Leading Team
Max B. Mellman is founder and Managing Director at Max Benjamin Partners. Recognized as one of the top up-and-coming commercial mortgage brokers in the nation, Max has coordinated & been involved in over $1.3 billion in debt and equity financing across a variety of property types, including office buildings, retail shopping centers, ground-up construction, multifamily and industrial properties. His transactional experience, capital markets expertise, and exceptional work ethic made him one of the top producers in Southern California.
Prior to founding Max Benjamin Partners, Max was a top producing mortgage banker with a boutique firm in Beverly Hills, CA. Max has also held the position of Associate at the Souferian Group. Located in Beverly Hills.
Max prides himself on his unparalleled work ethic, competitive spirit and willingness to go the extra mile for his clients. As an active member of his community, he provides for several charities in the Los Angeles area. In his spare time, Max enjoys: skiing, traveling, and spending quality time with his family.
Max majored in Planning, Policy and Development at the University of Southern California with an emphasis in Real Estate finance.
Alec N. Ziff
Alec N. Ziff is an Associate at Max Benjamin Partners where he is responsible for, originating, underwriting, client management, and capital partner relationship management.
Alec has experience structuring a variety of transactions involving permanent financing, construction financing, bridge and mezzanine loans and equity capital for the spectrum of property types. Throughout his career, Alec has been involved in the origination and underwriting of over $500,000,000 worth of debt and equity transactions.
Prior to joining MBP, Alec was an Associate at Disruptive Technology Advisers, a boutique investment bank that focuses on late-stage private technology companies.
Prior to working at DTA, Alec spent time as a software developer creating automation tools for a technology startup in the automotive collision repair industry. Alec started a luxury travel and concierge company during this time as well.
Alec majored in Economics and minored in Mathematics from California Lutheran University.
Alec N. Ziff
Alec N. Ziff is an Associate at Max Benjamin Partners where he is responsible for, originating, underwriting, client management, and capital partner relationship management.
Alec has experience structuring a variety of transactions involving permanent financing, construction financing, bridge and mezzanine loans and equity capital for the spectrum of property types. Throughout his career, Alec has been involved in the origination and underwriting of over $500,000,000 worth of debt and equity transactions.
Prior to joining MBP, Alec was an Associate at Disruptive Technology Advisers, a boutique investment bank that focuses on late-stage private technology companies.
Prior to working at DTA, Alec spent time as a software developer creating automation tools for a technology startup in the automotive collision repair industry. Alec started a luxury travel and concierge company during this time as well.
Alec majored in Economics and minored in Mathematics from California Lutheran University.
Jason Moyal
Jason is an Associate at Max Benjamin Partners where he is responsible for client & partner management as well as origination. Before arriving at MBP, Jason spent time at an accelerator, consulting, implementing, and executing go to market strategies for foreign companies looking to enter the US market.
Prior to that experience, Jason was a top performing Private Banker in wealth management and lending working with High Net Worth Individuals and businesses and received numerous performance awards. A native Angelino, Jason was educated at San Diego State University in International Business, Finance, French, and Political Science as well as ESSEC Business School in France.
Integrity is of utmost importance to Jason as he takes complete ownership in all tasks undertaken and is always looking to do the right thing for his clients. During his free time, Jason is an avid beach volleyball player, traveler, and family man.
Nicole Chriqui
Operations and Relationship Manager
nchriqui@mbpartners.com
Nicole is the Operations and Relationship Manager at Max Benjamin Partners, responsible for day to day business management and oversight of MBP’s capital market relationships.
Nicole brings many years of experience in Real Estate as an investor and landlord in multiple states, having been involved in all aspects of property acquisitions and sales, rehabs, maintenance and tenant leasing. In addition, Nicole worked on the team that expanded the Warner Bros. Studio Stores from a handful of mall locations to hundreds of stores throughout the US and internationally. Having managed a successful e-business for 16 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge in sales, marketing and business administration. Nicole started her career as Operations Manager in the Institutional Sales office of Drexel Burnham Lambert in Beverly Hills, where she obtained her Series 7 license.
Nicole’s core guiding principles are professionalism and integrity. Originally from Montreal, Nicole speaks fluent French and has narrated 16 audiobooks in French and English. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, gardening and yoga.
Nicole graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and a minor in Business Administration
Nicole Chriqui
Operations and Relationship Manager
nchriqui@mbpartners.com
Nicole is the Operations and Relationship Manager at Max Benjamin Partners, responsible for day to day business management and oversight of MBP’s capital market relationships.
Nicole brings many years of experience in Real Estate as an investor and landlord in multiple states, having been involved in all aspects of property acquisitions and sales, rehabs, maintenance and tenant leasing. In addition, Nicole worked on the team that expanded the Warner Bros. Studio Stores from a handful of mall locations to hundreds of stores throughout the US and internationally. Having managed a successful e-business for 16 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge in sales, marketing and business administration. Nicole started her career as Operations Manager in the Institutional Sales office of Drexel Burnham Lambert in Beverly Hills, where she obtained her Series 7 license.
Nicole’s core guiding principles are professionalism and integrity. Originally from Montreal, Nicole speaks fluent French and has narrated 16 audiobooks in French and English. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, gardening and yoga.
Nicole graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and a minor in Business Administration
Kurt Cullen
Kurt Cullen is a Jr. Analyst at Max Benjamin Partners where he is responsible for the creation of financial packaging, underwriting, and client interfacing for debt and equity transactions.
Prior to joining MBP, Kurt was a Management Associate at Wallace Theaters Management Corporation, a privately held asset management company. He was involved in managing owner-operated residential and commercial real estate, acquisitions, multi-family investments, movie theater acquisitions, venture fund investing, and residential development projects.
Kurt majored in Entrepreneurship, Hotel and Resort Management from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. During his time spent in college, he founded the largest non-profit student entrepreneur’s organization in Hawaii and operated a catering company specializing in Hawaiian cuisine. He was named Student Entrepreneur of the Year from the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship.
Kurt has plans to attend the Dollinger Master of Real Estate Development program at the University of Southern California in the coming years and is also a member of the Urban Land Institute.