Press Release

NEW YORK – The New York office of mortgage banking company Merchants Capital today announces the closing of a $18.2 million Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Fannie Mae Risk Share loan for Mannie Wilson Towers, a historic affordable housing development located in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. The securement of this funding represents the first HDC Fannie Risk Share loan closed with Merchants Capital, a loan product uniquely created by the company. The loan has a 30-year term and a 40-year amortization. Located in the former Sydenham Hospital, Mannie Wilson Towers provides 102 one- and two-bedroom units of restricted-income housing for seniors in the Harlem neighborhood. As part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 202 program, units are restricted to residents 62 years of age and older who usually earn 50% of the area median income (AMI) or less. The Section 202 program also provides support activities for residents such as cleaning, cooking, transportation and more. Additionally, the property is 100% encumbered by a Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract, a program of HUD. “Closing this unique loan structure signifies Merchants Capital’s unwavering commitment to affordable housing development and preservation in New York City and across the country,” said Merchants Capital Vice Chair & Head of Agency Lending, Mathew Wambua. “Making these capital improvements to Mannie Wilson Towers will allow the development to provide necessary affordable housing in Harlem for years to come. Preserving this structure is critical, and we are honored to have served as a partner on this project.” The original building debuted in 1892 as the Sydenham Hospital, a privately held hospital historically known as being the first medical facility in New York City to voluntarily hire Black physicians. After private financial struggles, the hospital became part of the New York municipal hospital corporation in 1949. Nearly 90 years after it first opened, the hospital was permanently closed by the city in 1980 and was later reclaimed for senior citizen housing through the HUD 202 Program. In 2001, former U.S. Rep. Charles B. Rangel secured the waiver allowing the unused medical center to be transformed into an income-restricted affordable housing development. The financing provided by Merchants Capital will allow the property owner, West Harlem Group Assistance, Inc. (WHGA), to make necessary capital improvements and system upgrades throughout the building, ensuring complete safety and soundness of the building structure itself. WHGA is an award-winning community development corporation leading New York City in building and preserving smarter, safer and more inclusive communities. “West Harlem Group Assistance has been granted the unique privilege to serve Harlem for over 50 years," said Donald C. Notice, Executive Director of West Harlem Group Assistance. "We are proud to have been a pioneer in preserving affordable housing and the Mannie Wilson capital improvements are a true testament to building a more inclusive Harlem." "We are proud to join WHGA in continuing Mannie L. Wilson Towers' long history of service to the Harlem community, which is one we've seen firsthand during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Katie Devine, Principal, Rockabill Consulting. "The past year reaffirmed the importance of safe, affordable housing for seniors, and most recently, residents have been able to get vaccinated at the property's on-site medical center without ever leaving home. We appreciate the creative approach of the New York team at Merchants Capital and the city's housing agencies in financing this deal, and look forward to restoring this beautiful property while keeping its character intact." Mannie Wilson Towers is located at 565 Manhattan Avenue in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and Instagram.

