Matt Liguori, 29

When Matt Liguori attended College of Holy Cross, he competed on its track and field team in the high jump and triple jump — two events that foreshadowed a commercial real estate finance career that has soared to tall heights in a short time.

“I’ve always been an athlete growing up, and being able to compete at the Division I collegiate level was tremendous,” Liguori said. “The skills developed on the team have helped me translate into my professional career. It doesn’t matter if I’m jumping over a bar or underwriting a multifamily deal, those skills definitely translate.”

Since joining Trevian Capital in July 2021, four years after graduation, Liguori has underwritten more than 70 bridge loans in the high-yield space. His arrival at Trevian was soon followed by the rapid rise of interest rates in 2022, but the bridge lender managed to stand out in a dislocated market with many banks on the sidelines.

Prior to Trevian, Liguori primarily worked on agency-
backed loans in roles at Arbor Realty Trust and KeyBank Real Estate Capital. He said a meeting with Trevian principals Michael Hoffenberg, Andrew Smeltz and Charlie Zabriskie convinced him that the firm would be an ideal next move in his career. 

“What I liked when I spoke with them is how much of the deal flow and process I would be immersed in cradle to grave from screening deals, full process of underwriting and closing, asset management and ultimate payoff,” Liguori said. “Since I’ve started here, Trevian has grown tremendously, and finding a place to plant your flag and help this team grow and become one of the larger bridge lenders nationwide has been rewarding.” 

In a job that involves crunching numbers all day, Liguori seeks an artistic outlet outside of work as a piano player. He also formed a band with his brother and friends called American Playground that plays shows in bars around Times Square.