His Early Career : Banking and Real Estate Development
After graduating , Daniel joined Bank of America , where he was selected for the highly competitive Management Training Program . He spent two years working in various roles , gaining invaluable experience in commercial banking and real estate development financing . This exposure to large-scale financial transactions and investment strategies laid the foundation for Daniel ’ s future career in real estate development .
Upon completing the training program , Daniel moved to Chicago , where he focused on real estate development construction loans , specializing in large commercial projects . His ability to assess and mitigate financial risk was honed through this experience , and his understanding of how financing could shape real estate development was solidified . “ Banking was a great learning ground ,” Daniel recalls . “ But I wanted to move into a more hands-on role in development , where I could make a more direct impact on the real estate projects themselves .”
It wasn ’ t long before Daniel was recruited by SunBank ( now Truist Bank ), a regional bank based in Florida , to manage large-scale loans for commercial real estate projects . Eager to escape the cold Chicago winters , Daniel moved to sunny Central Florida , where he would spend several years helping SunBank navigate the booming real estate market . However , Daniel ’ s next career move would further cement his place in the world of real estate development . He was offered a position as Vice President of Finance and Development for a prominent property developer in Central Florida . This role marked his transition from banking to a more entrepreneurial approach to real estate , where he could directly influence investment decisions , development strategies , and project outcomes .
16 REI MAGAZINE JANUARY 2025