Team

Mr. McLaughlin began his career in commercial real estate with Thacher, Proffitt & Wood in 1979 as an Associate Attorney representing several thrifts, a commercial bank and private investment banks in the origination and acquisition of conventional and government insured residential, multifamily and commercial mortgage loans.

In 1983 Mr. McLaughlin became a Vice President in Goldman Sachs’ legal department where he was instrumental in establishing the procedures for due diligence and underwriting of residential, multifamily and commercial mortgage loan transactions.  He was a key contributor to their lucrative participation in GNMA project loan auctions. Later, in the Whole Loan Group, he founded and conducted the firm’s commercial mortgage loan trading operation. During his tenure with Goldman he also provided a senior fixed income component to the company’s internal commercial mortgage loan securitization joint venture.

John McLaughlin joined a team of executives at Lehman Brothers focusing specifically on commercial mortgage real estate transactions in 1988. As Senior Vice President, he was a member of a group within Lehman responsible for sourcing, negotiating, structuring and coordinating multifamily and commercial whole loan and securitized transactions. Mr. McLaughlin also acted as the lead investment banker for several of the firm’s largest transactions and securitizations including a public pool of Wal-Mart leases, a public/private credit tranche of seasoned multifamily mortgage loans, a (State of Connecticut/AEW) public/global LIBOR floater backed by a seasoned pension fund portfolio of commercial mortgage loans, and a ACES REMIC pass-through offering, among many others.

In 1999 Mr. McLaughlin accepted the position of Executive Managing Director of the GMAC Commercial Mortgage SLP. At GMAC, John jointly managed all aspects of the unit’s CRE transactions, including determination of policies, production, finances, services and general infrastructure. Mr. McLaughlin also organized and supervised SLP’s streamlined loan closing processes and developed and maintained the system for pricing new production and acquisitions. Mr. McLaughlin’s team facilitated the tracking and hedging of SLP positions, coordinated multiple exits for the disposition of SLP assets and provided similar supervisory controls for GMACCM of Canada, Ltd. new conduit securities program.

John T. McLaughlin is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and Cornell Law School. He served his Country in the United Stated Army as a Field Artillery Officer, both Airborne and Ranger qualified.  He served in Germany from March of 1972 – June of 1974 and in the 101ST Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, KY.  John is a distinguished member of the New York State Bar and served as Governor, CMSA from 1994 – 2001.  Mr. McLaughlin is also a former member of the Lloyd Harbor Historical Society, Huntington Arts Council and served as President of The Cold Spring Harbor Lacrosse Club for 7 years.

Mr. Hamermesh began his executive level career in commercial real estate upon accepting the position of National Director of Lending at Los Angeles based banking intermediary; The Real Estate Advisors.  In 1983 Steven relocated to Florida to become EVP of Acquisitions for UTF.  Steven facilitated sale lease back acquisitions for retail, industrial, office, medical, and special purpose assets of behalf of the 44 year old company.The fund closed $6 billion in acquisitions with companies such as Wells Fargo, General Mills, Ashland Oil, Kelly Paper, United Health Group, and Cub Foods.

In 1988, Mr. Hamermesh became Executive Vice President of FHA / HUD Mortgagee Atlanta Georgia based American Capital Resources.  During his tenure with ACR, Steven focused on originating construction and permanent financing for existing and to be built apartment and healthcare properties in the $20 to $100 million space.

Returning home to Southern California, Mr. Hamermesh joined regional real estate investment banking firm George Smith Partners where he became National Director of Lending.  While at GSP, Steven sourced a broad range of permanent, bridge, construction financing and private equity transactions on behalf of owners and developers nationwide.  Steven also headed the philanthropic / charitable functions on behalf of GSP Founder, the late George A. Smith. He served on the board of the A-T Medical Research Foundation, raising public awareness of Ataxia-Telangiectasia, a rare degenerative disorder. Through the organization of regularly scheduled executive events including the annual A-TMRF Real Estate Luncheon, Mr. Hamermesh was instrumental in helping to raise more than $5 million in charitable donations for continued research for A-T.

Mr. Hamermesh later became CEO and Principal at Ethan Christopher Financial, the commercial real estate consulting and advisory subsidiary of Ethan Christopher, LLC.  Ethan Christopher is recognized as regional leader in CRE investments and syndication. The Principals own and operate approximately 2 million square feet of class A and B medical office properties and shopping centers throughout California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas.

Most recently, Steven served as Executive Director in the Los Angeles offices of Slatt Capital.  Steven leveraged the firm’s expanding correspondent relationships to facilitate reliable and efficiently priced CRE and multifamily financing for his clients throughout the turbulence experienced during the recession and resulting real estate correction.

Steven B. Hamermesh resides in Westlake Village, California with his wife of 16 years Rose and children Austin and Hannah.  He is an avid fishermen and competitive chess player who also holds an active appreciation of independent, documentary and foreign language films.

Upon graduating from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Mr. Burke was awarded the opportunity to enter the Bear Stearns & Company executive training program and received high level exposure to Bear’s core businesses, including IPO structuring, corporate finance and institutional investment banking. After completing the firm’s rigorous twelve month education and training prerequisite, Silas was placed in the private wealth management division of the Boston branch where he joined a team of six investment bankers managed by the region’s top retail producer.

In 1997, Mr. Burke accepted the position of Wealth Management Account Executive in the Boston offices of the nation’s oldest investment banking firm Gruntal & Company, founded in 1880. While at Gruntal, he earned his Series 7 and 63 licenses.  As a member of the company’s private client wealth division, Silas managed individual equities and fixed income portfolios, housing assets in excess of $200 million.

After relocating to Southern California, Mr. Burke joined Ethan Christopher Financial, the commercial real estate consulting and advisory subsidiary of Ethan Christopher, LLC.  Ethan Christopher is recognized as regional leader in CRE investments and syndication. As Senior Vice President of ECF, Silas reported directly to the group’s founders and was responsible for establishing new client and lending relationships for the group’s CMBS debt placement consulting business.

Following his time with ECF, Mr. Burke occupied the position of Chief Financial Officer at H Development Group of Los Angeles. Silas is credited with spearheading the company’s expansion into syndicated multifamily real estate investments and commercial real estate development interests as Principal. As CFO, Mr. Burke was primarily responsible for all financial analysis, underwriting and executive level approvals of project budgeting, construction financing, site planning, permits and entitlements.

Mr. Burke graduated with a B.A. degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he also earned an approved minor in psychology and was an All Atlantic 10 Conference selection for the Minuteman Football squad. He actively participates in several charitable institutions and currently serves on the board of directors of the nonprofit organization, Rock To Recovery. Silas currently resides in Pacific Palisades, CA.