2022 Year in Review: Abe Bergman, Eastern Union

What was your greatest professional accomplishment or most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2022? As I finish out my first full year as CEO of Eastern Union, the company has experienced significant growth. We exceeded our 2021 performance in terms of the number of closed loans across virtually all property types, and we brought in more new lenders than in any previous year.

How has your career path changed in 2022? Because 2022 found the industry operating in a more stressful and complicated environment, Eastern Union’s clients have required me -- and my brokerage team -- to function in a more nimble and focused way. We’ve all had to sharpen and refine our capabilities to meet the customer’s more-complex needs.

What emerging trends will drive investment and development in 2023? Companies like Eastern Union are attracting more banks, mezzanine lenders and bridge lenders as we enter 2023. To succeed next year, we’ll be required to successfully deliver increasingly complex transactions and more structured deals.