CARMEL, Ind. (March 24, 2021) – Multifamily housing financier Merchants Capital today announces three new senior hires to the tax credit equity team: Josh Reed, Jillian Flynn and Lindsey Davitt. These new hires join Julie Sharp, Senior Vice President of Tax Credit Equity, who leads the tax credit syndication platform, Merchants Capital’s newest business line. “I am proud to welcome these deeply talented and highly regarded affordable housing professionals to the Merchants Capital equity platform,” Sharp said. “Our team represents a mix of industry veterans and emerging young leaders, elevating our capabilities and positioning us for success as one of the nation’s full-service financing providers for affordable housing.” Josh Reed joins the team as Senior Vice President and leads Merchants Capital’s Equity Acquisitions group that oversees all lower tier sourcing, pricing, structuring and closing functions. With over a decade of acquisitions and development consulting experience, Reed brings a valuable skill set both in housing finance and construction management. Reed previously spent 11 years at a national tax credit syndicator where he closed and structured over $700 million in lower-tier equity transactions. Prior to that, he managed the construction underwriting department that underwrote and monitored construction for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects in 30 states. Jillian Flynn joins the Merchants team as Vice President and Chief Equity Underwriter. In this role, Flynn is responsible for credit, underwriting and risk management for Merchants Capital’s equity acquisitions and fund offerings and sits on all investment approval committees. Prior to joining Merchants Capital, Flynn spent a decade as a manager in Ernst & Young’s (EY) Tax Credit Investment Advisory Services division. While at EY, Flynn completed project assessments for over 750 real estate properties with federal and state monetizable tax credits, including LIHTC and Historic Rehabilitation tax credits, in nearly all 50 states. Flynn also provided accounting and tax advice to some of the nation’s largest investors and opined on real estate underwriting, transaction structure, tax risk and feasibility for tax credit funds sponsored by the nation’s largest tax credit syndicators. Flynn has also previously held roles at the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development and the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership and is an Enrolled Agent able to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. Flynn will continue to work in Boston. Lindsey Davitt joins Merchants Capital as Vice President of Equity Asset Management, overseeing the equity asset management division. Working from Newport, Rhode Island, Davitt is responsible for managing equity investments in both the development and stabilized phases, including monitoring construction and lease up, overseeing all third-party compliance monitoring, equity draw requests, investor reporting and quarterly risk-rating for the LIHTC equity portfolio. Davitt sits on all investment committees and manages Merchants Capital’s asset management technology initiatives. Prior to joining Merchants, Davitt was a senior asset manager at Boston Capital and has previously held asset management positions at CBRE Global Investors. “It’s exciting to see Merchants Capital attract industry-leading talent,” said Michael R. Dury, President and CEO of Merchants Capital. “The experience and vision these individuals bring to our platform will undoubtedly further our success as an industry leader in affordable housing.” To learn more about the tax credit equity syndications platform, visit www.merchantscapital.com/tax-credit-equity. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

CARMEL, Ind. (March 24, 2021) – Mortgage banking company Merchants Capital recently secured $21 million in financing for the development of Forge on Main, an affordable, workforce housing property coming soon to Evansville, Indiana. Located in an Opportunity Zone, Forge on Main is also part of Evansville’s Promise Zone, a designation to support the city’s most “at-risk, yet most promising neighborhoods of its urban core.” The new development will be a mixed-use property, featuring 180 residential units along with 15,000 square feet of commercial space. “The Forge on Main project is truly an example of state, local and community collaboration at its best,” said Interim Indiana Secretary of Commerce, Jim Staton. “By investing in transformative projects like this one, Indiana will continue to attract top talent while creating a better quality of place for Hoosiers.” The three-year, $21 million deal is a construction loan combined with an equity bridge loan of the $3.4 million in redevelopment tax credits from the IEDC. Within the 180 units, 18 will be reserved for residents earning no greater than 60% of the area median income (AMI), with the rest of the units priced for tenants at 60% to 120% of the AMI. “Forge on Main helps meet and exceed the Evansville Promise Zone’s goal of expanding the number of quality, workforce housing units in the area,” said Merchants Capital Vice President, Originations, Brian Shelbourne. “The development is part of the revitalization of the Evansville community, aimed at bringing more families and businesses to the area, to maintain a secure place to work and live. Merchants Capital