ATLANTIC AMERICAN ADVISORS - Key Persons
Brad Gordon joined Communications Equity Associates (CEA) in 1985 and currently serves as its Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. He has been instrumental in developing and supervising the firms' finance, tax compliance, economic forecasting, security compliance and internal investment activities.
In addition to his executive roles among the CEA Group's entities, Brad, along with Rick Michaels and Robert Moreyra, co-founded Atlantic American Partners in 2000 and is a partner in its fund management business.
Brad earned his Bachelor of Science and Business Administration in Accounting at the Tennessee Technology University. He is a member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants.
Bradley Snyder joined Atlantic American Partners in 2004 and is a founding partner in its private equity fund management and immigration-based investment businesses. While primarily focused on sourcing and underwriting the Funds' investments, Brad is involved in all facets of the business, including asset management, Fund administration, and marketing.
Job Titles:
- Director of Investor Administration
- Director of Investor Administrator
Brittany Johnson joined Atlantic American Partners in 2014 and serves as Director of Investor Administrator. In this capacity, she oversees the management of all Fund investment documents, investor correspondence, and marketing. Brittany works closely with the firm's investors and immigration attorneys, providing project and investment information in support of filing I-526 petitions for the Fund's investors, and serves as the liaison between the Fund and its escrow agent, assisting in the funding and release of investor capital.
Prior to joining Atlantic American Partners, Brittany served as an Advertising Sales Manager for a global golf publication. There, she successfully marketed the brand, creating new and repeat business.
Cristen Messerli joined CEA Group / Atlantic American Partners in 2014 and currently serves as the firm's Director of Audit. She primarily oversees the financial reporting and annual financial audits of the Atlantic American series of EB-5 funds and their underlying portfolio assets.
Prior to joining the firm, Cristen worked as an Auditor for Grant Thornton, LLP in Tampa, Florida, and as an Accounting Manager in various industries including Health Care, Construction, and Manufacturing.
Cristen earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Accountancy from the University of South Florida (Tampa, Florida). She holds a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license in the state of Florida and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of Emerging Markets
Daniel Ryan joined Atlantic American Partners (AAP) in 2018 as Managing Director of Emerging Markets. In this capacity, he oversees the firm's marketing activities in emerging investment markets, with a current focus on India, Middle East/UAE, Eastern Europe, and Africa.
Prior to joining AAP, Daniel lived for 10+ years in Lilongwe, Malawi, Africa, where he co-founded and served as Executive Director for Development Consulting Solutions (DCS), a management consulting and organizational development firm based in Africa. Mr. Ryan and his team at DCS developed an extensive and highly respected client list including The Reserve Bank of Malawi, The World Bank, USAID/FHI360, The European Union, and numerous other business organizations, performing various economic development, financial strategic planning, equity investments, and educational-related/capacity building consultancies throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.
Daniel began his career in commercial banking; first completing the management training program at Bank of America where he worked as a real estate lending officer, and then joined Sun Trust Bank, where he concentrated on larger commercial real estate construction and mini-perm lending activities throughout southeastern United States. Daniel then worked as Vice President of Real Estate Development for Green Street Development in Orlando, Florida, before relocating to Denver, Colorado where he worked as Director of Land Acquisition/Government Entitlements for D.R. Horton, a NYSE-listed national home builder. In 2008, Daniel returned to Florida to work for Forge Capital Partners, where he focused on pre-development entitlement and permitting approval processes for the firm's development initiatives.
Daniel holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration-Finance, a Master's Degree (Honors) in Organizational Development/Corporate Education; and recently (during the Covid-19 pandemic market slowdown period) completed the MBA Essentials program from the London School of Economics, and the Venture Capital & Entrepreneurship executive education program from Said Business School at the University of Oxford.
Daniel spent three years as an active Board of Trustee Director for Partners in Hope, HIV-AIDS Medical Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, which is recognized as one of the premier "free" HIV/AIDS full-scale hospitals throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, Daniel has been involved in humanitarian-related economic development and educational empowerment activities in other international countries including Indonesia, Taiwan, and Mexico, as well as lower socio-economic areas of the United States.
