Max B. Mellman is the managing partner and founder of Max Benjamin Partners, Inc. Recognized as one of the top intermediaries in the nation, Mr. Mellman has coordinated and been involved in over $3 billion in debt and equity financing across a variety of property types, including office buildings, retail shopping centers, ground-up construction, health care facilities, multifamily, industrial, and hospitality assets. His transactional experience, capital markets expertise, and ability to structure some of the most complex capital stacks in commercial real estate allow him to be one of the most sought-after intermediaries in the United States.

Mr. Mellman is also managing partner and founder of Hybridge Capital Management. An investment firm focused on commercial real estate, healthcare, and technology. HCM directly invests alongside seasoned operators, tackling the demand for equity capital in the lower market segment with the overall mission to produce industry leading investment returns.

Prior to forming HCM and MBP, Mr. Mellman held senior and associate positions at The Souferian Group and California Commercial Investment, where he helped acquire, manage, entitle, and develop over 500M of commercial real estate.

Max prides himself on his unparalleled work ethic, integrity, and willingness to go the extra mile for his team and investors. 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 has a Bachelor of Science in Planning, Policy, and Development from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in Real Estate finance.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-b-mellman-0314b751/

Jason is a Vice President at MBP, where he is responsible for client and partner management and origination. Before arriving at MBP, Jason spent time at an accelerator, where he was consulting, implementing, and executing go-to-market strategies for foreign companies looking to enter the US market. 

Previously, Jason was a top performing Private Banker in wealth management and lending, working with High-Net-Worth Individuals and businesses and receiving numerous performance awards. Integrity is of utmost importance to Jason as he takes complete ownership of all tasks undertaken and is always looking to do the right thing for his clients.

A native Angelino, Jason was educated at San Diego State University in International Business, Finance, French, and Political Science; and ESSEC Business School in France. During his free time, Jason is an avid beach volleyball player, traveler, and family man.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-moyal-1408ba2a/

Christian serves as a Vice President at MBP, where he is responsible for originating, underwriting, client management, and capital partner relationship management. 

Christian has extensive experience across all asset classes and the entire range of the capital stack, ranging from perm financing to joint venture as well as tax credit LP equity. He has been involved in the originating, underwriting, and closing of hundreds of deals throughout his career.

 Before joining MBP, Christian was a Financial Analyst at a global LIHTC syndicator. He was responsible for managing Multi-Investor and Proprietary Funds with values in excess of $500 M. Christian was also responsible for maintaining relationships with high-profile investors in each of his funds. 

Christian received his B.S. degree in Real Estate Finance from NYU’s Schack Institute of Real Estate. During his free time, Christian enjoys skiing and scuba diving.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-bloom-9aa777121/

Kristin Mellman is the Operations Manager at Max Benjamin Partners where she is responsible for all aspects of organizational process improvement and business development. In her tenure at MBP, she has developed the company’s human resources program which intentionally cultivates a collaborative environment to employ the top commercial real estate professionals in the industry. She restructured the finance department reallocating funds to professional development and networking opportunities for the team. Kristin has also been an integral part of building a custom internal platform for data sharing which has streamlined workflows to maximize efficiency. She is committed to maintaining the best-in-industry standard that MBP has been held to.

At the heart of her work is her passion for understanding processes and the people who drive them. As a native Idahoan, she enjoys all the outdoors have to offer and is full of a range of random geography and biology facts. When not in the office, Kristin is likely pursuing activities in nature from skiing, mountaineering, and scuba diving. Her experience and passion in the nonprofit sector influences herself and the team to be leaders for pushing positive impact in their community

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-mellman-60982a253/

Ashlyn is a Transaction Coordinator at MBP, where she is responsible for managing loan transactions from application until close. She is passionate about helping others and ensuring every client always has the best experience possible while working with the MBP team. 

Ashlyn was born and raised in San Francisco, and she moved to Los Angeles within the last five years to pursue her career in real estate. 

Before joining MBP, Ashlyn was a realtor with Coldwell Banker in Venice Beach, CA, where she focused on residential real estate. There, she created an outstanding reputation for herself while working on establishing long-standing relationships with her clients. 

Ashlyn uses her idealistic and positive energy in the workforce to create a balanced and productive work environment for herself and everyone around her. 

