Who We Are

Nick Smith is the founder, managing partner and Chief Executive Officer of Rice Park Capital, overseeing all aspects of Rice Park’s strategies and operations. Nick brings nearly 25 years of experience to his role. Before founding Rice Park Capital, Nick served as Chief Investment Officer of Blackstone’s private residential mortgage REIT and was the co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Finance of America Companies (NYSE: FOA), a Blackstone portfolio company.

Matt Kennedy is a partner of Rice Park and serves as the co-Chief Investment Officer, overseeing the firm’s investment team and overall portfolio management activities. Matt served as a senior member of various investment teams for Varde Partners from 2009 to 2021, where he gained extensive investment experience across various fund vehicles, relative value, and activist-based strategies. In his roles, he was responsible for managing opportunities across both residential and commercial assets, and his investment activity took on multiple forms and was inclusive of securities, whole loans, private debt, corporate debt, and equity-based investments.

Neal Johnson is responsible for Hunter Street’s portfolio, firm, and strategic management. He has 20 years of experience working for companies like Isles Ranch Partners, Värde Partners, University Capital Strategies Group, and Piper Jaffray.

Mr. Rodman brings an extensive background in mortgage lending and real estate from his 38+ year career.

Before joining ABL in 2014, he spent 24 years at Morgan Stanley (MS) as a Managing Director. He led their US Repo business with over $200 billion in assets and built their asset backed warehouse lending business with over $15 billion in mortgage and asset backed loans. He served as CEO of Saxon Mortgage, a MS subsidiary, and president of MS Home Loans. He was co-Head of MS’s Prime & Alt-A Mortgage Business with over $30 billion in annual production. After departing MS, he served as head of Urban Financial, a reverse mortgage company, and as a Managing Director at Maverick Funding, a NJ based mortgage originator.

Mr. Rodman holds a B.A. in Government from Clark University and a M.S. in Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Adam Cohen has over twenty years of buy side operational and accounting experience in the finance industry. He received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Business and a Bachelor’s of Science in Economics from Skidmore College.  Prior to joining the firm in 2015, Adam worked for HBMJ Consulting specializing in software implementation and integration, and spent three years at Cerberus Capital Management managing the Private Equity and Real Estate operations department.  Additional prior experience includes Shumway Capital Partners as an Operations Associate and Trader’s Assistant and US Bank Fund Services division fka Alternative Investment Solutions as Vice President of Operations.

Mr. Rodman brings an extensive background in mortgage lending and real estate from his 38+ year career.

Before joining ABL in 2014, he spent 24 years at Morgan Stanley (MS) as a Managing Director. He led their US Repo business with over $200 billion in assets and built their asset backed warehouse lending business with over $15 billion in mortgage and asset backed loans. He served as CEO of Saxon Mortgage, a MS subsidiary, and president of MS Home Loans. He was co-Head of MS’s Prime & Alt-A Mortgage Business with over $30 billion in annual production. After departing MS, he served as head of Urban Financial, a reverse mortgage company, and as a Managing Director at Maverick Funding, a NJ based mortgage originator.

Mr. Rodman holds a B.A. in Government from Clark University and a M.S. in Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Adam Cohen has over twenty years of buy side operational and accounting experience in the finance industry. He received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Business and a Bachelor’s of Science in Economics from Skidmore College.  Prior to joining the firm in 2015, Adam worked for HBMJ Consulting specializing in software implementation and integration, and spent three years at Cerberus Capital Management managing the Private Equity and Real Estate operations department.  Additional prior experience includes Shumway Capital Partners as an Operations Associate and Trader’s Assistant and US Bank Fund Services division fka Alternative Investment Solutions as Vice President of Operations.

As a Senior Project & Business Developer for Lexis Nexis, Inc., Daniel joined ABL after 8 years at one of the largest Business Research and Risk Management firms in the country. After graduating from the State University of New York at Oswego with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and a Minor in Management, worked for Lexis Nexis as a Data Analyst in the Brooklyn Civil Courthouse. After moving to the Business Development Division for the greater NYC area, Daniel was responsible for managing several on-site data research teams, as well as the expansion and development of the NY Civil Court data collection infrastructure. As A.V.P. of Operations, Daniel has worked closely with the Payoff, Loan Maturity and Collateral Teams to develop and streamline departmental processes, in addition to managing multiple projects. (Fun fact: Daniel attended The Julliard School for Instrumental Jazz)

Will graduated from Midwestern State University with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. He then began his career as a data engineer at Cloud9 Smart. Now he’s part of the ABL team as an Analytics Engineer. In his spare time, he enjoys racing bicycles, movies, trying new restaurants, and traveling.

