Our Team
Jeff Friedman
Co-Founder & Principal
Mr. Friedman is a co-founder of Mesa West Capital. Prior to co-founding Mesa West in 2004, Mr. Friedman spent three years at Maguire Partners as a principal and was in charge of capital market activities which included the restructuring of the firm’s debt, the buy-out of partners and the firm’s eventual $800 million initial public offering. Mr. Friedman transitioned into real estate finance in 1994 initially as a Vice-President originating large loans at Nomura Asset Capital Corporation and later as a Director at Credit Suisse First Boston in New York. Mr. Friedman began his career as a corporate lawyer, working initially in Tokyo, Japan for an affiliate of Sidley & Austin and then in New York for Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Mr. Friedman graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a master’s degree in Applied Economics and a law degree from the University of Michigan.
Direct: (310) 806-6302
jfriedman@mesawestcapital.comMark Zytko
Co-Founder & Principal
Mr. Zytko is a co-founder of Mesa West Capital. Prior to co-founding Mesa West in 2004, Mr. Zytko spent five years with Credit Suisse First Boston as a Director and Head of its West Coast office located in Los Angeles. Mr. Zytko was responsible for relationship management of major accounts in the Western United States and for originating a variety of real estate debt products for the firm, including balance sheet debt and equity, CMBS and mezzanine loans for securitization and sale. Previous to CSFB, Mr. Zytko was a Vice President with GE Capital Real Estate. Mr. Zytko spent three years with GE Capital, having successfully opened and run their Seattle office. Previous to GE Capital, Mr. Zytko was a Manager of mortgage lending with SunAmerica Investments in Los Angeles. For five years at SunAmerica, he originated mortgage loans for the insurance company’s portfolio, made RTC portfolio acquisitions and was involved in the issuance and purchase of commercial mortgage backed securities. Mr. Zytko began his career as a Senior Real Estate Analyst with CB Commercial in their Investment Banking Services unit. Mr. Zytko is a graduate of Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in Economics.
Direct: (310) 806-6303
mzytko@mesawestcapital.comMatthew Cohen
Principal
Mr. Cohen is a Principal with Mesa West and is responsible for capital markets including the structuring, acquisition and distribution of commercial real estate loans and the management of Mesa West’s balance sheet. Prior to joining Mesa West in 2011, Mr. Cohen spent seven years at Natixis North America, a U.S. subsidiary of a French Investment Bank. As a Managing Director of Natixis’ Real Estate Group, Mr. Cohen was responsible for debt distribution, which included whole loan sales, securitizations, syndications and subordinate debt. Previous to Natixis, Mr. Cohen was at Genworth’s Stamford, CT office from 2002 to 2004. As a Vice President, Mr. Cohen sourced, structured, negotiated, and closed over $500 million of debt originations. Mr. Cohen began his career at Fortis Advisers (now known as Assurant) in the New York office. As a Vice President, Mr. Cohen focused on loan origination for the life company’s balance sheet. Mr. Cohen received his MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan.
Direct: (212) 871-8907
mcohen@mesawestcapital.comRaphael Fishbach
Principal
Mr. Fishbach is a Principal of the originations team at Mesa West and heads the East Coast origination platform. Prior to joining Mesa West in 2010, Mr. Fishbach spent three years at Ramius LLC, an $8 billion asset management firm based in New York City with a specialty investment platform in real estate. As Director of Ramius’ Real Estate Group, Mr. Fishbach’s responsibilities included deal sourcing, origination and underwriting, negotiation of acquisitions, joint ventures and financings, as well as asset management. Mr. Fishbach was responsible for over $500 million of transactions. Previous to Ramius, Mr. Fishbach was at Wells Fargo Bank in the Real Estate Merchant Banking Group from 2000 to 2006, both in Los Angeles and New York. As a Vice President, Mr. Fishbach’s primary responsibilities included sourcing, structuring, negotiating, closing and managing senior loans, mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments on various types of commercial real estate assets. While at Wells Fargo, Mr. Fishbach was directly responsible for over $1 billion of debt originations. Mr. Fishbach graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration with a bachelor’s degree.
Direct: (212) 871-8902
rfishbach@mesawestcapital.comSteve Fried
Principal
Mr. Fried is a Principal with Mesa West and co-heads the West Coast Originations platform. Prior to joining Mesa West in 2005, Mr. Fried worked in Credit Suisse First Boston’s CMBS group underwriting commercial real estate loans and as a Senior Accountant for Deloitte & Touche’s Private Equity Group in New York. At Deloitte, he planned, managed and implemented financial audits for funds, including Morgan Stanley’s real estate funds, The Blackstone Group’s mezzanine funds and Kelso & Co.’s and Rockefeller & Co.’s private equity funds. Mr. Fried’s work with The Blackstone Group also included working with Blackstone Debt Advisors LP to help create its first CDO. Mr. Fried graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Yeshiva University in New York and an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management with a focus in Real Estate Finance.
