RISING STARS

Nazanin Javanmardi, Esq. Attorney, Corporate & Securities

Q: Why did you choose to practice in Private Lending and how long have you been practicing?

I chose Private Lending to serve and guide clients with challenges they face as private lenders. Our clients do not have the same support system that bank institutions have and I’m proud to work in a firm that helps private lenders to navigate the challenges they face so that they can successfully operate their private businesses.

Q: What do you do in your day-today?

I assist clients with fund formation, private placements, and other securities offerings for private lenders, real estate developers and real estate entrepreneurs.

Q: What is your alma mater? Western State College of Law.

Q: What is the highlight so far of your career, or alternatively, what are you most proud of in your life?

I’m the most proud of the fact that I gained years of experience as an attorney in the field of financial related services working for different departments: compliance, litigation, transactional and corporate and that I can combine all these different skillsets to serve clients diligently.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

To be resilient and never give up on dreams and goals I have. Working as an attorney is challenging so one must be resilient to overcome the challenges and to successfully represent the clients.

Q: If you had to choose a single quote to describe yourself or your thoughts on life, what would it be? It is a quote by Justice Ginsburg: “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

Q: To women contemplating either a career in law or in private lending, what would be the first thing you would suggest they do?

I’d suggest that when they are in law school to work in different practice areas to find out which practice area they like the most. While in law school, I made sure to work in different fields such as criminal defense, civil defense and immigration law. The exposure of working in different fields helped me figure out which field of law I am more passionate about and would like to practice upon graduation.

Brianna Milligan, Esq. Attorney, Litigation & Bankruptcy

Q: Why did you choose to practice in Private Lending and how long have you been practicing?

I chose to practice in Private Lending because private lenders offer unique solutions to borrowers who may not otherwise have access to funding. Assisting them to continue with their practices in the long term continues to make funding more accessible for those who need it. I have been practicing law for almost two years.

Q: What do you do in your day-today?

In litigation, every day is different. Some days you’re in court, some days you’re preparing for trial, and others it’s a lot of phone calls and drafting various motions or discovery. Sometimes, it’s all of the above!

Q: What is your alma mater?

Western State College of Law, the oldest law school in Orange County.

Q: What is the highlight so far of your career, or alternatively, what are you most proud of in your life?

What I am most proud of in my life is that I have made it this far! I come from humble beginnings in a small town far away from Orange County. It’s an incredible honor to have become a lawyer, made the friends and connections I have, and to have found a firm like Geraci that makes it enjoyable to do what I do.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I have ever received is that no task is beneath you.

Q: If you had to choose a single quote to describe yourself or your thoughts on life, what would it be?

It’s a quote from Teddy Roosevelt. It’s kind of a long one but it never fails to resonate with me when I am reminded of it. “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Q: To women contemplating either a career in law or in private lending, what would be the first thing you would suggest they do? To women either contemplating either a career in law or private lending, the first thing I would suggest you do is talk to someone who does it! I had the great pleasure of working for a fabulous attorney, Leonard Herr, Esq., prior to making my decision to enter law school and watching him daily made me want to practice law. I believe my LinkedIn is public and I often receive messages from law students at my alma mater. I am happy to lend advice to whomever comes knocking!

Antoinette "Nichole" Moore, Esq. Attorney, Banking & Finance

Q: Why did you choose to practice in Private Lending and how long have you been practicing?

I like to say that private lending chose me. I’ve practiced in the banking and finance industry since 2010 as counsel for major banking institutions. In 2014, I switched gears. I served as an assistant attorney general for the District of Columbia in the Commercial Division; however, my focus was on affordable housing. Pivoting to private lending felt like I was rounding out my experience.

Q: What is your actual practice area within the firm?

I am somewhat hybrid within the firm as I practice both in Banking and Finance and Lightning Docs.

Q: What do you do in your day-today?

I work on complex transactions and customize loan documents for our clients.

Q: What is your alma mater? University of Maryland- College Park; Washington & Lee University School of Law.

Q: What is the highlight so far of your career, or alternatively, what are you most proud of in your life?

I am really proud of my personal and professional growth. I don’t even recognize the person I was ten years ago. Whenever someone tells me, “You inspire me to follow my dreams. I just love your energy,” it reaffirms that growth.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Very early in my career when I was litigating, a mentor told me “Protect your reputation at all costs. In the end, it is all that we have.” Another by my law school crim pro and capital defense clinic advisor: “Never launch a lifeboat of oversimplification into a sea of uncertainty.”

