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| Leadership Team |
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| Bernie Navarro, President |
| Bernie Navarro founded Benworth in 2008 as a privately held asset-based real estate finance firm with a business model designed to mitigate the very risks that caused the mortgage crisis, and built one of the most successful private lending entities in Florida. Prior to forming Benworth, he established HomeMortgage, which became the South Florida leader in new construction residential mortgages, and ultimately sold that company to the nation's number one home lender at the time. |
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Nearly 20 years of mortgage lending experience, including operations, management, sales and regulatory compliance |
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Formerly served on the City of Miami Beach Zoning Board |
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Serves on University of Miami School of Business Real Estate Advisory Board |
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Serves as President of the Latin Builders Association (LBA), the largest real
estate professional association in the Southeast and South Florida’s only Hispanic
business association |
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Earned “Mortgage Lender of the Year” and other top honors from the LBA, Builders Association of Florida and Platinum Florida’s BEST Awards |
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| Education: B.A., University of Miami; M.A. Government, Harvard University |
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| Jeff Bartel, Chairman |
| Jeff Bartel joined Benworth as its chairman in 2011. Previously, he served as corporate vice president for NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) and its Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) subsidiary, a Fortune 200 company with market capitalization of $24 billion. At NextEra, he directed public policy, corporate compliance and ethics, and regulatory and government affairs for over 15,000 employees across 24 states, Canada and Spain, and directed over $30 billion in development approvals. |
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Over 25 years of business management, compliance, real estate and development, land use and zoning law, and regulatory and government experience |
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Chaired the land use, zoning and real estate law departments as senior partner at
two of Florida’s largest law firms, representing local, national and international clients
on major projects |
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Has served in leadership capacities for some of Florida’s most prominent community organizations including the United Way, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Miami Children’s Museum, Orange Bowl Committee and Leadership Florida among others |
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Recipient of the Beacon Council's Business Leader of the Year Award |
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Named the first-ever recipient of the Sunshine State Ethics in Leadership Award, presented by the Florida State University College of Business |
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Recipient of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Distinguished Leader Award |
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Earned the Distinguished Member Award from Leadership Florida |
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| Education: B.A., Harvard University; J.D., University of Florida; Harvard Business School |
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| Henry Jimenez, Senior Vice President |
| Henry Jimenez underwrites and establishes long-term strategic planning goals in portfolio investments to create maximum returns for Benworth’s investors through innovative loan packaging, valuations, broker relations and portfolio diversification. Previously, he led Doral, Florida-based Prestige Lending Group, where he was in charge of loan portfolios, including market analysis studies, loan feasibility profiles and overall asset management. |
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Over 10 years experience in property analysis and portfolio management |
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Current President of the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana, one of the top five largest
Kiwanis organizations worldwide |
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Board Member of the Mercy Foundation |
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| Gilberto Navarro, Executive Vice President |
| Gilberto Navarro, a native of Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, is a seasoned executive with a strong balance of banking and business experience. He started his career in banking at Banco Popular de Puerto Rico in New York and later helped establish Republic National Bank in Miami. Mr. Navarro had the experience, vision and expertise to recognize strong entrepreneurs with exceptional potential for success, and was responsible for helping arrange financing for dozens of individuals and companies, many of whom have become South Florida’s business, professional and community leaders. |
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| Mildred J. Avila, Controller |
| Mildred J. Avila, a native of Merida, Mexico, has years of experience in accounting and management in the hard equity and private placement lending industry. She has managed and organized accounts receivables, portfolio management, bank and investor relations, and reported on the status of warehouse lines of credit. Ms. Avila, who began her accounting career while attending high school, earned an Associates in Arts Degree from Miami-Dade College and a Bachelor of Accounting from Florida International University. |
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