Rich Harris is the managing principal and founder of Newport Venture Capital. Rich has 25 years of experience in investment and asset management, buying and selling properties, and arranging financing and raising capital for real estate projects. The more than $4 billion in real estate financings he has completed include joint ventures, mezzanine debt, complex ground leases, construction loans, participating mortgages, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac financing, and long-term commercial mortgages.

Prior to founding Newport Venture Capital in 1996, Rich was a national director of structured finance for GE Capital. He was responsible for originating, structuring, and marketing tax-exempt bond financings for income-producing properties located throughout the United States. In addition, as head of asset management for the Western United States, he was responsible for managing a $1.5 billion portfolio of joint-ventures, direct investments, and leveraged debt financings, as well as the sale and acquisition of assets.

Rich was director of finance for a commercial/multifamily real estate developer in Newport Beach, California, a role in which he arranged debt and equity financing for the firm’s retail, office, and multifamily properties. He has held various corporate finance and real estate lending positions with Wells Fargo Bank and Bank of America in San Francisco, California. Notable transactions include construction financing for the 40-story NBC Tower & City Front Center in Chicago, Illinois, financing to expand the MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana, California, and mezzanine financing to complete the acquisition of a publicly-traded regional airline.

Rich has served as a trustee of the University of California Foundation and as a board member of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, Riva Historical Society (Milan, Italy), and Riva Club USA. He received a BS from the University of California, Davis. He is an active member of various real estate, investment management, and finance associations.

Martin Weihrauch is the managing director of Newport Venture Capital. He is responsible for underwriting and closing joint-venture investments, construction and permanent financing. He also provides asset management services for the company’s clients. His industry experience covers a broad spectrum, including joint-venture and loan originations, asset management, underwriting/due diligence, and financial analysis.

Prior to joining Newport Venture Capital in 2003, Martin was director of asset management for Hanover Financial Company, where he oversaw a portfolio of existing value-added and development joint-venture investments. He was also responsible for investor relations and reporting in conjunction with the company’s equity fund.

Martin served as director and investment officer for Heller Financial from 1997-2000. He helped spearhead the International Debt Opportunities Group targeting value-added investments throughout the Japanese banking industry and real estate markets. From 1999-2000, he was responsible for origination of fixed rate CMBS loans in Southern California and Nevada. Prior to joining Heller, Martin was a project manager with CB Richard Ellis’ Financial Services Group.

Martin received both a BA and an MBA from UCLA.