Q: If you had to choose a single quote to describe yourself or your thoughts on life, what would it be? Always forward; forward all ways.

Q: To women contemplating either a career in law or in private lending, what would be the first thing you would suggest they do? When it comes to a career in law, things may not always shake out as expected. Be open to infinite opportunities and possibilities because you never know where they will take you; however, always bloom where you are planted.

Madelaine Ryan, Esq. Attorney, Banking & Finance

Q: Why did you choose to practice in Private Lending and how long have you been practicing?

I initially became interested in private lending mostly because of my interest in real estate law. I have been in private lending for just over one year, and in the end, I really chose this area because it is very challenging and keeps my brain active. Private lending covers so many areas of law, such as property, contracts, compliance, securities, corporate law, and moves incredibly quickly. I love the people that I work with, and I am learning something new every day.

Q: What do you do in your day-today?

I work with our clients to draft all types of documentation, mainly loan documents and modifications. I also work with our closing and foreclosure teams to help finalize deals and assist our clients when their deals do not go as planned.

Q: What is your alma mater?

Wake Forest University for law school and Miami University for undergrad.

Q: What is the highlight so far of your career, or alternatively, what are you most proud of in your life? My career is the highlight and what I am most proud of! I was raised in a large family without a lot of extra resources, and nothing was just given. My family sacrificed a lot for me to have a wonderful education and I have worked very hard to get where I am. I am very proud and lucky to get to do what I do every day.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Roll with the punches – you can’t possibly control everything in life, so sometimes you need to look at what you have and make the best of it, even if the best is still not really that great.

Q: If you had to choose a single quote to describe yourself or your thoughts on life, what would it be?

I don’t remember the exact quote, but it was something like, “be kind to yourself, you spend more time with you than with anyone else." No one knows what is best for you more than you do, so take care of yourself! I truly feel that when you are at the best you can be, everyone around you will benefit from it as well.

Q: To women contemplating either a career in law or in private lending, what would be the first thing you would suggest they do? Find a mentor and ask questions! These areas of full of successful people who love sharing their experience and knowledge. You will learn more from those people than you will from almost anything else.

For more information, please visit: https://geracilawfirm.com/

By Charles Peckman, Contributing Writer for Originate Report

Invigorate Finance, a closed-loan mortgage conduit aggregator and asset manager, was founded on a simple idea — to put the client experience first.

Mentors play an important role in shaping us personally and professionally. Can you highlight someone who has helped shape you throughout your life?

have kept me motivated to keep moving forward in my career.

To better understand the ideas — and ideals — that shape Invigorate, Originate Report sat down with Invigorate Finance’s President, Jennifer McGuinness-Lubbert, and Executive Vice President of Asset Management Operations, Aren Anderton.

Jennifer McGuinness-Lubbert (JML): While some may focus on the professional side of this question, I am going to focus on a personal mentor — my son, Alex. He is the best thing I have accomplished, and his positive outlook and unrestricted enthusiasm

Alex has taught me a lot about my personality and how I relate to those around me. Because of him, I have adjusted how I approach certain discussions or situations. I recall a time when he was around four years old, and he refused to listen to an idea that I was trying to convey. He was “stuck” on his idea and had no intention of listening to me. I realized that this must be how others feel if I refuse to listen to their ideas. This led me to make changes that immediately opened the door for greater collaboration and partnership. Alex has taught me more than he will ever know, and I am a better person and leader because of him.

Aren Anderton (AA): The Webster definition of mentor reads, in part, “a trusted counselor or guide” and defines the 5 “c’s” of mentoring — competence, character, confidence, connection, and compassion.

When I reflect on this definition, I immediately think of my father. In my younger years, he took on a tutor and coach role. He told me what to do and how to do it; most importantly, he taught me why to do something. As I began my career, he continued guiding me on work ethic, integrity, and loyalty in the workforce. He led by example by spending 35 years at the same company, and then, after retirement, worked as a consultant for five more years. He was and always will be the voice in my head guiding me along in my career, helping me differentiate and understand right from wrong.

