Get to know us!

 President & CEO, Principal 

Kess Romano is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Romano Capital. As the Founder, Kess creates investment funds for the development, construction, acquisition, sale, rental, and lending of commercial and residential real estate projects, providing investors with secure investments that yield higher-than-market returns. Romano Capital’s clients are its investors, who trust the firm for high-quality investments and long-term wealth building.

Kess started his career as a Loan Officer at Crown Home Mortgage after graduating with a degree in Economics from George Fox University in 2000. He then gained experience with new construction loans by joining Star Mountain Mortgage, which was later acquired by Countrywide. In 2003, Kess founded Romano Financial with his father, Jerry Romano, and, in 2008, established Capital Preservation Management, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the state of Washington, as the credit market seized up.

Romano Capital and its affiliated companies have deep roots in the Pacific Northwest, where Kess and his team have created and managed 20 private offerings in various types of real estate since 2003. Kess takes a hands-on approach to the development process, from initiation and negotiation to timely adjustments to cycles and changing market conditions. He underwrites every deal and possesses intimate knowledge of the properties and in-depth local relationships with developers. On average, investors in Romano Capital’s equity funds have achieved targeted returns exceeding 10%, while investors in debt funds have received returns ranging from 6% to 10%.

In his free time, Kess enjoys golfing, snowboarding, spending time with his four children, family, and friends, and traveling to chase the sun during the Northwest winters.

 VP of Lending

Stephanie became part of the Romano Capital team in spring 2021 when the company acquired a loan portfolio that formed the basis of the Capital Preservation 200 fund. She previously worked as a commercial real estate lender for a regional bank and was a Special Asset Manager from 2007 to 2012. With over 30 years of experience in commercial lending, Stephanie transitioned to private equity, where she has been managing credit for funds ever since.

Since joining Romano, Stephanie has become an indispensable member of the lending division. She is responsible for underwriting, servicing, and regulatory compliance for the lending funds. Stephanie sits on the credit committee and plays a key role in all decision-making processes. Stephanie is an expert in strategic and creative cash flow management and collateral analysis to ensure optimal fund performance and risk mitigation.

Stephanie earned her degree from Central Washington University and graduated from the Northwest Intermediate Commercial Lending and Pacific Coast Banking School. During her time in banking, she served on various non-profit board of directors. Currently, she is a Board Member for Ginn Gives. She is married with three children and has two granddaughters and a grandson on the way. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, and spending time with her family.

 NMLS license number 638539 

EVP, Principal

Korban is a proud native of Vancouver, WA, and has always considered the Pacific Northwest his home. After pursuing several entrepreneurial endeavors, he moved to Argentina to work for humanitarian causes. Upon his return to Washington, Korban developed a keen interest in real estate investment and began working with his brother Kess.

Korban joined Romano Capital in 2011 and has played a pivotal role in driving the company’s growth and expansion of its core lines of business. Initially, Korban served as the company’s internal accountant, managing reporting and compliance for over 30 LLCs. His expertise in private money lending enabled the company to rapidly scale its Capital Preservation mortgage fund to its current cap of $20 Million.

Korban leads the strategic initiative for accounting, finance, and cash management operations, meticulously ensuring that the company’s financial practices and reporting procedures comply with both industry best practices and regulatory standards.