Leadership

Since founding AVANA Companies more than 2 decades ago, Sundip has cultivated a family of seven world-class lending and asset management brands. Each brand is committed to AVANA's mission: Delivering Capital for a Better Tomorrow, with a keen eye on social and environmental impact.

The AVANA Family of Companies supports businesses, communities, investors, and stakeholders through innovative financial solutions in private credit, fintech, small business lending, clean energy, and more:

• AVANA Companies: Holding company recognized as an Inc. 5000 company with$1.7B in assets, creating over 5K global jobs
• AVANA CUSO: The US's leading CUSO, offering full-service commercial real estate loans

Fintech Platforms
• LendThrive™: Lending platform providing frictionless capital to small businesses across America
• EqualSeat™: Fractional loan investment platform offering individual access to private credit investments

Regulated Entities:
• AVANA Capital: Licensed and regulated lending entity specializing in hotels and diverse commercial real estate properties
• AVANA Fund: SEC-registered fund for accredited investors and institutional investors for private credit opportunities in the US
• EZDAHER FINANCE Company: SAMA-license pre-approval and will be regulated lender in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Sundip's passion for social impact stems from his experience immigrating from Zambia as a child. His commitment to financial equity fuels his desire to uplift individuals, families, and communities.

In addition to being a seasoned entrepreneur, Sundip holds a MSc Social Business degree from London School of Economics and Political Science & a MBA from the University of California, Irvine. He also holds both CPA and CMA licenses in California.

Sundip balances his time between Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, India and Phoenix, Arizona. He founded the Giggle Foundation to support underprivileged children and is an active member of young presidents organization (YPO).

A frequent speaker on investing, lending, social and environmental purpose-driven businesses, fintech, and technology, Sundip's leadership continues to inspire and shape the financial landscape.

Sanat Patel is a seasoned leader in commercial banking, private credit, and commercial real estate with over 35years of experience. As Chief Lending Officer of AVANA Companies and co-founder of AVANA Capital, he specializes in managing risk and structuring real estate debt solutions that empower entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. His career spans senior roles at Citibank and JP Morgan.

Committed to community service, he serves Board and as chairs the Finance Committee of Community Housing Works in San Diego, CA and was the Past President of Pratham USA’s Phoenix chapter. Sanat holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management and a Banking Degree from Pacific Coast Banking School, further cementing his expertise in the financial sector.

Matt has over 25 years of lending experience and currently serves as the Chief Credit Officer for AVANA.  Prior to joining AVANA Capital, Matt was Senior VP and Director of National Real Estate lending for Zions Bank.  In that role, he oversaw the bank’s nationwide commercial real estate lending platform with a focus in both construction and permanent financing. During his 16 years at Zions, the National Real Estate Group originated over $10 billion in commercial real estate loans, including nearly $5 billion in SBA 504 1st mortgage loans.  He brings deep experience, having managed a portfolio of over 7,500 commercial real estate loans totaling $5.2 billion at its peak. Matt was also instrumental in overseeing the secondary market program at Zions Bank.

Matt earned an MBA from the University of Utah in 2010.  He also graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from University of Utah in1998.  In 2005, he graduated from the University of Washington’s Pacific Coast Banking School master’s level program.

As Chief Financial Officer, Michael has 30+ years of industry experience in financial services and operations. He currently serves as CFO/COO of AVANA Companies, LLC where he joined in December 2021.  Most recently, prior to joining AVANA, Michael was the CFO/COO of an investment manager in alternative investments for 10 years. Prior to that he served in several senior finance and operational roles at JPM Asset Management and GE and before that at Price Waterhouse he was a senior manager in the financial services group.

Michael is a graduate of Manchester University, Manchester, England, where he studied Aeronautical Engineering.  He is also a chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

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Chad joined AVANA Companies and its affiliates in 2023 as the Chief Operating Officer with his initial primary focus on AVANA CUSO with an emphasis on expanding the number of lead lenders and participating CUs, growing the AUM, and launching our SBA and C&I lending programs.

Prior to joining AVANA Companies, Chad had an exemplary 20-year career at Zions Bank serving in several capacities, most recently as Senior Vice President and Director of its National Real Estate division where he oversaw the bank’s nationwide wholesale lending platform and multi-billion-dollar commercial real estate portfolio specializing in SBA 504 financing.

Chad earned an M.B.A. from the University of Utah in 2009 and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Finance from Weber State University in 2003. In 2018he graduated from the University of Washington’s Pacific Coast Banking Schoolmaster’s level program.

Chad enjoys sports, being active, and traveling. He is an avid basketball player, recently fell in love with pickleball, but maintains a love-hate relationship with golf. Additionally, Chad loves spending time with his family boating, kayaking, snorkeling in tropical locations, and biking/hiking Utah’s trails.

Brianna Vaughan has 20 years of experience working for credit unions and has been associated with Extensia/CUSO during much of that time. She initially joined AVANA CUSO(fka Extensia Financial) in 2012 as the Human Resources Manager utilizing her HR degree.

Over the span of her time with the CUSO she has worked in every department inclusive of Human Resources, Information Technology, Facilities, Servicing, Finance, Credit, Originations and Loss Mitigation. Her experience and knowledge in credit union practices and philosophy has made her a highly effective part of the leadership team.

She has a strong understanding of their systems and procedures in IT and tech support. A passionate advocate for the credit union movement, she received her CUDE designation specific to credit union relationships. Currently, Brianna is responsible for CUSO Information Technology and Systems, Human Resources and Facilities.

Brianna holds a BA in Human Resources from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon.

Cathy Ellsworth is the Executive Vice President of Investor Relations for AVANA Companies, a private credit/CRE investment manager with approximately $1B in assets.  At AVANA, she is responsible for the firm’s fundraising efforts in the United States, working with both retail and institutional investors, including family offices, endowments, foundations, RIA firms, pension funds, insurance companies and investment consultants.

Cathy has over 30+ years of experience creating, implementing and managing strategic sales and business plans for a variety of investment products and programs, ranging from long-only equity/fixed income portfolios to alternative investments.  Additionally, she has a due diligence background evaluating investment managers of mutual funds, separate accounts and variable insurance products.  Cathy’s fundraising experience encompasses investment firms of varying sizes, ranging from under $1B to over $40B aum.

Her previous employment includes JPMorgan Chase (Chase Manhattan Bank), Kidder Peabody, EF Hutton and Nordea Investment Management.  She is a graduate from Hood College with a B.A. in Business Administration and Political Science.