Rick Patel

President

Rick Patel is the Founder and President of GRP Capital. With over two decades of extensive community work in the hospitality and finance industries, Mr. Patel’s rich history has helped shaped the firm’s core investment philosophy. Rick ensures compliance with all applicable policies, studies economic trends and market health, and is directly involved in forming each of GRP Capital’s debt strategies. 

Mr. Patel began his journey in the commercial real estate sector with his first startup, the National Hospitality Consulting Group (NHCG). In the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, Mr. Patel and his partner quickly developed NHCG into one of Florida’s leading hospitality consulting firms. Despite a tight credit market, Mr. Patel played a crucial role in helping his clients regain their financial stability. This experience reinforced his belief that all business owners, given the right support, expert consultation, and appropriate funding, can succeed.

In 2013, Mr. Patel established Global Perspective Funding with a vision to assist entrepreneurs secure third-party financing solutions. He offers expert consultation services, aiding companies in increasing profit margins, refinancing debts, recovering from adversity, and securing funding for future growth projects. As an advocate for his clients, Mr. Patel negotiates with various lending partners on their behalf. The company underwent restructuring in 2015 and emerged as GRP Capital, which has since become a household name in hospitality financing.

In 2020, Mr. Patel co-founded Second Street Capital, a direct short-term lending solution for experienced entrepreneurs who found themselves underserved as a result of the global pandemic. With the expanded capacity of Second Street Capital, Mr. Patel now serves as a comprehensive source for financing, offering access to bridge, conventional, non-recourse financing options, and SBA products.

Recognizing the growing needs in the capital and lending market, Mr. Patel executed his vision through GRP Capital.

Krishan R. Patel

Managing Director

Krishan is Managing Director at GRP Capital, overseeing the firm’s day-to-day operations and credit underwriting practices.

Krishan joined GRP in 2016 as an Associate, focusing on originating and underwriting hospitality assets through the U.S. In 2017, Krishan supervised the development of internal due diligence procedures to streamline loan processes and now leads the company’s Small Business Financing division and company operations. Since joining GRP, Krishan has structured over $600MM in commercial debt, advocating for borrowers and their successes.

Prior to his career in commercial real estate finance, Krishan served as an Officer at Private Capital Management, a private equity firm with a focus on U.S. equities and value strategies. Mr. Patel holds a Master of Science degree in Finance, specializing in Financial Management, from Florida International University in Miami, FL.

Sajhal Patel

Director of Accounting

Sajhal Patel joined the GRP Capital team in 2015 as Director of Accounting. Sajhal oversees the company’s financial activities and is responsible for human resources, billing, and servicing accounts.

Previously, Sajhal was a leading member of Chico’s FAS financial division and joined GRP with over 15 years of finance experience, 5 years of which was in the commercial lending sector.

Sajhal serves as Controller for Second Street Capital, a CRE loan origination and servicing company that focuses on providing funding solutions through a direct lending platform, and continues to be an asset to those seeking creative solutions and advice.

Sajhal received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Economics from Hodges University in Fort Myers, FL.

Veeraj Patel

Vice President, Commercial Loans

Veeraj Patel is Vice President of Commercial Loans at GRP Capital, specializing in conventional, non-recourse and agency lending.

Veeraj joined GRP in 2021 after beginning his career in hospitality and leisure operations. Veeraj is now responsible for underwriting bridge and permanent loan opportunities for acquisitions, recapitalizations, and ground-up construction. Veeraj’s focus areas include hospitality, multifamily, self-storage, and mix-used assets.

Veeraj holds an MBA from Florida International University and a B.S. degree in Integrated Business from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL.

Keren Alpert

Processor

Keren Alpert is lead loan processor at GRP Capital and coordinates with clients, banks, and other third parties to obtain all of the necessary documents to secure funding for her clients’ projects.

Prior to joining GRP Capital, Ms. Alpert served a large residential mortgage lender as a final documents specialist and auditor. Ms. Alpert now supports the GRP team by assisting in the analysis, evaluation, and organization of cases and coordinating with the GRP associates and management. In addition, Ms. Alpert has many years of copywriting and social media marketing experience, particularly writing blogs and website copy. Ms. Alpert received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Oklahoma City University.

Ryan Dumas

Senior Associate

Ryan’s extensive network of hospitality professionals and active participation in the industry have been a driving force to support GRP Capital in becoming a nationally recognized financial advisor and capital provider. Ryan has over 10 years of experience in commercial financing and has helped secure funding for over 100 hotels during that time.

