Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
John L. Villano has been our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since our inception in 2010. Mr. Villano is responsible for overseeing all aspects of our business operations, including loan origination and servicing, investor relations, brand development and business development. He was previously engaged in the private practice of accounting and auditing for almost 30 years. Mr. Villano is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Rhode Island.
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Jeffery C. Walraven is our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Sachem Capital Corp. Mr. Walraven has extensive experience with private and public real estate companies working on matters including capital markets, accounting and finance.
Mr. Walraven has served as the Chief Operating Officer, a director and co-founder of Freehold Properties, Inc., a REIT that historically financed cannabis-related real estate, since its formation in May 2019 and has since transitioned its portfolio acquisition focus in 2024 to capital finance of premium vineyard real estate. He has also served as an independent director and member of the audit committee of Broad Street Realty, Inc. (OTCQX: BRST), a real estate company that owns, operates, develops, and redevelops primarily essential grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use properties, since 2023. From January 2014 to May 2019, Mr. Walraven served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MedEquities Realty Trust, Inc. (formerly, NYSE: MRT), an internally managed healthcare REIT that was initially funded privately in July 2014, completed an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2016 and was subsequently sold to Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE: OHI) that closed in May 2019.
From 2006 to 2013, Mr. Walraven held several positions with BDO USA, LLP, most recently as an assurance managing partner of the Memphis office, where his primary responsibilities included providing core and peripheral assurance services and business operational and tax consulting services. Mr. Walraven
has over 20 years of public accounting experience, serving many public REIT clients since 1999. Mr. Walraven worked extensively with publicly traded companies on all aspects of compliance with Securities Act (as defined below) and Exchange Act (as defined below) filings, including quarterly, annual and
special reports, and compliance relating to acquisitions, dispositions and securities offerings. Mr. Walraven has had signing engagement partner responsibility for numerous public and private securities offerings by REITs and other clients, including initial public offerings, secondary offerings and private placements.
Mr. Walraven holds a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Management from Bob Jones University and a Masters of Professional Accountancy from Clemson University. As of December 2024, Mr. Walraven has been appointed Interim CFO of the Company.
Senior Vice President of Asset Management, Managing Director at Urbane Capital, LLC.
Eric O’Brien is our Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Sachem Capital Corp. and Managing Director at Urbane Capital, LLC. Eric is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of experience in construction management, design, and development. He brings a diversity of knowledge with strengths in areas such as construction finance, asset management, property acquisitions, and real estate development. In his role, Eric is responsible for the company’s lending evaluation, assessment, and approvals.
Prior to joining Sachem Capital Corp, Eric was the president and founder of Urbane NewHaven, LLC. With the integration of Urbane NewHaven and Sachem Capital Corp. in 2022, Eric assumed the role of Managing Director at Urbane Capital, LLC.
Eric holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island and is an active supporter of his Alma Mater.
Vice President of Asset Management, Director at Urbane Capital, LLC
Ralph Sylvester is our Vice President of Asset Management at Sachem Capital Corp. and Director at Urbane Capital, LLC. Ralph is an experienced director with expertise in development planning, financial modeling, property acquisitions, construction management and formulation of major contracts. In his role, Ralph is responsible for overseeing the company’s lending evaluation, assessment of loan request packages, and approvals.
Prior to joining Sachem Capital Corp. in 2022, Ralph was the Director of Operations at Urbane NewHaven, LLC. With the integration of Urbane NewHaven and Sachem Capital Corp. in 2022, Ralph assumed the role of Director at Urbane Capital, LLC.
Ralph holds a B.A. in Political Science from Villanova University.
