I am the Founder and President of Bernard Financial Group and Bernard Financial Servicing Group. I founded Bernard Financial Group in 1991 and it has grown into the largest commercial mortgage banking firm in Michigan financing on average over $1 billion each year of Michigan Commercial Real Estate. Over the last 33 years, I have specialized in both debt and equity placement with commercial lenders and institutional joint venture participants. I have been involved with over 1,000 commercial real estate financial transactions totaling over $27,500,000,000. I have been engaged as both a consultant and a correspondent by over twenty five national lenders. My educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from Miami University along with a MBA specializing in Finance and Strategic Planning from Case Western Reserve University. I have been an editorial contributor to The Wall Street Journal, Commercial, Inc., Crain’s Detroit Business, Michigan Real Estate Journal, Midwest Real Estate News, National Real Estate Investors, Heartland Properties, Real Estate Forum, among others. I have received numerous awards for his community and business involvements. Annually named to Metropolitan Detroit Top 100 Business Leaders. Most recently, I was elected President of the Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit and to JFNA’s executive board. I am on the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) CRE Board of Governors. I have been recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business as a “40 under 40”, by Midwest Real Estate News as a “40 over 40” Most Influential Real Estate Professional and Midwest Hall of Fame, and by Commercial Inc. as an Elite Eight winner. I have been bestowed the honor of the 2006 Governors Service Award for Volunteering and Community Leadership. I have also received Crain’s Detroit Business, University of Michigan and ULI’s “Real Estate Excellence” award. I have received the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit’s Young Leadership Award, the Jewish Community Council Activist of the Year Award, the American Jewish Committee “Outstanding Humanitarian Award”, and was deemed “Home Town Hero” for Oakland County for my activities and involvements on behalf of local charities. I currently sit on nine different charitable organizations Board of Trustees. I have been the Vice Chair of Michigan’s Venture Michigan Fund and currently serve as gubernatorial appointments to two other State of Michigan Boards or Task Forces. I enjoy mentoring in the Detroit Public Schools.