Staff & Contacts
Chief Executive Officer Eric Balog
Chief Executive Officer Eric Balog
Throughout a 25+ year professional career, Eric has pioneered ways of understanding markets qualitatively and quantitatively, to create intuitive products, services and methodologies that become indispensable for users, and provide high rate of return for employers and investors. He finds solutions that are win-win-win for customers, providers, and investors.
His early use of data science in financial services enabled the redesign of bank and brokerage products and processes to better suit customers, improve satisfaction and ultimately increase shareholder return; it foretold a sea change in customer knowledge/relationship management and the use of data to drive decision-making in the industry.
Eric later provided strategic leadership within an entrepreneurial group of Charles Schwab by solving the difficult and costly problem of efficiently acquiring high net worth customers. During a fifteen-year period, he helped define a new business unit (equity comp) and take that group from inception to industry leader, landing some of the world's most important corporate clients (Amazon.com, Cisco, Google, and more).
He has been a founding member of venture-backed startups, as well as an investor in early-stage companies. Eric has a BSc in Economics/Game Theory/Mathematics, summa cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been a featured speaker on user-centered design and human-computer interaction within the context of financial services web product design.
Eric has lived and worked in Australia, the Middle East and throughout the US, and has been a nationally ranked athlete in cycling. He enjoys spending time climbing and skiing in the mountains and connects with nature as often as possible.
Email Eric
Phone: (307) 699-2337
Our President Annalisa Povlock
Our President Annalisa Povlock
As President of Leverage Global Partners, Annalisa is responsible for developing products and services, producing events & media, and managing the team that serves our network of real estate firms.
Under Annalisa's leadership, Leverage has achieved a membership base of 130+ real estate firms and has launched an internal marketing agency to serve the creative development and brand marketing needs of its members. With Leverage Global Partners from its beginning, Annalisa has contributed to every functional area of the company.
Prior to joining Leverage, she managed acquisition and construction of multi-family housing developments for an affordable housing developer and worked as an Associate to a top-producing Real Estate Agent in Los Angeles. She holds a Master of Planning degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health from Indiana University.
When she's not steering the ship at Leverage, Annalisa can be found with her family enjoying all that life in Southern California has to offer and completing renovation projects on her duplex.
Email Annalisa
Phone: (310) 500-3661
Our Staff
We have assembled a team of experts in their respective fields - from digital marketing to customer service - who are working to keep Leverage on the leading edge of the global real estate market.
Chief Operating Officer, Business Development Director Tom Forbath
Chief Operating Officer, Business Development Director Tom Forbath
My career spans 20+ years in corporate finance and banking in a variety of capacities, including sales and business development, real estate financing, portfolio management and client relationships. As a Vice President of Wells Fargo Capital Finance, I managed a team of professionals that serviced a demanding portfolio of corporate finance transactions for Fortune 1000 companies with commitments in excess of $1.2 billion. My vast experience working with all levels of management at both domestic and international companies in numerous industries, including real estate, brings a unique global perspective to Leverage. A longtime resident of LA's Westside, I am an avid golfer and also enjoy beach vacations, real estate investing, and serving on the Board of Directors of EduCare Foundation, a local non-profit providing essential after school programs for 25,000 high school students annually in the Los Angeles area.
Email Tom
Phone: (310) 500-3659
Chief Creative Officer Emily Desai
Chief Creative Officer Emily Desai
From an early age, I knew that I wanted to be an architect. So I earned my bachelors degree in Architecture at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. After graduating, I moved to Paris to work in a design firm and soak in as much of the city as possible. When I returned to the States, I settled in Los Angeles, where I have enjoyed working in a variety of creative companies. Early on, I worked for local design firms, then took a break to start and run a letterpress design company for several years. On any given day, you may find me strategizing new marketing initiatives or brainstorming with Leverage Global Partners team members on upcoming projects. When I am not working, I love to spend time with my husband and our son, and fixing up our 100-yr old bungalow and attempting to garden (it's harder than it looks). I also continue to pursue new artistic endeavors and love spending time with family and friends.