is proud to support the financing for this workforce housing property for our fellow Hoosiers.” The project was completed in partnership with the borrower House Investments, the Partnership for Affordable Housing, Inc., the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and the City of Evansville, which awarded tax increment financing (TIF) bonds and a ten-year property tax abatement for the project. Additionally, the Centerpoint Energy Foundation – a non-profit arm of Centerpoint Energy, a gas and/or electricity provider located in Evansville – provided a grant to the project. “The Forge on Main is truly a community project that would not have been possible without the support from all of our partners,” said House Investments Chief Investment Officer, Matt Gadus. “The development provides an additional housing option that currently does not exist in the area, and it provides an opportunity for residents to live, work, and play in the neighborhood. House Investments is committed to providing impactful, workforce housing projects which benefit the overall community.” The workforce housing complex will consist of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, with 102 of the 180 units located in a three-story walk up, and 78 units located directly above the retail and commercial space. Currently, developers are working to place a grocery store in the property, recognizing that the Evansville Opportunity Zone is located within a food desert. “The Forge on Main will occupy one of the oldest developed blocks in our city’s northside history,” said Executive Director of the Department of Metropolitan Development for the City of Evansville, Kelley Coures. “From a plow factory in the 19th century to the modern 180 living units that will help repopulate this neighborhood, we feel House Investments will be a solid partner for the area’s future growth.  The city invested $15 million in the North Main street corridor and another $30 million in the new Deaconess Aquatic Center at the north end, this development will serve as an important southern anchor in overall redevelopment strategy.” “CenterPoint Energy is proud to partner with the City of Evansville, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Partnership for Affordable Housing, Inc. on the Forge on Main project,” said CenterPoint Energy Senior Vice President of Generation Development, Steve Greenley. “This project will provide a significant impact to the North Main corridor by providing additional units of affordable and efficient housing and continue the positive momentum present in the Jacobsville neighborhood.” Forge on Main broke ground in August 2020 and will be located at 200 N. Main Street. The property is currently pre-leasing for Fall 2021. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

CARMEL, Ind. – Mortgage banking company Merchants Capital today announces the hiring of Jim Green as Vice President, Third Party Report Administration. With more than 20 years of accounting and commercial real estate experience, Green is a recognized professional in the industry, bringing knowledge of both Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Government-Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) appraising to his new role at Merchants Capital. In this position, Green will support the credit teams at Merchants Capital, focusing on third party appraisals/rent studies, Project Capital Needs Assessments (PCNA’s) and Phase I reports. He will serve as the primary point of contact for all third-party report vendors and offer internal guidance to better help support underwriting recommendations. “We are very excited to not only announce this new position at Merchants, but to be able to hire someone with Jim’s vast experience in both accounting and commercial real estate valuations,” said Mike Dury, President and CEO of Merchants Capital. “As we continue expanding our footprint in the multifamily space, we felt it was essential to bring someone on the team that can develop and manage a comprehensive database that will better assist the various Merchants platforms.” Prior to joining Merchants Capital, Green most recently served as partner of Terzo & Bologna, Inc. providing valuation expertise for real estate properties across the nation in addition to serving as an expert witness in property tax appeal litigations. In this role, Green specialized in multifamily appraisals, including HUD Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) 223(f) and 221(d)4 analyses. Green also previously held a senior real estate accountant position at AIMCO, a national multifamily REIT. He began his career as a property and commercial real estate (CRE) accountant at Simon Property Group. Green is a graduate of Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business, majoring in Accounting and Finance. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

