South Florida Capital Markets & Alternative Financing

Daniel Palmier has over 25 years of successful experience in real estate investment and finance. All of this preparation has helped him become the founder and CEO of the nationally acclaimed specialty finance company, UC Funds. UC Funds has invested over $2 billion over its last 6 years and has averaged nearly 20% annual returns each year. Palmier earned the experience needed to lead UC Funds from previously held leadership and management roles in real estate and portfolio management with companies such as Potomac Realty Capital, Arbor Realty Trust, where he headed all credit operations as the first CDO and Lehman Brothers Holdings, where he was responsible for $18 billion of partnership investments. Mr. Palmier founded Potomic in 2004 and originated over 3 billion in investments. Daniel Palmier earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Notre Dame University and his Master’s degree in Real Estate at New York University.

Rob Shear is the Senior Vice President of New Markets at Petros PACE Finance, a national leader in the C-PACE marketplace, dedicated solely to providing long-term C-PACE financing to commercial property owners seeking to lower energy costs, reduce their carbon footprint and increase property values. He has more than 30 years of experience as a successful builder and operator of businesses, primarily focused on innovative financing products and solutions and is a son of a founder of Cadillac Fairview Corporation, the largest public Real Estate Development company in North America when it was sold to JMB Realty in 1986. Prior to that, he spent 20 years as a pioneer and leader in the viatical and life settlements industry, the secondary market of life insurance in the U.S, where his leadership experience included selling and buying back a settlement provider, managing a subsidiary of NYSE-listed municipal bond insurer, and serving as the industry association president. He attended York University.

J.C. de Ona leads Centennial Bank’s operations across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, focusing on strategic growth, market expansion, and lending. With more than 27 years of banking experience, he specializes in structuring complex financing solutions across commercial real estate and diverse asset classes, working closely with clients to achieve their business goals. Before joining Centennial Bank through its acquisition of Stonegate Bank, J.C. held leadership roles at Stonegate Bank, Wachovia (now Wells Fargo), and Regions Bank, building deep expertise in private banking, commercial lending, and operational management. A graduate of Florida International University, he holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business. His professional excellence has earned recognition from the South Florida Business Journal (“40 Under 40”), Lifestyle Magazine (“Up & Comers”), and South Florida Business & Wealth (“Apogee Award”).