In her free time, Ashlyn enjoys spending time with friends, traveling, and cooking

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlyn-stevens-147a89231/

Neeral Desai is an Associate at Max Benjamin Partners, where he is responsible for originating, underwriting and client management. He started as an intern during the end of 2021, and transitioned into a full-time role at the start of 2022. 

Prior to joining MBP, Neeral did various internships with First Republic Bank, Wells Fargo, PWC, and Holiday Inn Express. Neeral found a home with capital markets after being in various fields such as middle market banking, consulting, and financial planning. Despite being in his first year, his experiences have all been transferable into the field as he is excellent at time management and communication. Neeral is an extremely hard worker, as he has been working two jobs every summer since high school graduation.  

In his first year, Neeral was successfully able to originate $15M worth of debt across the hospitality, multifamily, single family rental, retail, and industrial asset classes. He has extensive knowledge across all asset classes and can structure a variety of unique capital stacks. Neeral has been able to execute on LP equity, permanent financing, construction financing, bridge financing, and mezzanine loans. 

During his free time, Neeral enjoys hiking, volleyball, basketball, and spending time with his family. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/neeral-d-8a5b6b135/

Charlie is an Associate at MBP, where he is responsible for originating, underwriting, client managing, and capital partner relationship management. 

During his time at MBP, Charlie has structured a variety of transactions involving permanent financing, construction financing, bridge, mezzanine loan and equity capital. Charlie has quickly built strong client relationships and played a crucial role in the funding of more than $100M of debt and equity on multiple asset classes across the nation.

 Prior to joining the MBP team, Charlie interned at a family office that owns over 8,000 units nationwide. Charlie is well-versed in capital markets, asset management, and acquisition of all asset classes. 

Charlie received his B.S degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder. During his free time Charlie enjoys skiing and scuba diving.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-mellman-194812230/

Bijan is an associate at MBP, where he is responsible for originating, underwriting, client management, and capital partner relationship management.

 Bijan has had extensive leadership experience while working in the healthcare field and digital marketing space. While working at WebUpgrade, a digital marketing startup based in Los Angeles, Bijan was the executive account manager of all clientele, managing over 30+ clients. With a diverse portfolio of clients ranging from medical professionals to real estate agencies, Bijan grew his clients' digital presence while fostering long-lasting relationships and providing value to their businesses. 

Bijan earned his Bachelor's degree at UC Davis and later went on to receive his Master’s in Bio-Medical Sciences. For the past few years, Bijan has had the opportunity to work with mentally disabled kids as a soccer coach, teaching them the fundamentals of the game and cultivating a fun and safe environment. 

Outside of work, you can find Bijan playing soccer, traveling, and spending downtime with friends and family.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bijan-saremi-594235123/

Drew Rands serves as Senior Vice President at MBP, where he is responsible for debt and equity origination, advisory, and placement as well as developing and maintaining relationships with capital partners. Additionally, he oversees the financial analysis, underwriting, due diligence and closing of transactions across the firm. 

Beginning in 2005, with MJ Leola Investments, Slatt Capital as a Commercial Mortgage Banker, and Clearview Realty Finance as a Capital Markets Advisor, Mr. Rands brings over 18 years of commercial real estate debt originations, analysis, underwriting, acquisitions and dispositions experience. Mr. Rands became a Commercial Real Estate Broker with MJ Leola Investments in 2005. During his tenure with the group, he specialized in apartment building investment sales and condo land acquisitions throughout Southern California. 

In 2008, Drew joined the Los Angeles offices of Slatt Capital as a Commercial Mortgage Banker. At Slatt and Clearview Realty Finance, he focused on originating permanent and structured financing for commercial, hospitality and apartment assets nationwide. Mr. Rands focus with CRF included comprehensive financial analysis, underwriting and structuring of debt and equity advisory transactions across all asset classes.  Mr. Rands has contributed to over $2 billion in CRE acquisitions, dispositions, debt and equity transactions throughout his career.

Drew Rands is a native of Oregon and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon.  Drew enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid outdoorsman, regularly participating in activities such as camping, hiking, surfing and snowboarding. Mr. Rands currently resides in Manhattan Beach, California.

