Our People
EquityKey Strategic Advisors
Co-Founder, Eduardo Lombardi, CFP
As one of EquityKey's Co-Founders, Ed now serves as a strategic advisor for the Company. In this capacity, he provides expertise and counsel on the overall operations and development strategy for EquityKey, which includes recommending key process improvements in the funding of clients and identifying appropriate product extensions, like EquityKey Commercial. Ed also co-founded Centara Capital Management Group and serves as its Managing Director. He and Centara Co-founder and Managing Director Derek Myron, along with Jeffrey Nash, were the architects of EquityKey in 2005 and subsequently sold the Company to KBC Financial Products in the Spring of 2006. Prior to building Centara and developing EquityKey, Ed worked for Conquest Capital Group, a New York-based hedge fund that grew to $800MM in assets. In 2007, Ed was honored by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine as a "Top 40 Under 40." Ed holds numerous professional designations and licenses including Certified Financial Planner Professional, Enrolled Agent with the Internal Revenue Service, Chartered Life Underwriter, Accredited Mortgage Professional, and Broker, California Department of Real Estate. He is a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. Ed earned a BA in Business Administration from the University of Washington.
Co-Founder, Jeffrey Nash
Jeffrey Nash, Co-Founder of EquityKey, now serves as a strategic advisor for the Company. With a background in financial derivative instruments and business development, Jeff provides direction to EquityKey on its business strategy development, its market expansion and its key strategic partnerships. Jeff, along with Ed Lombardi and Derek Myron, developed the EquityKey real estate option concept in 2005, which was then sold to KBC Financial Products in the fall of 2006. Prior to developing EquityKey, Jeff was a partner with the Conquest Capital Group, a New York-based hedge fund that he helped grow to over $800MM in assets under management. He has participated in a number of start-up and venture concerns in both the capital acquisition and operational phases. He worked for several years at UBS, beginning his career trading exotic currency derivatives and eventually managing the exotic currency derivatives portfolio and pricing operations in Asia. Jeff earned a BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
EquityKey Senior Management Team
Brian Bailey, VP, Operations
Brian Bailey joined EquityKey in April 2008 as its Vice President of Operations. In this role, Brian oversees all aspects of EquityKey's operations and is responsible for executing the strategy for achieving the business' performance objectives. This includes directing short-term and long-range planning and budget development, as well as managing the day-to-day initiatives required to originate and service our client portfolio. Immediately prior to EquityKey, Brian spent four years with HSBC Auto Finance, most recently as its Vice President, Operation Strategy & Planning, directing a 100-person technology and operations team. He also held various senior-level product development and operations positions with Capital One Auto Finance and Appgenesys, Inc. Brian began his career as a management consultant with Deloitte Consulting. He is a Six Sigma Green Belt and earned his BA in Economics, cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Wendy Beerbower, VP, Sales
As Vice President of Sales for EquityKey, Wendy Beerbower is responsible for the management and growth of the Company's distribution channels. A senior sales executive with over 20 years of management and revenue responsibility, Wendy plays a critical role in increasing EquityKey's footprint. Prior to joining EquityKey in June 2007, Wendy served as Vice President, Sales for Welcome Wagon, a subsidiary of move.com. While there she led a 250-person sales team focused on business-to-business advertising sales. Wendy brings an expertise in the real estate industry having held various senior-level sales positions within the real estate division of Cendant Corporation, handling franchise sales growth and mergers and acquisitions for Century 21, Coldwell Banker and ERA Real Estate. Wendy holds a BA in Economics from Rollins College.
Janis Jarosz, VP, Marketing
Janis Jarosz joined the EquityKey team in January 2008. With approximately 15 years of marketing experience, Janis was brought on board to define the EquityKey brand strategy, to spread the word about its patent-pending EquityKey real estate option, and to partner with sales in generating revenue. Immediately prior to the Company, Janis served as Vice President, Brand Marketing for Avis Budget Group, formerly a division of Cendant Corporation. Since 1990, when she joined Cendant Corporation, Janis served in positions of increasing responsibility within the communications and marketing departments of various Cendant brands including Super 8 Motels, Wingate Inns International, and Welcome Wagon. She earned an MBA from New York University and graduated Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude from Columbia University's Barnard College with a BA in European Studies.
David Sterlitz, General Counsel
Dave joined EquityKey in May 2007 as its General Counsel and Director of Compliance and Government Relations. As the Company's leading attorney, Dave oversees all legal and compliance aspects for EquityKey and acts as the primary contact for all government and regulatory agencies. As General Counsel, Dave is also responsible for EquityKey's entrance into new territories, filing all legal documentation required to register EquityKey and ensuring that state-specific requirements are satisfied with respect to EquityKey's real estate option product. Prior to EquityKey, Dave served as in-house counsel for HSBC for four years. He also worked as a Corporate Attorney for Wachovia Bank. Dave earned his Juris Doctorate from Emory University School of Law. His memberships include: the State Bar of Georgia; the State Bar of California -- Registered In-House Counsel; and, the Real Property Law, Corporate and Banking Law, Consumer Finance and Corporate Counsel sections of the State Bar Associations of Georgia and California. Dave earned his BA in Business Administration from San Diego State University.
