Sabal Financial Group Names Alina Mardesich as Business Development Manager for Commercial Real Estate Bridge Lending

NEWPORT BEACH, CA--(Marketwire - Feb 26, 2013) - Sabal Financial Group, L.P., a diversified financial services firm, has named Alina Mardesich as business development manager for Sabal's recently launched Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Bridge Lending program. In her role, Mardesich will oversee all CRE Bridge Lending relationships, business development and loan originations.

"Alina brings more than 20 years of experience in the Southern California commercial real estate market, specializing in loan originations, asset management, business development, consulting and valuation," said director of CRE Bridge Lending, Jim Martin. "Her proven expertise in lending and industry relationships will be a tremendous asset to our team as we grow our CRE Lending business and accelerate deal-flow in 2013."

Previously, Mardesich was the vice president and special loans manager at U.S. Bank, managing a $300 million portfolio of large, complex loans, secured by commercial real estate properties throughout the Western United States. Prior to joining U.S. Bank, Mardesich was vice president of business development at Buchanan Street Partners, where she identified new operating partners for the company's joint venture equity funds. Mardesich also served as the vice president and senior loan originator at Fremont Investment and Loan, where she originated more than $1.2 billion in non-recourse bridge and construction loans during her 11-year tenure.

Mardesich has been a featured guest speaker and panelist at many industry-related conferences, including: California Mortgage Bankers Association, Women in Real Estate, Opus Connect, USC Gould School of Law Symposium on Real Estate Law and Business, as well as a lecturer on UCLA's extension course on Real Estate Development. On March 5^th, Mardesich will speak at ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) in Los Angeles on "Out of Box Closing." Mardesich received her bachelor of science in real estate finance from the University of Southern California.

In October 2012, Sabal launched CRE Bridge Lending to offer bridge loans for all incoming-producing property types across the West Coast, including the California, Oregon, Washington and Arizona metro areas, focusing on projects where a clear value-add opportunity exists through leasing, renovations, re-positioning or improved management. 

About Sabal Financial Group
Sabal Financial Group, L.P. is an international diversified financial services firm specializing in real estate, banking and lending with nearly $5.5 billion in assets under management. Since 2009, the firm has established a strong presence in the acquisition, valuation, management and servicing of commercial real estate and acquisition, development and construction (ADC) loans. Sabal Financial Group is a non-traditional lender, providing construction and acquisition and development loans to established middle-market residential builders, as well as commercial real estate bridge loans to reputable real estate investors and owners in California, Washington and Oregon and Arizona.

Sabal's diversified platform is complemented by its Bank Credit Advisory Practice that acts as an advisor and M&A specialist to commercial and investment banks seeking unbiased third-party credit portfolio risk and capital and performance assessments.

A privately held company, Sabal Financial Group is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA, with offices in Pasadena, CA; Atlanta; Greenville, SC; and New York City www.sabalfin.com.