A Vision from
the Top

Beth O’Brien has over 30 years of experience in almost every aspect of the mortgage industry, as both a principal and an advisor. She has overseen more than $20 billion in transactions and was named in Housing Wire’s 2014 Women of Influence and 2018 Women of Influence, as well as Mortgage Professionals America’s 2016 and 2017 Elite Women in Mortgage and 2016 GlobeSt.com Real Estate Forum Women of Influence.

Beth previously founded Colony American Finance (now CoreVest), serving as CEO and growing the company into the nation’s premier private real estate lender. Before that, Beth was Executive Vice President at Auction.com, where she ran residential capital markets, and was President and Co-Founder of AuctionFinance.com, where she ran the financing strategy for the platform in addition to the private lender. Beth also held prior positions in RMBS trading and securitization at Citigroup and in Real Estate Private Equity at Goldman Sachs. Beth holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University Law Center.

Michael Minck is the Chief Legal Officer at Encore Finance, where he leads the Legal Department in providing comprehensive legal support to the company’s various business units. He also oversees internal legal and litigation matters.

Michael joined Encore in 2024, bringing with him 20 years of experience in legal and general counsel roles within the lending sector, spanning both commercial and residential capacities. His expertise includes supervising legal and compliance obligations for retail origination platforms. He holds a J.D. from Whittier Law School and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine.

Brad Chmura is a highly accomplished, recognized leader in sales and operations who has worked in leadership positions within the mortgage and real estate investment industries since 2000. Brad has a long track record of driving revenue, exceeding goals and motivating internal stakeholders and business partners. He also brings extensive knowledge in innovative technology, with an established history of promoting sustainable growth, data integrity and operational efficiency through the application of appropriate technological advancements.

Prior to joining Encore, Brad held leadership positions at several mortgage lending and real estate investment companies, including CoreVest, First American Mortgage Solutions, ClosingCorp and CoreLogic. Brad holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

John Prins has over 10 years of real estate experience and serves as Encore’s Chief Revenue Officer. Prior to joining Encore, John held senior loan originations positions with other private lenders specializing in SFR and multifamily assets, where he closed over $2.5 billion of permanent, bridge and construction debt across over 400 transactions. John holds a BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University.

Caroline Morrill has over 30 years of experience in capital markets and corporate development, spanning structured finance, fixed income, and corporate treasury. She most recently served as Senior Vice President of Capital Markets and Treasury at Home Partners of America, a Blackstone portfolio company, where she led the turnaround and change of control of a 28,000-home single-family rental portfolio and managed an $8B+ debt portfolio, including the largest single-family rental transaction to date at over $2 billion.

Prior to Home Partners, Caroline held senior capital markets roles at Morgan Stanley, HSBC Securities, and Credit Suisse, where she built and led origination and syndicate platforms, grew a multibillion-dollar ABS syndicate business, and managed relationships with institutional investors including banks, insurance companies, pension funds, hedge funds, and sovereigns. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Marketing from the University of Pennsylvania.

John Spatidol, CFA is a talented credit and risk leader who has worked in leadership positions within the commercial and residential real estate lending industries for more than a decade. John has a long track record of building credit frameworks, structuring complex transactions and managing risk across lending platforms, with deep expertise in underwriting standards, portfolio risk monitoring and capital markets execution. He also brings a strong foundation in credit analysis and team leadership, with an established history of developing credit professionals and driving disciplined, consistent decision-making across lending organizations.

Prior to joining Encore, John held leadership positions at several real estate lending companies, including Renovo Financial, Aloha Capital Partners and Toorak Capital Partners. John is a CFA Charterholder and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Ian Hardcastle has over 10 years of real estate and debt origination experience and serves as Encore’s Managing Director of Originations. Ian is responsible for sales and loan originations for the firm. Prior to joining Encore, Ian held senior positions at various private lending institutions specializing in SFR and multifamily assets, where he closed over $2.5 billion of permanent, bridge and construction debt financing. Ian holds a BS in Economics from Pace University.

Amanda Skinner brings over 15 years of experience in the lending industry, specializing in asset and construction management across residential and commercial sectors.

Prior to joining Encore, Amanda held senior roles at both large and boutique firms, overseeing more than $8 billion in term and bridge loan assets.

