Ezra Katz

As Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Aztec Group, Ezra Katz has been described as Florida’s leading real estate deal maker and financial engineer focusing on initiating innovative strategies for creating joint ventures and solving complex real estate transactions.

Mr. Katz began his real estate career in 1971 after having graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. After having spent three years in the residential construction business as a Construction Superintendent in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Katz joined US Realty Investments, a NYSE equity REIT, where he oversaw development, management and workouts of over 50 properties throughout the US and Puerto Rico.

After liquidating the assets of US Realty Investments in 1980, Mr. Katz formed Aztec Group in 1981 to provide commercial real estate and mortgage brokerage services for investment sales, mortgage financing, and equity placement. Under his leadership, Aztec Group became recognized as the premier real estate investment banking firm in Florida.

Mr. Katz formed Mayan Properties, a merchant bank, in 1993 to invest in real estate transactions as a principal in a variety of partnerships including a diverse portfolio of office buildings, shopping centers, residential land development, hotels, industrial, and healthcare/senior housing. The combination of Aztec Group as an investment banker and Mayan Properties as a merchant bank allowed Mr. Katz to be involved in over $12 billion in closed transactions as a principal and as an intermediary/broker.

Peter Mekras

As President of Aztec Group, Peter Mekras is responsible for leading the firm’s capital market, investment sales, and merchant banking platforms. Mr. Mekras brings a track record representing over $3 billion of closed sale and capital markets transactions including investment sales, debt, equity, and joint ventures. Mr. Mekras has diverse experience in commercial real estate with a deep expertise spanning 25,000 units in multifamily, fractured condominium communities, and land.

Prior to rejoining Aztec Group, Mr. Mekras was a Senior Vice President at CREC (now Colliers International) in Coral Gables. At CREC, Mr. Mekras was a member of the firm’s Strategic Team and established the multifamily and land brokerage practices, completing over $675 million in sale and debt placement transactions. Prior to joining CREC, Mr. Mekras was a Managing Director at Aztec Group, where he completed forty brokerage transactions.

Mr. Mekras has been a Florida resident for over 40 years, is an active participant in the University of Miami Mentor Program and the Legal Services of Greater Miami Foundation’s Investment Committee.

Luis Benitez

As Chief Operating Officer of Aztec Group, Luis Benitez’ responsibilities are focused on financial asset management. His duties include overseeing all existing investments, financial performance reporting & forecasting, investor relations and the assurance that all financial and managerial business practices are in accordance with policies established by management.

Mr. Benitez’ background includes a wide range of experience including public and private accounting and an extensive managerial background in the real estate construction and property management.

Prior to joining Aztec, Mr. Benitez held the position of Financial Services Tax Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP where he oversaw the tax compliance and consulting for a wide variety of local and national real estate clients and transactions.

Charles Penan

As Executive Vice President of Aztec Group, Charles Penan brings over $3 billion of closed transaction experience that includes investment sales, senior debt placement, construction financing, bridge loans, mezzanine loans, equity placement, and the structuring of joint ventures for all types of commercial real estate nationwide.

Prior to joining Aztec Group in 2009, Mr. Penan spent five years at Cohen Financial working with one of the firm’s top capital market teams. Prior to that, Mr. Penan was an Associate with Northmarq Capital, formerly Legg Mason Real Estate Services, in Boca Raton, Florida.

Mr. Penan has been a resident of South Florida for over 20 years, and is an active Board member of AIPAC, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, and Young Leaders of United Way of Miami-Dade. Mr. Penan was honored as a member of South Florida Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2014, Real Estate Florida’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2009, and Real Estate Florida’s Top 30 Under 30 in 2008.

Boaz Ashbel

As Managing Director of Aztec Group, Boaz Ashbel focuses on hospitality acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, development, and debt and equity financing. His area of expertise involves a variety of hospitality property transactions and financing, including select and full-service hotels, branded and unbranded resorts, as well as condominium hotels.

Mr. Ashbel’s 35 years of hospitality experience includes acquisitions and dispositions, debt, mezzanine, and equity financing, joint venture creation and capital restructuring, development, asset management, economic impact analysis, financial analyses, appraisals, and operational reviews for a variety of existing and proposed hotels, resorts, and other leisure-oriented properties.

Over his career, Mr. Ashbel has been involved and instrumental in the consumation of several hundred transactions representing an aggregate value of well over $2 billion. During the past 25 years, he has been involved as a principal in a number of hospitality related projects, gaining a keen understanding of operational and ownership related issues.

