About

• About BLC
• Company Directory
• Locations
• News

• Wayne Jean

  Founder and CEO

  Wayne Jean founded Bedford Lending in 1991 and has grown the company from a small full-service lender into a recognized national leader in the mortgage banking industry. He has over 25 years of mortgage banking and investment banking experience. Mr. Jean oversees company-wide operations and is responsible for developing new loan programs to meet changing market demands.

  Before starting Bedford Lending, Mr. Jean was founder and CEO of New England Resolutions, an Investment Banking Company formed to negotiate settlements and develop turnaround strategies for businesses that were negatively impacted by the failed banks in the 80's. Mr. Jean secured millions of dollars and successfully choreographed over 80 debt settlements, resulting in saving thousands of jobs in New England.

  Before New England Resolutions, Mr. Jean worked as a Senior Commercial Lender for a regional bank in New England. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New England.

  Mr. Jean is a board member for several companies and is an active speaker on multifamily and commercial real estate finance for several professional organizations.

• Charles S. Reese

  Managing Director/Vice President

  Charles S. Reese has over thirty years of extensive lending, workout and executive management experience. He is a former President & CEO of a regional bank and CFO of a transportation company.

  Mr. Reese has dedicated his career to providing financial support and consultation to a myriad of businesses both large and small in a variety of industries. He has extensive experience in both origination and backroom services having served as a Senior Lending Officer, Loan Servicing Manager, Compliance Officer, Housing Finance Agency Liaison, and SBA Certified Lender.

  After joining Bedford Lending Corp., Mr. Reese initiated the company's move into the health care industry and has underwritten and placed the company's Wall Street and HUD health care mortgage business. This experience in the heath care industry lead the company to receiving its approval as a HUD Multi-family Accelerated Processing (MAP) Lender. Mr. Reese is an approved MAP underwriter.

  Mr. Reese's expertise spans the full spectrum of project finance, including skilled nursing home substantial rehabilitation, acquisition and refinance, new assisted living and low-income residential care facility construction, historical property renovation, and apartment building acquisition, substantial renovation and construction.

  Mr. Reese also has an extensive workout background, having traveled throughout the US in the early 1980's overseeing the resolution of a number of financially distressed loan situations. He briefly served as chief operating and financial officer of a transportation company where he successfully navigated the company through the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy process.

  He has also served as an instructor of both undergraduate and graduate level Management and Economic courses at a local college.

  Mr. Reese holds a BA from Bethany College and a MBA from Rivier College. In addition, he received the Norman T. Shepard Outstanding Student Award at the Williams School of Banking.

• Lewis Knapp

  Managing Director

  Mr. Knapp has more than 15 years of experience in banking and finance. He has worked with banks and credit unions throughout New England in areas of commercial lending, compliance, business development and mergers and acquisitions. Lewis was also the founding partner of an NASD member firm.

  Mr. Knapp has earned a BA from Rutgers University, J.D. from Franklin Pierce Law Center and has studied International Commerce at Beijing University.

• Bob Taylor

  Regional Director

  Bob Taylor has over 20 years in the Commercial Real Estate Industry. Mr. Taylor has originated over $250 million in FHA Multifamily & Healthcare Mortgages. Prior to originating FHA Mortgages, Bob was with Sky Properties where he developed Residential Planned Unit Developments. Before that Bob was with Sperry Van Ness, where he acted as a Real Estate Advisor for Multifamily Properties.

  Mr. Taylor graduated from The University of Southern California with degrees in Business Entrepreneur and Real Estate Finance. As an Entrepreneur Mr. Taylor has consulted for startup companies and also was the founder of a very successful Startup Company. Bob resides with his wife and 5 children in Salt Lake City, Utah.

• Greg Wing

  Managing Director

  Greg is President of Bedford International, a national Tax Consulting Firm specializing in commercial financing, tax incentives, cost segregation and energy solutions. He has extensive knowledge in HUD and USDA financing and has over 20 years experience in commercial finance. Greg's diverse skills enable him to blend his incentive programs with the financing programs to arrive at creative finance strategies.

  Prior experience includes senior management positions at several Fortune 500 companies and the leadership of two high technology companies that he helped take public and later sold.

  Greg is a noted national speaker and published author on corporate finance and specialized corporate tax matters. He has served on numerous boards of directors at for-profit and not-for-profit business entities, including the board of a commercial bank. Further, he has served in leadership of many civic and church related organizations.

