Jason is an experienced finance professional. After graduating from Columbia University in New York in 1994 and an initial position with Arthur Anderson there, Jason moved to California to begin his finance career focusing on commercial real estate. He held positions with several local finance firms before joining GMAC Commercial Mortgage in Los Angeles working in originations of senior debt, junior debt structures and equity across typical asset classes of multifamily, office, industrial, retail and hospitality. In addition, Jason entered the Anderson School of Business at UCLA where he received his MBA.

In 2003, Jason was introduced to Michael Saei by an existing client. This meeting led to a GMAC entity making a preferred equity investment in Michael’s first portfolio acquisition in Phoenix/Scottsdale which is where he began a focus on retail petroleum assets. In late 2004, that initial transaction was performing very well, and GMAC was in the process of being sold. Jason accepted the opportunity to leave GMAC and work with Michael and his investor group as Chief Financial Officer of the platform, going on to complete a 199-unit portfolio acquisition in 2005. Jason was also responsible for creating First Financial Capital in 2005 and creating its underwriting guidelines and policies and procedures.

Jason continued to work with Michael when he sold his interest in the retail portfolio and took sole ownership of First Financial. He typically works on any larger or more structure transactions the firm makes. He also worked key borrowers during the credit crisis to help them restructure and weather those difficult times, with First Financial taking no losses during that period. In addition to retail, over the last 15-year Jason has worked across different aspects of the industry including fuel distribution, storage/bulk plants, and petroleum delivery trucking fleets.

In addition to Jason’s work with Michael, he is also a senior advisor to David Delrahim and his family office. David was one of Michael’s former partners who eventually sold Platinum Energy to a joint venture between Fortress Investments and Phillips 66 in 2001. Among his roles Jason acts as Chief Financial Officer for Bliss Car Wash which is a growing express car wash platform rapidly expanding in multiple markets.