Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital LLC (BWE), a national commercial and multifamily mortgage banking company, announced today that Jeff Chaney and Dan Baker have joined the company as senior vice presidents in its newly founded St. Louis office. Joe Cortese has also joined as an assistant vice president and senior transaction manager. Together, Chaney, Baker, and Cortese bring over five decades of experience in commercial real estate financing to BWE.
“Jeff, Dan, and Joe’s expertise in financing deals ranging from multifamily to industrial, in addition to their deep local knowledge of St. Louis, will make them invaluable assets to the team. We are thrilled to welcome them to BWE,” said DJ Effler, president of BWE. “Whether they are placing loans with life insurance companies, banks, or Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, we know their experience will help us grow our client base in the Midwest and beyond. We couldn’t ask for better leaders to help found our St. Louis office.”
In his over three-decade career working in real estate finance, Chaney has placed over $3 billion in permanent loans with life insurance companies, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, CMBS, as well as various banks and credit unions. In addition to his expertise in securing multifamily, industrial, retail and office deals, Chaney has significant experience financing hotel loans and portfolios. Having most recently served as managing director at NorthMarq Capital, Chaney also worked at Mercantile Bank, Germania Bank, Savings of America and General Bancshares/Boatmen’s Bank prior to joining BWE. Chaney is a graduate of Stanford University.
Throughout his career, Baker has fulfilled his clients’ commercial and multifamily property needs by offering financing through life insurance correspondent companies, debt funds, banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions. Baker has also worked extensively with clients in other facets of the capital stack, having sourced equity, preferred equity, and mezzanine debt. Over his career, Baker has been responsible for the origination and underwriting of over $1.25 billion in loans and equity placement. Baker most recently served as vice president at NorthMarq Capital. He received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with concentrations in financing and marketing from Truman State University.
Cortese brings 19 years of experience working in commercial real estate finance to BWE. Prior to joining BWE’s St. Louis office, he worked alongside Jeff Chaney at NorthMarq Capital. He received his bachelor’s degree in Business with a concentration in finance from Franciscan University of Steubenville.
“Dan, Joe, and I are excited to join BWE and honored to be chosen to spearhead the company’s St. Louis presence,” said Chaney. “BWE is one of the fastest growing commercial and multifamily mortgage banking companies in the country, with so much room for growth in the St. Louis market, the Midwest, and beyond. We look forward to working with clients across the country to bring them top-notch financing solutions.”
BWE provides flexible financing solutions for clients covering the entire spectrum of commercial and multifamily real estate. For more information on BWE’s services, visit us at: https://www.bwe.com/.