Rick Michaels founded Atlantic American Partners in 2000 and is a founding partner of its private equity fund management and immigration-based investment businesses. In 1973, Rick founded Communications Equity Associates (CEA) to provide financial expertise for a select group of cable industry clients. He led the company into a full-service international brokerage and financial services firm, which has included establishing and growing numerous affiliate companies and funds to expand the group's ability to serve new market opportunities with a focused approach.
Today, Rick interfaces with CEA's clients and supports colleagues on specialized transactions that require his expertise. Having visited 110 countries and worked in 60 countries, Rick still spends a considerable amount of time traveling to meet with clients developing and growing new business within the Group. He also provides oversight and strategic advice to CEA portfolio companies - not only specific investment prospects but strategic structures and vehicles for CEA's participation. For the most part, however, Rick focuses on creating and growing alternative asset management opportunities.
Prior to founding CEA, Rick was one of the original employees, and later, Vice President of TM Communications, the cable subsidiary of Times Mirror Company. He was Vice President of the Cable Funding Corporation, a firm specializing in cable television financing and investments; Assistant Manager as well as On-Air Personality for Radio City, an offshore radio station featured in the 2010 movie "Pirate Radio," also known as "The Boat That Rocked," about Rock-n-Roll era of 1960's.
Rick earned his BA from Tulane University graduating Magna Cum Laude. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a Tulane Scholar, and a Tulane Fellow. He studied at the London School of Economics and later earned his Master's degree from the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania.
Rick holds an Honorary Master's degree from St. Leo University, currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania, the Advisory Board of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of South Florida and the North American Advisory Board of the London School of Economics. He is the former Vice Chairman of the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Naval Academy as well as a Board Member and Fund Advisor for the Heernett Environmental Foundation. Rick also founded the Republican National Committee Regents in 1999, served as Co-Chairman for the Regents through 2008 and was a Host Committee member for the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa.
Job Titles:
- Director of Asian Marketing
- in 2021 As Director of Asian Marketing
Jim Guo joined Atlantic American Partners in 2021 as Director of Asian Marketing. His focus is marketing in both the US and China and sourcing investments. Jim is also co-founder of Proximity Associates, a real estate development firm based in the Carolinas that focuses on multifamily and residential development and construction.
Prior to joining Atlantic American and founding Proximity Associates, Jim specialized in residential construction and related land development and entitlements. His portfolio includes custom homes, subdivision development and spec built homes. Prior to his career change to real estate, Jim was a seasoned software development architect and project manager.
Jim received his Masters of Computer Engineering from the University of Maryland, Masters of Physics from the University of Chicago and Bachelors in physics from Peking University.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing, China
JoAnn Covington joined Atlantic American in 2010 and serves as the Director of Marketing for the China market, overseeing all marketing, advertising, promotional and staff activities for the Chinese marketplace.
Prior to joining Atlantic American Partners, JoAnn held a marketing position with Met Life in Virginia. She has over 10 years of experience in immigration marketing and consulting, much of it in Beijing, China.
JoAnn studied International Trade at Jiangxi University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Partner
- Atlantic American Partners' Chief Financial Officer
Ming Jung currently serves as Atlantic American Partners' Chief Financial Officer, overseeing all Fund-related tax matters and financial reporting. Ming joined Communications Equity Associates (CEA) in 1997 and currently serves as its Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. In this capacity, he oversees CEA Group's day-to-day business operations which include:
Corporate Advisory Services
Investment Banking
Private Equity
Managed Investments
Special Opportunities
Financial reporting and tax for CEA's equity investment portfolio
Serves as Designated Principal for CEA Atlantic Advisors, LLC, CEA's licensed broker-dealer
In addition, Ming was responsible for the development and growth of CEA's ten private equity funds. He continues to manage this portfolio's remaining interests which are under management or general partnerships.
Prior to CEA, Ming served as a Senior Tax Specialist with Arthur Andersen, LLP.
Ming attended Florida State University where he earned both his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and his Masters of Accounting specializing in Taxation and graduating Magna Cum Laude. He is a Certified Public Accountant with Series 7, 24 and 63 licenses. Ming is also a member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants.
