Our Team

Robert P. Grammen
Managing Partner

Robert P. Grammen serves as managing partner of Cypress-GP, LLC, general partner of Cypress Lending Group, and prior thereto served as the managing partner of Naples Lending Group, L.C., (the Cypress predecessor). Grammen’s responsibilities include the oversight, coordination and execution of all loan origination, underwriting, funding and loan servicing.

Prior to working with Cypress (and Naples) Lending Group, Mr. Grammen served as Vice-President of ITG, a private investment bank located in Naples, Florida. At ITG, Mr. Grammen managed the formation and development of two (2) investment funds with purchasing capital in excess of $35 million and arranged over $75 million in debt security transactions. From 1987 to 1992, Grammen served as a Vice-President of Investment Banking for Landbase, Inc. (a resort development company). During this tenure, Grammen coordinated financing and/or consulted for projects in over 14 countries.

Mr. Grammen graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Bethany College, Bethany West Virginia, and subsequently went to Oxford, England on a one-year exchange program conducting studies on the European Common Market. Mr. Grammen completed MBA studies in Finance at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.

William P. Esping
Managing Partner

William P. Esping is a managing partner of Cypress-GP, LLC, and the Managing General Partner of EFO Holdings, L.P., the "Esping Family Office."

EFO was founded in Dallas, Texas in 1994, based on the philosophy of Perry E. “Bill” Esping, using the Esping family assets as a platform, built a premiere investment firm.

Expertise encompasses all major asset classes including venture capital, private equity, public equity, hedge funds, real estate and fixed income, as well as estate planning, wealth transfer and taxation issues. EFO’s five partners, together with its affiliate partners and full team of tax and accounting professionals, manage in excess of $250 million.

Mr. Esping has been with EFO since its inception and is responsible for originating and executing private equity transactions, oversight of the public equities portfolio, and the day-to-day management of the company.

Mr. Esping received a B.A. in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University. He is currently a Director of Waste Corp of America, PanAero Corp., and Platinum Research Organization, as well as an Advisor to Smith Pipe.

Ballard O. Castleman
Partner

Ballard O. Castleman serves as partner of EFO Holding, L.P. He is responsible for identifying, underwriting, executing and monitoring investments in private and public companies. With respect to private equity investments, Mr. Castleman's role includes structuring and executing the transactions.

Prior to joining EFO in 1997, Mr. Castleman was a Vice President with Heller Financial's Corporate Finance Group where he was responsible for originating, underwriting, and structuring leveraged debt and mezzanine transactions of private buy-outs and acquisitions. While at Heller, he was involved with 10 transactions and over $300 million of capital.

Mr. Castleman received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, Graduate School of Business. He received a B.A. in History from Vanderbilt University. He is currently a Director of Waste Corp of America, Psycor, SmartFleet, and an Advisor of Smith Pipe.

Stutzman & Bromberg, L.L.C.
Outside Legal Counsel – Real Estate and Lending

Stutzman & Bromberg partner Bob Abbott serves as outside counsel for Cypress Lending Group, conducting all the real estate and lending legal work in connection with loans issued by Cypress. Mr. Abbott has over 28 years of experience in real estate and other business transactions including real estate and asset lending transactions representing both borrowers and lenders, debtor-in-possession secured lending, structuring of limited partnerships, joint ventures and limited liability companies including the tax aspects relating thereto, leasing and real estate development.

Mr. Abbott received his Juris Doctor degree from the Southern Methodist University School of Law and his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Southern Methodist University majoring in accounting. Mr. Abbott was a partner for 13 years with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld from 1972-1991 and subsequent thereto has been a shareholder, director and vice president of Stutzman & Bromberg, A Professional Corporation.


	[Home] [About Us] [Our Strengths] [Products] [Our Team] [Transactions] [News] [Contact Us]


	© 2003 Cypress Lending Group, Ltd. info@cypresslending.com