Dayna Santana
Josh Taube
John Beacham
John Beacham, the CEO and founder of Toorak Capital Partners, is an accomplished entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience and more than $60 billion in transactions. He has pioneered capital markets acceptance of residential bridge loans and single-family rental loans, asset classes previously lacking institutional funding. Under his leadership, Toorak has funded over $13 billion in loans by partnering with business purpose residential mortgage lenders across the US and UK. Beacham structured several groundbreaking deals, including the first single-family rental securitization (Invitation Homes 2013 SFR-1), the first multi-borrower single-family rental securitization (B2R Mortgage Trust 2015-1), the first widely syndicated revolving residential bridge securitization (Toorak Mortgage Trust 2018-1), and the first rated residential bridge securitization (Toorak 2024 - RRTL1). Before Toorak, he founded B2R Finance, the leading mortgage origination company focused on single-family rental and residential bridge loan markets, now known as Finance of America Commercial, a Blackstone portfolio company. Beacham’s earlier career includes originating large balance commercial real estate loans at Deutsche Bank and working in investment banking at Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse First Boston. He and his companies have received numerous awards, such as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year, American Association of Private Lenders Member of the Year (twice), NJBiz Executive of the Year, NJBiz Fastest Growing Company in NJ (twice), Bridging & Commercial Bridging Funding Partner of the Year (twice), and Housingwire Vanguard. Beacham graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University with an A.B. degree in economics
Sandra Murman
Former State Representative Sandra L. Murman completed eight years as a member of the Florida House of Representatives in 2004. Representative Murman was the first Republican Woman to hold the position of Speaker Pro-Tempore in the Florida House of Representatives. She has been elected to the Hillsborough County Commission in 2010. She hit the ground running in Tallahassee and through her hard work and knowledge of the legislative process she personally sponsored and passed 64 bills and brought home over $900 million dollars that benefited the Tampa Bay area and her constituency during her tenure. Sandy represented the citizens of District 56, which covers Harbour Island, Davis Island, Gibsonton, Riverview, Brandon and downtown Tampa. Before deciding to seek election, Representative Murman had a successful career in business as a manager and sales representative for Top 500 Companies.
Sandy has lived in Hillsborough County for over 35 years and has spent many hours volunteering her time as an active community advocate as well as a public policy leader in making children and families safer, smarter, healthier, and financially secure for the future. She has been directly involved in more than 20 organizations that support our community and enhances the lives of our children and hard working families. Her hands on approach in addition to her knowledge and leadership in the legislature in helping others has earned her recognition and numerous awards for her unequaled support, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award for the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Peter Bernal Award of Distinction for the Florida Association of Health Care Plans, Community Advocate for Education award for the Hillsborough Education Foundation, Sun Coast Girl Scout Council 2004 Woman of Distinction, Sheriff’s Association, Legislative Leadership; Florida Medical Association, Legislator of the Year; Florida Assisted Living Association, Legislator of the Year; Florida Association of Community Health Centers, Legislator of the Year; and American Cancer Society, Legislative Leadership Award. She was recently presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for my dedication and commitment for making a positive impact in the community for building a new Children’s Museum.
Samantha Leanillo, CISA
Samantha Leanillo is Information Security Officer of TCM Bank, N.A., providing payment services exclusively for community banks, including consumer and business credit card programs. As Information Security Officer, Samantha brings a background of 10 years within legal, security, and compliance. She provides organizational solid management and control development skills with a high degree of technical knowledge resulting from hands-on information security experience. As a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Samantha oversees all information security controls at the Bank to ensure effectiveness against emerging threats and compliance with regulatory obligations. She is also responsible for educating staff on security awareness tactics and measures.
Shawn Rupp
Shawn Rupp is a commercial real estate agent who specializes in investment sales, specifically apartment communities. He has been selling commercial real estate in the Tampa Bay market since 2002 and has closed over $500 million in real estate transactions in his career. In 2012, he wrote a book for office tenants on how to negotiate the best terms for their leases and has owned, leased, operated, or sold hundreds of properties. In his free time Shawn enjoys spending time with his family, sings in a country band, and is a licensed skydiver and scuba diver.
