Meet Our Team

Mark is Founder, President, and CEO of the San Francisco Bay Area-based Oasis Private Funder Group of companies. Oasis Private Funder Inc., the flagship company, is an alternative mortgage lender founded in 2008 to provide consumers and investors access to fast, reliable, and convenient capital.

He is a professional with 40 years’ experience, including 25 years in development and 15 years in mortgage lending. Mark is known as a visionary entrepreneur and collaborator and has overseen the launch of five complimentary divisions supported by four private funds.

Mark is considered an innovator and recognized authority in the alternative lending space, and is a published author, radio personality and regular speaker at industry conferences.

He is an active member of industry associations, including the Association, the American Association of Private Lenders, and the United States Association of Mortgage Professionals. He pursues his personal and professional development through memberships in Vistage CEO Advisory Group, Strategic Coach and Genius Network.

Mark earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a focus in finance and accounting from the Menlo School of Business Administration in Atherton, California.

Nam is Chief Operating Officer of Oasis Private Funder, Inc. He first joined Oasis Private Funder in 2015 as Business Development Director before becoming General Manager then COO, his current position.

During his time managing operations, the Company experienced significant year over year growth from loan originations of $50 million in 2015 to over $400 million in 2021 or 700% in 6 years.

Nam’s lending career spans over 20 years. In addition to Oasis Private Funder, Nam held senior positions with Better Homes/Avalar Real Estate, as Executive Vice President of Operations, where he was responsible for franchisor operations of the company’s 220 franchised offices and more than 2,000 Realtors. Additionally, Nam was the Director of Business Development for the Western US for HomeSmart International, recognized as one of the top 20 independent loan firms in the US and where Nam grew the company’s agent and office count 20% during his tenure.

He is an active member of industry associations, including the Association, the American Association of Private Lenders, and the United States Association of Mortgage Professionals.

Nam earned a B.S. degree in Psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Fabio Baum serves as the Executive Managing Director, Senior Underwriter, and Chair of the Credit Committee for Oasis Private Funder. With nearly 40 years of experience in the commercial loans industry, Fabio has expertise in credit management, underwriting, capital markets and business development. His broad skill set includes equity investment, development, senior and mezzanine debt originations, dispositions, and workouts.

Fabio has facilitated the sale, syndication, or origination of over $4 billion in CRE investments, working with GSEs, life insurance companies, pension funds, banks, REITs, hedge funds, and other institutional investors. His career began in Chicago with CNA Insurance, where he served as a portfolio manager overseeing financial guarantees on multifamily construction loans and LP syndicated investments. He then moved into business development as a loan officer for Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank (now Mizuho Bank), where he provided construction and term loans nationwide to institutional developers, investors, and REITs based in the Midwest.

Briefly transitioning into development, Fabio completed several ground-up construction and renovation projects, typically NNN credit-leased and value-add retail centers. In 2002, he relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, to refocus on multifamily loan origination for Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac and mezzanine/JV equity investments on behalf of institutional investors, including CalPERS and CalSTRS.

Fabio later joined KeyBanc’s Private Equity Group managing originations of debt, mezzanine, and preferred/JV equity investments. During the Great Recession, he helped Union Bank of California/MUFG (now US Bank) manage special assets, including institutional loan workouts and dispositions of CRE portfolios acquired through FDIC assisted sales from other West Coast banking companies. Following the cleanup and recovery, Fabio pivoted back to business development and underwriting eventually focusing on private credit and adapting to a new capital markets model. Mr. Baum holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, a B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign and an M.S. in Investment Analysis from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Lisa co-founded Oasis Private Funder, Inc. (PPM) with her husband Mark in 2008 and has worn many hats over the years. Most recently she ran Oasis Private Funder Realty Development I, LLC., taking over the completion of several residential and commercial construction projects when a contractor/Oasis Private Funder borrower client unexpectantly passed away.

Originally from the East Coast, Lisa got her undergraduate degree from Barnard College of Columbia University and an MBA degree from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

Rick is a Senior Underwriter of Oasis Private Funder, Inc. He joined Oasis Private Funder in 2013 where he heads a team of underwriters.

