Your Trusted Private Lender

JD Michaelsen

JD Michaelsen is a partner for Black Bridge Partners. He brings more than 10 years of professional real estate experience where he has developed skills and strategies helping investors place capital in successful projects across the country.

Prior to Black Bridge, JD was the Vice President of Acquisitions for Sundance Bay, a private equity firm with more than $4B of assets under management. There, he led the acquisition of more than $600M in multifamily assets and developed vast relationships with real estate professionals around the country. Beforehand, he organized the placement of more than $30M and managed more than $130M of short-term debt for Sundance Bay. Before joining Sundance Bay, JD was with Cottonwood Residential, a multifamily REIT, where he underwrote the placement of over $100M of equity.

JD holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance with Cum Laude Distinction from Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management.

Along with his drive to maximize investors’ returns comes discipline in finding the right deals. With JD’s experience and passion for real estate, he is committed to maximize value for Black Bridge clients.

Managing Partner

Matt Johns

Managing Partner

Matt Johns is a co-founder and managing partner at Black Bridge Partners. With over 12 years of experience in finance and eight years of experience in industrial real estate, Matt has a wealth of knowledge and expertise. This deep understanding of financial markets provides him with valuable insight as it relates to the real estate market.

Prior to Black Bridge, Matt worked at Capita Financial Network, where he oversaw the management and portfolio construction of over $150 million in assets. At Goldman Sachs, he worked with Prime Brokerage services supporting hedge funds with their operations.

Matt earned a BS Finance from the University of Utah and an MBA from Westminster College. In addition he has obtained the CFP® designation.

His education and professional experiences have developed his strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Matt has a passion for finance and real estate and is committed to making an impact at Black Bridge.

Chris Rowe

Chris Rowe is a real estate professional with a broad background in development, finance, and private equity. His experience spans acquisitions, underwriting, project management, and fund operations, with a focus on strategic execution across residential and commercial assets.

Prior to joining Black Bridge Partners, Chris was a Development Associate at Scratch Development and Rich Day Group, where he managed over $200 million in ground-up projects. He previously served as an Acquisitions Associate at Sundance Bay, a private equity firm with more than $4 billion in assets under management, where he sourced and underwrote over $200 million in multifamily and development deals.

Chris holds a Master of Real Estate Development from the University of Utah and a B.S. in Marketing Management from Brigham Young University. He combines analytical rigor with operational insight to drive thoughtful, results-oriented investment decisions.

Vice President of Finance & Operations