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Meet Our Leadership Team

Anthony Geraci

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER

Anthony Geraci

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER

CEO and Co-Founder of Stratus Financial, Anthony Geraci, Esq., followed his passion for aviation and obtained both his Commercial Pilot Certificate and Ground Instructor Ratings in 2020. During his instruction, he recognized a lack of available funding in the space.

Bringing a combination of legal and financial expertise to Stratus Financial, Anthony is tasked with strategy creation for the firm. A skilled mortgage lending and securities law attorney, Anthony has authored numerous articles on real estate finance and security subjects. Over the past fifteen years, he has run financial funds and served as legal advisor to several lending funds which have totaled more than $100 Billion offered and more than $200 Million raised. Leveraging his securities background, Anthony has been instrumental in securing credit lines and starting capital raising ventures to fund flight school loans for Stratus Financial.

A founding member of EO (Entrepreneurs Organization) Inland Empire and Founder and Vice Chairman of the American Association of Private Lenders (AAPL), Anthony keeps his finger on the pulse of the financial industry.

Brandon Martini

COO AND CO-FOUNDER

Brandon Martini

COO AND CO-FOUNDER

In his role as COO and Co-Founder at Stratus Financial, Brandon spearheads strategic initiatives and oversees day-to-day operations to drive growth and ensure operational excellence. Together with Stratus FInancial's exceptional team, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the company's vision and implementing a customer-centric approach. Stratus' mission is to revolutionize the financial landscape by offering comprehensive and intuitive solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of its clients.

Brandon has been flying since 2014 and holds Commercial Pilot Certificates along with CFI/CFII/MEI instructor ratings. He has a deep knowledge of part 141 and part 61 flight school operations in addition to training guidelines set forth by syllabuses and the FAA.

With expertise in flight instruction and a deep understanding of pilot student loans and private finance, Brandon leverages his skills to create innovative solutions in the aviation industry.

Alan Rios

Chief Investment Officer

Alan Rios

Chief Investment Officer

For close to 7 years, Alan has accumulated a deep and recognized reputation in the banking industry. His career spans global banking, where during his last role at Citigroup, he served as Vice President for Citi's North America Global Family Office Group while based in New York. In this role, he catered to the firm’s top private banking clients by providing them institutional banking access and facilitating capital raises.

Presently at Stratus, Alan heads investor relations and Capital Markets efforts. In this role he manages equity and debt investors, contributing to the fund's operations and growth. At the same time, Alan actively explores opportunities to integrate the fund's private credit offering into larger institutions and expand its investor base with a strategic approach to transformational growth.

Alan holds a bachelor's degree in Finance from the McCombs School of Business at University of Texas at Austin with a focus on banking and capital markets. Outside of the financial industry, Alan curates private communities of investors, industry leaders and collectors with a passion for cultural pursuits, particularly in the contemporary art world.

Sajal Agarwal

Chief Risk Officer

Sajal Agarwal

Chief Risk Officer

Sajal is responsible for overseeing the firm's risk management program. He has over 20 years of risk leadership experience with Capital One, Wells Fargo, SoFI & most recently at SMBC (Jenius Bank). He comes with deep expertise in credit across a wide variety of consumer lending products such as student lending, personal loans, credit cards & BNPL.

Scott Schondau

Chief Financial Officer

Scott Schondau

Chief Financial Officer

Scott Schondau is an experienced and strategic C-level executive with over 20 years of expertise in finance, banking, capital markets, and asset management. He has held leadership roles as both a CFO and a strategic advisor, leveraging his deep knowledge of financial operations to drive growth, enhance efficiency, and foster strong investor relationships. Throughout his career, Scott has successfully guided companies through complex financial challenges, including debt and equity transactions, M&A integration, and capital planning. He is known for his integrity, leadership, and commitment to mentoring teams to achieve both individual and organizational success. Throughout his 25 year+ professional career, he has held Managing Director and similar roles at prestigious financial firms such as J.P. Morgan/Bear, Stearns, Deutsche Bank and Guggenheim.

Most recently, he was CFO for an auto finance & loan servicing company and an EVP, partner and advisory board member for a private equity firm. He is passionate about using his diverse experience to contribute to dynamic organizations and drive sustainable growth. As CFO, Scott will oversee Stratus Financial’s financial operations, working alongside the executive team to refine financial strategies, streamline internal processes, and maintain a high standard of financial integrity across all functions. His leadership will be instrumental in ensuring Stratus continues to meet the evolving needs of students pursuing careers in aviation.

Scott graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Finance and a German minor from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX.