Gina Lambis has over 20 years of real estate experience including originations, credit underwriting, closing/funding, asset management and special servicing. 

Prior to joining Encore, Gina held leadership positions with other private lenders specializing in SFR and multifamily asset bridge loans. Gina earned a B.A. in International Economics from The American University.

Emily Bisogno brings over 15 years of experience in the real estate industry, specializing in operational automation and process improvement.

Prior to joining Encore Finance, Emily held leadership roles at private lending firms and real estate auction platforms, where she worked cross-functionally to enhance efficiency and drive company-wide improvements. Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University.

Blake Gaines is a seasoned real estate finance attorney, bringing over nine years of experience in originating and selling commercial mortgages. With a strong background in both legal and financial aspects of real estate transactions, Blake provides strategic counsel on complex commercial deals, helping clients navigate the full lifecycle of mortgage financing.

Blake holds a JD and MBA from the University of Southern California, equipping him with a unique dual perspective that bridges the legal and business dimensions of real estate finance. Blake lives in South Florida, where he enjoys paddle boarding and spending time at the beach with his family.

Michael MacNeil serves as a Director of Origination at Encore Finance, where he leads loan origination strategy and cultivates strategic relationships across the investor and operator community. With more than 10 years of real estate and debt origination experience, Michael focuses on structuring and delivering tailored capital solutions. Over the course of his career, he has originated more than $1.5 billion in SFR financing.

Michael began his career as a commercial mortgage broker at Meridian Capital Group, where he closed more than $250 million in transactions, demonstrating early expertise in structuring and capital placement. He later held credit and underwriting roles at Santander Bank before transitioning into the single-family rental sector at Genesis Capital, where he specialized in institutional SFR lending. Most recently, Michael played a key role at VineBrook Homes and Avenue One, contributing to scalable acquisition strategies and operational expansion. Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts from St. Lawrence University, majoring in Economics.

Tobi Abereoje is a seasoned commercial real estate finance professional and currently serves as Director of Originations at Encore Finance. With an expansive skill set in commercial real estate lending, acquisitions, credit risk management, and market research, Tobi leverages his experience to help clients navigate complex financing needs and achieve their investment objectives.

Spanning more than 17 years, Tobi’s career has seen him occupy key roles at premier firms such as Basis Investment Group and JPMorgan Chase. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with some of the most notable names in the industry, solidifying his reputation as a top performer. His distinct expertise is demonstrated through his involvement in the origination, acquisition, and execution of significant multifamily and commercial real estate transactions that have supported investments nationwide.

Prior to joining Encore Finance, Tobi led acquisitions for a multifamily investment platform focused on value add, workforce, and affordable housing opportunities. His experience across both lending and acquisitions provides him with a unique perspective on commercial real estate finance and investment strategy.

In recognition of his achievements, Tobi was named a Top Young Professional in Debt and Equity and was recognized among the industry’s Top 25 Under 35.

Christian Knight serves as a Director of Origination at Encore Finance, where he draws on nearly a decade of experience in capital markets and investments to build and grow relationships across the real estate investor and operator community. His background spanning both the debt and equity sides of residential real estate positions him to deliver thoughtful and tailored capital solutions to clients.

Christian began his career at CoreVest Finance in New York, where he held a role on the originations team, gaining early expertise in real estate debt and capital markets. He later transitioned to the buy-side as a member of the acquisitions team at AvenueOne, where he focused on the deployment of equity into single-family rental properties across the U.S. Most recently, Christian served as Director of Investments at Brookfield Asset Management, where he managed the SFR acquisitions, dispositions, and transaction management teams.

Christian holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University, where he also captained the Varsity Lacrosse team. He currently lives in Charleston, SC with his wife, Courtney, and their two children, Maria and Warren.

David Pacheco is a Vice President at Encore Finance, where he works within the Capital Markets group. David’s responsibilities include managing pricing, capital partner outreach and loan disposition efforts.

Prior to joining Encore, David held roles at an investment bank, executing transactions on behalf of CRE issuers and also at a private lender executing private and public capital market transactions. David joined Encore Finance in 2024 and brings with him extensive experience in real estate credit, structured finance, and securitizations. David holds a B.S. from the University of Southern California in Business/Real Estate Finance.

