Company

Tom Valadez

Loan Servicing Assistant
949-252-8020 x 3200 | tom@val-chris.com

Kathy Williams

Compliance Manager
DRE #01229562 | NMLS #2401760
949-252-8020 x 1020 | kathy@val-chris.com

Kathy is native to Orange County and currently resides in Huntington Beach, CA. She is a licensed Salesperson with the CA Dept of Real Estate and has her MLO Endorsement with the NMLS. She has been in the mortgage industry for over 30 years. Her goal is to help grow Val-Chris Investments and be an integral part of
the team.

Outside of work, Kathy enjoys the beach, bike riding and hiking. She also enjoys cruising the seven seas with her husband, and spending as much time as possible with her grandson, Brayden.

Maria Romo Rangel

Loan Servicing Assistant
949-252-8020 x 3000 | maria@val-chris.com

Maria is a Southern California native and currently resides in Irvine, CA with her husband.

Maria joined the Val-Chris Investments servicing team November of 2022. She has worked in loan servicing for the last six years. Prior to joining the VCI team she acted as a Senior Specialist and Servicing Instructor for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

Maria is a follower of Jesus Christ and enjoys family gatherings on the weekends.

Mike Sokoloff

Account Executive
DRE #01832270
310-344-5671 | mike@val-chris.com

Patty Hickok

Funding Assistant
949-252-8020 ext. 4200 | patty@val-chris.com

Patty is a California Native raised in the South Bay. She resides in Seal Beach for the last 25 years.
Patty is a graduate from Cal State University Long Beach, with a Liberal Arts/Psychology major. She is a mother of two sons: Evan, a graduate of the University of Alabama and Bryton, a student and lacrosse player at The University of Tampa. She enjoys watching sports (football and ice hockey are her favorites) and volunteering at local community events.
She has over 25 years in the mortgage industry with many different roles: processor, underwriter, loan officer, production manager.

Jackie Neil Torres

Doc Drawer
(949) 252-8004 ext. 5500 | jackie@val-chris.com

Annette Berk

Loan Processor
949-252-8020 ext. 2200 | annette@val-chris.com

Annette is a California native and was raised in Southern California. She is a proud mom of four grown children; Zoe, Harli, Zen, and Jett. Annette enjoys spending time at the beach, reading, and writing. She also volunteers her time in helping the homeless community.

Gladys Albeza

Administrative Assistant
949-252-8020 x 5000 | gladys@val-chris.com

Fabian Calderon

Account Executive
DRE #01513720 | NMLS #247235
714-421-4404 | fabian@val-chris.com

Fabian is native to Orange County and resides in South Orange County. He lives with his wife and his daughter. Fabian graduated from UC Riverside with a Degree in Economics, and a minor in Business.

Fabian likes to spend his free time doing outdoor activities with his family and BBQing in the backyard. He enjoys spending time at his Temple in Irvine with friends and family. When he has the chance he enjoys body surfing, snowboarding, running, and playing foosball at the professional level.

Fabian has been actively involved with Val-Chris Investments for since 2015 as an Account Executive. He helps build the Val-Chris brand while originating loans for clients that have challenging situations and need someone experienced to help see them through the entire process.

Prior to that he was doing business with Val-Chris for 10 years as a broker and he had been providing private mortgages since 2005 as a small lender himself.

Prior to mortgages Fabian was a Financial Advisor at UBS Financial Services, Inc.

Today, Fabian holds a Broker License and has been licensed since 2005, with an NMLS Endorsement since 2010.

Lilian Leslie

Funder
949-252-8004 ext. 2300 | lilianc@val-chris.com

Lilian has been with Val-Chris Investments in the funding department since 2010. Prior to that, she worked for 5 years as an escrow officer, and a marketing representative who obtained new business for the company. Lilian also worked as a loan officer for 2.5 years.

Outside of work, Lilian enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her dog Roscoe. She also enjoys attending church and an occasional Netflix binge.

Esmeralda Cisneros

Loan Processor
949-252-8020 ext. 2500 | esmeralda@val-chris.com

Esmeralda was born in Mexico, grew up in Watsonville, CA and now resides in Anaheim, CA. Esmeralda enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. She enjoys helping others, she takes food and money that is collected from family and friends once a month to Tijuana and Tecate Mexico.

Esmeralda has been with Val-Chris Investments for 3 years as a loan processor. She has over 15 years in the mortgage industry. Esmeralda has excellent communication skills, in addition to strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Jeff LaMotte

Vice President and Partner
DRE #01906305 | NMLS #1813986
949-383-2229 | jeff@val-chris.com

Jeff, a Southern California native, began his experience in the financial services industry while attending school at The University of California, Irvine. After graduation, he started to work as an account executive at Val-Chris Investments. Val-Chris Investments is known in the industry for its long and trustworthy reputation as a California Private lender since 1975. After a few short years with the firm, Jeff became one of the top producers and personally helped Val-Chris reach #1 on Scotsman Guides’ top private lender list in California. Jeff became a licensed real estate agent in 2011, a California licensed real estate broker in 2012, and acquired his NMLS license a few years later. Throughout Jeff’s tenure at Val-Chris Investments, he has placed over half a billion dollars in loans with private investors. With over a decade of experience in loan origination and funding, Jeff quickly learned the skills and requirements necessary to originate, underwrite, and place private loans in the most effective and respectable ways possible.