Don Ho

General Counsel

Don Ho

General Counsel

Stratus Financial's Compliance and Regulatory team is lead by our General Counsel Don Ho, who joined Stratus in January 2024. Don is an accomplished attorney with over 18 years of business law experience. A recipient of an academic scholarship to Chapman University School of Law, Don's expertise spans the spectrum from innovative tech startups to established companies with annual revenues exceeding $100 million. Don is also a monthly contributor on compliance and emerging technologies to the University of California's CEB DailyNews newsletter.

Eljona Shkreli

Managing Director, Investor Relations

Eljona Shkreli

Managing Director, Investor Relations

As Head of Investor Relations at Stratus, Eljona is key in cultivating and strengthening relationships with the company’s investors and the broader financial community. She focuses on maintaining strong ties with existing investors while building new connections, providing consistent updates and transparent communication.

With over eight years of experience in Private Banking, Eljona has managed high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) client relationships, earning a reputation for uncovering opportunities and delivering tailored financial solutions that meet her clients’ investment goals.

During her time with J.P. Morgan and Citi Private Bank ,Eljona earned expertise in banking, asset allocation and relationship management.

Eljona holds a bachelor’s in Foreign Languages and an MBA from Wagner College. Known for her client-first approach, she has consistently delivered exceptional results.

Outside of work, she enjoys writing, public speaking, wellness, and traveling to explore new cultures and meet new people.

Ashwin Hassija

EVP Capital

Ashwin Hassija

EVP Capital

Ashwin is an investment executive with over 10 years of experience in investment management, structured finance, and capital acquisition. He is the Executive Vice President at Stratus Financial, where he is responsible for driving strategic growth initiatives and capital acquisition to scale the firm’s financial services offerings.

Ashwin has deep expertise in private equity, alternative investments, and real estate finance, having successfully structured and executed complex transactions, including M&A, leveraged buyouts, and structured credit solutions.

His career spans multiple asset classes, with a strong focus on private equity, real estate, and alternative investments. Ashwin has successfully structured and executed complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and capital markets strategies. He has deep expertise in fundraising, deal structuring, and institutional investor relations, helping businesses secure growth capital and optimize financial performance

Before joining Stratus Financial, Ashwin was Head of Investor Relations & Investments at Livento Group, where he led institutional fundraising and structured investment opportunities across various sectors. He has also worked as an independent consultant, advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), family offices, and private equity funds on capital deployment strategies. Earlier in his career, he held a leadership role at CBRE Capital Markets, managing real estate divestments, joint ventures, and capital markets transactions.

Ashwin holds an MBA in Finance & International Business from the University of San Francisco and lives in Los Angeles.

Marcus Faller

EVP Capital

Marcus Faller

EVP Capital

Mr. Faller is a high achieving Senior Executive - Sales/Marketing professional who recently joined Stratus Financial as an EVP - Capital Strategy. Adept at Business Development & Investor Relations Management, Marcus possesses over 20 years of experience marketing private investments. Mr. Faller exhibits superior Strategic Planning and Capital Raise skills with industry leaders - Fortune 50 (i.e. IBM, Weyerhauser), Wall Street Financial Services Firms (i.e., original Morgan Stanley) and other domestic and international Investment Companies. A broad spectrum of knowledge is possessed across a diverse array of asset classes, which allows an ability to garner a distinct talent for developing general business and strategic plans, building national territories, creating investment programs and raising capital in various asset classes - the Specialty Finance-Consumer Loans arena, Commercial Real Estate, Private Equity, Venture Capital, Hedge Funds, Pre-IPO, Technology (hardware, SaaS), Energy - Oil & Gas, Biotechnology, Fintech, Film and Tax Strategy sectors. Mr. Faller has established relationships with Family Offices, UHNW, Endowments, Foundations, Fund Mgrs that are interested in unique investments like what Stratus offers. He also, attained FINRA Securities Licenses (Series 7, 22, 63) and obtained Florida Real Estate and Contractor's Licenses.

Diana Pantoja

Capital Acquistion Specialist

Diana Pantoja

Capital Acquistion Specialist

Diana Pantoja is a proven capital raiser and investment strategist with over a decade of experience in fundraising, sales, and business development across private equity, commercial real estate, and high growth investment sectors. At Stratus Financial, she specializes in securing capital from HNW, accredited investors, family offices, and institutional clients, driving strategic fund growth.

As licensed Texas commercial real estate professional, Diana has sourced and structured off-market deals for institutional investors, specializing in industrial, multifamily, and other asset classes. She also has experience raising EB-5 capital, connecting global investors with high-value U.S. investment opportunities.

Fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, Diana operates between Dallas and Mexico City leveraging her global network to connect investors with strategic opportunities.

Beyond finance and real estate, Diana is passionate about philanthropy and capital raising for causes that matter, actively securing scholarships for high school girls of color pursing college through non-profit initiatives in Dallas.

She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in International Studies with a concentration in International Business & Economics as well as a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of North Texas.

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