Chase Midgley is a Vice President with Encore Finance. Chase joined Encore in 2024 and currently works on the Underwriting team where he is responsible for the credit analysis and structuring of fixed and floating rate facilities. Chase has been working in the Real Estate Finance industry since 2019 having closed over $1 Billion of construction, bridge, and permanent debt on BFR, Multifamily, and SFR Portfolios.

Prior to joining Encore, Chase held underwriting positions for other private lenders and also worked in the real estate brokerage business. Chase graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Middlebury College, where he was a member of the varsity lacrosse team.

Jolene Czarnota has over 20 years of experience in the real estate and lending industry. Jolene has held key roles including Closing Associate, Operations Manager, Loan Processor, and Director of Closing.

Jolene’s background spans real estate auction companies and business purpose lending, where she’s been a line level employee and led high-performing teams, implemented process improvements, and successfully launched new operational systems. Jolene brings a strong track record of leadership and efficiency with a wealth of knowledge relating to title and closing.

Ryan Harper began his career in originations at a private lender owned by a real estate investment trust (REIT), where he focused on single-family rental (SFR) and multifamily assets. He brings extensive experience across bridge, construction, and permanent financing, having played a key role in originating over $1 billion in real estate financing transactions.

At Encore, Ryan is responsible for sourcing, structuring, and pricing loans, as well as managing key client relationships. Ryan holds a B.A. from Union College.

Brandon Turk has nearly a decade of experience in commercial real estate and has been instrumental in structuring over $1 billion in transactions. At Encore Finance, Brandon’s focus is on originating loans for build-for-rent (BFR) communities, single-family rental (SFR) portfolios, and multifamily properties, drawing on his background in underwriting, acquisitions, and capital markets. Brandon holds a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Florida.

Levi Cooper has over five years of experience in commercial real estate finance, having underwritten and closed over $1 billion in bridge real estate transactions across multiple product offerings and structured over $500 million of origination opportunities.

Levi has previously held roles in underwriting, acquisitions, and funding at other private lenders before moving to the Originations team at Encore. Levi holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Matthew Hubler joined Encore Finance on the Originations team in November of 2023. Matthew is responsible for supporting senior loan originators with structuring and pricing loans and sourcing new potential loan opportunities for Encore.

Prior to Encore Finance, Matthew worked for at Guidepoint in client services for three years, where he managed a book of 38 clients, including private equity firms, hedge funds, venture capital firms, and mutual funds. Matthew graduated from Johns Hopkins University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics. During his time at Johns Hopkins, he was also a member of the lacrosse team.

William Bossard joined Encore Finance on the Originations team in January of 2024. William takes pride in contributing to the successful closing of over $600 million in bridge and term loans. From pricing to closing, William has been involved in every step of a transaction process.

Prior to Encore Finance, William worked in private banking in the trading and treasury department. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and spending time with friends and family.

Harrison Hunt joined Encore’s Originations team in August 2025 and is a real estate professional with a strong foundation in commercial leasing and acquisitions. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Denison University in 2022, and shortly after, began pursuing a Master’s degree in Real Estate Finance & Investment at NYU’s Schack Institute of Real Estate, graduating in May 2025. While in graduate school in New York City, Harry launched his commercial real estate career in leasing at Colliers and later transitioned into acquisitions at Kaufman Organization. His combined academic background and hands-on experience have equipped him with a well-rounded understanding of the commercial real estate market.

Rob Kane brings over 20 years of experience in business analysis working for multiple Fortune 500 companies throughout various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare, transportation, and telecommunications.

Rob’s areas of focus have been on process improvement and operational efficiency, but also has experience in reporting, analysis and project management.  Rob holds a BA degree in Psychology from Emory University and a BBA from Florida Atlantic University.

Michael Ziegler, Controller at Encore Finance, is a results-driven finance professional with a strong background in financial auditing, planning, and management controls. He has built a solid track record in financial statement management, team leadership, and navigating complex financing structures.

Now based in Hollywood, Florida, Michael brings fresh energy and deep financial insight to the world of financing and business growth.

Madeline (Maddie) Kay is an Associate Attorney at Encore Finance, with a background spanning both law firm practice and the real estate finance industry.