Jennifer, one element you noted is that you always choose the right person for the job regardless of their identity, which is an important point to note in today’s climate. Can you explain what you meant by wishing to explain “who you are,” not “what you’ve overcome” as a woman in lending?

JML: As the number of women and other underrepresented communities has increased in this sector, so have the returns of diverse businesses and initiatives.

Unlike when I began my career, we are now seeing more women and people from marginalized communities in the C-Suite. I think this is just the beginning. When I say that I want to explain who I am — rather than what I have overcome as a woman in this industry — it means that no one should be placed in a separate category solely because of who they are. Although I am regularly one of the only women at the table, I have generally been treated as an equal. I will tell you, though, that you need to earn it.

I got my first “shot” because, when a trader was told the model he wanted could not be built by five senior analysts, I volunteered to build it. At that point in my career, I didn’t know how — but I said I would anyway and committed to producing a first run for the desk in three days. I worked 20 hours a day researching and building the model — without Google. The model was then used in the trading business where I worked. I became a valued and consistent resource to the trading desk, and my story continues from there. Moral of this story? Nothing comes to you by itself; you must go after what you want and own who you want to be.

When thinking about how Invigorate has been able to grow so far, you both mentioned how the business has shifted from a single channel to a multi-channel approach. Can you explain the importance of diversifying your business and how Invigorate stands apart in a crowded field?

JML: In any ever-changing market, the only constant is change. Because we are a correspondent aggregator and asset manager, we can proactively react to changes in the marketplace. This also means we can define and manage the asset management path of loans, create successful outcomes, and optimize returns — all while decreasing the possibility of loss. and scale well. To me, it is important to balance human and technological capital. On top of this, you must foster and build a creative, collaborative environment. our partner lenders, investors, and clients realize their full potential.

Invigorate was built through identifying opportunities and ensuring a nimble platform. Without the ability to adjust in dynamic markets, a financial business will miss opportunities.

AA: Like Jen said, the mortgage industry is constantly changing. Sometimes it changes by the day, and sometimes by the hour. A multichannel approach allows us to rise above any snag in the market and focus on areas of growth. The key concept in this process is diversity.

If we put all our eggs in one basket, that basket is bound to break. With diversity in offerings, this does not happen. In turn, the business can prosper and grow.

When discussing the growth of Invigorate, you both mentioned that sustainable growth is a key factor in a company’s overall success. What, in your mind, is the most important piece of this puzzle?

AA: I think the most important piece of the puzzle is combining the right staff with the right technology and growing at a pace that makes sense. It’s a little like the chicken and the egg problem. We need the staff to do the work but must make sure we have the work to keep the staff. Many other companies hire when volume is high and lay off when volume is low, while hoping that, when there is another volume spike, the employees will return. This practice is not sustainable. Avoiding this pattern creates an edge that allows the team at Invigorate to provide consistent results, which creates an environment where loyalty is valued.

What excites you about building this venture from scratch, and what mantras remain central to the continued growth of Invigorate?

The vision for Invigorate is to address the “gaps” I observed in my previous roles that, at times, hindered optimal execution or achievement in transactions. I believe we can leverage our strengths from past business experiences and adjust what was ineffective or inefficient. For me, one of my biggest frustrations in investment banks, REITs, or hedge funds was the focus on building $1 billion+ trades rather than building sustainable businesses. If the market turned, we were either out of the trade or the process was very slow. Invigorate, however, is not just a trade; it is a business.

AA: Ground-up construction yields solid walls and foundations. Similarly, building a company from the ground up allows us to establish safety nets to prevent bad habits. This also allows us to build technological structures tailored to specific needs and to fill the “voids” left open by other companies. As we continue to grow, I am excited to see what the next chapter for Invigorate holds!

JML: You cannot expect to build and lead a great business without recognizing the value of your team. Companies often lose sight of this. In a business like Invigorate, mere numbers or spreadsheet data is not enough — you also must aggregate

JML: What excites me most is having the ability to be truly creative with the solutions we offer. This may sound strange because business building is not known as a “creative” endeavor. However, as we continue to build Invigorate, I have designed new products, developed partnerships, and brought innovative ideas to the market. I also love watching

If you would like to learn more about the unmatched collaboration and two distinct channels offered by Invigorate Finance, visit invigoratefinance.com today.

For more information, please visit: https://www.invigoratefinance.com/