Website BG 7554b9 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

CO Logo 1 2026 National Finance Forum AgendaFinance Forum Agenda

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026

register now

8:00 AM: Registration & Networking Breakfast

8:25 AM: Opening Real Estate Credit Market Report

Northwind Group opens the National Finance Forum with a conversation on the state of the real estate credit market. Since 2008, Northwind has executed over $11 billion in debt and equity transactions across 418 properties in 28 states. Join Ran Eliasaf, Founder and Managing Partner, and Michael Ainbinder, Partner and Head of Commercial Real Estate Credit, as they discuss where they see opportunity in today’s lending market, how the firm approaches real estate lending across its strategies, and highlights from recent loan transactions.

Speakers

Ran Elisaf 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

Ran eliasaf

Founder & Managing Partner

Northwind Group

×

Ran Eliasaf

Founder & Managing Partner, Northwind Group

Ran founded Northwind Group in 2008 and oversees all company investment activities. Throughout his career, Ran has executed 300+ real estate transactions totaling over $11 billion, investing in CRE properties in NYC and
healthcare & senior living properties across the US. In 2017 Ran spearheaded the creation of Northwind’s credit
platform including the formation of Northwind’s discretionary closed-ended debt funds with over $2 billion in
AUM.

Under Ran’s leadership Northwind has evolved into a reputable institutional grade private equity firm,
consistently improving its capabilities, expanding its operations, know-how and industry recognition, while
adhering to strict core values of honesty and transparency. Ran is a sought-after speaker in the NYC real estate community and is frequently quoted by several real estate news outlets. Prior to forming Northwind Group, Ran
co-founded and served as CEO of a real estate fund that invested in a portfolio of grocery anchored shopping
centers of over 5 million sq. ft. located in Florida and Texas.

Ran is a retired Captain of the Israeli Navy. He currently serves as active Chairman of the Board of American
Friends of NATAL (“AFN”), a non-profit organization providing vital assistance to veterans and civilians suffering from PTSD and on the board of American Friend of Unistream which supports entrepreneurship programs in the periphery of Israel. Ran also serves on the Board of Governors for REBNY. He is passionate about real estate, surfing and most importantly serving as a good role model to his three children.

Ran was recognized in Commercial Observer’s Power Finance list of the most important figures in commercial real
estate finance in 2025 and 2026. mezzanine loan provider in skilled nursing & senior housing. Prior to Northwind, Jonathan spent more than 10
years at KeyBank, the latter half as part of KeyBank’s market leading healthcare real estate team that provides capital and advisory solutions to public REITs, private equity sponsors and private owner/operators. Jonathan
graduated from Ohio University and lives in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife and two children.

Michael Ainbinder 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

michael ainbinder

Partner & Head of Commercial Real Estate Credit

Northwind Group

×

Michael Ainbinder

Partner & Head of Commercial Real Estate Credit, Northwind Group

Michael is a Partner and Head of Commercial Real Estate Investments at Northwind Group, where he manages the firm’s debt fund and its investments and has originated more than $3.5 billion in senior, bridge, and mezzanine loans. He oversees the full lifecycle of the fund’s lending activity, from sourcing, structuring, and underwriting through closing, asset management, and loan servicing, and is responsible for the fund’s strategy, portfolio construction, and performance. He manages relationships with brokers, sponsors, co-lenders, and
investors and currently is a member of the investment committee. His experience spans multifamily,
condominium, office, industrial, hospitality, and mixed-use assets, with a focus on transitional and value-add business plans.

Before joining Northwind, Michael was an Associate Director at Ladder Capital, where he structured, closed, and asset-managed a diverse portfolio of commercial real estate loans. Earlier, he was an Investment Banking
Associate at Hodes, Weil & Associates and an Associate at FirstKey, the commercial real estate debt arm of
Cerberus Capital Management, where he underwrote and executed debt investments across the capital stack.

Michael holds a B.B.A. from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.