Jacob is an associate at MBP, where he is responsible for originating, underwriting, and full capital stack relationship management. Jacob spearheaded loan originations across multiple asset classes including multifamily, assisted living, luxury single family homes, and hospitality assets with deals ranging from $10-200M.
Jacob is a graduate of University of Southern California, where he earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) degrees. Prior to his real estate career, Jacob was an accomplished civil engineer, working as both a design engineer for Los Angeles Public Works and as a field engineer for Kiewit Infrastructure. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Loyola Marymount University.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-hallum/

Connor Glasco is an Associate at MBP, where he plays a vital role in originating, underwriting, and managing clientele through the full financial loan process. Connor's unwavering dedication is evident as he consistently leads by example, often the first to arrive and the last to depart from the office, showcasing a relentless work ethic that spares no effort in advocating for his clients. His steadfast commitment and diligence contribute significantly to fostering robust connections with capital partners.

Prior to his tenure at MBP, Connor excelled as a Project Manager at HRI Development, a distinguished boutique firm specializing in triple-net, build-to-suit retail projects. His impactful contributions included overseeing a robust pipeline/portfolio valued at over $40 million across diverse developmental stages. Connor's responsibilities ranged from comprehensive asset management to facilitating tenant onboarding. Notably, he played a pivotal role in structuring an Opportunistic and DST Fund for HRI's crowdfunding platform, NetVested Capital. Connor holds a B.S. degree in Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California's Price School of Public Policy, where he also pursued a minor in Business Law. 

In his free time, Connor enjoys skiing, biking, and supporting the Trojans.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-glasco/

Yuchen Ai is an Analyst at Max Benjamin Partners, where he is responsible for underwriting, conducting market research, and supporting due diligence processes across various commercial real estate asset types. Yuchen has actively participated and been involved in underwriting and supporting transactions exceeding $300 million. His expertise spans diverse areas, including construction financing, bridge financing, permanent financing, acquisition and development financing, preferred equity, and mezzanine loans.

Before joining MBP, Yuchen gained valuable experience in development and private equity. During this time, he demonstrated proficiency in overseeing the entire transaction cycle, from deal sourcing and financing to closure. His experience equipped him with a strong understanding of real estate finance and capital markets.

Yuchen holds an M.S. degree in Analytics from the University of Southern California and a B.S. degree in Economics from Syracuse University. Outside of work, Yuchen enjoys being outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Gabe Steffler is an Associate at MBP, where he manages a range of crucial responsibilities encompassing originating, underwriting, client management, and fostering relationships with capital partners.

His journey began after graduating from San Diego State University's Fowler School of Business with a major in Financial Services. Gabe delved into the world of real estate development, making impactful contributions to multifamily projects in New York and Southern California. These experiences not only equipped him with a deep understanding of market analysis and asset management but also laid the foundation for his subsequent specialization in acquiring multifamily properties across Southern California. His expertise expanded to encompass sales, marketing activities, and a keen insight into the intricate nuances of the real estate domain.

Post-graduation from SDSU, Gabe ventured into capital markets, a domain where he continues to excel and evolve. Beyond his professional endeavors, Gabe enjoys exploring his passions for traveling, surfing, and hiking.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabe-steffler-38503a1a6/

Julian Madrid is an Associate at Max Benjamin Partners, where he is responsible for originating, underwriting, and client management. He started as an intern during the Summer of 2023 and transitioned into a full-time role shortly after. Prior to joining MBP, Julian studied at the University of Southern California where he received a B.S. in Real Estate Development with an emphasis in Finance. Julian eventually found a passion for capital markets after his time at USC. Julian has helped structure a variety of transactions involving permanent financing, construction financing, bridge, mezzanine loan, and equity capital. Julian has quickly built strong client relationships and played a crucial role in the development of MBP. 

During his free time, Julian enjoys cooking, skiing, fishing, hiking, traveling, and spending time with his family. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliananthonymadrid/

MBP structured both the debt and equity for this loan within a strict closing timeline for the acquisition of a student housing development in Denver, CO, and we were able to significantly increased the sponsors yield on the transaction.

MBP structured both the debt and equity for this loan within a strict closing timeline for the acquisition of a student housing development in Denver, CO. This transaction was the sponsors largest deal to date, and MBP utilized its close relationship with a newly formed fund to provide competitive JV equity terms that significantly increased the sponsors yield on the transaction. This transaction included credit enhancement to satisfy the lender’s net worth and liquidity covenants. Additionally, MBP added value by structuring the loan with a flexible prepay to ensure an effective exit for sponsorship.

Transaction Details

Denver, CO

Transaction Overview

Intermediaries Team

Max B. Mellman

Christian P. Bloom

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