• Edward Hicks

  Regional Manager

  Mr. Hicks is one of the leading experts in the field of multifamily and manufactured housing developments. He specializes in origination 207m land lease community acquisition and development loans as well as FHA 221D4 apartment loans. He has over 20 years experience in the field and starts each assignment by carefully assessing the market and economics of each deal.

  Mr. Hick's accomplishments include:

  • Author of "How to get an FHA 207m guaranteed loan"
  • Co-Author: of "Development, Marketing and Operations of Manufactured Housing Communities".
  • Writes a Monthly Column: "Ask Eddie" for the Journal of Manufactured Housing.

  Mr. Hicks graduated from Santa Barbara City College and Brigham Young University and Majored in Physics with a Math Minor.

• Eric Kaufman

  Regional Manager

  A 28 year veteran of the commercial real estate business including roles as a developer, commercial mortgage broker, syndicator, investment sales and loan advisor, auctioneer, asset manager and contractor.

  Eric has managed multi person brokerage divisions including the New York brokerage arm of Colliers International and as the #2 executive of the Carlton Group in the 1990's which has since grown into a multi-billion dollar annual volume mortgage and equity placement operation on an international scale.

  In the 1980's, Kaufman syndicated approximately $38 million of equity into $150 million of development projects, including the successful conversion to co-operative and condominium ownership of over 1100 apartments in New York and New Jersey.

  He has also represented the Collegiate Church Corporation, the nation's oldest corporation, in the repositioning of seven buildings and monetized some $40 million for the Church.

  He began his career as a banking executive with Travelers Insurance Company and Bankers Trust Company.

  Eric has an M.B.A. in Marketing and Finance from the Wharton School, Philadelphia, PA and an A.B. in Psychology and Economics from Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY. He is a licensed real estate broker in New York and New Jersey and is a non-practicing Certified Financial Planner.

• Robert Wood

  Regional Manager

  Robert practices the real estate profession in the Atlanta area. He is the broker owner of Centergy Realty Brokers, Inc. In addition to the CCIM designation from the National Association of Realtors, he holds the CRB (Certified Real Estate Managers), ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative), RECS (Real Estate Cyber Space), and E-PRO (Electronic Professional) designations. He is a Certified Facilitator with the Georgia Association of Realtors, a past president of the Newnan-Coweta Board of Realtors, member of the Georgia CCIM Chapter, member of the Council of Real Estate Brokers Managers, member of the Atlanta Civic League, class of 1997, Robert has been involved in the development of several million dollars in commercial, facilities in the last nineteen years. Robert received a Bachelors Degree in Accounting in 1973 from San Diego State University in San Diego, California. Robert holds a Life Certificate to Teach Accounting in the California Community College System. He served on the Coweta County Georgia Board of Commissioners from 1993 to 2004. Robert is the 2009-2010 Commander of the American Veterans Post 910 in Newnan, Ga.

• Lisa Jean

  Managing Director

  Lisa Gaudette is the Managing Director of the Not-for-Profit and Small Balance Loan divisions.

  Ms. Gaudette started the 202 and affordable housing finance initiatives and was instrumental in working with HUD on the Section 202 policy change. She blends her extensive knowledge of affordable housing and healthcare with her practical experience to arrive at creative solutions for her clients. Ms. Gaudette brings 10 years experience working in the Not-for Profit sector and has worked closely with Executive Directors and Boards of Directors.

  Over the past few years, Ms. Gaudette launched the small balance loan program and closed over $50,000,000 in refinance and acquisition transactions.

  Ms. Gaudette holds a BA from New Hampshire College and her Master's degree from Boston University.

• Bob Sposito

  Regional Manager

  Bob Sposito has over 20 years experience in the multifamily industry having successfully navigated the financing and restructuring of over $155 million of highly complex transactions throughout the Southeast Region.

  Bob specializes in multifamily acquisition and refinancing transactions. Several of these transactions involve property repositioning, rehab, workouts and the restructuring of non-performing or under-performing assets. Highly experienced in the nuances of affordable housing and multiple layered financial structures, Bob is very successful in structuring transactions to maintain compliance while maximizing value.