CARMEL, Ind. – Mortgage banking company Merchants Capital today announces the hiring of Tony Washington as Vice President of Multifamily Loan Originations. Washington has more than 25 years of experience in the commercial lending industry, with the bulk of his career spent in the agency lending space. Washington specializes in Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) market rate and affordable debt products. In his new role at Merchants Capital, he will lead the origination of a wide variety of multifamily financing programs available at Merchants Capital, such as Fannie Mae Affordable, Freddie Mac Affordable, FHA and more. Additionally, Washington will play a critical role in expanding Merchants’ footprint throughout the mid-Atlantic. “I’m incredibly excited to add Tony to our bench of remarkable and experienced talent at Merchants Capital. Tony’s high-profile expertise as a leader in the commercial and agency lending industries is unmatched,” said Dwayne George, Executive Vice President and National Head of Production at Merchants Capital. “As our origination’s platform and national lending footprint continues to grow, Tony will be the perfect person to execute strategic business objectives for 2021 and beyond. Welcome to the Merchants family, Tony!” Before joining Merchants Capital, Washington served in several commercial and agency lending roles at companies such as Oak Grove Capital (now Jones Lang LaSalle), American Property Financing (now Wells Fargo) and AMI Capital (now Wells Fargo). Most recently, Washington was a founding partner of the EagleBank FHA Lending platform, where he served as Senior Vice President – FHA Multifamily Lending. To date, Washington has financed more than $1 billion in multifamily transactions across Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA platforms. A graduate of Saint Francis University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Washington also holds a master’s of business administration in finance from the University of Maryland College Park. Outside of work, Washington is a board member of several institutions, including The University of Maryland Smith School of Business, Victory Housing and The Columbia Foundation. For the time being, Washington will work remotely out of his home in Washington, D.C. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

CARMEL, Ind. – Mortgage banking company Merchants Capital today announces that it provided approximately $4.7 billion in financing in 2020, nearly half of which was dedicated to supporting affordable housing preservation and development across the country. This achievement marks a historic company milestone, as Merchants Capital’s total year-over-year production saw an increase of 106%. While its Federal Housing Administration (FHA) lending volume remained steady, the company’s Government-Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) production through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac increased 104%, demonstrating the evolution and expansion of Merchants’ GSE platform. “We are hyper-focused on advancing our national footprint through continuous strategic investments in our construction, equity and debt platforms,” said Dwayne George, Executive Vice President and National Head of Production at Merchants Capital. “We are confident that we can continue to succeed because we have a team of dynamic individuals driven to be the best capital advisors in the business. At a time when many of us haven’t seen each other in more than a year due to COVID-19, our entire staff has remained optimistic and ambitious. Everyone at Merchants Capital has done a remarkable job of helping us achieve a record year.” Merchants Capital’s bridge loan product experienced an increase of more than 100% in 2020, proving Merchants’ overall resilience and ability to execute even amid the pandemic when many other banks and lenders were pulling out of the market. “I want to send my congratulations to the entire Merchants Capital team, and especially to Dwayne George, whose addition to Merchants in 2020 as head of production made a big impact on our success,” said Michael R. Dury, President and CEO of Merchants Capital. “I must also send a much-deserved thank you to every single one of our valued clients, whose partnership and trust in us for their financing needs is sincerely appreciated.” To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

CHICAGO – The Chicago office of mortgage banking company Merchants Capital recently secured a Merchants Bank of Indiana (MBI) construction loan for the development of 53 Colton Street, an affordable housing complex currently under construction in downtown San Francisco. Located in Mid-Market one of San Francisco’s fastest growing neighborhoods, 53 Colton Street will provide 96 affordable and supportive efficiency studio apartments to formerly homeless adults. All units will be reserved for residents referred through the Coordinated Entry System (CES).  The project will create much needed deeply affordable housing at the center of the city. “Closing the first MBI construction loan in downtown San Francisco is a tremendous success for Merchants Capital,” said Lee Oller, executive vice president of Merchants Capital’s Chicago office. “This development is especially noteworthy as it takes an overlooked area and transforms it into a new hub of activity for both residents and workers.  This is truly taking a net-negative and turning it into a net-positive for the neighborhood and the city. We at Merchants are proud to have partnered on such a meaningful project for San Francisco and the Bay Area.” With groundbreaking expected this winter, the structure and design of 53 Colton Street will focus on meeting the everyday needs of a supportive housing community, while simultaneously creating a residence that is beautiful, sustainable and cost-efficient. Each of the 96 studio units will be equipped with a private bathroom and kitchenette. Building amenities include common areas, a community room with dining area and kitchen, a bike room, common laundry facilities and a private landscaped courtyard.  