Rick is a finance professional with a 40-year background covering a wide range of industry experiences including 20 years in the corporate banking work including retail and private banking with another 20 years in mortgage brokering/banking and private lending. He is known as a team builder and team player with the ability to grow profitable business operations.

Rick joined Oasis Private Funder in its infancy and was hired as an underwriter. The role grew to handling private investors, being responsible for direct loan placement, attending industry events and included a place on the management team.

Prior to joining the Company, he held positions as Branch Manager of Household Finance, Senior Underwriter for the United States lending operations of First Interstate Bank and ended his banking career as a Vice President in the private banking sector of the Beverly Hills office of Wells Fargo Bank. While these roles were primarily credit-based positions, his responsibilities included portfolio and personnel management, audit and compliance requirements as well as being involved in serious collection issues. Rick was on the banks main credit teams responsible for vetting other bank portfolios for mergers and acquisitions. He also wrote and taught credit procedures for the 400-branch operation.

Rick later worked as a mortgage broker, eventually becoming a partner in a small firm where he was responsible for sales production and secondary marketing when the firm began mortgage banking operations. From humble beginnings, the firm grew to 75 agents, over 30 staff members and closing $5 billion during his tenure. Rick also managed the firms broker relationships and a $90 million hard money fund.

Rick holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in finance from California State University, Chico. At University of California, Berkely he studied Aeronautical / Aerospace Engineering Technology.

He is a former Board Director for the United States Association of Mortgage Brokers; Stanford Bank Management Program; expert witness in credit transactions.

Bill Farrant serves as the Controller at Oasis Private Funder, Inc., having joined the Finance and Accounting Department in 2022.

Prior to Oasis Private Funder, Bill worked as Controller at Motive Power, overseeing all financial operations for a 100-person consulting firm, which primarily worked with large utility companies, including PG&E. The firm had an annual revenue of approximately $30 million. He also held the role of Controller at the Long Beach Convention Center, where he managed a six-person accounting team. His responsibilities included overseeing financial operations for a property comprising four exhibit halls, three performance venues, and generating annual revenues of approximately $500 million.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with an emphasis in accounting.

Wilson is the Treasury / Funder and supports Investor Relations at Oasis Private Funder, Inc. He joined Oasis Private Funder in 2021 in the Finance / Accounting Department.

Most recently he was the Program Coordinator at the University of California – San Francisco (UCSF) for nine years where he provided project management and financial coordination for multiple five-million-dollar Federal grant programs, here he also provided management of symposium and lecture series events.

Ten years of prior positions include a Senior Treasury Analyst position at Paul Financial, LLC, where he spearheaded department wide process improvement initiative which effectively tracked wire transfers, interest payments, payroll, syndication, loan funding, bank account fees, and vendor payments. Additionally provided cash flow forecasting, responsible for tracking commitment fees for various lines of credit. Before this he was the Cash Operations Analyst at First Data Corporation, where he administered a major national payment-processing product, including account analysis, reporting, wire transfers, and customer account resolutions.

Wilson holds a B.A. in Philosophy and English Literature from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Mara Nowak is the Senior Loan Servicing Manager at Oasis Private Funder, Inc. She joined the company in late 2022 as a consultant and transitioned into her current role in early 2023. As Senior Loan Servicing Manager, Mara oversees loan servicing and acts as a liaison between Executive Management, Operations, Sales, Accounting, and Investor Services.

With over 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Mara has an extensive background in operations. She has worked with leading firms across Alt-A, Conventional, Jumbo, Government, and Non-QM residential wholesale and retail lending. During her 10+ years at Greenpoint Mortgage, Mara steadily advanced in responsibilities, eventually being selected by corporate leadership to drive organizational change. In this capacity, she served as a product owner in agile development, represented operations in the design of a business process management workflow tool and imaging platform, and liaised with offshore teams to implement a fully paperless office.

Mara has managed teams of 50-70 employees and has developed standardized processes, policies, staffing models, and training programs. In addition to her operations management expertise, she brings over a decade of experience in mortgage underwriting, adding strong analytical skills to her leadership profile.

Mara holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Management from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. She also earned a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Secondary Mathematics from Sonoma State University.

