Our Team

Eric Samek is the Founder of Brasa Capital Management and is responsible for deal origination, transaction execution, portfolio management and overall management of the firm’s operations. Prior to forming Brasa in 2018, Mr. Samek worked at AEW Capital Management for over 10 years, most recently as Head of the Western US for AEW’s Opportunity Fund. Prior to joining AEW, Mr. Samek served as Director for real estate private equity investments at Broadreach Capital Partners. He started his career as an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs in New York.

Mr. Samek earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business where he was a Toigo Fellow.

Ji Jeon is the CFO and CCO of Brasa Capital Management where her primary responsibilities include financial & risk management, reporting, tax, operations, fundraising and investor relations. Ms. Jeon has over 15 years of experience in corporate financial management in privately-held companies. Prior to that, she worked at Colony Capital and started her career at Arthur Andersen in San Francisco specializing in the financial services industry.

Ms. Jeon earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Matt Milich has been with Brasa Capital Management since its inception and is responsible for the acquisition and asset management of investments across the Western US and Texas. Prior to Brasa, Mr. Milich was the lead acquisitions officer for Pearlmark Real Estate’s West Coast efforts. Prior to Pearlmark, Mr. Milich worked directly under Mr. Samek at AEW Capital Management. At AEW he was involved in the acquisition, disposition and asset management of over $900MM of value-add and opportunistic investments.

Mr. Milich received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Claremont McKenna College and dual Master of Business Administration and Master of Real Estate Development degrees from the University of Southern California.

Elliot Weinstock joined Brasa Capital Management at its launch and oversees the acquisition and asset management of projects in the Western US. Before joining Brasa, Mr. Weinstock was a Vice President at Kearny Real Estate Company, an operator focused on the development and investment of office and industrial properties in Southern California. Mr. Weinstock was involved in the acquisition and asset management of over $400MM of value-add and opportunistic investments, partnering with equity providers that included AEW, Morgan Stanley, PCCP and Sequoia.

Mr. Weinstock received a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from The City College of New York and a Master of Business Administration and Master of Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California.

Alexis Lewis is a Vice President of Investments at Brasa Capital Management. Prior to joining Brasa, she served as an Economic Policy Manager for the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. While in this role at the Mayor’s Office, Ms. Lewis spearheaded City efforts to drive commercial development in South Los Angeles and co-led the Mayor’s Evolve Entertainment Fund, a public-private partnership.

Ms. Lewis received a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from New York University and a Master of Business Administration from Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business where she studied hospitality and real estate development.

Eli Weintraub is the Controller at Brasa Capital Management. Prior to joining Brasa, Eli was the Assistant Controller at Main Street Advisors, a strategic investment advisory firm. While in this role, Eli managed the transactions and operations of the investment entities and the management company.

Mr. Weintraub received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a minor in Business and Liberal Arts from Queens College, City University of New York.

Henry Castillo is an Associate at Brasa Capital Management and focuses on the acquisition and asset management of projects in the Western US and Texas. Prior to joining Brasa Capital, Mr. Castillo was an Associate at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) where he completed over $600MM of debt and equity transactions, with a focus on multifamily financing. Mr. Castillo joined JLL as part of their acquisition of HFF, where he served as a Debt & Equity Analyst since 2018.

Mr. Castillo received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Middlebury College.

Soledad Vitale is an Associate in the Finance department at Brasa Capital Management. Prior to Brasa, Ms. Vitale worked as a Senior Accountant consulting for multiple clients, including Griffin Realty Trust, assisting with fixed assets and quarterly reporting. Before Griffin, she worked with Westfield Construction as a Senior Construction and Development Accountant for the development of a $500M retail development project in Century City, Los Angeles.

Ms. Vitale received a Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the Universidad Nacional of Mar del Plata, Argentina, and a Master of Business Administration from Southern States University.

Owen Muller is an Associate at Brasa Capital Management and focuses on the acquisition and asset management of projects in the Western US and Texas. Prior to joining Brasa, Mr. Muller was a Senior Analyst at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) where he supported over $2B of studio and office transactions throughout Los Angeles. Mr. Muller joined JLL’s Capital Markets team as an Office Investment Sales Analyst in 2021.

Mr. Muller received a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California.

Michelle Tran is an Analyst at Brasa Capital Management. Prior to joining Brasa, Ms. Tran worked as a Claims Specialist for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Ms. Tran specialized in CA and NV auto and homeowner litigated claims in which she participated in numerous mediations, and trials.

Ms. Tran received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a focus on policy from The University of California, Berkeley.