In late 2017, Jeff was promoted to Vice President of Val-Chris Investments, and Partner shortly after, so he could further promote fair and ethical lending in California while managing the company’s extensive investor database. Jeff was also honored as one of 2020’s 40 Under 40 Business Leaders with the Greater Irvine Chamber!

Jeff and his wife, Hillary, live in southern California. They are very happy to be part of the community and feel it is a wonderful place to live and raise their son, Wyatt and daughter, Charlotte. When Jeff isn’t with his family or friends, he is an avid golfer and proudly carries a single digit handicap.

Jake Liedahl

Loan Processor and Account Executive
DRE #02058763 | NMLS #1922692
949-383-2223 | jake@val-chris.com

Jake has always been interested in wealth growth and management, even at a young age in high school. Being raised in a competitive household and active in sports still to this day, he has always had this drive to earn great results and improve his skills.

In winter of 2016, he graduated from the California State University, Fullerton with a degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Finance. Initially looking for a career in financial advising, Jake ended up with an opportunity at Val-Chris Investments. Jake quickly learned the industry and business practices and was able to get his real estate license within his first year. In late 2017, Jake was promoted to Account Executive of Val-Chris Investments. Jake assists Chris and Jeff with investor relations as well.

Jake lives in the Scottsdale area of Arizona in order to further our reach as a private money lender. In his free time, Jake enjoys working out at the gym, golfing, snowboarding and wakeboarding as well as spending time with family and friends.

Mark Rocha

Loan Processor
949-252-8020 ext. 1200 | mark@val-chris.com

Kara Sharpe

Loan Processor
949-252-8020 ext. 1500 | kara@val-chris.com

Kara is an Orange County native who currently resides in Tustin. She attended Cal State Fullerton studying Geography before working for Val-Chris Investments. Most of her free time is spent at the beach whether it be yoga, roller skating, or bonfires with friends and family.

Brittany Popineau

Operations Manager
DRE #02105874 | NMLS #2031767
949-383-2217 | brittany@val-chris.com

Brittany is a Southern California native and currently resides in Irvine, CA. Brittany holds an undergraduate degree from Vanguard University with a degree in History & Political Science, with minors in Music and Biblical Studies. She has a background in education, holding her California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Brittany and her husband, Kyle, serve as the lead Pastors of at Legacy Church, a life-giving spirit-filled church in Tustin, CA. Brittany enjoys spending time with her husband and son, Levi. She enjoys drinking iced tea, teaching children, painting and doing other creative things.

Brittany has been with Val-Chris Investments since 2014 and currently oversees all of the office processes and infrastructure. Brittany is a licensed Salesperson with the California Department of Real Estate and has her MLO Endorsement with the NMLS. Her goal is to help Val-Chris Investments grow in order to meet the financial needs of our clients.

Brittany was recognized as an honoree for the 2021 40 Under 40 influential leaders with the Greater Irvine Chamber.

Molique Boulter

Onboarding & Payment Specialist
949-252-8020 ext. 2800 | molique@val-chris.com

Molique is a Southern California native from Los Angeles, CA. She worked in Sales for the last 12 years and most recently in accounting for a Berkshire Hathaway company.

Her first job was working at Disneyland while attending college. Her time spent at the happiest place on earth developed an affinity for all things Disney. When she isn’t working her, favorite past times are paddle boarding, snowboarding, kayaking, hiking, and camping with her husband and two dogs.

Molique has been with Val-Chris investments since 2018 and is enjoying learning all about the business. She is currently in loan servicing and handles the closing of each loan we process. Her goal is to help grow Val-Chris Investments and be an integral part of the team.

Ryan Boulter

Loan Servicing Assistant
949-252-8020 ext. 2900 | ryan@val-chris.com

Ryan is a Southern California Native from Orange County. Ryan has a passion for finding out how things work which lead him to Universal Technical Institute where he graduated in 2005. He thoroughly enjoys creating things. When he isn’t out hiking or camping, with his wife and two dogs he is always finding creative avenues whether it be woodworking, carpentry, or metal work, or hanging out with his nephew, Wyatt and his niece, Charlotte.

Ryan has been around Val-Chris his whole life and remembers coming into the office with his dad and grandpa while growing up. He even helped out occasionally, making copies and helping move files around. Ryan has been full time with Val-Chris Investments since 2019 and is currently in loan servicing. His goal is to help grow Val-Chris Investments and be an integral part of the team.

