Michael Johnson, an experienced venture capitalist and a specialized transactions attorney, is a managing director at Advantage Capital. He is involved in all aspects of the firm’s operations, with a primary focus on capital-raising transactions, regulatory compliance and government relations. He also serves as chief compliance officer.

Previously associated with New Orleans’ largest law firm, Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre, Michael practiced securities and corporate law for a broad range of clients.

Michael received his J.D. degree from Stanford University School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif, and an his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, graduating cum laude.

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Franchesca Lorio provides leadership in all aspects of the firm’s accounting and financial management. As a managing director and controller of all Advantage Capital entities, she is responsible for the preparation of the firm’s financial statements and numerous other periodic reports to investors, lenders and various regulatory authorities. Franchesca is also responsible for cash management as well as the implementation and supervision of the firm’s reporting and compliance systems. In addition, she works closely with the firm’s independent public accountants in connection with the completion of the annual audits of more than 70 Advantage Capital entities.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Franchesca practiced public accounting for five years with several leading CPA firms, where she focused on tax and financial accounting matters.

Franchesca graduated cum laude from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants, the American Society of Women Accountants and the Young Leadership Council.

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Justin Obletz is a managing director and chief financial officer at Advantage Capital, based in the New Orleans office. In his role, Justin manages the accounting, tax, and financial planning & analysis functions of the firm. Prior to his role as chief financial officer, Justin was a member of the investment team. He is an experienced multi-stage investor, having worked across the firm’s investment programs to evaluate and structure transactions, as well as monitor portfolio company investments. He currently serves on the board of directors of TurboSquid, Lamm Food Service and the Louisiana Technology Fund.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Justin worked in the New Ventures division of Trader Publishing Company in various strategic and operational roles. He began his professional career in the Assurance and Advisory Business Services group at Ernst & Young.

Justin received his MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Notre Dame. He is a certified public accountant (inactive).

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Talmadge Singer is a managing director at Advantage Capital. He has extensive experience raising capital for and structuring tax credit equity incentivized funds, closing both levered and unlevered funds in excess of $1.5 billion. Talmadge has also syndicated more than $1.45 billion of state and federal tax credits. In addition to his fundraising functions, he supports Advantage Capital’s national expansion efforts, focusing on government relations at the federal level.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Talmadge was an associate in the Corporate and Securities practice group at Thompson & Knight LLP where he focused on fund formation, securities law and mergers and acquisitions.

Talmadge earned his J.D. from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University and was a member of the SMU Law Review Association. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Louisiana State University.

Evan Bell is an associate at Advantage Capital. Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Evan was an associate in the Business group at Phelps Dunbar, L.L.P., where she focused on corporate and securities laws, mergers and acquisitions and real estate finance. Evan earned her J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Loyola Law Review. She earned her bachelor's degree in environmental studies from Rhodes College.

Samantha Berman, a dedicated Certified Public Accountant (CPA), serves as an accounting manager at Advantage Capital. In this capacity, Samantha spearheads financial planning and analysis, ensuring the financial health and strategic growth of the organization.

Before joining Advantage Capital, Samantha demonstrated her prowess as the Acquisitions and Divestiture Manager at Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), where she played a pivotal role in overseeing all aspects of business and real estate acquisitions and divestitures. Furthermore, Samantha served as the Trust Services Supervisor for Trust Advisors, Inc., a subsidiary of SCI and a Registered Investment Advisory Firm (RIA). Her responsibilities extended to nurturing valuable client relationships, representing their interests internally, and championing initiatives.

Samantha's professional journey began at Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLP, a prominent Public Accounting Firm headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During her tenure, she showcased her expertise by providing assurance and consulting services to various sectors, including Financial Institutions, the automobile industry, and small businesses in Southeast Louisiana.

Samantha's academic achievements are equally impressive, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the E.J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University (LSU) and a Master of Accountancy from the esteemed Brock School of Business at Samford University.

Beyond her corporate pursuits, Samantha is an active member of her community. She serves as the Treasurer on the Board of Trustees for St. George’s Episcopal School and plays integral roles on the Executive Committee, Finance Committee, and the Committee on Employee Advocacy & Engagement.