Prior to joining ABL, Alyssa spent five years at Amazon. She started as an HR generalist in the Bay Area before moving to Philadelphia where she focused her efforts on evolving and implementing labor acquisition strategies for 30 sites, including 16 building launches. At the end of her time at Amazon she became a Sr. Program Manager, focusing on the development and implementation of global operational hiring risk and compliance programs. Alyssa now leads ABL’s recruiting efforts and will help spearhead the company’s growth strategy by seeking and acquiring qualified talent across all available roles.

Coming Soon.

Mr. Rodman brings an extensive background in mortgage lending and real estate from his 38+ year career.

Before joining ABL in 2014, he spent 24 years at Morgan Stanley (MS) as a Managing Director. He led their US Repo business with over $200 billion in assets and built their asset backed warehouse lending business with over $15 billion in mortgage and asset backed loans. He served as CEO of Saxon Mortgage, a MS subsidiary, and president of MS Home Loans. He was co-Head of MS’s Prime & Alt-A Mortgage Business with over $30 billion in annual production. After departing MS, he served as head of Urban Financial, a reverse mortgage company, and as a Managing Director at Maverick Funding, a NJ based mortgage originator.

Mr. Rodman holds a B.A. in Government from Clark University and a M.S. in Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Jeff started in real estate at KBS Realty Advisors where he handled the asset management of a 2.5m SF commercial portfolio consisting primarily of office and industrial property. He negotiated 500k SF of tenant leases and closed $260m in new real estate acquisitions. Jeff then consulted for several early-stage real estate ventures where he honed his team building and management skills and developed a passion for scaling businesses. Most recently, Jeff was the Head of Underwriting at a national hard money lending firm where he underwrote $750m – $1B in bridge and rental loans annually. Jeff has nearly 20 years of experience in both debt and equity transactions across all asset classes, and he holds a degree in Finance from Bentley University.

Greg graduated with a Bachelor’s in History and Master’s in Business Administration from Binghamton University. Prior to ABL, Greg spent several years with Capital One where he worked as a Commercial Real Estate Underwriter that specialized in multifamily property. Greg financed loans throughout the country ranging from small apartment buildings to large apartment complexes, with loan amounts averaging $50M. He now underwrites bridge and term loans for ABL, working with our borrowers and internal teams to provide the best possible loan terms for each deal. Outside of work, Greg is a proud lifelong New Yorker and an avid traveler that enjoys sports like baseball and football.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming Soon.

Paul Lewis brings with him a wealth of knowledge in the world of specialty finance, especially alternative financing in the Florida market. In his career, he has closed in excess of $200M in commercial bridge financing, and north of $100M in specialty factoring. A native New Yorker, Paul has lived and worked in Florida for almost 10 years, where he has formed a solid network of real estate and finance professionals. Aside from finance, Paul has managed sales teams and mentored many sales people, from recent college grads, to young professionals transitioning from other industries. His approach to success is hinged on the success of his clients and their respective projects. Paul currently lives in the Palm Beach Area with his new wife, Kristen.

A graduate of Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Kyle began his career in real estate working for a national consulting firm that specialized in environmental and engineering due diligence for commercial real estate transactions. Kyle moved on to work for a local hard money lender as the outside sales manager for several years before going out on his own in 2020 as a full-time investor, agent and broker. As an investor, he has built new construction, flipped homes, rehabbed rentals to hold and completed condo conversions for vacation rentals. He has a personal portfolio of over 50 units and understands the day-to-day struggles and needs of the ABL borrowers he serves today.

Sam joined ABL in 2019 as an Operations Analyst before moving to the sales team to become a Loan Officer. He graduated from Baruch College in 2015 with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance where he also minored in Business Communications. Prior to joining ABL Sam worked for a subsidiary of Perdue Farms in a business development and operations role and began his career in the real estate industry when he joined Urban View Development as a Construction Coordinator.

Michael Chadwick joined Asset Based Lending as a Vice President and Area Manager in December 2020, bringing with him over 20 years of real estate and financial services experience in the New England area. Prior to ABL, Michael was responsible for developing and directing the day to day operations for a private lender in the north east where he led the origination and underwriting of over $150 million in loans across 5 states. In addition to Michael’s hard money lending and commercial finance background, Michael has hands on experience as a real estate investor having led a private investment firm through the acquisition and renovation of approximately 150 homes throughout New England.

Michael is an expert in managing hard money loans for real estate, with experience in assets ranging from single-family fix and flips to 7-figure multi-family new construction projects and everything in between. His skillset spans many aspects of real estate lending including underwriting, property valuation and analysis, and even construction draw management. His dedication and personal touch have cultivated strong business relationships with his borrowers throughout the years, meshing perfectly with ABL’s lending culture.

Coming soon.

