ABOUT US
We provide clarity to our sponsors regarding our investment approach including our developer mindset, in-depth diligence of the Sponsor’s team and project, and our active involvement as a team member post-investment.
We are committed to transparency for our fund investors through in-depth fund and investment reporting and full disclosure of each investment's status and progress.
Simply said – we do what we say we are going to do.
Transparency
We treat our employees, project sponsors, fund investors, advisors, and third-party providers with respect, professionalism, and courtesy. We believe that what we do is critically important, but how we do it defines Ravenna Capital Group.
Integrity
We understand that trust is built over time. We value the trust placed in us by both our fund investors and sponsors and serve as a trusted fiduciary of the money entrusted to us.
Trust
VALUES
FOUNDER
Eric Smith CEO & Founder
Eric Smith’s career in finance and investment management has spanned 25 years with the last 15 of those focused on commercial real estate. Mr. Smith most recently served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Investment Officer for Armada Hoffler Properties (NYSE: AHH), a REIT with a development-based growth platform. His development experience includes a broad range of asset types within the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. These asset types spanned retail, office, multifamily, mixed-use, hospitality, and fee simple residential condominiums with over $1.2 billion of development projects negotiated, commenced or delivered during his tenure as COO and CIO. Many of these development projects included a public-private partnership component.
In addition to day-to-day operational responsibility for the company and leading all facets of the investment platform including both development and acquisitions, Mr. Smith was also part of the three-member executive team that shepherded the firm through its 2013 IPO on the New York Stock Exchange. That successful IPO raised over $230 million. Both the IPO process itself and oversight of a publicly-traded REIT have provided Mr. Smith with enduring relationships within, and a strong understanding of, the institutional capital markets and sources of capital.
Mr. Smith holds a Masters of Business Administration from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Connecticut. Mr. Smith spent the early years of his career with Booz Allen Hamilton, Federal Express, and a boutique investment advisory firm with oversight and tracking responsibility for fund manager selection within both Fortune 500 and public-servant defined benefit and defined contribution plans. At one time, Mr. Smith also owned his own trading seat on the New York Futures Exchange.
Mr. Smith is well positioned to lead a team of excellence to serve as a trusted equity partner for project sponsors. His background and expertise enable him to serve as a true collaborator through the entire development process. Mr. Smith has a proven track record of serving as a trusted steward of capital and, through his leadership at Ravenna Capital Group, institutional fund sources can enjoy unparalleled trust and confidence in their partnership with Mr. Smith and his team.
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Mr. Salon serves as co-chair of Morrison & Foerster’s nationally ranked REIT practice and is a partner in the firm’s Corporate Finance practice. He represents both issuers and underwriters in a wide variety of corporate and securities matters, including initial public offerings, primary and secondary offerings, private placements, senior and subordinated debt financings and tender offers. In addition, Mr. Salon serves as primary outside counsel to numerous public company clients with respect to corporate governance issues, compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, as well as general corporate matters.
Mr. Salon is recognized as a leading lawyer in Chambers USA 2019 for REITs. In 2017, He was named a Law360 Rising Star for Capital Markets, and in 2018 was recognized by Chambers USA as an 'Up and Coming' attorney in the area of REITs. He is recommended by Legal 500 US 2018 for REITs and Capital Markets: Equity Offerings
Justin Salon
Ms. Mercurio brings years of executive, legal and regulatory experience in both public and private companies. Currently, Ms. Mercurio serves as Senior Vice President of ESI, Inc., a Xerox company. Previously, Ms. Mercurio served as General Counsel for Liberty Tax Service, Inc. (NASDAQ: TAX), an international franchise company. During her thirteen-year tenure at Liberty, Ms. Mercurio helped grow the company to over 4000 offices and over $200 million in annual revenue, ultimately helping to take the company public in 2013. Ms. Mercurio is the former chair of the American Bar Association Corporate Counsel Committee, Franchising. Ms. Mercurio earned her J.D. from William and Mary College of Law in 2005.
Vanessa Mercurio
Ken Larish currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of The Mainland Companies, a Nashville-based commercial real estate development firm focused on institutional-grade urban-infill and single-tenant, triple-net development throughout the Southeastern United States. Mr. Larish founded Mainland in 2011 after having spent nearly 20 years in the commercial real estate industry, including as a real estate attorney. As an attorney with Baker Botts in Dallas and Bone McAllester Norton in Nashville, Mr. Larish worked on multiple Fortune 100 mergers and spearheaded large real estate transactions for several notable real estate clients. In an executive capacity with R.M. Crowe in Dallas and GBT Realty in Nashville, Mr. Larish lead the placement of over $100 million in private capital, oversaw several hundred million dollars in capital transactions, and created one of the largest and most successful triple-net development platforms in the United States. Mr. Larish holds a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School and a B.A. from Southern Methodist University.
Ken Larish
Mr. Scott Crimmins brings a collection of career experience in commercial real estate finance and development that spans 25 years across development, institutional sales, underwriting, securitization, and investment banking. Mr. Crimmins currently serves as a Principal with RealtyLink, an institutional-grade commercial property development firm located in Charleston, South Carolina. Mr. Crimmins was most recently with Berkadia, during which time he was the top originator in the U.S. prior to becoming co-head of the Investment Banking Group and Executive Vice President with Schottenstein Realty Company. Mr. Crimmins holds a B.A. from Northeastern University and is a licensed real estate broker as well as an active member of both the Urban Land Institute and International Council of Shopping Centers.
Scott Crimmins
Mr. Paul Van serves as Managing Partner of Croatan Investments, a real estate investment manager focused on multifamily assets in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Texas. Over his 15-year leadership of the firm, he has overseen $839M in investments totaling 7,070 apartment units and expanded the firm’s capital base to include ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, RIAs, institutional funds, and retail investors. Prior to Croatan Investments, Paul served as Vice President of multifamily acquisitions with Norfolk, VA-based Harbor Group International. Mr. Van began his career as a mergers & acquisitions investment banker with UBS in New York City advising on transactions in the consumer product, food service, agricultural, healthcare, and technology industries. Mr. Van holds a B.A. from Duke University.