Brian Steinwurtzel 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

MODERATOR

Brian Steinwurtzel

CEO & Principal

GFP Development

×

Brian Steinwurtzel

CEO u0026amp; Principal, GFP Development

Brian Steinwurtzel is Chief Executive Officer and Principal of GFP Development, the newlynlaunched affiliated development platform of GFP Real Estate, where he oversees the firm’sndevelopment, acquisitions, construction, financing, repositioning and adaptive reuse activities throughout New York City and the surrounding region. He previously served as Co-Chief Executive Officer of GFP Real Estate alongside his cousin, Eric Gural, overseeing majorninvestment, redevelopment and repositioning initiatives as well as GFP Real Estate’s portfolio of more than 80 properties totaling approximately 18.5 million square feet.nnUnder Brian’s leadership, GFP has significantly expanded its development and redevelopmentnplatform, helping position the firm as a leading force in New York City’s office-to-residential conversion and adaptive reuse movement. His work has increasingly focused on repositioning underutilized and obsolete buildings into next-generation residential, mixed-use and experiential developments amid the ongoing evolution of New York City’s real estate landscape.nnBrian has played a leading role in some of New York City’s most significant redevelopment projects in recent years, including the conversion of 25 Water St. into SoMA — one of thenlargest office-to-residential conversions in the country — as well as the redevelopment of 222nBroadway into the luxury rental property WREY. He also oversees major redevelopmentninitiatives including 100 Gold St., one of Lower Manhattan’s most significant public-privatenredevelopment initiatives being advanced in partnership with New York City, as well as additional repositioning projects including 40 Exchange Place and the relaunch of 1540 Broadway.nnAdditional notable projects under Brian’s leadership include the redevelopment of 100 Crosby St./560 Broadway in SoHo, the repositioning of 1560 Broadway in Times Square, and thentransformation of The Film Center building at 630 Ninth Ave. in Hell’s Kitchen. He has alsonoverseen projects including 11-05 44th Drive and 43-01 22nd St. in Long Island City; and 7nBushwick Place in Brooklyn. Prior to entering real estate, Brian worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers and later joined anGoldman Sachs-backed technology startup focused on corporate analytics and investmentnresearch tools. He earned his MBA from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor of Sciencendegree in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.nnAn active member of the community, Brian currently serves on the boards of the Real EstatenBoard of New York, Downtown Alliance, Selfhelp Community Services, Battery Park andnColumbia Business School Real Estate Forum. Past board roles include The Cooper Union,nColumbia Business School’s Real Estate Circle, the SoHo Broadway Initiative, East Midtown Business Improvement District and the Center for Family Representation.nnBrian is also a perennial honoree on Commercial Observer’s Power 100 list, recognizing thenmost influential figures shaping New York City’s commercial real estate industry.

8:35 AM: Opening Keynote

Speakers

Larry Kravetz 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

KEYNOTE

larry J. kravetz

Managing Director & Head of U.S. CRE/CMBS

Nomura

×

Larry J. Kravetz

Managing Director u0026amp; Head of U.S. CRE/CMBS, Nomura

Larry Kravetz is a Managing Director at Nomura Securities International, Inc., where he was appointed Head of U.S. Commercial Real Estate (CRE) and Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) in September of 2025. In this role, he leads Nomura’s newly relaunched U.S. CRE platform, a strategic move to expand the firm’s Securitized Products franchise. nnPrior to joining Nomura, Larry served as Managing Director at Barclays in mid-2011 to rebuild their CMBS finance platform in the U.S., where he led SASB securitizations, CRE warehouse lending, origination and syndication of balance sheet loans, and acquisition facilities. nnPreviously, Larry was a cofounder and managing partner of G2 Real Estate Partners, a restructuring advisory and asset management company. From 1992-2008, he worked at Lehman Brothers, where he founded and led the Large Loan Group. Prior to joining Lehman Brothers, Larry worked for four years at Chemical Bank in the real estate investment banking and lending groups. nnLarry is a former member of the Board of Governors of the CRE Finance Council. He is regularly named to Commercial Observer’s Power Finance List, having been ranked as high as #3. nnLarry graduated with a BA in Economics from Haverford College and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. n

Krystyna Blakeslee 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

MODERATOR

Krystyna Blakeslee

Partner

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

9:00 AM: State of Real Estate Financing: 2026 in Review & the Road Ahead

As financing markets continue to evolve, industry leaders will examine the defining themes of 2026 — from capital availability and interest rate expectations to lender sentiment, deal activity and refinancing trends. Gain a forward-looking outlook on the market forces expected to shape financing strategies, capital deployment and transaction activity throughout 2027 and beyond.