Rebecca (Becky) Boudreaux brings over two decades of experience in legal administration and compliance to her role as a Compliance Administrator at Advantage Capital. With a robust background as a legal assistant at Murphy, Rogers, Sloss, Gambel & Tompkins, where she dedicated 25 years to the firm, Becky has honed her skills in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and ensuring adherence to legal standards.

In her current position at Advantage Capital, Becky demonstrates her expertise in regulatory compliance, leveraging her meticulous attention to detail and comprehensive understanding of legal frameworks to maintain organizational integrity and uphold industry standards. Her commitment to excellence and professionalism is evident in every aspect of her work, where she consistently strives to exceed expectations and deliver results of the highest caliber.

With her wealth of experience, unwavering dedication, and genuine enthusiasm for making a difference, Becky Boudreaux continues to make significant contributions to the success and integrity of Advantage Capital and the broader community.”

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Amy Breen Johnson is a Vice President on the Capital Markets team, focusing on investor relations across the firm’s Renewables, LIHTC, NMTC, and state tax credit platforms.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital in 2024, Amy served as the Vice President of Development at HRI Communities, where she managed the financing and development of affordable housing projects. During her tenure at HRI, she held various roles, overseeing diverse projects that utilized multiple financing sources, including LIHTCs, NMTCs, and HTCs.

She holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Alabama and a Master of Sustainable Real Estate Development from Tulane University.

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Paul Castedo is an Associate at Advantage Capital. As a member of the investment team, Paul focuses on evaluating new investment opportunities, performing due diligence and monitoring portfolio companies.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Paul was an Associate at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. where he was involved in raising capital from qualified investors and analyzing public and private investment portfolios. He began his career in transaction advisory and valuation services with Carr, Riggs & Ingram specializing in providing buyside and sellside accounting, financial, and tax diligence services to financial sponsors and corporates in the lower middle market.

Mr. Castedo holds his Masters Degree in Accounting and a BSM in Finance from Tulane University.

A native of New Orleans, Paul volunteers at the Community Sailing Center and competes in sailing events with the Corinthians Sailing Association. Paul is a dual-citizen of both the US and Germany, and bilingual in Spanish.

David Eberts is a due diligence coordinator at Advantage Capital, where he focuses on diligence gathering and organization, as well as post-closing compliance reporting for New Market Tax Credit transactions on the firm's partner services team.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, David worked at Fist Bank & Trust as a mortgage compliance specialist, where he supported residential mortgage loan disclosure origination and closing operations.

David received his B.S. in Business Administration from Louisiana State University.

Lisa Gibson is a Vice President on Advantage Capital’s Partner Services team. In her role, Lisa focuses on compliance and asset management of New Markets Tax Credit loan funds and standalone transactions within the firm’s Partner Services portfolio.

Lisa began her career as a tax accountant for KPMG, where she earned her CPA certificate.  Most recently, she was Director of Compliance and Asset Management for Tax Advantage Group by Cherry Bekaert in Greenville, SC, where she managed a portfolio of $680 million of NMTC transactions.  She also represented both CDEs and QALICBs in facilitating numerous NMTC investments into low-income communities and businesses.

Lisa received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Louisiana State University.

Sam Gieseler is an associate on the Partner Services team. He focuses on origination, servicing, and compliance for the firm’s partner services relationships for both federal and state new market tax credit programs.

Prior to joining Advantage, Sam worked in corporate development for a New Orleans based holding company, where he managed finances and operations for the firm’s portfolio companies.

Sam received his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of New Orleans.

Darian Harris is a senior associate on Advantage Capital’s national expansion team where he focuses on the firm’s economic development, public policy and public finance initiatives at the state and local level.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Darian served as a government affairs legal intern/extern at Troutman Pepper Strategies where he collaborated with various actors in the firm to coordinate and manage meetings with the legislature and other government officials. During law school, he was a legal intern in the Appellate Division of the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office and worked as a judicial Intern for the Honorable Chief Judge Reuben M. Green.

Darian received his J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law, where he served as the Vice-Justice of Phi Alpha Delta and was a member of the Black Law Students Association, and his bachelor’s degree in political science from Reinhardt University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.

