Penstock, supported by nearly 20 years of direct lending experience, is a family company united by a shared vision. Our commitment is to provide a trusted partner for both investors seeking a stronger and more consistent return and borrowers needing a streamlined solution and certainty to finance their next property.

What’s In A Name?

A penstock is a vessel that controls and diverts the flow of water to harness and create energy. We like this as a metaphor for our business because, like a penstock, we draw on the current environment and create improved outcomes for our investors and borrowers wherever they are. 

For Borrowers

There’s an emphasis on transparency, efficiency, and flexibility. We openly share and clearly outline process steps to close your loan, we make decisions quickly, and we work with you to find a solution that aligns with your financial goals and specific requirements for your real estate project.

For Investors

We make thoughtful investments that maximize returns while preserving capital by controlling and managing downside risk. We convert your source of investment (i.e. IRA, 401k, savings, stocks, bonds, etc.) into a high-yield and consistent income source through residential and commercial real estate. Income is generated from mortgage-related investments and distributed to you, like a dividend, or reinvested into the Fund to compound your investment.

What sets us apart?


Quality

Our goal is to change the negative reputation that follows much of the private lending industry. We are dedicated to delivering top-quality products and services that meet regulatory standards. We aim for excellence and reliability, fostering consistency in high-quality services throughout the process while exceeding the expectations of our third-party partners.


Trust

Penstock upholds a fiduciary duty to our clients and partners as an investment manager and lender. We prioritize financial well-being, integrity and confidentiality. Our commitment to transparency regarding our strategy, fees and risks builds trust and confidence with our partners that the decisions we make align with their long-term financial goals.


Passion

Our passion for this business is genuine and the driving force behind our mission to create a trusted and performance-based company. Passion is the source for our inspired and thoughtful solutions that deliver higher and more consistent yields with less risk and volatility. We are committed to making a lasting, positive impact on our clients, the industry and the communities we serve.

Leadership Team

Michael Gieseke

Partner, CEO

Meet Michael

Michael Gieseke

Partner, CEO
Michael's experience spans engineering, real estate, and lending. Prior to Penstock, he was President of Revenue for Lionscove, a private lending firm, overseeing company wide originations and capital markets. Formerly an engineer, Michael started his career in consulting, working on utility infrastructure before transitioning to real estate development with a focus on urban infill projects. Michael has a B.A. in Civil Engineering from Washington State University and an M.S. in Industrial and Systems engineering from the University of Washington. He also has an M.Sc. in Economics from University College London. Michael is a certified Fund Manager and a licensed Professional Engineer and Mortgage Loan Originator.

Partner, Managing Principal

Eric Jordan

Meet Eric

Eric Jordan

Partner, Managing Principal
Prior to Penstock, Eric was Director of Originations and Business Development for Baseline Partners. He was also Senior Vice President at Columbia Pacific Advisors where he was responsible for loan production and business development for the $1.8 billion real estate lending strategy. Previously, Eric was Vice President at Calmwater Capital in Los Angeles where he focused on originations, fund development and underwriting and directly participated in closing over $1 billion in transactions. Eric started his career in real estate audit at PricewaterhouseCoopers in San Francisco. Eric obtained a dual degree MBA/MRED from the University of Southern California and a degree in Finance from Santa Clara University. He is also a licensed broker in the state of California.

Katie Gieseke

Partner, Head of Operations

Meet Katie

Katie Gieseke

Partner, Head of Operations
Before joining Penstock, Katie worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Her career in healthcare included both direct patient care and administrative roles. She received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Washington where she discovered her passion for system optimization and workflow efficiency including program development and expansion, creation of patient treatment protocols, and clinic workflow optimization. Katie earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Portland where she was an All Academic athlete and NCAA Division I National Champion in women’s soccer.

Interested to learn more about Penstock?  Have a question about our products or services?  Let's get in touch.