MEET OUR DIRECTORS
David Choi
Managing Partner
David is a seasoned real estate professional and serial entrepreneur. Before co-founding Leverage Companies, David worked for some of the largest development and private equity companies in the country, including Hampshire and Kayne Anderson. David has been involved in the management of private equity portfolios of over $2 Billion AUM and has personally been involved in thousands of real estate transactions. David is an expert in the syndication of capital and creative financing to assemble deals with unconventional and unique capital structures.
Eric Panecki
Managing Partner
Eric is an innovative Real Estate Finance professional with an extensive background in capital placement, real estate acquisitions, data analytics and marketing. Prior to co-founding both Leverage Companies and Brick City Capital, Eric’s work experience was primarily focused in the real estate hedge fund / private money lending space. Eric has been able to “Leverage” his experience in structuring intricate capital stacks, finding creative solutions to complex problems, and to garner a reputation for himself as a closer and a deal maker.
Randy Vargas
Vice President
Randy heads the Transactions Department at Leverage Companies, bringing his skills as a consummate jack-of-all-trades to the table in every deal to ensure a smooth transaction from start to finish. Using his years of expertise and experience, he researches investment opportunities and risks inherent in specific sectors to bring investors the best opportunities available on and off the market. Above all else, Randy’s main focus is providing an optimal level of customer service and information to investors and clients.
Samuel Dogbe
Senior Acquisitions Consultant
Samuel is a time-tested, sales professional with over 6 years experience in developing high integrity sales culture. He accredits his award winning track record of leading and developing regional sales teams to his “Servant leadership and people before profits mentality.” Currently, he is the Director of Acquisitions at Leverage Companies focused on sourcing, analyzing and closing real estate transactions with his team.
Anthony Pontoriero
Managing Director
Anthony is a Real Estate Finance professional at Leverage Companies. Anthony graduated from Rutgers Business School with a double major in Finance and Accounting, and a concentration in Real Estate. During and after his time at Rutgers, he worked in numerous positions in Finance and Real Estate, in fields such as Wealth Management and Real Estate Development. Anthony currently works with Leverage Companies as a Director, where he heads the Finance, Underwriting, and Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions Departments. Anthony has been a part of over 300 Real Estate transactions during his time at Leverage Companies.
Melissa Ceballos
Transactions Specialist
Melissa is a seasoned Real Estate professional with an extensive background in transactions. Prior to joining Leverage Companies as a Managing Director, Melissa acquired years of vital experience as both a Transactions Coordinator and Director of Operations at multiple real estate companies, including her own company, The Certified Closer. Melissa graduated from Kean University with a Bachelor of Arts.