Ina Montejo joined PACE Loan Group in 2023 and is an Assistant Vice President of Originations, where she is responsible for loan origination, loan underwriting and closing. Prior to joining PLG, Ina held a similar position for Twain Financial Partners, as well as various positions in commercial real estate at MG Properties and Swift Real Estate Partners. She serves as the Chair for CREW San Diego's Emerging Leaders and is also a member of ULI San Diego and NAIOP San Diego. Ina graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Real Estate from the University of San Diego (USD).

Michael Puleo is Senior Counsel in the Real Estate Practice Group at Eisner LLP, where he represents banking institutions, debt funds, private equity firms, and institutional investors in a wide range of real estate transactions across all asset classes. He advises clients on bespoke financings involving the origination, acquisition, syndication, participation, and disposition of commercial mortgage and mezzanine loans, as well as preferred equity investments. His practice also includes commercial real estate acquisitions, dispositions, development, leasing, and the corporate structuring of real estate investment vehicles. Michael brings a unique perspective to his legal practice, drawing on prior experience in investment banking, finance, and commercial real estate brokerage. This background informs his strategic, business-oriented approach to structuring and executing transactions.

Ash Baraghoush serves as Senior Managing Director of TruAmerica Multifamily’s Structured Finance vertical, a strategic initiative to complement its flagship value-add investment platform. The veteran real estate finance executive brings expertise in structured finance and allows the firm to broaden ts platform and create new opportunities to benefit the investment strategies and the communities TruAmerica serves.

The Structured Finance vertical leverages TruAmerica’s national footprint to launch preferred equity and mezzanine debt offerings for multifamily. The launch of TruAmerica’s preferred equity platform will strategically meet market demand amidst today’s elevated interest rate environment and continued capital markets dislocation.

TruAmerica’s preferred equity offering will fill ongoing equity gaps for multifamily acquisitions, recapitalizations, loan rebalancings, and development transactions. Structured Finance allows TruAmerica to expand its impact by unlocking new pathways for capital allocation and providing creative financing solutions to the market. The introduction of Structured Finance marked another milestone in the firm’s growth and diversification strategy.

Mr. Baraghoush joined TruAmerica from Pacific Urban Investors, bringing deep expertise in developing and managing structured finance platforms. His prior experience at Ares Management further positions him to lead this new initiative with precision and vision. Mr. Baraghoush holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with a minor in Accounting from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Ankush Israni focuses on commercial real estate and finance transactions. He

represents clients in multimillion-dollar matters across the United States,

including financing, joint ventures, acquisitions, dispositions, development, and

leasing of commercial real estate.

Ankush’s practice involves representing lenders, institutional investors, funds,

datacenter companies, developers, and owner/operators in single-asset and

portfolio transactions. He works with datacenter, industrial, multifamily, office,

retail, and hotel projects. His experience includes representing national banks,

institutional fund lenders, commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) loan

originators, and other financial institutions in acquisition, construction, and

permanent loans, as well as preferred equity and mezzanine loans. Additionally,

Ankush has experience in loan modifications and workouts.

Roshan Sonthalia is Managing Director and Senior Counsel at Turner Impact Capital, where he works across Turner Impact Capital’s various funds focusing on investor relations, acquisitions and asset management. Roshan has over 18 years of real estate industry experience, the majority of which has involved investments in socially impactful assets. Prior to Turner Impact Capital, Roshan was counsel at Canyon Capital Realty Advisors LLC, working across their various real estate funds to coordinate matters related to investors, originations, acquisitions and asset management. He began his legal career as a real estate attorney with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in their real estate practice in Los Angeles, working on a broad range of transactional matters with clients that included private equity funds, developers, buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, borrowers and lenders.

Roshan is a graduate of UCLA (B.A., Economics and History, J.D., and M.B.A).