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Brooks Kiser is an associate at Advantage Capital. As a member of the investment team, his primary responsibilities include helping underwrite new investments, performing due diligence and aiding in growth initiatives for the firm’s portfolio companies.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Brooks worked for IBERIABANK in New Orleans, LA. After spending a year working with the bank’s commercial underwriting team, Brooks switched roles and became the portfolio manager for the bank’s tax credit investment team, managing a portfolio of Historic, Low-Income, and New Markets tax credit investments.

Brooks received his bachelor’s degree in Public Relations with a business minor from Tulane University.

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Kenneth Krizan is part of the accounting team at Advantage Capital. As a staff accountant, he is responsible for recording activity and preparing financial statements for many of the firm’s entities.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, he worked in the tax department of KPMG, LLP, where he specialized in accounting methods and tax credit services.

Kenneth received a master’s degree in Accounting with Data Analytics from the Villanova School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting Info Systems from the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University. He is a certified public accountant.

Clare Landreneau is an accounting manager at Advantage Capital.  She is responsible for recording activity and preparing financial statements for several of the firm’s entities.

Prior to joining the firm, Clare worked as the Treasury Manager for Service Corporation International where she managed all cash and debt related activity for the company.  Clare also worked in the banking industry for ten years as a VP and Controller for Hibernia Bank in New Orleans.

Clare received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana of Lafayette, where she majored in business management.

Debra Landry serves as our Payroll & Talent Specialist, overseeing all payroll operations at Advantage Capital.

Before joining our team, she held the role of Payroll Supervisor at a prominent healthcare hospital in the Gulf South. Additionally, she worked as a Payroll Administrator at a global cold storage company, where she managed accounts receivable, payroll, and HR functions. Debra's experience extends to handling union and private pay medical matters, and she also served as a staffing supervisor.

Ashlee Lane serves as the Executive Assistant at Advantage Capital's New Orleans office, where she plays a pivotal role in providing executive support and ensuring operational excellence.

Prior to joining the firm, Ashlee worked as a senior executive assistant within the healthcare industry supporting leadership in one of Louisiana’s largest hospital systems –Ochsner Health. Ashlee was responsible for managing complex calendars, coordinating meetings, and assisting with the planning and logistics for department and organizational events.

Julie Laperouse is a Principal and Chief Talent Officer at Advantage Capital. With two decades of experience helping companies and clients create meaningful corporate cultures and establish strong, strategic people pipelines, Julie leads the human resources strategy for the firm.

Julie comes to Advantage Capital from Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company where she was Director of Culture and Talent for a team of more than 800 employees. She also served as Managing Director of Training at Emergent Method; a management consulting firm focused on helping organizations achieve their mission. As Director of Talent Development for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce, she assisted local businesses in the attraction and retention of talent including executive recruitment and recruiting program development

Julie holds a B.A. from Louisiana State University. She also serves on the Emerging Leaders Council of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and runs The Alliance, a networking consortium of professional women. In 2017, the Baton Rouge Business Report named her to the list of Most Influential Women in Business.

Shaina Lowe is an office manager at Advantage Capital. She brings more than a decade of experience across administrative, customer service and the hospitality sectors.

Shaina’s experience in customer-facing roles has polished her ability to excel in dynamic environments, fostering a collaborative and supportive workplace atmosphere.

Alaina McClue serves as a Staff Accountant at Advantage Capital, contributing to diverse functions within the financial cycle. Prior to her role at Advantage Capital, Alaina gained experience as an accountant in the General Accounting department at Ochsner Health System.

Alaina holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Master's Degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the University of California, Irvine. She remains actively involved with her alma mater, Xavier University, volunteering for the Alumni chapter and serving as a class representative.

Austin Nichols is an assistant accounting manager at Advantage Capital on the firm's accounting team.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Austin worked at Ochsner Health as a senior accountant on their financial accounting team where he focused on shared services.

In addition to his role at Advantage Capital, Austin loves cheering on the local sports teams such as the Saints, Pelicans, and LSU Tigers. He also loves to coach and support his children in all their extracurricular activities.

Austin received his Accounting Degree from the University of New Orleans and is a State Board Certified Public Accountant.

