Captivate 2024: Where Deals Became Reality

At #Captivate2024, the private lending industry came together to focus on the key to success: deal flow. Attendees seized the opportunity to forge new partnerships and strengthen business relationships in an environment designed for making deals happen. Against the iconic backdrop of the Las Vegas strip, participants connected with HNWI, brokers, developers, and service providers, elevating their businesses to new heights. Industry legends led insightful presentations and guided networking opportunities resulting in countless new connections.

Here's what our Vice President of Events, Ruby Keys Boulanger , had to say about this year's conference:

We want to extend a HUGE thank you to everyone who made Captivate 2024 such an amazing event! It was our largest event to date - with 45% brand new attendees, over 350 Brella Meetings, 5 panel sessions, and countless new connections, Captivate 2024 was our best event to date. We are excited to share what we have in store for you in 2025!

If you missed the opportunity to join us this year, check out the photos below to see what it's like to experience one of the biggest events in the #privatelending industry. Follow the link to sign up for our e-newsletter to receive exclusive updates about future events and when registration opens for our 2025 conferences: GeraciCon Newsletter.

A Welcome Reception to Remember

The Captivate 2024 Welcome Reception, aptly named "Neon Nights," sponsored by RCN Capital and The Mortgage Office , was the perfect kickoff to the conference as attendees mingled under vibrant lights. The energy in the room was electric, with attendees forging connections and sharing insights before diving into the next day's sessions. The event wasn't just a gathering but an experience, offering a lively and dynamic start to what turned out to be a powerful and engaging conference

Powerful Panels

The day's first panel, "Local Giants: The Power of Regional Lenders," unveiled how top regional lenders dominate their markets. Attendees learned insights from Capital Fund 1, LLC COO Kevin Highmark, Cardinal Capital Group Founder and CEO Briana Hildt, Loan Ranger Capital CEO Zack Lofton, CFA, Copa Capital Partners CEO David Nielson, and RBI Private Lending CEO Ernesto Rostoker on leveraging local knowledge, deep community ties, and agility to achieve remarkable success by staying local.

The second panel of the day, "DSCR Dynamics," offered an in-depth look at DSCR lending. Director of Strategic Lending Andrew Jewett of Renovo Financial, SVP of Sales Shelly Griffin of Deephaven Mortgage, Head of Non-Agency Biz Dev Clint Thomas of Bayview Loans, and Ben Fertig President of Constructive Capital, moderated by Acra Lending CEO Keith Lind, analyzed current trends, regulatory shifts, and market conditions, providing lenders and investors with strategies to manage risk and optimize portfolios in a fluctuating economy.

"Insights from National Lenders" featured David Orloff CEO of American Heritage Lending, LLC, William J. Tessar CEO & President of CV3 Financial Services, Brett Sims Head of Growth at Renovo Financial, and Justin Land CEO of Merchants Mortgage & Trust Corporation, moderated by Jeffrey Tesch CEO of RCN Capital discussing the current lending market. The panel covered economic impacts, mortgage rate trends, borrower behavior shifts, regulatory changes, and future predictions, offering valuable insights for professionals and investors navigating the evolving financial landscape.

In "Mine Your Own Business," Jake Rome, Co-Founder & COO of Backflip, Eric Abramovich, Co-Founder of Roc Capital, and moderator Nema Daghbandan CEO of Lightning Docs discussed how data-driven decision-making is essential in lending. They highlighted how leveraging data, rather than relying solely on intuition, can significantly enhance effectiveness and profitability amidst intense competition and evolving market dynamics.

Hours of Networking with Private Lending Pros

The exhibitor hall buzzed with activity, thanks to our amazing exhibitor sponsors! The hall was filled with private lending professionals making deals and forging lasting connections, providing attendees plenty of opportunities to take their businesses to the next level.

Captivate 2024 and Beyond

We are so grateful to our Title Sponsor Guimont Capital and all of our sponsors, panelists, attendees, and Geraci team members who helped make #Captivate2024 a huge success. We hope to see you all at next year's event. If you are interested in sponsoring in 2025, follow the link here: 2025 Sponsorship Form