Direct: (310) 806-6305
sfried@mesawestcapital.comRonnie Gul
Principal
Mr. Gul is a Principal with Mesa West and co-heads the West Coast originations platform. Mr. Gul’s real estate experience includes the acquisition, management and renovation of multifamily properties in Los Angeles. Prior to joining Mesa West in 2005, Mr. Gul spent four years as a marketing and business development executive at firms backed by NBC and Universal Pictures and co-founded and published a general-interest magazine. Mr. Gul graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics with Phi Beta Kappa honors from UCLA and an MBA from UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management. Mr. Gul is a past president and current board member of the UCLA Ziman Real Estate Alumni Group.
Direct: (310) 806-6306
rgul@mesawestcapital.comJeff Friedman
Co-Founder & Principal
Mr. Friedman is a co-founder of Mesa West Capital. Prior to co-founding Mesa West in 2004, Mr. Friedman spent three years at Maguire Partners as a principal and was in charge of capital market activities which included the restructuring of the firm’s debt, the buy-out of partners and the firm’s eventual $800 million initial public offering. Mr. Friedman transitioned into real estate finance in 1994 initially as a Vice-President originating large loans at Nomura Asset Capital Corporation and later as a Director at Credit Suisse First Boston in New York. Mr. Friedman began his career as a corporate lawyer, working initially in Tokyo, Japan for an affiliate of Sidley & Austin and then in New York for Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Mr. Friedman graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a master’s degree in Applied Economics and a law degree from the University of Michigan.
Direct: (310) 806-6302
jfriedman@mesawestcapital.comRaphael Fishbach
Principal
Mr. Fishbach is a Principal of the originations team at Mesa West and heads the East Coast origination platform. Prior to joining Mesa West in 2010, Mr. Fishbach spent three years at Ramius LLC, an $8 billion asset management firm based in New York City with a specialty investment platform in real estate. As Director of Ramius’ Real Estate Group, Mr. Fishbach’s responsibilities included deal sourcing, origination and underwriting, negotiation of acquisitions, joint ventures and financings, as well as asset management. Mr. Fishbach was responsible for over $500 million of transactions. Previous to Ramius, Mr. Fishbach was at Wells Fargo Bank in the Real Estate Merchant Banking Group from 2000 to 2006, both in Los Angeles and New York. As a Vice President, Mr. Fishbach’s primary responsibilities included sourcing, structuring, negotiating, closing and managing senior loans, mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments on various types of commercial real estate assets. While at Wells Fargo, Mr. Fishbach was directly responsible for over $1 billion of debt originations. Mr. Fishbach graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration with a bachelor’s degree.
Direct: (212) 871-8902
rfishbach@mesawestcapital.comSteve Fried
Principal
Mr. Fried is a Principal with Mesa West and co-heads the West Coast Originations platform. Prior to joining Mesa West in 2005, Mr. Fried worked in Credit Suisse First Boston’s CMBS group underwriting commercial real estate loans and as a Senior Accountant for Deloitte & Touche’s Private Equity Group in New York. At Deloitte, he planned, managed and implemented financial audits for funds, including Morgan Stanley’s real estate funds, The Blackstone Group’s mezzanine funds and Kelso & Co.’s and Rockefeller & Co.’s private equity funds. Mr. Fried’s work with The Blackstone Group also included working with Blackstone Debt Advisors LP to help create its first CDO. Mr. Fried graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Yeshiva University in New York and an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management with a focus in Real Estate Finance.
Direct: (310) 806-6305
sfried@mesawestcapital.comRonnie Gul
Principal
Mr. Gul is a Principal with Mesa West and co-heads the West Coast originations platform. Mr. Gul’s real estate experience includes the acquisition, management and renovation of multifamily properties in Los Angeles. Prior to joining Mesa West in 2005, Mr. Gul spent four years as a marketing and business development executive at firms backed by NBC and Universal Pictures and co-founded and published a general-interest magazine. Mr. Gul graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics with Phi Beta Kappa honors from UCLA and an MBA from UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management. Mr. Gul is a past president and current board member of the UCLA Ziman Real Estate Alumni Group.