Brian Lacusky
Brian has over 30 years of experience in construction project management. He graduated from the University of Florida School of Building Construction with High Honors.
His proudest works have been Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, the Germain Arena in Ft. Myers, 10 years in healthcare construction in the Tampa Bay and South Florida markets and hotels including the Hilton West Palm Beach and The Surf Club / Four Seasons Surfside – both with Coastal. During his tenure with Coastal, Brian has developed a passion for recruiting. He takes pride in working with graduates of his alma mater and has helped develop a structured internship program for many of the undergrads involved in Coastal’s internship program. Brian enjoys developing and leading diversity programs on projects for clients by establishing reliable processes for our teams and talented subcontractors to exceed project goals. Brian is process driven and believes successful projects are planned.
Jason Quintero
Jason Quintero’s practice focuses on all aspects of construction litigation, with an emphasis on lien and bond law and construction defect disputes. Jason represents a variety of clients involved in every aspect of the construction industry, including large-scale national homebuilders, general contractors, suppliers and lessors, and manufacturers of equipment used in the construction of large-scale projects, including the construction of power plants, stadium and civic centers, and road construction. Jason has represented clients in matters pertaining to: contract disputes with subcontractors; defective construction claims; mold remediation; and zoning and boundary disputes. He also has experience representing design professionals in matters pertaining to breach of contract and claims of professional negligence. He has extensive trial and alternative dispute resolution experience, representing a variety of clients at trial, mediation, and arbitration proceedings. He is board certified in construction law by the Florida Bar, and OSHA 30 certified.
Jason serves as the Tampa office managing shareholder of Carlton Fields.
Anissa Westfall
Anissa Westfall is an esteemed business and marketing strategist with over 25 years of experience in driving brand awareness, lead generation, and customer loyalty. As the Director of Marketing and Growth at Westfall Roofing, a prominent Tampa-based company, Anissa has been instrumental in the company‘s strategic growth initiatives. Her leadership has earned the company significant recognition, including being named a Top 100 Roofing Contractor in the United States. Anissa holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing from the University of South Florida and has played pivotal roles at AAA The Auto Club Group and Publix Super Markets, where she led successful projects like the launch of Instacart in 2015.Anissa’s deep connection to the Tampa Bay community is evident through her extensive volunteer work and advocacy for affordable housing. Born and raised in Hillsborough County, she is passionate about bringing affordable housing to all and has dedicated countless hours to local causes. Her commitment to Habitat for Humanity is particularly noteworthy, where she has participated in numerous build projects, fundraisers, and advocacy campaigns. Anissa’s dedication to continuous learning, innovation, and community service, combined with her professional achievements, make her a respected and influential figure in her field.
Christopher T. Dawson
Chris Dawson is a lawyer and professional lobbyist serving private and public sector clients with government relations needs across Florida. A community-driven and future-focused advocate, he protects client interests at the executive and legislative levels of state government, as well as before political subdivisions of the state. He collaborates with utilities, developers, engineering firms, design professionals, contractors, local governments, and associations to help navigate change, plan for the future, and expand opportunities for sustainable growth.
Chris guides clients through the legislative process with a deep understanding of the regulatory and procedural hurdles that can accompany policymaking, funding, and appropriations, including complex litigation. He holds two degrees in civil engineering and draws on this technical training to provide unique value and insight for clients managing projects in the infrastructure, land use, environmental, social and economic development, transportation, and construction sectors, among others. He also represents several of the largest nonprofit organizations in the state, furthering veterans affairs, child welfare services, and environmental conservation priorities.
A sixth-generation Floridian, Chris is committed to the future of the state and helps clients engineer solutions to today’s most disruptive challenges - from ecosystem restoration and disaster recovery to public infrastructure resilience and sea-level rise. His subject matter expertise and integrated approach help clients develop valuable road maps for new ways of operating by taking the long view. On the local level, he provides impact planning and regulatory advisory services involving new and emerging technologies driving change and innovation in building and construction, water quality and treatment, and transportation and mobility. A natural servant leader and collaborator, he frequently teams with GrayRobinson colleagues across the firm to provide the resources necessary for clients managing long-term, large-scale projects.