Before joining Encore, Maddie practiced as an Associate at a boutique firm, advising clients across transactional real estate, corporate transactions, and civil and business litigation. Prior to that, she worked as a Senior Paralegal in real estate finance, where she developed a strong foundation in deal execution and document drafting.

Maddie received her B.A. in Political Science, cum laude, with a minor in History from UCLA, and her J.D. from LMU Loyola Law School. A South Bay native, Maddie grew up in El Segundo and now calls Manhattan Beach home. Outside the office, she enjoys the beach, swimming, walking her dogs, exploring restaurants with friends, listening to podcasts, and stand-up comedy.

Michelle Lopez is an Associate at Encore Finance with a strong background in accounting and a passion for problem-solving. Michelle graduated Cum Laude from Rhode Island College in 2022 and previously helped launch the small commercial business program at Coastal1 Credit Union.

Known for her communication skills and attention to detail, Michelle thrives in collaborative, growth-focused environments. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys biking, trying new restaurants, and spending time at the beach.

Keeva Donohue joined Encore Finance in August 2024 as an analyst on our Underwriting team.

Prior to Encore Finance, Keeva attended Northwestern University where she studied Economics. Outside the office, Keeva enjoys tennis, exploring new restaurants, and being outdoors.

Anneke Nunez is a Post Closing Analyst with seven years of banking experience, three of which were commercial. As a part of the legal asset management team, Anneke is committed to ensuring accurate loan due diligence and onboarding.

Anneke is responsible for coordinating with legal counsel, servicers and custodians to maintain integrity of dual documentation and assisting with legal and lien compliance.

Leonardo Stilli joined Encore Finance as an Analyst. Prior to Encore, Leonardo attended Northeastern University where he studied Financial Technology with a minor in Computer Science. He also completed an internship at Harvard University as a Business Systems Analyst.

Outside the office, Leonardo enjoys a good cup of coffee, skiing, and traveling the world.

Mara DeMeis joined Encore Finance in July 2026 as an analyst. Prior to Encore Finance, Mara attended Boston College where she double-majored in Economics and Art. Outside the office, Mara enjoys making art, traveling, and being outdoors.

Daniel Fazendeiro joined Encore Finance in July 2026 as an analyst on our Underwriting team. Prior to Encore Finance, Daniel attended Bucknell University where he studied Economics. Outside of the office, Daniel enjoys fly fishing, the outdoors and traveling.

Finn Ruhanen joined Encore Finance in July 2026 as an Analyst. Prior to Encore Finance, Finn attended Boston College where he received a double major in Finance and Entrepreneurship. Outside the office, Finn enjoys playing golf and going surfing.

Georgina Mcleod-Knight is a financial professional with more than eight years of experience across multiple industries and holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Her background combines strong analytical capabilities with hands-on expertise in the accounting cycle, including month-end close, financial reporting, general ledger oversight, and complex account reconciliations.

Georgina’s professionalism, adaptability, and commitment to high standards & continuous improvement make her a valued contributor to the organization’s financial operations.

Morgan Essary is a part of the Loan Processing team, where she focuses on appraisal coordinating. Morgan’s well-established background in Appraisal Coordinating and Loan Processing along with her attention to detail, has produced a more streamlined approach to the appraisal process.

Morgan has assisted in the writing and development of the Appraisal Department’s Policies & Procedures and Operating Forms. Morgan is a trusted and dedicated professional ensuring our customers receive a premier level of service. 

Nicole Patterson is a dedicated Loan Processor at Encore Finance, specializing in portfolio loan processing. With a background in processing and post-closing, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for data analysis and collection.

In her role, Nicole focuses on improving processes and procedures, aiming to streamline the document process and customer experience. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys gardening and spending time with family, reflecting her belief in cherishing the present moment.

Keisha Brown began her career as an Administrative Professional at the entertainment law firm formerly known as Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine Hurwitz & Weinstein. Over seven years, Keisha supported high-profile clients such as Michael Stipe, 50 Cent, George Clinton, and Michael Moore.

Keisha later transitioned into finance, joining Fortress Investment Group’s Credit Secondaries Market division. At Fortress, Keisha spent over eight years providing high-level support to 16 senior executives across U.S. and Hong Kong offices.