Board of Advisors

Timothy O’Brien currently serves as Co-Chief Executive Officer of Meridian Senior Living, LLC, where he oversees strategic operations and growth initiatives for the company. He is also an active member of the Investment Committee for Book Hill Credit Opportunity Fund II, LLC and Book Hill Credit Opportunity Fund III, LLC.

Previously, O’Brien held the position of Chair of the Medalist Diversified REIT Board of Directors, playing a critical role in shaping the company’s direction. His extensive background in finance has made him a key advisor to numerous investment entities.

Timothy O’Brien is a Chartered Financial Analyst, holding an MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill, an MSBA from the University of Maryland, and a BA in Economics and Business from Randolph-Macon College. He has served as a Trustee of his alma mater since 2012, balancing finance and philanthropy like a pro.

Laith Hermiz is the CEO and Founder of Ironside Realty, where he leads the company’s strategic development and oversees all investment transactions and asset management activities. His leadership has helped the company leverage long-term relationships into high-quality development and acquisition opportunities.

Before founding Ironside Realty, Hermiz was the COO and Executive Vice President of Agree Realty Corporation, where he expanded the portfolio from 73 to over 1,400 properties in 11 years. His career also includes roles as Vice President of Development at Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust and Managing Director at Joseph Freed and Associates, handling more than $2 billion in real estate projects.

Hermiz holds a B.S. from Loyola University Chicago and a J.D. from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. A licensed attorney and real estate broker in Michigan, he could probably negotiate his way out of a locked room—if needed.

Tim Kashani is the founder of IT Mentors, where he designs innovative tech training solutions for major corporations like Microsoft and Morgan Stanley, promoting human-centered technology adoption. He also launched the Broadway Tech Accelerator in 2019, a partnership with the Shubert Organization to foster early-stage startups in the live entertainment sector.

Kashani is also a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, with credits including HAIR and Memphis. He has directed and produced filmed stage musicals and is pioneering new models for distribution.

Tim holds a B.S. in Information and Computer Sciences and an MBA from the University of California, Irvine, along with an MFA in Film Production from Chapman University. With his blend of technology and the arts, he’s essentially a real-life Tony Stark (minus the flying suit).

Former Director and Audit Committee Chair, Medalist Diversified REIT

Charles Pearson brings over 30 years of experience in accounting, tax, and consulting services, having built his career from the ground up at Deloitte and Touche. After leaving the firm as Senior Manager in 1989, he opened his own successful practice.

Pearson has advised numerous companies on their tax and accounting strategies and is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants.

With years of experience crunching numbers, Pearson graduated from the school of ‘No, calculators are not cheating.’ 

Private Wealth Advisor, The Norden Group

Alec Abbott has been providing comprehensive financial analysis for over 35 years as a Private Wealth Advisor with The Norden Group. He has held key roles, including Partner at Baker Tilly US and Founder of Squar Milner Financial Services, which he merged with Baker Tilly US in 2021.

Abbott’s long-standing career is built on providing expert financial guidance to businesses, family offices, and executives, with a focus on wealth management and financial consulting.

Residing in Corona del Mar, CA, Abbott is also actively involved in his community. He may be retired, but his spreadsheet game is as strong as ever.

Principal, SRS Capital Partners

Mason Fink is a Principal at SRS Capital Partners, where he brings deep experience in private equity and venture capital. A founding team member of Solamere Capital, Fink played a key role in shaping the firm’s general fund and capital strategy.

In addition to his work in private equity, Fink has worked on impactful projects, such as improving healthcare outcomes for factory workers in Asia and advancing pharmaceutical research for hair growth and neurotoxins.

Fink’s leadership in the Romney for President 2012 campaign saw him oversee budget and capital strategies, but he still manages to get in some downtime—usually in the form of solving complex financial puzzles.

Former Pan European Brand Manager, Procter & Gamble

John Hopkins has over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, and brand management, with notable successes like restructuring the sales team of Procter & Gamble’s European operations, resulting in a 20% sales increase within six months.