Mailena Garcia joined the ABL team in 2021 as a Loan Officer to help manage the firm’s growth in the Florida market. Her previous experience includes several years in leasing and property management where she discovered her passion for the real estate business and became an expert on industry details. She is fluent in both English and Spanish, allowing her to communicate with borrowers in their preferred language. Mailena has been a Florida native for most of her life: she was born in Cuba and moved to Florida when she was 9 years old, residing in Jacksonville to this day. When she is not at work, she enjoys traveling and reading.

Boris graduated from the CUNY Macaulay honors college with a Bachelors in Business Administration and Economic., Before joining ABL, he was a real estate agent doing residential and commercial sales as well as the property manager of a  300 unit co-op complex. Now, Boris represents ABL in NJ and CT, helping real estate investors secure financing for their projects.

Seth has been involved in private capital industries for 20 years, becoming an expert in finance and lending. For the last 7 years, he has been helping real estate investors finance their projects, with a strong focus on speedy closings. Seth specializes in building strong relationships, analyzing deals, and quickly determining suitability for his clients.

Before joining Asset Based Lending, Greg attended Indiana University where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Finance with a focus on real estate. Since 2004, he’s completed over $3 billion in transactions as a real estate professional across the lending and investing space. He has experience with a global PE firm, represented buyers and sellers of commercial real estate, and helped scale a private lending platform. Now, he helps real estate investors across Tennessee receive the fast and reliable financing that only ABL can offer. Greg is a huge fan of traveling and has visited 62 different countries!

Sheira studied information technology at the University of Albany where she graduated with a bachelor’s in science. During her collegiate years she had the opportunity to study abroad and spent her final year Madrid Spain. She previously worked at a startup company and an insurance company. In her spare time, she loves to read, travel, and experience new restaurants and cuisine.

Torin Francis graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s in Marketing. He spent his college years as a starting member of the Fighting Irish basketball team. After graduating he continued playing on a professional level for 15 years, allowing him to travel and play for 15 countries. In 2020, Torin’s passion for real estate brought him to the residential mortgage industry, and eventually to joining the ABL team. He is a fluent Spanish speaker.

Kerry Henderson is a content marketing associate who joined Asset Based Lending in April 2023. Her passion for creative writing and research has lead her to ABL where she produces blog posts to disseminate helpful information for current and potential borrowers to access and utilize in their businesses. She previously worked in the publishing industry where she helped market and sell new publications to the independent bookstore and library markets across the US and Canada. She graduated from The New School with a B.A. in Poetry and Fiction Writing.

Coming Soon.

Paul has 25 years of experience in the mortgage industry across every single role, bringing a depth of personal knowledge and expertise that few have in the business. He received his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Lynn University and started out as a loan opener for Americas Best Lending Network where he continuously worked his way up from processor to underwriter, to sales manager, and eventually President of the company. Outside of work, Paul has three incredible daughters, including twins who are on collegiate volleyball scholarships and one currently training to be a financial planner. received his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Lynn University

Before joining at ABL Hudson was a student at the University of Denver. During his time there he worked closely with entrepreneurs program. When he wasn’t in class he was on the mountains snowboarding or mountain biking.

Before joining ABL, Matt worked as a Loan Officer at another hard money lender. He lives outside of Chicago, IL and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and received an MBA from Roosevelt University In Chicago. Before being in the business purpose loan investment space he was in the sub prime residential mortgage space as well as Logistics and Supply Chain. He is married with three kids and two adopted retired Sled Dogs from Steamboat Colorado we were trained for the Iditarod Race in Alaska.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Adam Cohen has over twenty years of buy side operational and accounting experience in the finance industry. He received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Business and a Bachelor’s of Science in Economics from Skidmore College.  Prior to joining the firm in 2015, Adam worked for HBMJ Consulting specializing in software implementation and integration, and spent three years at Cerberus Capital Management managing the Private Equity and Real Estate operations department.  Additional prior experience includes Shumway Capital Partners as an Operations Associate and Trader’s Assistant and US Bank Fund Services division fka Alternative Investment Solutions as Vice President of Operations.

As a Senior Project & Business Developer for Lexis Nexis, Inc., Daniel joined ABL after 8 years at one of the largest Business Research and Risk Management firms in the country. After graduating from the State University of New York at Oswego with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and a Minor in Management, worked for Lexis Nexis as a Data Analyst in the Brooklyn Civil Courthouse. After moving to the Business Development Division for the greater NYC area, Daniel was responsible for managing several on-site data research teams, as well as the expansion and development of the NY Civil Court data collection infrastructure. As A.V.P. of Operations, Daniel has worked closely with the Payoff, Loan Maturity and Collateral Teams to develop and streamline departmental processes, in addition to managing multiple projects. (Fun fact: Daniel attended The Julliard School for Instrumental Jazz)

Joan joined ABL in 2019 as our senior Loan Processor. She brings 6 years of loan processing experience in the conventional space and 7 years of experience in Human Resources Management.  She has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a MBA in Marketing & Human Resource Management. Joan helps borrowers through ABL’s loan closing process easily and quickly while also being able to intelligently respond to the complexities that regularly arise so that our borrowers can get to the finish line. In her spare time, she likes to read mystery novels and spend time with her daughter & family.