Speakers

Headshot Template 2024 3 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

Chris Lawton

Managing Director, Head of Originations

Nuveen Green Capital

×

Chris Lawton

Managing Director, Head of Originations, Nuveen Green Capital

Chris is Head of Originations for Nuveen Green Capital – a leading provider of sustainable commercial real estate finance. With over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate structured finance, Chris leads NGC’s growth and originations strategies – with focus on C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) deal structuring and lending.nnPrior to joining Nuveen Green Capital, Chris was with Bank OZK (formerly Bank of the Ozarks), where he was Managing Director of Northeast Originations for the bank’s Real Estate Specialties Group in New York City. In his time with Bank OZK, Chris closed over $8 billion of construction and bridge facilities, formed the bank’s life-science lending program, and built the bank’s loan portfolio in Boston and Philadelphia.nnBefore joining Bank OZK, Chris was a Director in the New York office of Frankfurt, Germany-based DekaBank, where, in 2009, he helped establish the bank’s first U.S. office. From 2004 to 2009, he was with Hypo Real Estate Capital where he originated, structured, and closed over $4 billion of senior and mezzanine commercial real estate financings. Chris began his real estate career in 2003 as an Analyst with CBRE Capital Markets.nnChris graduated with a B.S in Business from Miami University and an M.S. in Real Estate from New York University.

ERamirez 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

eric ramirez

Managing Director, Head of Eastern Region Originations

ACORE Capital

Adam Schwartz 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

adam Schwartz

Senior Managing Director, Capital Markets | Co-Head, Institutional Advisor

Walker & Dunlop

×

Adam Schwartz

Senior Managing Director, Capital Markets | Co-Head, Institutional Advisor, Walker u0026amp; Dunlop

Adam Schwartz, Senior Managing Director, Capital Markets, and Co-Head of Institutional Advisory, joined Walker u0026amp; Dunlop in January 2020 as part of the AKS Capital Partners acquisition. Mr. Schwartz is responsible for sourcing and structuring debt and equity financing for all commercial real estate asset classes throughout the country. Mr. Schwartz serves as co-head of the New York Capital Markets practice.nnAs a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of AKS Capital Partners, Mr. Schwartz helped the firm become one of the highest producing capital markets advisory firms in the country, responsible for originations valued in excess of $50 billion of debt and equity financing for owner-operators of commercial real estate properties across the country. Prior to joining AKS Capital Partners, Mr. Schwartz served as a Managing Director and Partner at JLL’s New York Debt and Equity Capital Markets practice. Credited with executing on over $20 billion in debt and equity transactions across his career, Mr. Schwartz was honored by Commercial Observer’s 50 Most Powerful People in Commercial Real Estate Finance in both 2018 and 2019.nnBefore his work at JLL, Mr. Schwartz was at Cooper Horowitz and worked as an Asset Management Analyst for Arbor Realty Trust.nnMr. Schwartz received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Pennsylvania. Schwartz was also a member of the University of Pennsylvania’s Men’s Tennis team and team captain his senior year.

Yorick Starr 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

yorick starr

Managing Director & Investment Officer

Invesco

×

Yorick Starr

Managing Director u0026amp; Investment Officer, Invesco

Yorick Starr is a Managing Director and Investment Officer at Invesco Real Estate. Yorick is responsible for originating senior and mezzanine loans for the commercial real estate credit lines of business a primary focus on the Northeast and Eastern US.nnYorick began his investment career in 2002 and joined Invesco Real Estate in 2017. Prior to joining Invesco, he was a senior vice president of the commercial real estate group at WellsnFargo based in New York, where he was responsible for managing a team of relationship managers focused on institutional clients, overseeing originations, portfolio management and day-to-day operations of the office. Yorick spent over 15 years at Wells Fargo in a variety positions, including acquiring and financing sub-performing and performing commercial real estate loan portfolios, managing commercial real estate loan workouts and working within a specialty finance group.nnYorick earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of San Diego with minors in accounting and computer science.

Sondra Wenger 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

Sondra Wenger

Head of Capital Markets

KBS

Jay Neveloff 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

MODERATOR

jay neveloff

Partner, Chair of Real Estate, US

HSF Kramer

9:30 AM: Getting it Done: Conversations with the Players Closing Big Loan Deals in Today’s Shifting Market

Despite ongoing market uncertainty, the industry’s most active lenders continue to finance complex, high-profile and big dollar deals. Hear directly from the capital providers behind today’s biggest deals as they share how they’re identifying opportunities, structuring creative financing solutions, and navigating an increasingly competitive market. Hear directly from the most prominent market players on what’s differentiating financeable deals, what it takes to stand out, and where lenders are most eager to put capital to work.

