
Hard work and execution built Constructive Loans. Ben Fertig, president of Constructive Loans, readily admits his entrepreneurial trajectory was not a “rags to riches story.” Though he’s worked with well-capitalized partners, his focus and drive spurred his success. Fertig started his career in mortgage lending through a series of fortunate events. Growing up, he dreamed [...]
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Nominations are open until August 30, 2026, with voting from September 7-30, 2026. We’ll announce recipients at our Annual Conference.
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