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Sonny Nunes, vice president and tax counsel, is involved in all aspects of the firm’s tax credit syndication practice, tax planning, and entity structuring and restructuring.  He is an experienced tax attorney with experience as a private practitioner and in-house counsel.  

Prior to joining the firm, Sonny was a partner in the law firm of Jones, Walker where he served a diverse client base as a trusted tax advisor.  After leaving Jones, Walker, Sonny spent a time with KPMG’s M&A tax group in New York and then served as vice president, tax counsel at American Express Company.

Sonny received an LL.M with a concentration in tax from New York University, a J.D. from Tulane Law School, and a BBA with a concentration in accounting from the University of Notre Dame.

Loren Richard is an accounts payable manager at Advantage Capital, where she assists with various duties for the firm's accounting team.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Loren worked at Brock Services, LLC as an accounting billing clerk, where she supported the project managers with creating monthly invoices generated for the work done on projects in the southern region.

In addition to her role at Advantage Capital, Loren enjoys crafting, baking homemade dog treats, and most importantly, being a great mother to her son Nicholas.

Loren received her bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in business administration from Xavier University of Louisiana.

Christen Roberts is an assistant accounting manager at Advantage Capital, where she is responsible for recording activity and preparing financial statements for several of the firm’s entities.

Prior to joining the firm, Christen worked in the accounting offices of Slidell Oil Company and Great American RV Superstores, where she managed the receivables, payables, title and billing, and payroll departments.  Additionally, Christen worked in the audit practices of LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors, a regional public accounting firm based in the New Orleans metro area, for 12 years. In that role, she served public and private clients in a variety of industries, including governmental, non-profit, financial institutions, broker-dealers, oil and gas, and healthcare.

Christen received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southeastern Louisiana University. Additionally, she is a notary public in the state of Louisiana.

Keyaire Robertson is a seasoned HR professional with a strong educational background and years of experience in the field. Holding both a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources and a Master of Science in Human Resource Leadership and Development from LSU in Baton Rouge, Keyaire has honed her expertise in the intricacies of HR management.

With a solid foundation from his academic pursuits, Keyaire has applied her knowledge in various roles, including her most recent position as an HR Specialist at a small community bank. Over her 8 years in the field, she has developed a deep understanding of HR practices and policies, making her a valuable asset in any HR team.

Outside of work, Keyaire enjoys spending weekends out with friends, soaking up sunny weather, and hunting for a good sale. Her vibrant personality and passion for HR make her a well-rounded professional, dedicated to both her career and personal interests.

Erik Slavin is an associate at Advantage Capital. As part of the compliance and structuring team, he focuses on investor relations, capital formation and deal structuring.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Erik was an associate at Vinson & Elkins, a law firm specialising in transactions and investments.

Erik received his JD from Tulane University Law School, his MBA from Tulane University A.B. Freeman School of Business, and his bachelor's in economics and psychology from Tulane University.

Tanner Terry is a Senior Staff Accountant at Advantage Capital, where he focuses on timely reporting for the firm and its partners. Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Tanner was a Senior

Staff Accountant for an international franchising company based out of New Orleans and a Financial Advisor for a financial planning firm based out of Atlanta before that. In addition to his role with Advantage Capital, Tanner mentors young individuals looking to find their passion.

Tanner received his bachelor’s in Finance and Accounting with a concentration in Financial Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Tony Toups is a principal at Advantage Capital. He is involved in the firm’s national expansion efforts and economic development activities, working on the implementation of public/private investment programs that foster access to capital. He is a frequent speaker on these topics and also provides legal advice and representation as corporate counsel. A seasoned attorney and litigator, Tony was a partner with the New Orleans law firm of Adams and Reese prior to his tenure at Advantage Capital.

Tony’s nearly 20 years of law practice includes product liability defense, commercial litigation, construction cases and other complex matters. He was also a partner at Chaffe McCall in New Orleans and has experience in the news media and state government.

Tony earned his J.D. degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and his bachelor’s degree in journalism at Louisiana State University.

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Cassi Tran is a Staff Accountant at Advantage Capital with a diverse background and a passion for learning and personal growth. She graduated from University of New Orleans with degrees in Finance and Accounting with concentrations in Management and Financial Analysis. She has recently transitioned from financing to accounting, demonstrating a strong commitment to developing her skills and knowledge in the financial field. She has a background working in various industries, including construction, banking, and healthcare, which provides a broad perspective on financial matters. Wearing many hats in her previous roles also indicates her adaptability and willingness to take on new challenges.

