EB-5 Industry’s Trade Association Elects Four New Members of Board of Directors to Continue Advocating for Permanent Reauthorization of the EB-5 Regional Center Program
Invest in the USA (IIUSA), the non-profit trade association of the EB-5 Regional Center industry, elected a new set of leaders to its Board of Directors at its 12th Annual General Membership Meeting on April 26.
In total, four positions were filled, including two new directors and a new President and Vice President. The IIUSA membership elected Robert Kraft, CEO, FirstPathway Partners to the position of President and William P. Gresser, President, EB-5 New York State Regional Center to the position of Vice President. Ginny Fang, CEO, Golden Gate Global and Adam Greene, President, Live in America Financial Services were newly elected to the Board. Patrick F. Hogan, CEO, CMB Regional Centers and Angelique Brunner, CEO, EB5 Capital were both re-elected.
“I am honored to be elected as the new President of IIUSA to lead our industry into the next era of EB-5,” said Robert Kraft, CEO of FirstPathway Partners. Kraft, a member of IIUSA since 2007 and a successful entrepreneur for over 40 years, bringing investment and development to the State of Wisconsin, was elected unanimously. “Our members consist of hundreds of ambitious and intelligent stakeholders of this industry and I am committed to leading them to a long-term reauthorization so we can all continue to deliver jobs and economic development to our communities.”
In addition to new leaders elected, IIUSA appointed K. David Andersson, President Whatcom Opportunities Regional Center and Robert C. Divine, Shareholder, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell and Berkowitz, LLP as President and Vice President Emeritus, respectively, after seven years of service. Tom Rosenfeld, President, CanAm Enterprises, was named Director Emeritus after six year of service.
President Emeritus K. David Anderson said, “Serving as IIUSA’s President for the last 7 years has been and honor and a privilege. I am proud of the growth in both the organization and the industry we achieved during my time in office and I am confident in the new perspective Robert Kraft will bring for the future of EB-5.”
With the EB-5 Regional Center Program extended to September 30, 2017, IIUSA looks forward to the opportunity to achieve a legislative solution for a long-term reauthorization before any regulatory changes are implemented. American workers and local developers depend on EB-5 as a vital source of capital, which is why IIUSA is collaborating with government and industry stakeholders to shape the program into an even better economic development tool. IIUSA is confident that if it works together with these groups, the organization and the industry will achieve a thriving future.