The building is designed by David Baker Architects, one of San Francisco’s leading architecture firms. “53 Colton is a wonderful example of what’s possible with a partnership that includes for-profit and non-profit developers, the City of San Francisco, State of California, organized labor, and financial institutions like Merchants, Enterprise, and the AFL-CIO. We are excited to see this project come to fruition,” said Michael Cohen, a Founding Principal of Strada Investment Group. Additionally, the property management group, Community Housing Partnership (CHP) will provide on-site case managers and counselors to support residents in an effort to improve their overall quality of life and stimulate them to become self-reliant. "Our organization's mission is to create a permanent home for people who have experienced homelessness. The challenge is large and requires all of us to work together; we have forged partnerships with lenders, state and local government and philanthropy to achieve the goal. Our partnership with MBI was instrumental in our success,” said Community Housing Partnership CEO Rick Aubry. In addition to the MBI construction loan, Merchants Capital also provided the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity bridge loan. “Transforming this area into a beautiful, welcoming development while providing affordable housing to many San Francisco residents is truly a remarkable project,” said Susan Schnoll, senior vice president, originations of Merchants Capital’s Chicago office. “Merchants is proud to have partnered with Strada Investment Group and CHP to bring 53 Colton Street to life. It will provide necessary housing to those who need it most.” The development at 53 Colton Street is expected to be completed by the spring or summer of 2022. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

CHICAGO – The Chicago office of mortgage banking company Merchants Capital recently secured funding for the development of Montclare Senior Residences of Calumet Heights. Financing for the project was obtained through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 221 D4 program. The project was completed in partnership with MR Properties, LLC and Patti Ann Charitable Services. Located in the historic “Pill Hill” neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, the senior housing property serves individuals 62 years and older in 134 one- and two-bedroom units, with 104 units reserved for extremely-low, very-low and low-income households earning no greater than 60% of the area median income (AMI). Within these 104 designated units, 34 units will be subject to a project-based Section 8 HAP contract administered by the Chicago Housing Authority and 21 units will have tenants who were referred by the Statewide Referral Network. The property will also have 30 market rate units with no income restrictions, 14 accessible (Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant) units and three units with special accommodations for persons with seeing and hearing impairments. Merchants Capital served as senior lender for the project, securing a construction and permanent non-recourse loan through the 221 D4 program, providing a 40-year term and 40-year amortization. “We are a leading advocate for building and preserving affordable housing for all Americans, including our seniors in Chicago,” said Alan Cravitz, senior vice president of Merchants Capital’s Chicago office. “Merchants Capital is thrilled to continue providing loan financing for necessary affordable and accessible housing options to individuals in our Chicago community. Our team is glad to have been a part of this important development servicing mixed-income seniors in the historic ‘Pill Hill’ neighborhood.” Executive Vice President Lee Oller, also with Merchants Capital’s Chicago office, co-originated this financing with Cravitz. Constructed on part of a previously vacant five-acre lot on Chicago’s far South Side, Montclare Senior Residences of Calumet Heights boasts tremendous amenities for its residents including a community room with warming kitchen, fitness center, medical exam room, media room, library, computer lab, beauty salon, centralized mailroom and laundry facilities. On the exterior, residents are able to enjoy beautifully landscaped grounds and walking paths. With construction complete, the complex is one of seven Montclare developments in the Chicago area. For this project, an estimate of 464,000 work hours were contributed from 100% Union labor, creating 300+ construction jobs during the build and seven full-time, on-site staff positions to run the facility. Montclare Senior Residences of Calumet Heights is located at 9401 S. Stony Island Avenue, which is central to local transit, health care offices and retail outlets. “We sincerely appreciated the financial assistance provided by Merchants Capital. They were extremely reliable and timely, and seemed to be the most proficient of all of Senior HUD loan providers that we have worked with over the last 20 years. We look forward to working with them on our future projects,” said MR Properties Managing Director Phil Mappa. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and Instagram.

