Independent Firm Continues to Build on Future of Mortgage Banking; Expands Executive Committee of Vested Employee‐Principals to 18
San Francisco, CA – Gantry, the largest independent mortgage banking firm in the U.S., announced today that Senior Directors, Andrew Mekjavich (above left) and Brian Bonipart (above right), are taking on new responsibilities as Principals of the firm. They will join and expand the current executive committee to 18, while continuing in the day‐to‐day structuring and placement of debt across the spectrum of commercial real estate asset classes.
“Gantry is a unique platform in commercial mortgage finance in that we are privately owned and managed by our now 18 partners who are all also direct producers,” said Michael Heagerty, Principal with Gantry. “Andrew and Brian are strong additions to our management team due to their client‐centric focus and top performing production as demonstrated over many years in the business. We look forward to their help in shaping the direction and growth of our company as valued members of the executive leadership team.”
Mekjavich, based in San Francisco, joined Gantry with his team in early 2018. Since joining the firm, he has quickly adapted to the Gantry platform and earned production awards during his first year. Having originated north of $1 billion in debt and equity, Mekjavich has executed on almost every asset type in many markets throughout the country. Mekjavich is the past President of BAMA (Bay Area Mortgage Association), current member of the board of directors for the CMBA (California Mortgage Bankers Association) and Conference Chairman for the 2020 CMBA Western States Conference. Prior to joining Gantry, Mekjavich spent five years as a Senior Vice President at a regional commercial mortgage banking firm. He began his career as a commercial real estate appraiser, followed by years of executive management in commercial valuation. Mekjavich graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with a concentration in finance and appraisal.
Bonipart, based in Seattle, joined Gantry in 2011 and has produced loans for a wide variety of Gantry’s lenders. Prior to joining the firm, he spent seventeen years with Seattle Mortgage in many areas of mortgage banking including production, servicing, and loan analysis. Bonipart‘s years as a commercial loan officer saw him originate permanent, bridge, and construction loans for many sources including life companies, banks, and CMBS. Bonipart graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a focus in finance, from the University of Washington in Seattle.
About Gantry
Gantry, an independently held company based in San Francisco, is a full‐service mortgage banking firm with an extensive lineup of correspondent lenders utilizing Gantry’s production, closing, and servicing capabilities. Established in 1991, Gantry is currently staffed by over 75 employees in regional offices throughout the United States. Rated as a Primary Servicer by Standard & Poor’s, Gantry is one of the select few non‐banking / non‐insurance chartered companies with this designation. In 2019, the company generated over $3 billion in production and grew its national servicing portfolio to $13 billion encompassing over 1,500 loans.