Cristina Hale
Cristina Hale manages all aspects of the Tax practice in the firm’s Tampa and Orlando offices, an doversees compliance and quality within the tax department. She provides partnership and corporate tax services, focusing on operating companies, private equity and real estate funds, REITs andinbound investor structuring. Cristina has more than 16 years of experience in public accounting, the majority of that time spent serving real estate and private equity funds with a domestic and international presence, REITs,Sovereign Wealth Funds, Qualified Foreign Pension Funds and other foreign asset managers with rea lestate, infrastructure and private equity investments in the United States. Her knowledge and technical skills, as well as her ability to provide practical advice to non-tax professionals have helped numerous clients make tax structuring decisions that benefit from both a tax and business perspective.
Dan Amat
Dan is an audit partner based in KPMG’s Tampa office. Dan is an SEC reviewing partner with 20 years of experience in public accounting, serving public and private companies primarily in the retail, manufacturing, and real estate industries. Dan has served as a signing partner on public company audits since 2019.
Dan completed a four-year rotation (2013 – 2017) in KPMG’s Department of Professional Practice (DPP), which provides technical support to firm professionals and their clients in addressing complex accounting, auditing, reporting and SEC related issues.
Dan serves in several other roles within the firm, including campus recruiting, training facilitator, and lead partner for KPMG alumni relations in the greater Tampa area. Dan has served as Treasurer and board member on the Condominium of Sunset Park Association since 2023. He also serves as a mentor with the Hillsborough Education Foundation, and is active in his children’s school and sports activities.
Dan completed the Tampa Bay Chamber’s “Leadership Tampa” program, which connects participants to regional leaders and educates on key aspects of the greater Tampa community through an intensive nine-month program.
Kourtney Sanchez
At the helm of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ community team, I oversee all philanthropic strategy, growth and implementation for the organization’s local and national programs and partnerships, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation and the Glazer Vision Foundation. As a proud third-generation Tampa Bay native with over a decade’s worth of experience in the non-profit sector, I am passionate about uplifting our community. While working for non-profits, I witnessed the power individuals and organizations have in curating positive social change. Inspired by this and philanthropic strategies that further impact, I committed to one day make the switch to the for-profit sector. I am a purpose driven, goal-oriented, relationship focused leader with experience in community engagement, strategic planning, fundraising, and communications. I have been described as a versatile, visionary team player with an entrepreneurial spirit and passion for problem solving and maximizing impact.
Rene Martinez
Rene Martinez, Jr is a fourth-generation Floridian born and raised in Tampa
and is the oldest of three brothers. Rene’s family was in the cigar business. His
grandfather was a partner with Villazon Cigar Co. and Rene’s father was the
general manager.
Rene attended the University of Tampa on a baseball scholarship. His father,
Rene Martinez, Sr., quietly involved himself in the University of Tampa Baseball
Program in 1982, and after his sudden passing in January 1990, the Rene
Martinez, Sr. Golf Tournament started its first year. The Golf Tournament is the
longest running fundraising tournament in the State of Florida, just
completing its 35th year. Proceeds from the golf event go to the Rene
Martinez Memorial Baseball Scholarship Fund.
After graduating from the University of Tampa, Rene started his banking
career. Rene joined Republic Bank in August 2017 as their SVP, Business
Banking Manager. Rene served on Republic Bank’s CEO Advisory Council and
currently is a committee member of the Caregivers Business Resource Group
(BRG) and a mentor in their Building Bridges program. He also actively
engages in the community. He supports Autism Speaks and other autismrelated non-profit organizations. He is involved with the Boys & Girls ClubsTampa Bay and is a founding Board Member of Trinity School for Children (a
charter school).In his spare time, Rene enjoys spending time with family and being in
outdoors. His favorite activities include golfing, boating, paddle boarding, and
fishing
