WHO WE ARE

WE ARE INVESTORS, THINKERS, MODEL BUILDERS AND ENTREPRENEURS

We are a small team of tech-savvy and thoughtful people who enjoy sharing our work with others. We get excited by new ideas and discoveries. We think differently about a lot of things and have fun answering tough questions and testing the truth of what we discover.

J.P. Bourtin, Esq., Chief Executive Officer

J.P. is the original founder of Highcrest Capital and currently serves as its Chief Executive Officer.

Before starting the firm, J.P. was the Chief Investment Officer of Greenwich Private Capital, LLC, a proprietary investment company located in Greenwich Connecticut that managed the wealth of a prominent New York family. Early in his investing career, J.P. studied under Edward Seykota, who is widely regarded as one of the forefathers of quantitative investing.

Prior to his investing career, J.P. was the founder and CEO of SiteLogic Technologies, a legal technology company that was eventually sold to a private investment group.

Earlier in his career, J.P. worked as an attorney for Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York, served as a pro bono Special District Attorney for the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, and served as a judicial law clerk for Judge Harold R. DeMoss, Jr., of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Houston, Texas.

He is a magna cum laude graduate of Tulane Law School, a former member of Law Review, and a member of the Order of the Coif. J.P. received a B.A. in History from Boston College.

Over the years J.P. has acquired a particular interest in Systems Theory and spends much of his free time researching its application to various human endeavors, such as investing, law, and technology. J.P. lives on a ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas with his wife, Christy, their three young children, and an assortment of livestock.

Jayson Javitz, Esq., Portfolio Manager

Jayson is a Portfolio Manager at Highcrest Capital. Prior to serving in that role, Jayson served as the General Counsel of River City Petroleum, Inc., a fuel distribution company with roughly $1 billion in sales. In that role Jayson oversaw a loan and credit portfolio of approximately $700 million. Jayson has extensive experience in small business lending, having sourced and managed thousands of commercial loans to small and mid-sized businesses. Previously, Jayson worked as an attorney for Seyfarth Shaw, LLP, and for Jackson Lewis, LLP, two national law firms.

Jayson is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, and is a graduate from the University of Hartford with a B.S. in finance and economics in 1991, summa cum laude.

When asked what the Highcrest mission statement means to him, Jayson is quick to point out our unique focus on people. For him personally, it means that we “aren’t in this business to enrich ourselves, but rather to serve real people, and not just accounts.” For Jayson, these are the husbands, wives, and parents who have entrusted us with managing their hard-earned wealth.

As the Portfolio Manager of credit fund, Jayson’s core value is stewardship. Jayson is old enough to remember quite clearly the major investment calamities of the past three decades. From the Volcker recession, to the ’87 stock market crash. The S&L crisis, the Asian currency collapse and then, the tech bubble followed by the historic ’08 – ’09 collapse. All of them having a major impact on the markets. “History doesn’t always repeat itself but usually it rhymes. Investors have learned hard lessons over the years, and we simply will not place our partners’ money into what we believe are unreasonably risky positions.”

Rob Weening, Chief Administrative Officer & CFO

Rob is the Chief Administrative Officer & CFO for Highcrest Capital. In this role, Rob will oversee the various operational needs of the firm, including accounting, payroll and benefits, client services, risk management, and the implementation of technology solutions to improve the efficiency of operations. Additionally, Rob will be working with other executives to establish and manage new lines of credit as well as to source lending groups and perform due diligence site visits.

Rob began his working in New York with data center operations in the banking division of Citibank.

Throughout his career Rob held various executive positions across the banking and finance sectors including budget officer with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York, Chief Financial Analyst with Prudential Relocation Services in Connecticut, Director of Corporate Finance at PHH Relocation which became Cendant Mobility. Rob transitioned to investments as the Vice President at C-Bass, LLC, a credit-based asset servicing and securitization firm that became the leading issuer of mortgage backed securities. In 2008, Rob and his wife, Susan, relocated to California and over the last 12 years he has been the CFO for several FinTech companies specializing in small balance commercial real estate loans and working capital lending.

Born in Staten Island, New York, Rob attended Wagner College and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Administration. Rob received his Master of Business Administration in International Finance from Pace University in New York City.

Married for 30 years, Rob and Susan share a love of world travel and food adventures. Outside of the office, Rob enjoys the outdoors especially fishing and shooting sports. Rob and Susan have made the move to Texas to be closer to family and are are thrilled to spend time exploring the Texas hill country and planting roots in Fredericksburg.

Rimma Valencia, Portfolio Analyst

Rimma serves as a Portfolio Analyst at Highcrest Capital. Prior to this role, she served as a Financial Analyst at Allstate Insurance group and then for Intellectual Ventures / Xinova / Allied Inventors, a venture capital firm based in Seattle. Rimma, originally from Russia, came to the United States in 2008 to study finance and graduated in 2010 with a BS in Finance from City University of New York: Brooklyn College.

Rimma holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation, regarded by most to be the key certification for investment professionals, especially in the areas of research and portfolio management. In her role, Rimma is responsible for helping to manage and report on the the small business loans in Highcrest’s portfolio. Rimma is also responsible for a variety of internal finance functions at Highcrest, including the accounting work that goes into closing the books every month.

When not working at Highcrest, she is busy improving her skills as a compound bow archer and hiking. Along with the rest of the Highcrest team, Rimma shares a love of exploring unique ideas and opportunities. “Highcrest gives me a chance to do something innovative and interesting in a firm that allows for free thinking.” What makes her feel most at home at Highcrest is being part of a group where everyone’s input is taken into account, and where everyone has the opportunity to voice their opinion and contribute new ideas.