Job Titles:
- Director of Tax / Controller
Job Titles:
- Investor Relations Coordinator
- in 2017 As an Investor Relations Coordinator
Olivia Green-Heredia joined Atlantic American Partners in 2017 as an Investor Relations Coordinator. In this capacity, she works side-by-side with Rosie Roden in managing all incoming clients from the Latin American Region.
Prior to joining Atlantic American Partners, Olivia worked as a legal assistant for The Carr Law Firm, P.A., a prominent Orlando real estate law firm, as well as Fritz Scheller, P.L, Attornies.
Olivia earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in Business. She is also fluent in Portuguese and Spanish, and is a member of the Central Florida Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce and the Brazil-Florida Business council.
Robert Moreyra founded Atlantic American Partners in 2000 along with Rick Michaels and Brad Gordon, and is a founding partner of the firm's private equity fund management and immigration-based investment businesses. Robert is also Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Forge Capital Partners, a real estate investment company that manages Community Reinvestment Partners II and Forge Real Estate Partners III, both private equity funds that invest in the Southeast U.S., principally in grocery-anchored shopping centers in areas designated to qualify under the Community Reinvestment Act.
Prior to founding Atlantic American Partners and Forge Capital Partners, Robert served as Managing Director of investment banking firms H. C. Wainwright & Co., First American Investment Banking Corporation and William R. Hough & Co., where he focused on public offerings, private placements, debt placements and restructurings, and mergers and acquisitions.
Robert has substantial real estate experience, having served for eight years as Chief Executive Officer of Pardue, Heid, Church, Smith & Waller, Inc., a consulting firm focused on project finance, underwriting, loan restructuring and market feasibility analysis. Under his leadership, Pardue, Heid grew to be the country's largest privately held real estate consulting firm of its type. Robert later sold the firm to an industry consolidator. Prior to joining Pardue, Heid, Robert was with Trammell Crow Residential, one of the country's largest and longest standing real estate development firms, with over 225,000 units completed in major markets.
Robert received his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Central Florida, Graduate School of Business and is a graduate of Florida International University, where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in Finance. He has served as a member of the University of Florida's Graduate School of Business Advisory Board, numerous corporate Boards of Directors, and is a member of FINRA.
Job Titles:
- Director of Global Business Development
- in 2016 As Director of Global Business Development
Rosie Roden joined Atlantic American Partners in 2016 as Director of Global Business Development. In this capacity, she oversees marketing, advertising and promotional activities in our global markets, including identifying markets and opportunities, establishing new networks abroad, and developing relationships with business and investors.
Prior to Joining Atlantic American, Rosie served as Director of Business Development for a prominant Orlando-based immigration law firm that provides a variety of immigration-related services to corporate and individual clients worldwide.
Rosie earned her Masters of Public Administration and Management from Harvard University and her Bachelor of Letters and Science from the University of California at Berkeley. She is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has extensive experience working in Latin America and abroad. Rosie is an active member of the Brazilian /American Chamber of Commerce, the Brazil-Florida Business Council and the Harvard Alumni Association in Florida.
Yiwei Zhang joined Atlantic American Partners in 2018, serving as a Financial Analyst. In this capacity, he works with the underwriting team to analyze investment opportunities for the firm's EB-5 and traditional private equity Funds. Yiwei specializes in modeling project feasability, return on investment and sensitivity analysis, as well as perfoms market research and cost analysis. In addition, Yiwei assists Atlantic American Partners' marketing team with the preparation of presentations and marketing materials.
Yiwei originally joined Atlantic American Partners as an intern in the summer of 2014. After returning to his home country of China for a year, Yiwei decided to return to the U.S. to pursue a masters degree. At this time, he also petitioned for residency in the U.S. via one of Atlantic American Partners' EB-5 investments, making him a very unique success story for the firm.
Yiwei earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Boston University (Boston, Massachusetts) in 2015. He earned his Master of Finance in Quantitative Finance from Bentley University (Waltham, Massachusetts) in 2018.