Melinda Durham is the Human Resources Manager for Oasis Private Funder, Inc., having joined in 2022 to help establish and expand the HR department. Her responsibilities cover all aspects of employee management, including onboarding, employee relations, compliance, benefits, compensation, policy and procedure development, and maintaining accurate documentation for all staff.

Melinda brings over 25 years of experience to her HR role. She began her career in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, where she assisted an entertainment attorney on deal memos and employment contracts before being promoted to Account Manager and Director of Contract Administration for the Motion Picture Production Department at International Creative Management (now part of Creative Artists Agency).

In 2008, Melinda transitioned to a human resources career in Northern California. She first became an expert in administering health benefit plans for a nonprofit organization managing plans for multiple entities. Over time, she expanded her expertise in all areas of human resources. She later worked as a Human Resources Specialist for By the Bay Health in Larkspur, California, where she managed documentation and reviewed licensing for over 400 employees, many of which were medical staff, and also played a key role in preparing for a Joint Commission audit.

Melinda holds a B.A. in International Relations with a concentration in World Trade and Development from the University of California, Davis. She has also completed additional coursework at UCB, UCLA, and local institutions, continuously expanding her knowledge in various fields.

Tyler Wennet is the Director of Business Development and Marketing at Oasis Private Funder, bringing extensive experience in private lending, investment strategy, and capital markets. Throughout his career, Tyler has successfully raised and managed over $300 million in working capital while overseeing the forward flow of $1 billion in non-performing loans (NPLs).

A strategic leader in the alternative investment space, Tyler spearheaded the creation of a digital in-house trade desk, attracting over 400 private investors within six months and generating $3 million in monthly mortgage note offerings. His expertise in growth strategy has helped scale client portfolios from $10 million to over $144 million, while also playing a pivotal role in the development of multiple $100 million+ debt funds.

Beyond investments, Tyler has expanded his reach into media and thought leadership. He has also cultivated strong networks with financial advisors, family offices, and self-directed IRA custodians, driving innovation and transformative growth in the industry.

An Arizona native, Tyler holds a degree from Northern Arizona University. He resides with his wife and two daughters, enjoying time with family and the opportunities that come with an ever-evolving the investment landscape.

Andrew Ratzky is an Account Executive at Oasis Private Funder, Inc., bringing over 20 years of experience in lending, management, and business development. Since 1999, Andrew has been actively involved in every aspect of the industry, ensuring a seamless and efficient process for his clients.

Throughout his career, Andrew has held key leadership roles, including VP-level positions in private banking, mortgage sales, and area sales management at major U.S. financial institutions such as Bank of America, HSBC, and Citibank. He has earned multiple sales excellence awards, reflecting his dedication and expertise. His broad experience covers a range of lending products, including construction loans, private money, jumbo, and non-QM loans, allowing him to successfully navigate even the most complex transactions.

With a strong foundation in both mortgage management and business development, Andrew creates tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of each client. His commitment to excellence and client satisfaction has made him a valuable asset to Oasis Private Funder.

Andrew holds a degree in Business Administration with a focus in Finance from California State University, Northridge. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife, two high school-aged children, and their yellow lab, Sydney.

With 30 years of experience in private lending and 13 years with the company, Gus is our longest-tenured and most experienced private-money specialist. He focuses on residential investment, owner-occupied, rehab, fix and flip, cross-collateralized, and bridge loans, as well as business-purpose and small commercial lending. Known for getting loans done where others can’t, Gus brings a reputation for reliability and expertise. He is also fluent in Spanish. CA. DRE # 01910488 | NMLS # 380409

For over 20 years Edward Brown was CEO of a $40 million alternative lending company based in Marin County. Today he assists Oasis Private Funder with capital raising and investor presentations. Edward is also the host of two radio shows —The Best of Investing with Mark Hanf and Sports Econ 101, a national sports and business show. Edward earned his B.S. in Accounting and M.S in Taxation from Golden Gate University, and has held licenses and certifications including Salesperson, Insurance License, Series 7 Securities License, Tax Preparation License, and Certified Fund Specialist.

JJ is a 20-plus year professional in the Mortgage Industry. He has managed RE portfolios which purchased, sold, and rehabbed SFR 1-4 nationwide. He also worked with construction contactors to provide construction loans for spec. development. DRE Broker License No. 01145314