Sloan Gunter, Client Relations

Sloan Gunter is the Vice President of Client Services at Highcrest. Before joining Highcrest, Sloan was a Managing Partner of Safewealth Advisors based in Austin, Texas. Prior to that role, Sloan held a variety of marketing and investment advisory positions at companies such as Axa Equitable, Prudential, and MetLife, and was responsible for more than $2 billion of raised assets. Sloan graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, in 1985 with a B.A. in English Literature.

For Sloan, the Highcrest mission is found primarily in its focus on relationships.

In Sloan’s view, “relationships are at the heart of what we do. It is our clients and partners that make our business what it is today.” To Sloan, another essential element of the client relationship is good stewardship of our partners’ capital. “We make sure to stay away from the typical Wall Street approach to investing. We couple conservative principles with smart, unconventional, investments,” a point Sloan is eager to share when he meets new clients.

When Sloan’s wife, Debra, was asked for an interesting fact that others might not know about him, she noted: “He is a fabulous singer!”

She also remarked “Sloan gets things done and is very direct with people. But at the same time he has a great gift for connecting with them.”

When not traveling, Sloan spends much of his time with his wife and their three children. Giving back is important to Sloan and his family and they choose to serve others through outreach organizations and their church. Born and raised in the West Texas town of San Angelo, Sloan and his family currently reside in Fredericksburg, TX.

Neil Miller, Controller

Neil is the Controller for Highcrest. His role is to ensure that all company financial matters are handled expertly and he acts a trusted advisor to JP. Neil has over thirty years of diverse financial experience including positions at several Fortune 100 companies such as United Brands, Dun & Bradstreet, JP Morgan, and Bristol-Meyers Squibb. He was the CFO of a start–up Information

Technology consulting company and has served as the outsourced Controller for many small to mid-size businesses in addition to non-profit organizations for over ten years. Neil is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor and holds an MBA in Finance from Temple University.

“Highcrest utilizes the service of various people of different backgrounds and skill sets all pulling together to achieve superior results.” For Neil the Highcrest mission is about enabling clients to enrich themselves by taking advantage of cutting edge investments in a transparent way. One extremely hard to believe but absolutely verified fact about Neil, is that there is a full size statue of him in Washington, DC. Go figure!

Kelly Leija, Office Manager

Kelly is the Office Manager for Highcrest Capital. In addition to managing the internal operations of the firm, Kelly assists with client onboarding and customer service. Kelly was born in Austin, and has been a long-time resident of the Texas Hill Country. Before joining Highcrest, Kelly was the billing coordinator for the Hospice department at Hill Country Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg.

Several of the Highcrest values such as family, relationships, community, and love reflect in Kelly’s personal life. She has spent her life serving the residents of the Hill Country and raising her 7 children with her husband. She enjoys exploring new things and is always ready for a new challenge. “I am excited to be a part of such an amazing team that genuinely cares for each other and their clients.”

Outside of the office, she is committed to her personal growth, family, and her community. She enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, looking for ways to express her creativity, and always trying to find ways to give back to the community and serve others.

Dorian Williamson, Credit Analyst

Dorian Williamson is a Credit Analyst for Highcrest Capital in support of the Portfolio Manager Jayson Javitz.

Prior to Highcrest Capital, Dorian spent the last 12 years in underwriting departments in Small Business lending and the Fintech space, including six years at National Funding in San Diego, which is one of the leading merchant cash advance originators.

Outside of the office Dorian enjoys traveling and spending time with his family, or supporting his oldest daughters club soccer career.

Daniel Hernandez, Credit Analyst

Prior to joining Highcrest, Daniel had extensive experience in the Financial Services industry, with internships in the financial planning business and San Diego court system, and underwriting experience for a national lender.

Daniel spent the last 10 years in underwriting departments in Small Business lending and the mortgage industry, including 4 years at National Funding in San Diego

Outside of the office Daniel enjoys traveling and hobbies like playing soccer and outdoor activities,spending time with his family/friends and dog. Daniel spends a lot of time in his second home country Mexico where he enjoys the beach and all the great food.

Mark Macias, Credit Analyst

Prior to working at Highcrest Capital, Mark held various roles working in underwriting and credit analysis for over five years. During that time, he underwrote loans, for consumers and businesses alike, in industries such as auto-finance, home-energy and alternative business lending. Specifically, it was the three years spent at National Funding as a credit analyst that supplemented his role at Highcrest Capital.

Mark also graduated from the University of Redlands with a B.A. in Political Science.

During his off time, Mark enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, time at the gun range, and spending time with his family.

Mark closely relates to Highcrest’s value of conscientiousness. It is important for him to remain mindful of all the details that are crucial to the long term success for our company and our investors alike.

Lisha Descalzi, Credit Analyst

Lisha Descalzi is a Credit Analyst for Highcrest Capital. Prior to joining Highcrest, Lisha spent the past seven years employed with National Funding, an originator of small business working capital loans, as a Senior Underwriter focused on new and returning small business borrowers.

Lisha was born in San Diego, but has lived in various cities in California and abroad. Outside of the office, Lisha enjoys being outdoors at sporting events, walking the beach, and enjoying the Southern California sun.

She also enjoys spending time with her family, trying new foods, and visiting new places. Since 2013, Lisha’s biggest hobby has been Muay Thai boxing.

Brina Early, Credit Analyst

Brina Early is a Credit Analyst for Highcrest Capital. She is originally from Columbus, Ohio and now resides in San Diego, California. Brina has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ohio State University.

Prior to joining Highcrest Capital, Brina worked for over six years in the finance industry as a Credit Analyst and Underwriter. She has worked in the small business lending industry at National Funding, as well as the residential mortgage industry at Caliber Home Loans.

Outside of the office, Brina enjoys watching movies, reading, and traveling.