Since 2017, Hopkins has managed his family’s real estate investments and successfully navigated a complex eminent domain case, reinvesting the proceeds into commercial ventures.

With an MBA from Pepperdine University and a background as a former professional basketball player and coach in Norway, Hopkins knows how to make both brands and basketball teams score big.

Co-Founder, SOAR and Modern Lending

Brian Decker is the CEO of Modern Lending and co-founder of SOAR, an AI-powered home services company. His nearly two decades of experience in the mortgage industry have seen him rise to the top, being recognized among the Top 10 Loan Officers nationwide.

With SOAR, Decker is leveraging machine learning to revolutionize property analysis, and the company has attracted significant investment from major players in the energy sector.

When he’s not revolutionizing the mortgage world, Decker is a cryptocurrency enthusiast and educator, helping people make sense of the crypto landscape (no, he’s not responsible for Bitcoin’s latest fluctuation).

Partner, Heritage Wealth

Greg Miller is Partner and Head of Real Estate & Capital Markets at Heritage Wealth, where he oversees strategy and serves on the Investment Committee. Prior to Heritage, Greg was Senior Vice President at Peak Capital Partners, managing acquisitions and capital raising for multifamily assets. He also served as Vice President of Capital Markets and Investor Relations at Excel Trust (NYSE: EXL), playing a key role in its IPO and growth to $2 billion before its sale to Blackstone. He continued with Blackstone, leading NOI maximization efforts as the portfolio expanded to $6 billion.

Greg holds a Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. He has a talent for turning real estate into real returns.

Entrepreneur and Technology Innovator

Jimi Smoot is an entrepreneur and software engineer, known for founding and scaling innovative tech companies. As the Founder and CTO of MailMentor, he built an AI-powered prospecting platform used by over 4,000 users, including Meta and Slack. Previously, as VP of Engineering at Outer, he led a talented team through major growth phases.

Jimi’s entrepreneurial journey also includes founding Vesper.ai, an AI virtual assistant for executives. With a track record of driving tech innovation and business success, Jimi combines deep technical expertise with strategic insight.

Partner and Founding Member, Next Level Growth

Scott Elser is a Partner and Founding Member of Next Level Growth, where he helps entrepreneurial leadership teams craft clear visions, align talent, and build cultures rooted in discipline and accountability. His expertise has driven transformative growth for fast-moving organizations across industries.

Scott’s career includes founding a successful advertising agency that became a four-time honoree on the Inc. 500/5000 list of fastest-growing U.S. companies. In addition, he has held executive leadership roles at global agencies, working with iconic brands like Microsoft XBOX, CenturyLink, Nokia, and Aetna to develop impactful marketing strategies.

An entrepreneur at heart, Scott has a knack for turning big ideas into even bigger results, all while keeping the process as smooth as a perfectly executed ad campaign.

CFA, CPA (Inactive)

Peter Elwell is a seasoned executive in healthcare real estate, with over 25 years of experience spanning seniors housing acquisitions, asset management, and financial strategy. As a key player in the industry, he has successfully built and led real estate teams, managing portfolios of senior housing assets and overseeing pivotal divestments for an international private equity firm.

Since joining 1031 Crowdfunding in 2017, Elwell has been instrumental in transforming the company from a small broker-dealer with seven employees into a robust organization of over 50, managing a portfolio of 17 senior housing communities. His leadership has driven the company’s ability to sponsor its own real estate deals, including Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs).

Prior to his role at 1031 Crowdfunding, Elwell served as the first Chief Investment Officer at Summit Healthcare REIT, where he led the acquisition of the REIT’s initial 29 senior housing communities, growing the portfolio to over $200 million in assets. With expertise in capital raising, portfolio management, and deal execution, he has worked extensively with institutional, retail, and high-net-worth investors.

Elwell began his career at KPMG, earning his CPA designation before becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from Salem State University. With a knack for creating value in complex real estate strategies, Peter has spent decades at the intersection of finance and healthcare.