Speakers

Steven Caldwell 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

steven caldwell

Managing Director, Head of Large Loan CMBS

Wells Fargo

Headshot Template 2024 12 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

Zachary cohn

Managing Partner, Real Estate

Brookfield

×

Zachary Cohn

Managing Partner, Real Estate, Brookfield

Zachary Cohn is a Managing Partner in Brookfield’s Real Estate Group. In this role, he leads capital markets activities throughout the U.S. Previously, he held various roles within the Real Estate Group, including sourcing, underwriting, structuring and execution of debt investments.nnPrior to joining Brookfield in 2016, he worked at Citi, where he was responsible for the underwriting, origination and structuring of commercial real estate debt investments.nnMr. Cohn holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Southern California.

Michael Lavipour 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

michael lavipour

Partner, Head of Lending

Affinius Capital

×

Michael Lavipour

Partner, Head of Lending, Affinius Capital

Michael Lavipour is responsible for overseeing Affinius Capital’s creditninitiatives and capital markets relationships, as well as sourcing, negotiating and structuring loan transactions across the firm’s investment strategies. Mr. Lavipour is also a member of the firm’s Investment Committee.nnPrior to joining Affinius in 2013, Michael served as Vice President at Redwood Trust where he originated whole loan and mezzanine loans in the northeastern U.S. Prior tonjoining Redwood Trust, Michael was a Vice President in the Real Estate Finance group at Credit Suisse where he worked in loan origination, asset management and capital markets.nnMichael received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Chris Niederpruem 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

Chris Niederpruem

Managing Director & Group Head of Commercial Real Estate

First Citizens Bank

Christopher Pratt 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

christopher pratt

Director

JLL Capital Markets

×

Christopher Pratt

Director, JLL Capital Markets

Christopher is a Director with JLL Capital Markets where he focuses on raising debt and equity capital for institutional and private property owners. During his time with JLL, he has participated in the completion of over $20 billion in real estate transactions, with a specific focus on CMBS and other large loan transactions.nnPrior to joining JLL, Christopher worked on the CMBS Capital Markets team at J.P. Morgan, where he played a key role in executing conduit, single asset/single borrower, CRE CLO and Freddie Mac securitizations. Christopher graduated from Boston University, Summa Cum Laude, with a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Real Estate and a minor in International Relations.

Mark Fawer 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

MODERATOR

mark fawer

Partner

Greenspoon Marder LLP

×

Mark Fawer

Partner, Greenspoon Marder LLP

Mark Fawer is a partner in the Real Estate practice group at Greenspoon Marder LLP. Mr. Fawer focuses his practice on the representation of institutional, fund and private capital sources in every aspect of senior and subordinate real estate financing and equity investment, including stretch senior, bridge and mezzanine lending, B-notes and preferred equity and joint venture investments, covering every major asset type, such as rental and for sale residential, hospitality, retail, office, student housing, mixed use and industrial properties. In his practice, Mr. Fawer has helped structure cutting-edge financings and investments in some of the most challenging contexts.nnIn addition to his extensive financing practice, Mr. Fawer also counsels clients from “term sheet to closing” in most aspects of a wide range of other real estate transactions, including complex partnership, joint venture, and limited liability company operating agreements as well as the acquisition, development and disposition of properties locally and nationwide.nnMr. Fawer authors a recurring series entitled CREFinsights on Substack covering the ever-evolving world of commercial real estate finance and investment. Click here to subscribe.

10:00 AM: Networking Break

10:20 AM: Direct from the Sources: The Evolving Landscape of Debt Capital

Commercial real estate borrowers have more financing options than ever before, but the debt capital landscape has become increasingly fragmented. How are top financing sources competing for deals, where is capital most readily available, and how do the most competitive lending strategies differ? Join leaders from banks, debt funds, alternative lenders, and private credit platforms as they discuss how capital sources are carving out their roles in today’s market, and what borrowers can expect as financing markets continue to evolve.

