Ira is a CREF revolutionary who has devoted his life and career to creating opportunities for people.

Launching GPARENCY is no different. Being the youngest president of any Top 10 mortgage business, as well as the founder and driver of Eastern Union’s $5B in yearly loans, Ira has worked with 1,000s of GPs over the years. He understands how, more than anything, they need equitable access to commercial real estate everywhere.

Over the past decade, Ben Schweitzer has exemplified the adage of working ‘on’ the CREF industry rather than ‘in’ it. A powerhouse of the multifamily sector from his time at Freddie Mac, Ben’s expertise in the industry and his passion for new technology and AI have driven numerous innovations on behalf of improving client experiences. Ben understands technology, and is leveraging it to benefit GPs nationwide.

Abrar Qureshi is a veteran technologist with over 27 years of experience building and leading impactful technology initiatives in commercial and public sectors. He recently served as a Presidential Innovation Fellow with the GSA in a technology advisory role at the US Marine Corps and Department of Navy. He has also lead technology delivery at KeyBank and Capital One, among several other major institutions.

For almost 30 years, Joel has led start-up companies and industry professionals through exponential growth. His passion for transforming new innovations into tangible results has helped countless clients optimize their business for long-term success. As COO, Joel works to empower GPs to realize their goals with confidence, transparency, and total control by providing expert support, tools, and resources to self-direct their loans.

Avi Beneson is GPARENCY’s Chief Financial Officer and has over 15 years of Finance experience working in and managing accounting and payroll across the banking industry. Avi’s most recent employer was BHI (Bank Hapoalim International), and his vast skill set includes extensive experience in operational accounting, management reporting, external audits, tax prep, expense management, project management, and more. With Avi’s HR and banking experience, he is excited to help maximize GPARENCY’s industry-disrupting growth.

Josh is an up-and-coming business wiz with a sharp eye for world-record deals. With a background in finance and real estate, Josh understands that thanks to technology, the business world is changing rapidly—and he’s leading our team of GP Concierges in a proactive approach. “We’re welcoming GPs into a whole new world,” he says. “One where many types of brick-and-mortar storefronts are becoming optional—and traditional mortgage brokers may soon become obsolete.”

With nearly a decade of experience in sales, Steve leverages his expertise in finding and closing deals to manage GPARENCY’s Lender Concierge Team. Together with the most innovative technological minds in the country, Steve and his team have opened up more deal flow and opportunity for lenders and buyers alike by helping them connect to and communicate clearly with each other—matching GPs to lenders that fit their goals and approach.