About US

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WHO IS ROMANO CAPITAL?

Romano Capital, Inc. provides alternative investment opportunities specializing in real estate in the Clark County, WA region. We are unique because we invest in our offerings alongside our investors.

Our track record is the result of developing our own offerings and managing the projects with our talented team of development, construction, property management and real estate sales professionals. We know how to maximize our investments from dirt to rental or sale.

WHY ROMANO CAPITAL?

Our investors trust us to operate in our own back yard. Our relationships and local knowledge provide advantages investing in Clark County and the Portland metro areas. Our funds and projects contribute directly to our local economy creating tangible results you can see daily.

Our mission is the “Preservation of Investor Capital.” We take a conservative approach to real estate and debt investment to ensure that our investors can access the alternative real estate market in a secure and transparent manner. We believe that by prioritizing the interests of our investors, we can grow alongside them.

CORE PRINCIPLES

  • Investors First: Our clients are the foundation of our company
  • Security: We diligently protect investor capital, valuing long-term growth over high-risk gain.
  • Operating with Transparency: We demonstrate integrity, candor, and openness in everything we do.
  • Executing with Precision: We follow through on our commitments faithfully and dependably.
  • Improving Continuously: We embrace change, always seeking to better serve our investors, partners, and community.

THE ROMANO CAPITAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

Kess Romano

President & CEO, Principal

Korban Romano Headshot

Korban Romano

EVP, Principal

Eric Christensen

Chief Operating Officer 

Ted Cassel headshot

Ted Cassel

VP of Investments

Stephanie Koch

VP of Lending

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Kess Romano

President & CEO, Principal

Kess Romano is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Romano Capital. As the Founder, Kess creates investment funds for the development, construction, acquisition, sale, rental, and lending of commercial and residential real estate projects, providing investors with secure investments that yield higher-than-market returns. Romano Capital’s clients are its investors, who trust the firm for high-quality investments and long-term wealth building.

Kess started his career as a Loan Officer at Crown Home Mortgage after graduating with a degree in Economics from George Fox University in 2000. He then gained experience with new construction loans by joining Star Mountain Mortgage, which was later acquired by Countrywide. In 2003, Kess founded Romano Financial with his father, Jerry Romano, and, in 2008, established Capital Preservation Management, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the state of Washington, as the credit market seized up.

Romano Capital and its affiliated companies have deep roots in the Pacific Northwest, where Kess and his team have created and managed 20 private offerings in various types of real estate since 2003. Kess takes a hands-on approach to the development process, from initiation and negotiation to timely adjustments to cycles and changing market conditions. He underwrites every deal and possesses intimate knowledge of the properties and in-depth local relationships with developers. On average, investors in Romano Capital’s equity funds have achieved targeted returns exceeding 10%, while investors in debt funds have received returns ranging from 6% to 10%.

In his free time, Kess enjoys golfing, snowboarding, spending time with his four children, family, and friends, and traveling to chase the sun during the Northwest winters.

Korban Romano

EVP, Principal

Korban is a proud native of Vancouver, WA, and has always considered the Pacific Northwest his home. After pursuing several entrepreneurial endeavors, he moved to Argentina to work for humanitarian causes. Upon his return to Washington, Korban developed a keen interest in real estate investment and began working with his brother Kess.

Korban joined Romano Capital in 2011 and has played a pivotal role in driving the company’s growth and expansion of its core lines of business. Initially, Korban served as the company’s internal accountant, managing reporting and compliance for over 30 LLCs. His expertise in private money lending enabled the company to rapidly scale its Capital Preservation mortgage fund to its current cap of $20 Million.

As the Director of Operations for all the Romano Companies, Korban now oversees loan underwriting for all the Romano-managed investment funds. Additionally, he manages company cash flows and ensures that the company’s accounting and reporting procedures adhere to industry and regulatory standards.

Eric Christensen

Chief Operating Officer

Eric serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Romano Capital. With over 25 years of executive experience in developing and executing sustainable operational systems, Eric is responsible for the development and organizational strategy, team culture, and executive development at Romano. Throughout his career, Eric has held several executive positions, primarily in the senior living industry, delivering exceptional financial results for investors.

Eric is also an active member of the community and has served on the board of directors for Affordable Community Environments (now REACH Community Development) and Stephen’s Place, an organization that provides supportive adult care living for individuals with developmental disabilities. He is deeply committed to creating a place for everyone in his community and is proud to be part of Romano Capital, which invests in the community, creates jobs, and supports local development.

Eric earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Grand Canyon University and his Master of Divinity from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

Ted Cassel headshot

Ted Cassel

VP Investments

Ted joined Romano Capital in 2016. Although he was raised in the Pacific Northwest, he graduated from Pomona College in California in 2005 with a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Following his studies, Ted moved to Germany to pursue International Politics before beginning his real estate career in the United States as a licensed broker with CBRE. While at CBRE, he specialized in transactions involving federal subsidization, including Section 8 assistance payments, tax-exempt bond financing, and syndication of Section 42 Low Income Housing Tax Credits. Ted’s experience in government-subsidized housing financing would prove invaluable later in his career.

In 2012, Ted returned to his hometown of Vancouver, WA, with a desire to learn more about real estate development and finance. He worked with developers in Clark County, WA, and applied his experience from commercial real estate brokerage. As Romano Capital’s VP of Investments, he works closely with President & CEO Kess Romano, playing an instrumental role in designing and managing the company’s investment funds.

Outside of work, Ted enjoys spending time with his wife, Nazli, and their newborn son, August. He is also an avid alpine sports enthusiast, enjoying activities such as climbing, mountaineering, and skiing. Additionally, he enjoys golf and ultimate frisbee. Ted and his wife live in downtown Vancouver and have greatly appreciated witnessing the growth and development across Clark County over the last decade.

Stephanie Koch

Vice President of Lending

Stephanie became part of the Romano Capital team in spring 2021 when the company acquired a loan portfolio that formed the basis of the Capital Preservation 200 fund. She previously worked as a commercial real estate lender for a regional bank and was a Special Asset Manager from 2007 to 2012. With over 30 years of experience in commercial lending, Stephanie transitioned to private equity, where she has been managing credit for funds ever since.

Since joining Romano, Stephanie has become an indispensable member of the lending division. She is responsible for underwriting, servicing, and regulatory compliance for the lending funds. Stephanie sits on the credit committee and plays a key role in all decision-making processes. Stephanie is an expert in strategic and creative cash flow management and collateral analysis to ensure optimal fund performance and risk mitigation.

Stephanie earned her degree from Central Washington University and graduated from the Northwest Intermediate Commercial Lending and Pacific Coast Banking School. During her time in banking, she served on various non-profit board of directors. Currently, she is a Board Member for Ginn Gives. She is married with three children and has two granddaughters and a grandson on the way. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, and spending time with her family.