Jason Shapiro

As Managing Director of Aztec Group, Jason Shapiro brings over 25 years of experience in commercial real estate investment banking, and leads all capital markets activities for the firm. Mr. Shapiro’s primary focus is arranging all forms of debt; including permanent, bridge, construction, mezzanine, and participating loans, as well as equity and joint venture placements for the firm’s own account and on behalf of the firm’s extensive client base. Mr. Shapiro has been involved in and closed transactions spanning all commercial and residential real estate asset types totaling over $3 billion, and encompassing in excess of 50 million square feet.

Prior to joining Aztec, Mr. Shapiro spent seven years as Vice President of Thomas D. Wood & Company’s Coral Gables, Florida office. Mr. Shapiro was responsible for the origination and placement of long-term, income property loans on behalf of domestic life insurance companies. During his tenure at Thomas D. Wood & Company, Mr. Shapiro closed over 100 commercial real estate financing transactions.

Howard Taft

As Senior Managing Director of Aztec Group, Howard Taft brings over 40 years and over $4 billion of commercial real estate capital markets and sales experience. Mr. Taft’s primary focus is the origination, analysis, and placement of real estate debt and equity throughout the United States. Mr. Taft has closed transactions involving mezzanine, equity, and debt financing for acquisitions, development, and refinances for various product types including multifamily, retail, office, note transactions, office, new construction, condominiums, residential and office condominium conversions, land, and mixed-use properties. Mr. Taft has arranged Joint Venture Partners as a Principal and Intermediary. Prior to joining Aztec, Mr. Taft was Senior Managing Director at Cohen Financial, Senior Managing Director at Holliday Fenoglio Fowler (HFF), and a Senior Vice President at CREC in Coral Gables. Mr. Taft established and managed the Miami office of HFF and Cohen Financial.

Mr. Taft is affiliated with various organizations including National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Executive Committee/Advisory Board of University of Florida Warrington College of Business, and is former President and Member of the Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers and Mortgage Bankers.

Sean Harrington

As Managing Director of Aztec Group, Sean Harrington brings a track record of over $5 billion in commercial real estate investment banking. Mr. Harrington’s primary focus is arranging all forms of equity, joint ventures, and debt including permanent, bridge, construction, and mezzanine financing for private and institutional clients.

Prior to joining Aztec, Mr. Harrington was a Senior Associate at NorthStar Realty Finance Corporation in Century City, California – a New York City-based REIT. Mr. Harrington was responsible for the origination and underwriting of bridge, mezzanine, and preferred equity financing for multifamily, retail, office, and hospitality properties across the US. During his tenure at NorthStar Realty Finance, Mr. Harrington was involved in over $2.5 billion of commercial real estate transactions.

Brell Tarich

As Director of Aztec Group, Brell Tarich focuses on advising clients on commercial real estate debt, equity, and investment sale transactions. Mr. Tarich is responsible for transaction origination, underwriting, and deal placement.

Prior to joining Aztec Group, Mr. Tarich spent three years at Rialto Capital as a Senior Associate in their Miami office focusing on portfolio management and portfolio underwriting. Mr. Tarich also oversaw the litigation of its small balance loan non-performing assets. Prior to that, Mr. Tarich spent one year as an Associate at The Tarich Law Firm.

Karl Thomson

As Associate of Aztec Group, Karl Thomson is responsible for managing the financial analysis, positioning and execution of capital market and investment sale engagements. Mr. Thomson is also active in various asset management processes throughout the life cycle of Aztec Group’s merchant banking activities. Mr. Thomson’s experience includes the formulation of market research, financial models, offering memorandums, pitch books, and private placements. While at Aztec Group, Mr. Thomson has been involved in closing sales and capital markets commercial real estate transactions representing in excess of $825 million.
Prior to joining the Aztec Group, Mr. Thomson held analytical roles in real estate brokerage, development, and acquisitions.

Pedro Pompeu

As a Junior Analyst of Aztec Group, Pedro Pompeu is responsible for the creation and analysis of financial models, statements, and discounted cash flow proformas as well as real estate-specific market research and creation of marketing materials for financing requests and offering memorandums.
Prior to joining the Aztec Group, Mr. Pompeu was involved in the acquisition and sale of residential real estate investments with over 50 transactions across the state of Florida.

Bernadette Calais

Lorraine Fisher-Ortega