OUR TEAM
MICHAEL KLEIN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Michael has over 35 years of experience in finance and company operations. He has successfully started and operated three companies, several divisions for his employers and has originated, approved or worked out billions of dollars in loans to both corporate and real estate clients. Michael started his career at Union Bank in Los Angeles, where he completed the Management and Credit training program. He has worked for money center, regional and community banks, including Chase Manhattan Bank, Union Bank, Wachovia Bank and China Trust Bank. Most recently, he co-founded and served as the Chief Operating Officer of Partners Capital Solutions, Inc. (PCS) where he oversaw the company’s formation and growth for seven years. During his tenure at PCS the company originated over $900 Million dollars in loans and returned an average yield to investors of over 9.6% while suffering zero losses. Michael served his community by spending eight years as the co-chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee to form and have adopted the Warner Center 2035 Specific Plan for the City of Los Angeles. He has also served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Building Industry Association of Los Angeles/Ventura and volunteered as a Mentor at the Marshall School of Business at the University of California. Michael has a BS in Finance from California State University at Northridge and an MBA from the University of Southern California.
Minda Johnstone has 33 years of experience in commercial real estate lending. She has originated, approved and managed over $2 billion of loans over her career. She also managed problem loan portfolios exceeding $500 million, with substantially favorable results. Minda spent 4 years at Partners Capital Solutions as its Chief Underwriter, contributing materially to the firm’s significant increase in loan volume and its absence of troubled loans. Minda’s banking career started at First National Bank of Chicago in Chicago; spanned 16 years as Team Manager and Senior Vice President at City National Bank in Beverly Hills, where she earned its Blue Ladder Award; and continued as the Commercial Real Estate Manager and Executive Vice President at a community bank in Century City. Minda served 10 years as Director and Treasurer at HomeAid, Los Angeles-Ventura County Chapter. She is a Past President of Commercial Real Estate Women of Los Angeles (CREW-LA), Co-Chaired the 2012 CREW California Conference, and serves on CREW-LA’s Advisory Board. Minda has a B.A. from Northwestern University and an MBA from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.
MINDA JOHNSTONE, CHIEF CREDIT OFFICER
Yan has been in senior accounting and finance rolls in the real estate industry for over 20 years. Yan started her real estate career with Westrust Ventures, a developer and investor in 48 neighborhood, community, power and lifestyle shopping centers and mixed-used projects, totaling $1.09 Billion in value and 4.3M in square feet. Yan was responsible for managing all accounting matters including tax compliance and auditing, financial analysis and asset valuations, exit strategy and tax planning for over $500M assets and cash management. She handled lender relationships, restructured loans and maintained close relationship with REIT and institutional partners. She was in charge of asset management, property management and supervised 18 employees. Most recently she was Vice President of Accounting and Finance at Partners Capital Solutions Inc., where she was responsible for all accounting and finance, tax, reporting and information technology functions for the firm. In addition to her responsibilities in accounting and finance, Yan was responsible for underwriting renewals and term extensions for the firm. She received a bachelor's degree in economics with an emphasis in accounting from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
YAN LAM, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Stan has more than 50 years of experience in the Banking industry. Prior to joining Freedom Financial Funds, he was a Managing Director at Partners Capital Solutions, an Executive Vice President, and Division Manager at City National Bank's Real Estate Group for 16 years preceded by 25 years at Union Bank in Real Estate Loan Administration underwriting over $10 billion of development financing, and President of Stanco Properties which provided specialized products and services for Developers. Stan serves as a Board member at USC's Lusk Center for Real Estate, and is an honor's graduate from Pepperdine University's PKE/MBA program. Stan also holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Real Estate and Finance from the University of Southern California, Certificates in Real Estate and Finance from UCLA, and is a graduate of the California Military Academy.