  With several years experience as an owner of multifamily property, Bob has the ability to quickly understand the objectives of a client from an Owner's perspective. Furthermore, having worked for one of the country's premier third party due diligence providers, he is able to anticipate the challenges associated with third party requirements such as appraisal, environmental and physical needs related issues. As a result he is able to help clients to blend the balance of up front requirements, operational performance and long term capital needs to minimize reserves and maximize return.

  Bob holds a B.A. in Economics from Denison University, and completed graduate level coursework in real estate finance at Boston University.

• William Smith

  Regional Director

  William Smith has been involved in the lending industry for over 20 years. He started his career as an urban planner and construction manager, preparing feasibility studies, development plans, cost estimates and financial packages for the design and development of large scale urban renewal and housing projects. Several years later, Mr. Smith started a real estate development consulting and brokerage firm which he owned and operated for the next twelve years. The company originated, packaged and funded over one billion dollars worth of real estate loans before being sold to a private banking group.

  After the sale of his previous company, Mr. Smith was contracted to start a lending division for a prominent Midwest developer with ties to a small regional bank looking to expand their commercial lending operations. After securing over one hundred million dollars worth of new development loans and successfully fulfilling his contractual agreement, Mr. Smith sold his interests in the company back to the developer. Most recently, he started a commercial lending company specializing in multifamily and healthcare financing servicing ten brokerage firms nationwide.

  The combination of Mr. Smith's finance experience and Bedford Lending's expertise in investment and mortgage banking, along with their extensive underwriting knowledge, enables him to provide outstanding financing options and unparalleled service to his clients. Mr. Smith earned a BA from Oregon State University and a Master's degree from the University of Michigan. In addition, he received the Dana School of Natural Resources award for outstanding thesis presentation.

• Mark Brandenburg

  Regional Manager

  Mark Brandenburg has over seven years of commercial and mortgage banking experience. Mark is knowledgeable in a wide variety of loan programs including Fannie Mae, SBA, and HUD and is dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service. He has a depth of experience with business development, integrated marketing, community involvement, and mostly enjoys building strong relationships with his clients. Mark has past experience in the healthcare industry as a Planned Giving/Annual Gifts Development Officer for a major hospital and medical center. He also has experience in insurance, financial services, and marketing strategy.

• Brenda West

  Regional Manager

  Brenda has 14 years expertise in the commercial banking industry. Her experience includes portfolio management and underwriting of small to large complex credits through her knowledge of underwriting criteria within various business industries utilizing both conventional and SBA loan programs. Her banking service includes small community financial institutions as well as national corporate banks, where Brenda had the opportunity to underwrite a variety of healthcare specific use facilities.

• Jeff Weiller

  Managing Director

  Mr. Weiller has some 30 years of experience in the commercial real estate and capital business which includes real estate financing deals up to $100 million, investment property sales, landlord representation, and tenant representation. Up until the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, Mr. Weiller specialized in the World Trade Center submarket of New York City and worked in the smoking aftermath helping surviving businesses relocate. Mr. Weiller was a business partner with one of the top dealmakers/leasing brokers in the country. Together they completed many major transactions including: the sale of the Colgate Development Site in Jersey City, NJ, with 6 million square feet of development rights to Hartz Mountain/Leonard Stern, two 1 million sq. ft. leases with Prudential Securities and Paine Webber Securities for which entire office buildings were built and rebuilt around, the sale of 100,000 sq. ft. of air rights on Broadway to the Related Companies and represented VNU and Thomson Reuters Publishing, both major publishing companies, nationally in their multi-million square foot portfolios of real estate.

  Previously, Mr. Weiller was a Senior Vice President at both CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) and Joseph Hilton Associates which was acquired by CBRE). Vice President at GE Capital Corporation Mr. Weiller was involved in structuring capital real estate financings up to $100 million.

  Mr. Weiller holds an MBA in Value Investing from the Columbia University School of Business, an MBA in Finance, Accounting and Quantitative Methods from Emory University, Atlanta, GA and a B.S. in Economics from Alfred University, Alfred, NY.

• Richard Pickett

  Regional Manager

  Richard has more than 20 years of experience in Commercial Real Estate as an investor, consultant, commercial loan broker, private asset based lender, real estate secured note buyer, Cost Segregation Consultant and adviser to commercial property owners.

  Richard has worked on Capital Hill, The Federal Reserve Board, and The American Bankers Association.

  He graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with degrees in Political Science, Business Administration and an ROTC Commission. Richard also has a JD from George Washington University in Washington, DC.