Ryan Ware is an analyst at Advantage Capital. As a member of the capital markets team, he focuses on investor relations and capital formation efforts.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Ryan worked as a Regional Director for a national nonprofit organization based in Richmond, Virginia, where he was responsible for leading strategic growth for the organization.

Ryan received his bachelor's degree in finance from Mississippi State University and an executive certificate from University of Richmond.

Carter Wilson is an Analyst and member of the Capital Markets team focusing on fund analytics, pricing models, and investor relations across the firm's low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC), new market tax credit (NMTC), and state tax credit platforms.  

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Carter served as a Financial Data Analyst at Keurig Dr. Pepper, where he specialized in pricing analysis.

Carter received his bachelor’s in finance and mathematics from Tulane University.

Betsy Scallan Avila is a assistant accounting manager at Advantage Capital. As a senior staff accountant, she is responsible for recording activity and preparing financial statements for several of the firm’s entities.

Prior to joining the firm, Betsy worked as an accountant for Allied Capital and PL Midstream, with a focus on accounting for entities in the private equity and oil and gas industries, respectively.

She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Louisiana Tech University and a certificate in project management from Louisiana State University.

Shannon Bartolo is a member of the accounting team at Advantage Capital. As the manager of all accounts payable functions, she is a key asset in the overall management of the firm’s financial operations.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Shannon served as office manager for Standard Parking, where she maintained accounts payable, payroll and coordinated office operations, procedures and resources to facilitate organizational effectiveness and efficiency.

Tim Blanke is a senior special assets associate in the government-guaranteed lending team. In this capacity, he plays a key role in the team’s loan portfolio servicing, collections and collateral management.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Tim served as an insurance adjuster for Associate Claims and Insurance Services.

Tim received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of New Orleans. Since 2013, he has been a member of a barbeque competition team that annually competes to raise funds for families suffering from pediatric brain cancer.

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Susan Crockett is an assistant controller at Advantage Capital. First servicing the debt portfolio, she moved into an accounting role in 2011, preparing many of the firm’s financial statements and assisting with quarterly transactions and reporting.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Susan worked in the banking and mortgage industries, processing and underwriting mortgage loans.

Susan is a certified public accountant and completed the CPA preparation program at the University of New Orleans. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Colorado State University.

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Katherine “Katie” Fury is a servicing manager at Advantage Capital. As a member of the government-guaranteed lending division, she is responsible for assisting with the execution of loan applications and the coordination of closing and post-closing procedures.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Katie was a loan processor with the Bank of New Orleans where she was involved with processing loans and ensuring contract deadlines were met.

Katie graduated from the University of New Orleans with a degree in business administration.

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Jennifer Jeandron is a vice president and controller at Advantage Capital where she plays a key role in the firm’s accounting and financial reporting activities. As an accounting controller, she is responsible for oversight of the preparation of many of the firm’s financial statements.

Prior to joining the firm, Jennifer worked in the audit practices of KPMG, LLP and Deloitte and Touche, LLP. In that role, she served public and private clients in a variety of industries, including energy, banking, healthcare and oil and gas.

Jennifer is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Louisiana State University. She serves on the board of directors of the Young Leadership Council and is a member of the Junior League of New Orleans and the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants.

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Anne Johnson is a principal and helps lead the Capital Markets team, focusing on capital formation and investor relations across the firm's Renewables, LIHTC, NMTC and state tax credit platforms. She has more than 30 years’ experience in the public and private equity markets, and has closed nearly $1.5 billion in federal tax credit equity transactions and placed more than $400 million in state tax credits during her time with Advantage Capital.

Anne was with Johnson Rice & Co. for eighteen years, first as an equity research analyst and later in institutional equity sales. She worked in corporate finance for Deloitte and Chaffe & Associates, valuing privately-held companies and financial institutions for capital raises, mergers and acquisitions, and estate planning. Immediately prior to joining Advantage Capital, she was with DeMonte & Falgoust CPAs, focusing on tax compliance and planning for corporations and individuals.

