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Management Team

Click on a name below to view that person's profile.

Matt Douglas, Principal
Brian Horner, Principal
Chris Hutchison, Principal
Don Simkins, Senior Vice President/Regional Manager
Jackie King Ferguson, Finance Director

 


Matthew B. Douglas
, Principal
310-706-4450 ext. 229
mattd@ventwest.com

As a founder and Principal partner of Venture West Funding, Matt Douglas' primary responsibilities include generating new business and developing and executing a strategic plan for the company. A hands-on leader, Matt has originated more than $1 billion in commercial, multi-family, single-family, and property loans during his ten years with Venture West Funding.

His demonstrated sales record, established relationships in the business, and clear, strategic vision have proven to be tremendous assets to the success of Venture West Funding. Venture West Funding has originated more than $4.2 billion in mortgage loans since 2001.

Matt's 20-year career in real estate finance began at California Federal Bank where he managed high-end clients and originated commercial, industrial, and multi-family loans totaling more than $90 million per year. He later moved to single-family construction lending and was promoted to Construction Loan Manager for Cal Fed, serving as the bank's top producer for four consecutive years.

Matt is a Licensed California Real Estate Broker and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona with a double major in finance and real estate.


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Brian D. Horner
, Principal
310-706-4450 ext. 225
bhorner@ventwest.com

As a founder and Principal partner of Venture West Funding, Brian Horner has consistently been the top originator for the company with more than $100 million in annual loan production.Brian has specialized in apartment financing over his 17 year career in the real estate finance business. Through his industry contacts, Brian has been instrumental in building a platform of seasoned loan officers and support personnel at Venture West Funding. Brian saw early on in his career that the mortgage broker plays an important role for both the borrower and lender. Brian has been instrumental in developing broker friendly loan programs that provide borrowers with diverse products, superior service and competitive rates and fees. Brian prides himself on developing and maintaining lender relationships that have set Venture West Funding on track to becoming a $1 billion per year originator.

Prior to co-founding Venture West Funding, Brian served as Vice President of the Income Property Lending Division of California Federal Bank for six years. Consistently a top originator at Cal Fed, Brian closed more than $500 million in apartment and commercial loans, including a $92 million construction loan for a Westwood office building.

An investor in income producing apartments himself, Brian's first-hand knowledge enables him to provide his clients a superior level of counsel and insight that is rare among other mortgage brokers.

Brian is a Licensed California Real Estate Broker and earned his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Arizona.


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Christopher J. Hutchison
, Principal
310-706-4450 ext. 222
chutch@ventwest.com

As a founder and Principal partner of Venture West Funding, Chris Hutchison provides both strategic vision in developing the company’s fluid and successful business model and critical support to all components of the company’s operating platform.

Originally employed by California Federal Bank as Vice President in the Income Property Loan Division, Chris ventured forward to pursue an entrepreneurial business model founded on the premise that the client should be able to choose a consistent, competitive and reliable source for multiple financing options. He also pursued the vision that the single-family wholesale financing model can be successfully developed and improved in the multi-family and commercial lending markets.

Chris has been instrumental in developing and maintaining the company’s operating platform allowing a strong team of top loan production personnel to pursue these principals. He has maintained focus on the company’s founding principals while simultaneously maintaining status as one of the company’s top producers of single-family, multi-family and commercial loan originations, and is closing in excess of 125 transactions per year.

Chris earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California, San Diego, and is a licensed California Real Estate Broker. He is married, has two children and currently resides in Rolling Hills Estates.


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Don Simkins,
Senior Vice President/Regional Manager
949-475-5573 ext. 260
dsimkins@ventwest.com

Don has more than 15 years experience in real estate finance and capital markets. He specializes in commercial and apartment lending and is a consistent top producer.

He has cultivated strong working relations with Wall Street and various market investors, as well as institutional lenders. Combined with his in-depth knowledge of the business, Don’s partnerships provide him the financing options to complete virtually any transaction for his clients.

Don’s dedication to the business earned him nomination for an Advanced Real Estate Finance designation from the University of California / Irvine. He earned his bachelor’s in business administration from California State University / Fullerton.

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Jackie King Ferguson,
Finance Director
310-706-4450 x239
jferguson@ventwest.com

Jackie has been the Finance Director for Venture West Funding since April 2004. Jackie manages and oversees the day-to-day Finance/Accounting, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Legal functions.  She is also responsible for other operational activities such as DRE compliance.  Jackie gained her Finance/Accounting experience from several top Fortune 500 companies such as PepsiCo, Toyota, and Mattel.  Just prior to joining Venture West, she was a Director in KPMG LLP's Transaction Services practice where she assisted such clients as General Electric, Nestlé, Panasonic and TEAC in acquisitions, disposals, mergers, and joint ventures.   

Jackie earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California and her M.B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.


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Real Estate Broker - CA Dept. of Real Estate - Lic# 01254294