CHICAGO – The Chicago office of Merchants Capital, established in early 2019, today announces its first new construction/mini-perm loan through Merchants Bank of Indiana, Merchants Capital’s parent company. The multifamily property, River Grove Station, is located in the Chicago suburb of River Grove. The property fits into Merchants Bank’s loan parameters – a shovel-ready deal with a strong developer at a transit-oriented location. Once constructed, the 80-unit property will provide modern luxury and transit-oriented living adjacent to the River Grove Metra Station and within walking distance of nearby restaurants, shopping centers and entertainment venues. Located just northwest of Chicago, River Grove is increasingly attractive to families and young professionals who appreciate the village’s mix of urban amenities in a suburban setting, as well as its easy access to Chicago and nearby O’Hare International Airport. As noted by River Grove Mayor David Guerin, this project will “fundamentally change the face of this section of our downtown” and replace “the view of dilapidated structures” in the area. Merchants Capital Executive Vice President Lee Oller and Senior Vice President Susan Schnoll, the two co-originators on the River Grove Station project, are veteran construction lenders, having over 25 years of experience originating and closing loans under the HUD 221 D4 new construction/substantial rehabilitation program. “For the Merchants Capital Chicago office, this deal is especially exciting, as it is the first Merchants Bank of Indiana construction loan we’ve closed. This development is also the perfect candidate for HUD or GSE takeout financing, which is Merchants Capital’s specialty,” said Oller, who heads up the Chicago office. “We provided an impressive processing timeline from start to finish, which allowed MB Thatcher LLC to begin construction on River Grove Station in a location that is starved for development and often overlooked by developers.” The project is also supported by tax increment financing (TIF) from the Village of River Grove.  These TIF funds will help clean up these environmentally challenged sites and make the development of this new multifamily project feasible. Once the site was approved for TIF financing, the Village approached MB Thatcher LLC, the client, to be the developer due to the quality of other, recently completed projects in the area and their local market knowledge. The development team includes Noah Properties and Environmental Protection Industries (EPI). “We are pleased to expand our multifamily portfolio in River Grove and look forward to bringing in additional new units at this project across the street from the River Grove Metra stop,” said Michael Musa, president and CEO of EPI. “It is our goal to provide affordable modern luxury apartments for the residents of River Grove, with this being our third project in the same general vicinity completed within the last three years.” “This project was brought to us by the officials of River Grove and we completed the site cleanup and the dramatic renovation of the street and streetscape per the request of the village staff and Mayor David Guerin,” said Ben Kadish, president of Maverick Commercial Mortgage Inc., who represented developer MB Thatcher LLC. Located at 2801 Thatcher Avenue, the River Grove Station residences will offer energy efficient one and two-bedroom luxury rental apartments with well-conceived floor plans and attractive finishes selected by skilled designers at Lisek Interiors. The units also feature oversized windows and high ceilings. Construction is expected to complete in mid-2021. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and Instagram.

CARMEL, Ind. – Mortgage banking company Merchants Capital today announces the hiring of Denise Gomez Oluwo as Senior Vice President of Government-Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) Underwriting. With more than 15 years of experience from multiple top GSE lenders, Gomez Oluwo is a recognized industry leader with expertise in underwriting, agency-lending product types, credit risk analysis, financial modeling and operating lending organizations successfully. Prior to joining Merchants Capital, Gomez Oluwo most recently served as Vice President, Deputy Chief Underwriter for Walker & Dunlop. In this role, she managed a team of nine underwriters and analysts, providing credit review on over 100 closed Fannie Mae Small Loan and Freddie Mac SBL transactions in 2020. Additionally, she trained and oversaw a contract underwriting team to assist with excess underwriting volume and lead corporate objectives to retain high scores for annual Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac performance reviews. In her new role at Merchants Capital, Gomez Oluwo will work alongside the current GSE underwriting team to underwrite loans, lead departmental objectives, cultivate client and GSE partner relations and further develop talent on the Merchants underwriting team. Currently, she is working remotely from her home in Maryland. “The executive leadership at Merchants is excited to welcome a talent of Denise’s caliber to our Senior leadership team,” said Dwayne George, Executive Vice President and National Head of Production at Merchants Capital. “Denise brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the GSE platform, but also humbly maintains a deep commitment to active leadership with her team. Denise will be a valuable asset to our company as we continue to grow and execute our strategic business plan.” In addition to her role at Walker & Dunlop, Gomez Oluwo also served as Vice President of Underwriting for Newmark Knight Frank (formerly Berkeley Point Capital). With her team, Gomez Oluwo closed more than 90 transactions totaling $1.6 billion in 2018. She was noted as a company Subject Matter Expert for Fannie Mae’s Green program, as well as the designated underwriting lead on all agency production for several high-profile clients. Gomez Oluwo also previously held positions at Deutsche Bank Berkshire Mortgage and Greystone Servicing Corporation, negotiating and closing over $300 million and $120 million of multifamily mortgage loans respectively. Gomez Oluwo is a graduate of Smith College with a bachelor’s degree in economics. She also holds a master’s of business administration with a concentration in finance from George Washington University. To learn more about Merchants Capital and its services, visit www.merchantscapital.com or find Merchants Capital on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.