Anne holds an MBA from the University of New Orleans and a bachelor's degree in business from Rhodes College.

Selma Landry is a collateral coordinator at Advantage Capital.  As a member of the government-guaranteed lending team and the investment team she monitors collateral and covenant compliance of the portfolio companies and assists in the closing of new transactions.

Selma comes to Advantage Capital with over 20 years of experience in the lending and financial industry, serving as a credit specialist, mortgage loan processor, legal assistant, and title clerk.

Selma attended Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo and received an associate degree in business from the Community College of Rhode Island.

Mary Beth Maygarden is director of state and investor reporting at Advantage Capital. In this capacity, she maintains compliance with all federal and state statutes and regulations applicable to the firm’s investment operations.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Mary Beth served as a paralegal for Deutsch, Kerrigan and Stiles, LLP in New Orleans, where she provided litigation support in both federal and state jurisdictions. She also assisted clients with economic redevelopment matters in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Mary Beth received her master’s degree in humanities from the University of Texas at Dallas and her bachelor’s degree in medieval studies and history from Newcomb College-Tulane University, where she graduated cum laude.

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Brian Muller is an accounting manager at Advantage Capital. In this role, he is responsible for recording activity and preparing financial statements for several of the firm's entities.

Prior to joining the firm, Brian worked as a senior accountant for both Bourgeois Bennett, LLC and Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC. In this role, he performed audit procedures, including financial statement analysis and detailed testing of accounts at the trial balance and financial statement levels.

Brian received a bachelor's degree from the University of New Orleans, where he majored in business management, and a master's degree in business administration from Loyola University New Orleans. He is a certified public accountant.

Nicole Pilié is the director of program compliance at Advantage Capital. As a member of the government-guaranteed lending team, she primarily focuses on the determination, management and reporting of New Market Tax Credit compliance guidelines.

Prior to joining the firm, Nicole served as a third-party liability adjuster with Hanover Insurance Group.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in psychology from the University of New Orleans.

Valentino Rovere is a vice president at Advantage Capital. In this role, he works closely with portfolio companies, focusing on turnaround and liquidation.

Valentino first established a relationship with Advantage Capital in 1988. The firm invested in a New Orleans hotel development for which he was a managing partner and, later, a real estate consultant after the property was sold to be redeveloped as housing. In addition to his knowledge of real estate investing and turnaround business management, Valentino has nearly three decades of experience in hospitality management throughout the world. After beginning at his family’s restaurant Vittorio in his native San Remo on the Italian Riviera, he has owned and run three New Orleans area restaurants.

Philip Ruppel is a principal and a member of the firm’s investment team. His responsibilities include sourcing new deals as well as providing due diligence and valuation analysis for current and prospective investments.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Philip worked for Navigation Capital Partners in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was responsible for evaluating prospective investments, conducting due diligence of investments, executing transactions and monitoring portfolio companies. He also spent time in New York working as an investment banking analyst for Bear Stearns.

Philip received his MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University and his bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration from Rhodes College.

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Cara Schiffman is senior vice president on the compliance team at Advantage Capital. Previously, she served as vice president of regulatory affairs.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Cara practiced regulatory compliance and consumer defense law at Sessions, Fishman, Nathan & Israel, LLC. During her tenure, she managed regulator and agency administrative proceedings, consulted with colleagues on Federal Trade Commission investigations and routinely interacted with State Attorneys General, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and state licensing agencies.

Cara received her J.D. cum laude from Loyola University School of Law, where she was a member of the Law and Technology Annual and earned a certificate in international law. She earned her bachelor’s summa cum laude from Louisiana State University, where she majored in international trade and finance with a minor in French.

Daniel Stoute is director of information technology at Advantage Capital. He analyzes current technology and implements it into the daily operations at Advantage Capital to better support the company. Daniel is committed to providing new technology and improvements to the firm.

Prior to joining Advantage Capital, Daniel served as the director of information technology for Eagle Distributors, LLC.

Daniel is a Major in the United States Air Force Auxiliary and is the Commander of the New Orleans Squadron. He is also an active aircrew member of the Search and Rescue Team, Counter Drug Task Force and the Louisiana Wing’s Public Affairs Officer.