Anna joined ABL in 2018 as an Office Manager.  Within six months she was promoted to Insurance Associate and now handles all pre-closing and post-closing insurance approvals. Before joining ABL, she managed Operations for a small online retailer.  She utilizes her superior customer service skills to work with Borrowers and Insurance Professionals to ensure all properties are properly insured.  Anna holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and in her spare time she loves to travel and spend time with her husband and children.

Before joining Asset Based Lending LLC, Peter spent over 35 years in the Mortgage Banking and financial service industry. All with an emphasis on creating an environment of operational excellence and promoting the very best in customer-centric service experience. Throughout his years, he has been fortunate to be part of executive leadership team(s) in loan services, risk and operations management. The last 10 years or so he focused on process automation and enterprise risk management.

Alexis graduated from Florida State University with a Master’s in Business Administration. She then began her career as a loan processor for Mortgage Approval Group. She’s now part of the ABL team, processing hundreds of bridge loans every month. In her spare time, she’s an avid fan of bowling, competing in local leagues as well as international tournaments.

Larry graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor’s in Finance & Music. He started his career in real estate lending at ABL as a Capital Markets Analyst, identifying relevant market trends and preparing financial reports for the company. In his spare time, he studies jazz music and plays Saxophone.

Tanjida graduated from Queens College with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. She then started her career as a loan processor at Municipal Credit Union. She’s now part of the ABL team processing loans for the term team, ensuring borrowers are sending their documents in on time and staying engaged throughout the life of their loan. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and exploring, with her most recent trip being to Ireland.

Coming Soon.

Coming Soon.

Daniel began his career working as a processing support coordinator for Loan Depot. He now is part of the ABL team as an Accounts Payable & Treasury Associate, ensuring all organization debts are paid in a timely fashion. Daniel loves dogs and has four: a Black Lab, Cockapoo, Yorkie Bichon mix, and a Maltipoo.

Coming Soon.

Alexei graduated from LaSalle University with a Bachelor’s in Accounting and Machine Information Systems. He began his career in real estate as a broker for Foundation Real Estate while flipping houses on the side. Now he’s part of the ABL team as the Servicing & Loss Mitigation specialist, ensuring unpaid debts and losses are kept to a minimum. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his five-year-old daughter as well as hiking and traveling.

Esther received her Bachelor of Accounting from Rutgers University in 2012 and promptly began her accounting journey as the Final Aid Specialist at Bergen Community College. She then took on several accounting positions across the tax and mortgage industry, building her wealth of experience and knowledge. Esther is now an Accounting Analyst with Asset Based Lending, ensuring the company’s finances are properly interpreted and recorded.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming Soon.

Coming Soon.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Before joining Asset Based Lending, Jack attended Marist College where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s in Data Science & Analytics. Jack creates reports, dashboards and models for minimizing risk and optimizing internal processes. In his spare time, he enjoys fitness and wellness, watching sports and movies, and spending time with friends and family.

Coming Soon.

Coming soon.

Eden joined the ABL team in July 2023 and brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise from his six-year tenure at a reputable Brooklyn-based real estate development firm. He specialized in both residential and commercial projects and played a pivotal role in the success of numerous large-scale developments. In addition to his experience working with the development firm, he gained valuable experience in real estate investing by purchasing and rehabbing a property himself. This venture provided him with firsthand experience and a unique perspective on the real estate market, further enhancing his ability to evaluate and manage real estate assets effectively.

Coming Soon.

Coming Soon.

Coming Soon.

Prior to joining ABL, Alyssa spent five years at Amazon. She started as an HR generalist in the Bay Area before moving to Philadelphia where she focused her efforts on evolving and implementing labor acquisition strategies for 30 sites, including 16 building launches. At the end of her time at Amazon she became a Sr. Program Manager, focusing on the development and implementation of global operational hiring risk and compliance programs. Alyssa now leads ABL’s recruiting efforts and will help spearhead the company’s growth strategy by seeking and acquiring qualified talent across all available roles.

Carlee graduated with her Bachelor’s from York College of Pennsylvania where she majored in Business Marketing and minored in Advertising & Management. She started her career as a Trust Analyst at a real estate law firm before moving into a Human Resources & Office Management role for a tech company. She’s now the office manager and head of HR for ABL, ensuring the office runs smoothly and employee needs are met attentively.

Coming Soon.