Mr. Igor Zhizhin has successfully demonstrated over a decade of experience overseeing the financial interests of boutique firms in multiple sectors. His diverse background includes raising financing for a film production company in Chicago, real estate investment trust in California, and a medical transportation company in New York. In these roles, Mr. Zhizhin came to realize that there was a substantial lack of comprehensive commercial lending solutions for small and entry-level middle market companies. He was one of the founders of the Investment Street Group of companies in Chicago that specialized in providing full-service commercial lending to meet the conforming and non-conforming needs of the small business marketplace. All of the companies were successfully sold in 2008 except for Investment Street Holdings rebranded as iStreet Holdings (“ISH”).
Having successfully financed over $120M in transactions, the company will close at the end of 2009 with the principals transitioning to manage the Alternative Fund, LLC, a hedge fund offering debt and equity investment to non-conforming real estate projects. Mr. Zhizhin will step down from his operational duties and remain as an advisor to focus on running American Street Capital “ASC”
In 2008, Mr. Zhizhin has partnered with the principal of American Street Mortgage Company to launch ASC. ASC is a full-service commercial lending brokerage specializing in income producing properties nationally with a focus on multi-family, office, retail, and owner occupied properties. ASC will also be the exclusive representative of the Alternative Fund in sourcing income-producing financing deals.
Mr. Zhizhin is a member of several corporate advisory boards, including Malix Development Group, Anchor & Anvil, & Dorfkrug International. He is also actively involved with the Lymphoma Foundation, American Cancer Society, United Way, Lincoln Park Community Shelter, and Jewish United Fund.
Mr. Zhizhin is particularly proud of co-founding the American Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce & industry (“AUCCI”). As the current chairman, he oversees the corporate initiatives of the organization to support bi-lateral business relations between the US and Ukraine. A highlight was the sponsorship of the largest Ukrainian Expo in the US in 2006 in Chicago with over 120 private and public sector delegates and 2,000 attendees. The organization continues to be a leading advisor to companies looking for business partnerships and international financing for Ukraine based projects.
Mr. Zhizhin’s academic achievements include graduating with Honors from the University of Chicago in psychology, a master equivalent certificate in Organizational Behavior and Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University, and graduating with Honors from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business with a double major in finance and strategy.