Speakers

Evan Abraham 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

evan abraham

Vice President

InterVest Capital Partners

×

Evan Abraham

Vice President, InterVest Capital Partners

Evan is a Vice President and a member of InterVest’s real estate investment committee. In his role, he is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, underwriting, and closing real estate transactions. Prior to joining InterVest in 2021, he served as an Investment Associate at Cottonwood Management, as a Director of Acquisitions and Development at SBE Hospitality, and as an Investment Banking Analyst at CBRE Capital Advisors. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with a minor in Psychology from Trinity College (CT) while a member of its collegiate baseball team.

Ethan Elser 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

Ethan Elser

Executive Vice President

PACE Equity Finance

Shawn Katz 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

shawn katz

President

Silverstein Capital Partners

×

Shawn Katz

President, Silverstein Capital Partners

Shawn Katz is President of Silverstein Capital Partners. He joined the company shortly after its inception and is actively involved in managing all aspects of the business including originations, execution, portfolio management and investor relations.nnPrior to joining Silverstein, Shawn was Managing Partner and co-founder of KUB Capital, where he led the company with an emphasis on acquisitions, investment strategy, capital markets and financial management. While at KUB, Shawn sourced and executed ground-up development projects throughout New York City, including 150 Wooster in Soho, Manhattan and Wythe Lane Townhouses in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.nnBefore co-founding KUB, Shawn was Senior Vice President at Rosemont Realty, where he managed the company’s acquisition department and was a member of the company’s investment committee. During his tenure at Rosemont, Shawn sourced and underwrote acquisitions across a variety of asset classes and directed all of the company’s research, property evaluation and analytics. Shawn also served as President of a Rosemont subsidiary company, managing 2 million square feet of commercial real estate and supervising portfolio management, investor relations and back-office functions. Shawn started his career as a member of the investment team at Wolf International, an investment management and advisory firm specializing in alternative investments.nnShawn holds a BA in Business Administration and Communications from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Katy Mao 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

katy mao

Head of Structured Equity

ArrowMark Partners

×

Katy Mao

Head of Structured Equity, ArrowMark Partners

Katy Mao is Head of Structured Equity at ArrowMark Partners, where she leads the firm’s preferred equity and mezzanine investment platform. She has nearly 20 years of experience investing across the commercial real estate capital structure and is responsible for originating, structuring, and executing structured equity and credit investments nationwide. Prior to ArrowMark, Katy was a Managing Director at Oaktree Capital Management, where she co-led private loan originations. She previously held investment roles at BlackRock and Five Mile Capital and has originated and executed billions of dollars of commercial real estate investments across all major property types. Katy is an active member of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council (CREFC) and WX.

Nick Scribani 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

Nick scribani

Vice Chairman, Global Debt & Structured Finance

Newmark

×

Nick Scribani

Vice Chairman, Global Debt u0026amp; Structured Finance, Newmark

Nick Scribani is Vice Chairman of Newmark’s Global Debt u0026amp; Structured Finance Group,nwhere he oversees the platform’s capital raising initiatives and manages a team of more than 30 real estate professionals. In his capacity, Scribani leads the origination, facilitation and execution of financing and capital placement mandates on behalf of the industry’s most prominent institutional and private real estate investors and operators.nnWhile at the firm, Scribani has executed more than $250 billion in transactions spanning a wide range of asset types, such as office, residential, hospitality, retail, industrial, digital infrastructure and alternatives. Well-versed in structured finance, his expertise spans the full life cycle of a transaction, including pre-development, construction, value-add and stabilized assets.nnIn addition to his transactional responsibilities, Scribani plays a central leadership role within the team. He is frequently sought out for deal strategy discussions and operates as a player-coach, reinforcing a culture rooted in accountability, disciplined executionnand talent development across the platform.nnPrior to Newmark, Scribani held roles at Citigroup and GE Capital Real Estate Group, where he gained experience across asset management, underwriting and debt origination.

