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Ivan Kaufman has served as Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Arbor Realty Trust since its inception in 2003.
Mr. Kaufman is also the Chairman and CEO of Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC, the external manager of Arbor Realty Trust. Mr. Kaufman oversees all aspects of Arbor's lending operation. He has carved a unique niche in the financing of commercial real estate, combining the best of traditional mortgage lending with the innovation of an investment bank, leveraging his expertise in mortgage origination, servicing and structuring complex mortgage-backed securities.
Mr. Kaufman has extensive industry experience as the founder of Arbor National Holdings, Inc. and its premier lending subsidiary, Arbor Mortgage, Inc. in 1983. Arbor Mortgage became the leading provider of residential mortgage loans in the tri-state region. Under Mr. Kaufman's direction, Arbor Mortgage became a public company and grew to 25 branches in eight states before it was sold to Bank America Corporation in 1995. Mr. Kaufman sold Arbor National Holdings but retained the commercial side of the business. This transaction in turn created the platform for Arbor Commercial Mortgage and, eventually, Arbor Realty Trust.
Mr. Kaufman was named regional "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Inc. Magazine in 1990 for his outstanding achievements in financial services. In addition, he was appointed to the National Advisory Board of Fannie Mae in 1994. He served on Fannie Mae's regional advisory and technology boards, as well as the board of directors of the Empire State Mortgage Bankers Association. Mr. Kaufman also served as a regional spokesperson for Global ReLeaf, a program of the American Forestry Association. This position led to his appointment as delegate of the International Arid Lands Consortium.
Mr. Kaufman is a dedicated community leader, serving as founder and president of the North Shore Hebrew Academy High School. He has been very active in the fundraising and the development of the high school's new academy, a state-of-the-art facility slated to be one of the premier college preparatory schools in the Northeast.
Mr. Kaufman earned a Juris Doctorate from Hofstra University School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Boston University. | 