Before joining GRP Capital, Ryan spent four years in equipment financing, serving as Senior Business Development Manager at Marlin Business Services Corp. and in Commercial Sales at Blue Bridge Capital. Additionally, he has demonstrated breadth in the commercial real estate sector, raising over $10 million for multifamily and self-storage syndications,  and leading joint venture deals in Florida and Alaska.

Ryan studied Business Management at St. Petersburg College.

Cesar Hernandez

Associate

Cesar Hernandez is an experienced associate with GRP Capital, with over 20 years of expertise in the banking and lending industry. He specializes in private client services and commercial mortgages.

Cesar holds multiple licenses, including as a mortgage loan originator in several states, the series 6 and 63 investment licenses, and the FL 215 Life and health insurance license. His extensive experience working with high net-worth clients, new and experienced business owners, allows him to provide his clients with the best options and suitable solutions needed to meet their business and financial goals.

Cesar is a firm believer in the idea that the best referral source is a satisfied client, and he works hard to build and maintain strong relationships while providing the best service and solutions for his clients. He has always been involved in the community and has maintained ties with various networking groups such as Nabor, Chamber of Commerce, Nahrep, Young Professional of SWFL, and many others in the area.

Prior to joining GRP Capital, Cesar served many years as a Licensed Private Client Banker, Certified Small Business Banker, and Residential Lending Advisor with JP Morgan Chase.

Vijal Suthar

Associate

Vijal Suthar is an Associate of GRP Capital representing the West Coast Region. Ms. Suthar is responsible for building and managing and managing relationships, project screening, property analysis, and loan sizing.

Ms. Suthar began her career in the Hospitality Industry by managing multiple hotel properties in California. She has been a long standing member of AAHOA and is a candidate to become a Board Member for South Pacific Region in 2024. Furthermore, to advance her advocacy and pursue her passion for public service, she has decided to run for Congress for Congressional District 35 in California. 

Ms. Suthar is a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) and attended the Collins College of Hospitality Management, a charter of the California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California. She also attended Harvard’s extended Education Program to gain valuable knowledge and add to her academic career. 

Ravi Patel

Associate

Ravi Patel is an emerging associate at GRP Capital, recently starting his professional journey in commercial real estate financing. His career began in the hospitality industry, where he owned and managed a successful business. This foundational experience has provided him with valuable insights into customer service and operational management.

Transitioning into real estate, Mr. Patel brings fresh perspectives to single and multi-family investments. His keen interest in the field, coupled with his background in hospitality, allows him to uniquely understand the client’s needs and the nuances of property management and investment. His primary goal is to build lasting relationships with clients by focusing on their needs and working diligently to aid in their success.

Mr. Patel’s enthusiasm and commitment to his new role at GRP Capital make him a promising addition to the team. He is motivated to expand his expertise in real estate investment and financing, aspiring to become a trusted and knowledgeable advisor for GRP Capital’s clients.

Niraj Zaveri

Associate

Niraj Zaveri is an Associate of GRP Capital, and is part of the company’s Texas-based team. Mr. Zaveri has worked in the loan origination industry since 2014.

Mr. Zaveri loves to see his clients’ dreams come true and is interested in helping to source loans for clients looking to purchase or refinance hotels, medical plazas, and warehouses. Mr. Zaveri has been ranked in the top 1% nationally among US loan officers in terms of his volume of loan origination and works tirelessly to make sure his clients have funding that is affordable, stable, and appropriate for projects.

Sam Patel

Associate

Sam Patel is an Associate of GRP Capital, part of the company’s Texas-based team. Mr. Patel has been in the business loan arena since 2019 as a loan officer and a loan originator.

As a former small business owner, Mr. Patel understands the finances, operating issues, and funding needs for other small business entrepreneurs, especially the fast-casual food and beverage sector. Mr. Patel also has a real estate license and is well-versed in the many steps of taking a loan from origination to closing. Mr. Patel prides himself on the relationships he develops with his clients and is focused on helping his clients find appropriate funding to meet their business goals.

Nick Patel

Associate

Nick Patel is a GRP Capital Associate, and is part of our Texas-based team. Mr. Patel has been in the lending business since 2009.

Mr. Patel started off as a loan processor, transferred into underwriting, and now works in origination, helping clients find funding for their business needs. Mr. Patel’s goal is to make the entire loan process as smooth as possible for his clients, from origination to closing, and understands that every loan is different. Mr. Patel has a degree in finance and is also studying to be a real estate broker.