Karin Hodge

Funder
949-252-8020 ext. 2100 | karin@val-chris.com

Chris L. Boulter

President
DRE #00914633 | NMLS #298357
949-252-1907 | chris@val-chris.com

Chris is President and Owner of Val-Chris Investments, Inc. and has been with the company since 1986. With nearly 35 years of experience in the private money industry, Chris has helped transform Val-Chris Investments from a small 3 person family business to one of the larger private money lenders in California. Chris holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from University of Southern California where he graduated with honors in 1983 and has been a California licensed Real Estate Broker since 1986. In addition to this license, he also holds a California Finance Lenders License and has been a Mortgage Loan Originator since 2013. Chris has been a member of the California Trust Deed Association and California Mortgage Association since its inception. He was a member of the Tustin Kiwanis Club for more than 10 years including 2 years as its President.

A resident of Newport Beach, Chris loves to travel anywhere with his wife, Mariah — from Vegas to Boston, to Bora Bora or the Bahamas. He is a season ticket holder for the Anaheim Ducks hockey team, enjoys playing golf and exercising when he is not spending time with his grandkids, Wyatt and Charlotte. He’s also blessed with 3 children, Ryan, Hillary, and Reed, two of which currently work for Val-Chris Investments, Inc.

Xavier Saavedra

Account Executive
DRE #01304438 | NMLS #33608
714-655-6106 | xavier@val-chris.com

Xavier Saavedra is a Southern California native with more than 20 years of mortgage & real estate finance experience. After studying real estate at Golden West College, Xavier got his start as a loan officer at GMAC and soon became a top producing Quality Assurance Loan Officer. He then joined the Long Beach Mortgage/ Washington Mutual team wholesale team as an account executive and soon became a President Club Recipient for being in the top 5% in wholesales volume in the nation. For the past 12 years, Xavier has been proud member of Val-Chris Investments Inc. His focus is on broker relations & business development through different sources to originate TPO hard money or private money lending opportunities on a direct basis within the California market. When Xavier isn’t using his creativity in solving hard to place loans, he enjoys hotrods, bonsai trees, and spending quality time with his wife and two kids.

Kellie Brown

Account Executive
DRE #01106810 | NMLS #1879052
949-300-5792 | kellie@val-chris.com

Kellie Brown is an Account Executive with Val Chris Investments and has been with the firm since 2015. She focuses on sourcing residential and commercial deals along with investor acquisition. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Real Estate and Law from Cal State Long Beach and has held her Real Estate license since 1991.

Kellie is a Southern California native and has currently resides in San Juan Capistrano.

She is a member of Mariners Church and enjoys spending quality time with friends and family.

Yvonne Harvey

Account Executive
DRE #00712015
949-463-0764 | tulip@yvonneharvey.com

Yvonne arrived in the United States in 1958 with 20 dogs and a contract with the Ringling Bros. After she left, she became a realtor in 1979. Yvonne has been in the loan business since 1983 and joined the Val-Chris Investments team in 1997. She plans to work with Val-Chris, meeting the private money needs of her clients for the rest of her life.

Steve Burington

Account Executive
DRE #01276964
949-293-7171 | ocmoneyguy@gmail.com

Steve has been working in the mortgage industry for over 20 years with 15 years of those years having been with Val-Chris. He enjoys the challenge of helping people in difficult situations. He lives in Irvine with his wife of 26 years and his two growing children. As a family they go to Myanmar (Burma) and help with an orphanage during Christmas and the New Year. He is a committed follower of Jesus Christ and does what he can to live out his faith.

About Us

Specializing in both residential and commercial loans for borrowers and brokers, as well as trust deed purchases to the investor community.

Experience That Matters

Chris Boulter

President

Jeff LaMotte

Vice President and Partner

Brittany Popineau

Operations Manager

Xavier Saavedra

Account Executive

Fabian Calderon

Account Executive

Kellie Brown

Account Executive

Steve Burington

Account Executive

Yvonne Harvey

Account Executive

Mike Sokoloff

Account Executive

Jake Liedahl

Loan Processor and Account Executive

Esmeralda Cisneros

Loan Processor

Kara Sharpe

Loan Processor

Ryan Boulter

Loan Processor

Annette Berk

Loan Processor

Mark Rocha

Loan Processor

Kathy Williams

Compliance Manager

Karin Hodge

Funder

Lilian Leslie

Funder

Patty Hickok

Funding Assistant

Tom Valadez

Loan Servicing Assistant

Maria Romo Rangel

Loan Servicing Assistant

Molique Boulter

Onboarding and Payment Specialist

Gladys Albeza

Administrative Assistant

Jackie Neil Torres

Doc Drawer

Careers

LOCATIONS

Resources

Main Office

CA Department of Real Estate Broker DRE #00914633 NMLS ID #243299 California Finance Lenders, DFPI #603 5063

CA Department of Real Estate Broker DRE #00914633
NMLS ID #243299
California Finance Lenders, DFPI #603 5063