• Robert J. Harmon

  Regional Manager

  Robert Harmon has had a 40-year national career in urban economics, real estate development, finance and tax consulting His overall professional experience involves: (1) the national sales of professional consulting for real estate feasibility, long term financing and federal, state and local tax services; (2) securing co-venture funding for large-scale real estate projects or transportation system implementation and (3) packaging HUD and DOT financing for joint development, nursing home, senior housing and low and moderate-income housing.

  Previously he was a national Vice President for Booz Allen and Hamilton, a Senior Real Estate Consultant for Marvin Poor &Associates and Price Waterhouse Coopers, and a Vice President for Strategis Inc. In addition, for twenty years he was the Managing Principal of Harmon & Harmon a national urban economics and real estate consulting firm that he founded. Harmon & Harmon conducted over 500 engagements in 38 states.

  Robert J. Harmon has authored over 400 reports and articles. The primary subject of these publications has been real estate feasibility, downtown development, and co-venture funding. In addition, he has been a two-term Chairman of the National Transportation Research Board Land Use Committee. Finally, he has been selected as a: (1) a lifetime member of Lamda Alpha (the national urban economics fraternity); and as (2) one of the original Senior Members of the National Society of Review Appraisers.

• Julie Lester

  Regional Manager

  Julie is a 22-year veteran of the healthcare industry, having spent 10 years as the founder and CEO of Accent Health Care in Illinois, which taught her the importance of having a professional, supportive relationship with a Lending Partner. Julie's strong Healthcare background combined with Bedford Lending's knowledge of the credit markets provides clients with a valuable resource for assisting clients in understanding the available funding options and the ability to close on the best financing to meet their needs.

• Cory McConnell

  Regional Healthcare Program Director

  Cory has been serving the healthcare and insurance industry for over 12 years. Cory's focus has been on maintaining the physician/patient and employee/physician relationships, as well as fiscal stewardship and risk management of healthcare facilities. Cory has had the opportunity to manage physician groups for hospitals, independent practitioners, and has also served as advisor and consultant to Hospital administration. Cory currently serves on multiple Home Health Agency Processional Advisory Boards and has served in a risk management capacity on the board of a Professional Liability Malpractice Captive which he helped form and is CEO of a medical management company. With numerous medical facility start-ups in his career, Cory has been instrumental in the strategic coordination and implementation of every stage of a medical practice's life cycle. Cory can help position a facility for success by always keeping the physician and patient perspective in focus, from site acquisition, facilitating lender relationships, staffing, financial planning, policy creation, billing and credentialing, to training, marketing and revenue-cycle management. Cory routinely interacts with physicians, nursing home operators and hospital administrators outside of Bedford Lending's relationships to maintain relevant perspective on industry trends and challenges. Cory is a Purdue graduate and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

• Rick Leipold

  Regional Manager

  Rick Leipold relocated from Maine to open Bedford's Maryland office in 2001. With a diverse background including; commercial real estate, small business management, tax preparation, property and casualty insurance, customer service, and sales, he provides the skills and energy necessary to open a satellite office.

  Utilizing his real estate license, he also adds a new dimension to Bedford's financing capabilities, by offering clients assistance in the acquisition or sale of investment properties.

  Rick studied business management at Texas Christian University and the University of Maine, Augusta.

Bedford Lending provided a direct loan to my company to acquire a skilled nursing facility. They are more than a lender; they understand the healthcare business which is key. The loan provided 85% financing and was structured with a 35 year fixed rate, non recourse loan. They combine a friendly and experienced staff with their direct loan programs to offer the best solutions in the country."

Our Finance Options

• HUD/FHA Construction
• HUD/FHA Permanent Loans
• USDA (538) Loans
• USDA Low Income Housing
• USDA Community Facilities Program
• HUD 202 Loans
• Non-Profit Affordable Housing
• Section 8 Loans
• HAP Contract Loans
• Conventional
• Low Income Housing
• Rural Affordable Housing
• 4% and 9% Tax Credit
• Federal & State Tax Credit
• New Market Tax Credit
• Bond advisory
• Private placement advisor
• Credit Enhancements
• SBA Loans
• Forward Commitments
• Bridge Loans
• Mezzanine Debt Fixed and Adjustable Loans
• Participation Loans
• Sale Leaseback Financing
• Distressed/Turnaround Properties
• Blanket Mortgages