Juyuan Wei, chief financial officer at Westwood Financial, joined the firm in 2018 and quickly rose through the ranks due to his exceptional financial acumen and strategic insight. Initially hired as finance director of strategic planning and analysis, he transformed financial and operational reporting, leading to his promotion to vice president of finance within six months.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wei’s leadership ensured the company outperformed its public peer REIT group and maintained investor dividends. Promoted to senior vice president of finance and accounting in 2020, he oversaw all financial functions, including debt strategy and board deliverables. As CFO since February 2023, Wei has developed a five-year debt strategy, earned significant interest income through strategic investments, managed complex reverse exchanges and ensured cash protection post-SVB collapse.

Marion Jones is a Principal and Executive Managing Director of U.S. Capital Markets at Avison Young, based in the firm’s Manhattan office. In her role, Marion spearheads the firm’s capital markets strategy, driving strategic growth, expanding market share, and positioning Avison Young for continued success in both domestic and global markets. Through her dynamic leadership, she is committed to deepening the firm’s capital markets footprint across the U.S., enhancing client relationships, and fostering a collaborative environment that ensures client-focused solutions. Marion’s emphasis on cross-functional communication and teamwork empowers her to deliver exceptional results grounded in a comprehensive understanding of market trends, data-driven technology, and industry connectivity.

With over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate—spanning debt and equity, sales, market expansion, and team-building—Marion has closed more than $9 billion in transactions. Her strategic expertise is recognized across both middle-market and institutional sectors, where she has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor, known for her ability to drive impactful market positioning and solve complex challenges with innovative, interdisciplinary approaches. Marion’s leadership is characterized by a commitment to advancing our clients’ objectives, as well as championing the growth and development of her team.

As a member of Avison Young’s U.S. Executive Committee, Marion works closely with the U.S. Capital Markets Executive Committee to ensure strategic alignment and foster a unified vision for the firm’s success. Her credentials also include licenses as a broker in New York and Connecticut.

Marion’s previous leadership experience as Managing Director of Capital Markets at JLL, as well as her roles at Ackman-Ziff, Eastern Consolidated, and CBRE, further solidify her as a highly regarded thought leader and key influencer in the commercial real estate industry. She is an active member of Urban Land Institute and WX (Women Executive in NY Real Estate). She has taught at the graduate level at Fordham University’s Real Estate Institute and been recognized with several industry awards. Marion is deeply involved in her community of Westport CT, serving on the Affordable Housing Advisory Board of Homes with Hope, a local affordable housing non-profit as well as volunteering in her local parish and at the Westport Public Library.

Oliver Anderson joins us as Head of Real Estate Banking for UMTB USA and brings experience from such banks as Wells Fargo, Union Bank and Cathay Bank. Oliver has led custom credit, term, bridge and construction lending teams covering major US MSA’s over the past 20-years.

Peter Ballance is a partner in the Real Estate, Energy, Land Use & Environmental Practice Group in Sheppard's Los Angeles office.

With a deep commitment to building strong relationships, Peter represents lenders, borrowers, developers and property owners in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions throughout the country. He provides clients with significant experience in commercial real estate financing, including loan workouts, and the purchase and sale of improved and unimproved real property. Representing institutional lenders, financial institutions, developers and other property owners, Peter is familiar with many forms of financing and acquisition, as well as acquisition and disposition transactions and related matters. He is fluent in securitized lending, mezzanine loans, and construction loans, and his transactions have touched on a wide range of property types, including office, industrial, residential, multifamily, retail, and mixed use. Peter possesses real-time, in-depth market knowledge and extensive national experience in advising lenders and borrowers throughout the loan life cycle. He delivers efficient and practical guidance to help his clients accomplish their specific business and legal objectives.

A significant part of Peter’s practice is the representation of institutional lenders in loan restructurings and workouts, foreclosures, deed-in-lieu and deed-in-the-box transactions, as well as positioning REO assets for sale. He also advises clients on nonperforming loans and distressed real estate in all asset classes.

Peter’s significant experience in all real estate finance matters enables him to provide exceptional counsel and up-to-the-minute insight.