Show Me The Money With Michael Derk

Mr. Cohen has more than 43 years of experience as a leader, manager, originator, and administrator across a diverse portfolio of career initiatives, primarily in commercial real estate. He is currently a Managing Director at Arrowmark Partners and serves as Head of Strategy for Saluda Grade. Mr. Cohen began his career with Cohen Financial in 1981 as a loan originator before becoming CEO, a title he held for 25 years, during which he recapitalized the firm six times between 1998 and 2013. His professional affiliations include serving as Association President of Chartered Realty Investor and the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council (CREFC), being a member of the Commercial Real Estate Finance/Multifamily Board of Governors (COMBOG), and sitting on the big board at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). His honors include the CREFC Founder’s Award for lifetime contributions to commercial real estate securitization and the MBA COMBOG Award recognizing borrower satisfaction efforts. After leaving Cohen Financial, Mr. Cohen founded Darkknight Ventures, a personal holding company where he mentors executives, consults on strategic initiatives, and invests in operating businesses. He has held leadership roles at Shirlaws Group as a small business enterprise coach, at 3650 REIT as a Managing Director, and at Stronghill Capital as President and Chief Innovation Officer. Additionally, he has taught leadership, career development, and commercial real estate finance at institutions such as Northwestern University, Claremont Men’s College, the University of Denver (in conjunction with the Urban Land Institute), the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Colorado, Boulder. Mr. Cohen authored his first book, Freedom Frameworks, which provides tools for young professionals (ages 25-35) to achieve career success on their own terms. Personally, he is an avid pilot with an Airline Transport Pilot License and two Single Pilot Type Ratings for light jets, a second-degree black belt in Tomiki-styled Aikido, a NAUI-certified scuba diver, and an active outdoors enthusiast.

Michael Derk is an Executive Managing Director at MMCC. Michael is responsible for securing commercial debt and equity financing for an array of property types including multifamily, office and industrial, retail, seniors housing and hospitality. He is well connected with national, regional and local funding sources including, but not limited to agency lenders (e.g. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac), commercial banks, CMBS lenders, life insurance companies, private and public funds and bridge lenders. Michael has more than 22 years of commercial real estate finance experience and has closed more than $4 billion in transactions. He specializes in structuring multifamily, retail and industrial products as well as other special purpose properties. During his career with MMCC, he has been honored with the firm’s National Achievement Award every year since 2005. He was also featured in Southern California Real Estate Magazine’s “40 Under 40” in 2004 and 2010. Mr. Derk achieved the highest revenue of all MMCC loan originators in California in 2004 through 2006, 2008 and 2009. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance. He also earned a master’s degree in real estate from the University of California, Los Angeles and studied abroad at Oxford University in England. He holds a sales license from the California Department of Real Estate and is a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).