A BIG IDEA KIND of COMPANY:
A PURPOSE DRIVEN FIRM WITH LIKE MINDED MEMBERS

John Royce Lynch, Founder and CEO of Royce Impact Holdings, Inc. is responsible for providing senior leadership and strategic direction to Royce Impact’s credit, insurance, and asset management businesses. What began as a linear venture has morphed into a vertical integrated, global organization and industry leading incubator of ideas pushing the boundaries of innovation in the new era of high-net-worth financial services.

Prior to founding Royce Impact, John Co-founded Secured Funding Corporation, an online specialty finance company, and grew it into the nation’s largest privately held independent loan originator of subordinate lien financing and a category leader.

Known for his intense commitment to his work, John is recognized as one of the industry’s top entrepreneurs and origination experts, with a track record of growing some of the most respected companies in the financial services industry. His portfolio of companies is diverse, with operating entities in financial services, fintech, marketing, and communications.

Kyle Diehl, President, Chief Investment Officer is responsible for overseeing the execution of the firm’s M&A, Capital Markets, and Investment Banking strategy. His primary responsibilities include implementing the firm’s strategic growth plan, executive oversight of enterprise growth initiatives, including new business expansion, mergers and acquisitions, and business development.

His tenure in international investment, and as a global markets professional is impressive with over 20 years of experience in analyzing and structuring secured equity and private placement investments, international banking,sovereign trusts, capital markets, and private investment banking. The breadth of his impressive career spans across many ventures and across the globe with experience in international commercial banking primarily with Latin American Public Sector and Banking Companies. Recent consulting experience in, Kabul, Afghanistan, Tirana, Albania, and Amman, Jordan.

Additionally, he served as Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Investment Partnership and operating investment firm investing for its own account testimony, fairness opinions, and corporate valuation services for closely held private companies. Instituted and managed underwriting activities focused on transactions $5-75 million. Managed participation in regional and national syndication as manager, co-manager and selling group member, completing over 500 underwriting transactions. Kyle received his BA in Economics from University of California at Berkeley.

Chief Sustainability and Corporate Innovation Officer is responsible for overseeing the Royce Impact/VARDA’S corporate sustainability strategy and targeted ESG performance metrics. Drawing from her extensive experience, she will help develop and oversee all regenerative land development, ethical supply chain, carbon sequestration, and sustainable energy initiatives, capitalize on strategic opportunities, and continue to drive responsible, and profitable growth for Royce Impact/VARDA.

Andrea has over 16 years of extensive experience in sustainability and supply chain emission management, supplier diversity, and inclusion. Prior to joining Royce Impact/VARDA, she was Vice President of Sustainability for Frostbyte Consulting, the world’s leading provider of environmental and safety management information systems (EMIS) providing solutions in scope 2 and 3 emissions, carbon, water, and energy management.

Andrea serves as Ambassador to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), advising on the Equity in Energy Committee focused on creating opportunity and access to energy resources. She is a board member of CAMSC, an NPO that certifies & prepares diverse suppliers to successfully engage & respond to corporate and government buyers. She received licensed certification from Wharton University in ESG risks, opportunities, climate, and social impact. Andrea received her MBA from Ivey Business School at Western University.

Joe McKnight, COO, and General Counsel is responsible for overseeing the firm’s compliance, operations, and risk management programs. His primary responsibilities include helping develop and implement the firm’s strategic growth plan, executive oversight of enterprise growth initiatives, including new business expansion, mergers and acquisitions and business development.

Joe brings many years of experience as a partner and advisor to growing vertically integrated asset management firms. In 2006, he joined ECC Capital Corporation, a publicly traded C-Corp (previously a REIT) that invests in residential mortgage loans as Director of Legal, Executive Vice President where he developed and managed innovative investment structures designed to maximize investment value, and managed all regulatory compliance, licensing, and litigation.

Additionally, he managed ECC’s mortgage-backed securitizations and servicing related to those securitizations. Joe has served as an active partner to a variety of asset managers during his career, providing legal and operational guidance to enhance market opportunities, business growth, corporate best practices, and strategic direction.

Since 2015, Joe has served as Co-Chair for the Special Olympics’ annual gala the Heart of a Champion. He’s a current executive board member of Age Well Senior Services providing critical services, resources, and programs to seniors living in South Orange County. Joe attended Gonzaga School of Law receiving his Juris Doctorate in 2006, B.S. in Philosophy from California State University Fullerton, and Harvard Business School Executive Education.

Thien Nguyen, Managing Director, Senior Portfolio and Capital Markets Manager is responsible for the structuring and management of our income and credit access vehicle through our proprietary structured participation offering for syndicate investors.

His tenure as a structured finance professional is impressive with over 20 years of experience in trading, securitization, portfolio management, business, and infrastructure development. His daily focus is on building and managing strategies within the residential mortgage-backed securities market as well as managing the interest rate and credit risk exposure across Royce Impact/VARDA’S family of companies.

Thien began his capital markets career in 1997 and has investment experience across multiple sectors of the fixed income market. Prior to joining Royce Impact, he was Vice President of RMBS & ABS Investment at Cerberus where he led the group responsible for developing the fixed income mortgage investment and valuation platform. The investment opportunities, in cash and synthetic securities, included ABX, CDS, whole loans, ABS, RMBS, SIVs, ABCPs and CDOs. Other notable positions include Senior RMBS Portfolio Manager at Redwood Trust, and Vice President of Trading at Falcon Bridge Capital (Carlyle Fixed Income Group).

Casey Tuner, EVP, Enterprise Risk & Operations, is responsible for all aspects of Royce Impact Holdings, Inc. enterprise risk management. Her impressive track record and depth of experience in operational risk management and compliance is crucial to Royce Impact’s ongoing commitment to establishing new products, new services, and advancing our deep commitment to the private client experience.

Most recently, Casey served as Director of Compliance for LoanSnap, Inc., a venture funded, fintech mortgage origination platform, advising on operational compliance, staff training, process design, and risk management frameworks. Previously, she held the position of Director of Operations for DLJ Financial, and has served as member on Asset Liability, Enterprise Risk, and Business Strategy Committees. Casey holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Science from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

Ron Black, Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for all aspects of Royce Impact Holdings, Inc’s financial actions, including its accounting, treasury, tax, corporate finance and investor and lender relations activities.

Ron has held leadership roles that include a variety of executive positions within capital management, mortgage lending and financial services industries. Ron, previously served as the Chief Accounting Officer for Carnegie Mortgage LLC, a subsidiary of Grand Bank NA. Prior to Carnegie, Ron also served in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer responsible for Accounting, Treasury, Facilities and Information Systems for Town & Country Credit, a subsidiary of Ameriquest Financial and Encore Credit, a subsidiary of ECC Capital Corporation.

Ron is an experienced financial services executive with nearly 30 years of industry experience beginning his career at Deloitte. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Brigham Young University.