Senior Account Director Morgan Northway
Senior Account Director Morgan Northway
Born and raised in the Midwest, I have always embraced a spirit for exploration, innovation, and out-of-the box thinking. I graduated from Iowa State University where I focused on Apparel Merchandising and Design and Entrepreneurial Studies, and then I made my way to Los Angeles. My enthusiasm for technology and building strong relationships with clients has led me to Leverage Global Partners, where I support our team and our partners. I take time to enjoy life in Los Angeles and its infinite possibilities each and every day, whether that's a hike in Griffith Park, a historic tour of downtown Los Angeles or through my volunteer work at local charities.
Email Morgan
Phone: (310) 500-3673
Account Director William Shetler
Account Director William Shetler
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, I moved to Los Angeles in search of better weather and great opportunities. I developed my career launching several start up companies, and I enjoyed contributing to many key functional areas of Sales, Marketing and Business Development. I felt a natural connection with the overall goal of Leverage Global Partners. There's something exciting about being a part of a company with this much drive and integrity. In my spare time you can find me doing anything outdoors, writing, listening to music and waiting for my favorite holiday, Halloween.
Email William
Phone: (310) 500-3663
Marketing Project Manager Jenny Mueller
Marketing Project Manager Jenny Mueller
With a diverse career background that includes working with nonprofit and economic development firms, my primary focus has always been marketing and public relations. After graduating summa cum laude from Mississippi State University, I began a journey moving westward to Colorado before eventually finding my way to Southern California and the Leverage Global Partners team. I coordinate PR, marketing and social media networking in support of our Global Partners, aiming to enhance their exposure and further support each partner’s position as their local market expert. If I am not at work, I am exploring my quirky Venice neighborhood, practicing yoga, and appreciating anything that is my favorite color, purple.
Email Jenny
Phone: (310) 500-3657
Referral & Account Services Coordinator Marissa Boladian
Referral & Account Services Coordinator Marissa Boladian
A Southern California native, I recently graduated from Chapman University where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. I had the amazing opportunity of studying abroad in London, where I was able to travel to numerous European countries immersing myself with the people and the cultures I encountered along the way. Such exposure has helped prepare me in my position as Referral & Account Coordinator with Leverage Global Partners in building and nurturing relationships with people around the world. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I have an enthusiasm for travel, as well as a love for all things fitness, and I can never say no to ice cream.
Email Marissa
Phone: (310) 500-3667
Partner Madison Hildebrand
Partner Madison Hildebrand
Madison Hildebrand, President and Founder of The Malibu Life, Inc., is one of the world’s most recognizable faces in the world of real estate. Bringing 10 years of experience and career sales of over $250 Million, Madison acts as a founding member of Partners Trust Malibu office and is recognized internationally as a top producing agent year after year. Madison incorporated The Malibu Life, Inc., enlisting a team of 8 specialists who work together to make record transactions, exerting passion, professionalism, integrity, and uncanny industry knowledge. Madison’s ability to connect and communicate with a wide range of clientele is guided by his passion for travel, and his experiences living in various countries, states, and cities.
After completing his Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from Pepperdine University, Madison decided to plant his roots in Malibu. Soon after graduating, Madison became a pillar within the community, involving himself in numerous organizations and charitable institutions. He regularly gives back as a volunteer within the community, serving as a current Board Member of the Malibu Boys and Girls Club, a past Board Director of the Malibu Association of Realtors, a weekly volunteer at the ER at the UCLA Santa Monica Hospital, and Vice President of The Malibu Green Machine.
A six-year veteran to the small screen, Madison is most widely known as the original cast member of Bravo TV’s hit reality show “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” and as a contributing host on E! News. Madison is also an acclaimed public speaker, author of the book Activate Your Passion, Create Your Career, and a product designer for a line of candles. His most recent accomplishments include signing on as Brand Ambassador for DocuSign, Inc. – The global standard for digital transaction management, as well as becoming the spokesperson for Leverage Global Partners, which brings global exposure and networking to boutique agencies across the world. Whether it’s gardening, traveling, or hiking with his rescue Doberman, Maya, Madison lives by his philosophies of “Spread the Love,” that “You can mix business with pleasure,” and his most important mantra of “Be a blessing, then be blessed.”