Diana Brummer 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

MODERATOR

Diana M. Brummer

Partner, Co-Chair, Real Estate Industry

Goodwin Procter LLP

×

Diana M. Brummer

Partner, Co-Chair, Real Estate Industry, Goodwin Procter LLP

Diana Brummer, a partner in the firm’s Business Law Department, co-chairs the firm’s Real Estate Industry group. Ms. Brummer’s experience spans the spectrum of commercial real estate transactions with a particular emphasis on complex joint ventures, senior, construction and mezzanine financings (for both lenders and borrowers), acquisitions and dispositions, loan workouts, real estate recapitalizations and development.n nMs. Brummer represents a wide variety of client types, including institutional investors, pension funds, private real estate funds and public and private REITs, as well as their investment advisers. She also regularly counsels her clients on all aspects of managing distressed real estate assets.nnPrior to joining Goodwin in 2018, Ms. Brummer was a partner at Stroock u0026amp; Stroock u0026amp; Lavan LLP. She previously practiced at Cleary Gottlieb Steen u0026amp; Hamilton LLP, spending more than two years in their Tokyo office. Ms. Brummer lived in Japan for a total of five years and is proficient in Japanese.n

10:50 AM: Underwriting in an Ultra Competitive Era: How Lenders are Repricing Risk & Opportunity Across Asset Classes

Today’s lending decisions require more than strong sponsorship — they demand a disciplined approach to risk and long-term asset performance. Which asset classes are primed for the greatest amount of opportunity and big dollar deals, and which are lenders and investors pulling back from? Hear how lenders are evaluating risk and opportunities across office, industrial, data centers, multifamily, and other sectors as competition for quality deals intensifies.

Speakers

Maria Barry 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

maria barry

Managing Director & Community Development Banking National Executive

Bank of America

×

Maria Barry

Managing Director and Community Development Banking National Executive, Bank of America

Maria Barry is a Managing Director and Community Development Banking National Executive with deep expertise in finance and affordable housing. She leads a national team advancing innovative financing solutions that strengthen communities by expanding access to affordable housing, education, and economic opportunity.nnSince 2020, Maria’s team has delivered more than $42.5 billion in financing and has helped create over 300,000 homes since 2005, broadening access to safe, stable, and attainable housing nationwide.nnMaria is an influential industry leader, serving on several boards and committees, including Rhode Island Housing (appointed by the Governor), the National Housing u0026amp; Rehabilitation Association, and Connected Communities–Winn Development. She also served 12 years on the board of Enterprise Community PartnersnnHer leadership has earned widespread recognition, including Providence Business News’ Women’s Industry Leader award, Top 10 Most Influential Women by Affordable Housing Finance Magazine, and multiple GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum Women of Influence honors. She received the Rhode Island Bankers 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award, the R.I.S.E. Trailblazer in Financial Literacy u0026amp; Empowerment Award (2025), and was inducted into the UConn School of Business Hall of Fame (2023). She is also a four-time (2023–2026) Commercial Observer Power 50 honoree, most recently ranked No. 10.nnWithin Bank of America, Maria is a dedicated champion of leadership development, serving as a senior leader of Power of 10 and Executive Sponsor for LEAD for Women in Rhode Island.nnA CPA with FINRA Series 7, 63, and 24 licenses, Maria holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Connecticut, where she was a track and cross-country team captain.

Abe Hirsch 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

abe hirsch

Senior Managing Director

Meridian Capital Group

×

Abe Hirsch

Senior Managing Director, Meridian Capital Group

Mr. Hirsch joined Meridian in 2003 and currently serves as a Senior Managing Director. In this role he is responsible for loan underwriting, placement and transaction management for many of Meridian’s largest and most long-standing client relationships. Mr. Hirsch is a multifamily and agency lending specialist and transacts nationally having closed more than 3,000 loans totaling over $60 billion in financing since joining Meridian. He also manages a team of seven underwriting, loan processing and placement professionals in Meridian’s New York and Florida offices.

Prior to joining Meridian, Mr. Hirsch was a CPA and held roles as the CFO of a nursing home portfolio, spent four years as a financial analyst at a hedge fund and worked as an accountant.

Mr. Hirsch holds a B.S. in Accounting from Touro College and an M.S. in Business and Finance from the Baruch College Zicklin School of Business. He is also a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Multifamily Housing Council and the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Horowitz Justin 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

justin horowitz

Senior Managing Director

Cooper-Horowitz

Mark Silverstein 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

mark silverstein

Managing Director

Flagstar Bank

×

Mark Silverstein

Managing Director, Flagstar Bank

Mark Silverstein joined Flagstar Bank in 2025 as a Managing Director in the Commercial Real Estate group, covering New York commercial real estate Private Equity and Debt funds as well as Institutional Sponsors. In this role, Mark is focused on expanding Flagstar’s national commercial real estate lending platform working with Institutional accounts as well as selectively looking to partner with other financial institutions on co-origination opportunities. Mark has expanded the CRE lending products at Flagstar Bank to include note-on-note financing, senior/mezz loans, bridge and eventually warehouse financing.nnPrior to Flagstar, Mark worked at NewPoint Real Estate Capital and Arbor Realty Trust to help grow their non-agency lending products. Prior to this Mark helped run the East Coast originations business at Pacific Western Bank (and CapitalSource prior to the PacWest acquisition). Prior to this Mark worked on Wall Street for over 15 years at Credit Suisse in their CMBS group focused on large loan originations and syndications and Nomura Securities in their CMBS group. Mark graduated from Boston University with a dual degree BS and MBA. n