Direct: (310) 806-6306
rgul@mesawestcapital.comMarisa Deutsch
Head of Legal
Direct: (415) 576-2240
mdeutsch@mesawestcapital.comRussell Frahm
Executive Director
Direct: (212) 871-8904
rfrahm@mesawestcapital.comMatt Snyder
Executive Director
Direct: (312) 647-2701
msnyder@mesawestcapital.comJoshua Westerberg
Director
Direct: (415) 576-2366
jwesterberg@mesawestcapital.comBrian Hirsh
Vice President
Direct: (312) 647-2702
bhirsh@mesawestcapital.comPamir Niaz
Vice President
Direct: (212) 871-8906
pniaz@mesawestcapital.comBrian Hahn
Associate
Direct: (212) 871-8912
bhahn@mesawestcapital.comHoony Shin
Associate
Direct: (310) 893-0586
hshin@mesawestcapital.comJack Condon
Analyst
Direct: (310) 806-6330
jcondon@mesawestcapital.comDavid Cummins
Analyst
Direct: (212) 871-8902
dcummins@mesawestcapital.comJacob Rosen
Analyst
Direct:(310) 806-6309
jrosen@mesawestcapital.comJonah Sacks
Analyst
Direct: (312) 706-4014
jsacks@mesawestcapital.comStephanie Abate
Executive Assistant
Direct: (310) 806-6324
sabate@mesawestcapital.comLauren Connolly
Executive Assistant
Direct: (212) 871-8903
lconnolly@mesawestcapital.comMark Zytko
Co-Founder & Principal
Mr. Zytko is a co-founder of Mesa West Capital. Prior to co-founding Mesa West in 2004, Mr. Zytko spent five years with Credit Suisse First Boston as a Director and Head of its West Coast office located in Los Angeles. Mr. Zytko was responsible for relationship management of major accounts in the Western United States and for originating a variety of real estate debt products for the firm, including balance sheet debt and equity, CMBS and mezzanine loans for securitization and sale. Previous to CSFB, Mr. Zytko was a Vice President with GE Capital Real Estate. Mr. Zytko spent three years with GE Capital, having successfully opened and run their Seattle office. Previous to GE Capital, Mr. Zytko was a Manager of mortgage lending with SunAmerica Investments in Los Angeles. For five years at SunAmerica, he originated mortgage loans for the insurance company’s portfolio, made RTC portfolio acquisitions and was involved in the issuance and purchase of commercial mortgage backed securities. Mr. Zytko began his career as a Senior Real Estate Analyst with CB Commercial in their Investment Banking Services unit. Mr. Zytko is a graduate of Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in Economics.
Direct: (310) 806-6303
mzytko@mesawestcapital.comStewart Myers
Director
Direct: (310) 806-6310
smyers@mesawestcapital.comAlex Haas
Vice President
Direct: (310) 806-6321
ahaas@mesawestcapital.comJeffrey Begley
Portfolio Surveillance Manager
Direct: (310) 806-6336
jbegley@mesawestcapital.comSamantha Shafer
Portfolio Associate
Direct: (310) 806-6300
sshafer@mesawestcapital.comBrett Burns
Executive Director - Accounting
Direct: (310) 806-6308
bburns@mesawestcapital.comJessica Hobbs
Head of Business Development
Direct: (310) 806-6317
jhobbs@mesawestcapital.comGreg Innes
Controller
Direct: (310) 806-6316
ginnes@mesawestcapital.comShelby Jones
Controller
Direct: (310) 806-6315
sjones@mesawestcapital.comShannon Dunn
Senior Fund Accountant
Direct: (310) 806-6339
sdunn@mesawestcapital.comCoco Wang
Senior Fund Accountant
Direct: (310) 806-6326
cwang@mesawestcapital.comIvy Gaitan
Associate
Direct: (310) 893-0593
igaitan@mesawestcapital.comTracey Korn
Direct: (310) 806-6322
tkorn@mesawestcapital.comMatthew Cohen
Principal
Mr. Cohen is a Principal with Mesa West and is responsible for capital markets including the structuring, acquisition and distribution of commercial real estate loans and the management of Mesa West’s balance sheet. Prior to joining Mesa West in 2011, Mr. Cohen spent seven years at Natixis North America, a U.S. subsidiary of a French Investment Bank. As a Managing Director of Natixis’ Real Estate Group, Mr. Cohen was responsible for debt distribution, which included whole loan sales, securitizations, syndications and subordinate debt. Previous to Natixis, Mr. Cohen was at Genworth’s Stamford, CT office from 2002 to 2004. As a Vice President, Mr. Cohen sourced, structured, negotiated, and closed over $500 million of debt originations. Mr. Cohen began his career at Fortis Advisers (now known as Assurant) in the New York office. As a Vice President, Mr. Cohen focused on loan origination for the life company’s balance sheet. Mr. Cohen received his MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan.
Direct: (212) 871-8907
mcohen@mesawestcapital.comJosh Tarnow
Vice President
Direct: (212) 871-8909
jtarnow@mesawestcapital.comJames Schuster
Direct: (212) 296-7231
jschuster@mesawestcapital.com