Joseph Lanzkron 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

MODERATOR

joseph lanzkron

Partner

Cleary Gottlieb

11:20 AM: Fireside Chat

Speakers

Jonathan Pollack 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

jonathan pollack

President

Starwood Capital Group

Michael Vines 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

MODERATOR

michael vines

Partner

Fried Frank

×

Michael Vines

Partner, Fried Frank

Mike Vines, co-head of our Real Estate Finance Practice, advises clients on commercial real estate finance, including the origination of commercial loans for capital market, syndicate, and balance sheet lenders.nnMike specializes on development, construction, and transitional loans on a variety of asset classes, including residential condo, multifamily, office, industrial, data center and retail assets. Mike’s clients benefit from his significant experience providing representation in the purchase and sale of mortgage and subordinated debt, including the negotiation of intercreditor, participation, and co-lender agreements.nnMike’s clients are national banks, investment funds, institutional investors, owners, and developers who seek out Mike’s proficiency in complex real estate financing matters including loan restructurings, discounted pay-offs, deed-in-lieu transactions, and foreclosures.nnChambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business recognizes Mike in the Real Estate: Finance – New York category, where clients describe him as “incredibly responsive and attentive – a really outstanding lawyer.” Legal 500 ranks him as a “Leading Lawyer” in Real Estate Finance.nnBefore joining Fried Frank, Mike was a partner at an international law firm in New York.

12:30 PM: Event Concludes

Program Sponsors

ACORE CAPITAL Logo 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

acore capital

ACORE CAPITAL, LP is a leading U.S. commercial real estate debt investment manager with approximately $18 billion of assets under management. ACORE CAPITAL is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, Japan’s largest non-life insurer and one of the world’s top tier global insurance groups. Based in New York, with offices in Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and Dallas, ACORE CAPITAL originates, acquires, and manages first mortgages, B notes, mezzanine debt, and preferred equity. ACORE CAPITAL’s success has been fueled by its long-standing industry relationships and access to a consistent pipeline of origination opportunities. For more information, please visit www.acorecapital.com.

HSFKramer Logo RGB 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

hsf kramer

Goodwin PNG 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

goodwin law

At Goodwin, we live your business. We are a firm of insiders relentlessly focused on understanding the pulse within six industries: healthcare, investment funds, life sciences, private equity, real estate, and technology.

This means that we deliver unprecedented client value through a unique combination of industry knowledge, legal excellence, and business advisory expertise – all powered by our high-performance culture.

InterVest 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

intervest capital partners

Invesco horizontal 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

invesco

Newmark Logo Large 6a blk rgb 2023 06 06 190343 zerh 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

newmark

Silverstein Capital Partners 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

silverstein capital partners

friedfrank logo 785909 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda
Fried Frank

Fried Frank

cleary gottlieb 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

cleary gottlieb

Cleary Gottlieb’s real estate practice, ranked as one of the foremost in the United States, is diversified and global, encompassing the full range of transaction types, regions, and asset classes to represent clients in all facets of commercial real estate transactions. Our clients span all sectors of the real estate industry, including commercial lenders, sources of private credit, investors, funds, sovereigns and sovereign wealth funds, developers, and operators.

Our practice has vast experience in pioneering cutting-edge financing strategies for our clients. We engage in all major aspects of commercial real estate finance, including secured loans for commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), mezzanine and preferred equity financings, loan syndications, construction, bridge and development loans, loan restructurings and workouts, property foreclosures and deed-in-lieu transactions, and loan-on-loan, warehousing, and repurchase facilities.

GD Wordmark Black 1 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

gibson dunn

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm with 2,200 lawyers in 22 offices around the world. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. Our market-leading real estate finance team is the “go-to” practice for dozens of premiere CMBS and balance sheet lending platforms of all kinds – banks, investment funds, insurance companies and other alternative credit providers. The team draws upon our unparalleled market presence and experience to ensure that our clients are ahead of the curve on any issue.

gm logo LLP 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

greenspoon marder LLP

WalkerDunlop stacked CMYK 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

walker & dunlop

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD) is one of the largest commercial real estate finance and advisory services firms in the United States and internationally. Our ideas and capital create communities where people live, work, shop, and play. Our innovative people, breadth of our brand, and our technological capabilities make us one of the most insightful and client-focused firms in the commercial real estate industry.

customers bank logo 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

customers bank

9.4 Flagstar Logo 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

flagstar bank

Flagstar Bank, N.A. is one of the largest regional banks in the country. Flagstar Bank, N.A. operates approximately 320 retail locations and 20 Private Banking Offices across nine states, with strong footholds in the greater New York/New Jersey metropolitan region and in the upper Midwest, along with a significant presence in fast-growing markets in Florida and the West Coast. 

Northwind Group Logo 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

northwind group

Northwind Group is a Manhattan-based real estate investment manager that has executed over $11 billion in debt and equity transactions across 418 properties in 28 states. Through discretionary, closed-ended debt funds, co-investments and SMAs, Northwind provides bridge financing for institutional-quality residential and transitional assets and bridge-to-HUD financing for senior living and skilled nursing portfolios, with zero principal losses to date. PERE Credit recently ranked Northwind a Top 100 global private credit manager.

Nuveen Green Capital 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

Nuveen Green capital

With over $5 billion originated, Nuveen Green Capital is a national leader in sustainable
commercial real estate financing solutions and an affiliate of Nuveen, the $1
trillion+ [1] asset manager and wholly owned subsidiary of TIAA. The company, which was
founded by C-PACE industry pioneers who helped design the nation’s first successful statewide
C-PACE program [2] , has grown to offer a market-leading suite of accretive CRE financing
products and a full-service lending platform with all underwriting, legal, and asset management
functions executed in-house.
[1] Total assets under management (AUM) as of 1/1/2026
[2] The United States Department of Energy: 2016 C-PACE Report lists the Connecticut C-PACE program as the first
statewide C-PACE program in the U.S.

WF Logo 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

wells fargo

%name 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

arbor realty trust

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ABR) is a nationwide real estate investment trust and direct lender, providing loan origination and servicing for multifamily, single-family rental (SFR) portfolios, and other diverse commercial real estate assets. Headquartered in New York, Arbor manages a multibillion-dollar servicing portfolio, specializing in government-sponsored enterprise products. Arbor is a leading Fannie Mae DUS® lender, Freddie Mac Optigo® Seller/Servicer and an approved FHA Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) lender. Arbor’s product platform also includes bridge, CMBS, mezzanine and preferred equity loans. Rated by Standard and Poor’s and Fitch Ratings, Arbor is committed to building on its reputation for service, quality, and customized solutions with an unparalleled dedication to providing our clients excellence over the entire life of a loan.

bank of america logo 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

bank of america

Pace Logo h Deep Navy Rgb 600px w 144ppi 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

pace equity finance

With significant C-PACE experience and a direct lending model, PACE Equity Finance contributes to a resilient capital stack. With over $1 billion funded and backed by our parent company’s $26B balance sheet, we provide long-term, fixed-rate, non-recourse financing that enhances returns and moves projects forward. We support sponsors with consistent and disciplined execution. pace-equity.com.

Cooper Horowitz 1 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

cooper-horowitz

JLL logo positive RGB 1 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

jll capital markets

fcb logo 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda
First Citizen Bank

First Citizens Bank

First Citizens  Commercial Real Estate originates and underwrites senior secured real estate transactions. With deep market expertise, underwriting experience and industry relationships, the unit provides financing for single properties, property portfolios and loan portfolios. 

Meridian Capital Group 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

meridian capital group

Chase Logo RGB 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

j.p. morgan chase

Experience an easy loan process with Chase Commercial Term Lending when financing office, mixed use, industrial and retail properties through our fixed and adjustable rate loan programs from $1 million to more than $25 million.

Association Partners

CREFC Logo 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

crefc

chen logo bold 2 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

nyu stern

REBNY 2022 Logo black 1 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

rebny

RELA 1 2 2026 National Finance Forum Agenda

rela