JB Kieswetter

in Californiaon two Fortune 100 Companies,avingsonathan “JB” Kieswetter, President and Founder of Grace Capital, is of 2nd generation German decent. His grandparents immigrated to this country, going through Ellis Island with nothing but a suitcase in hand and pennies in their pockets. Eventually, they created industries in manufacturing and marketing that helped make this country great with leadership and purpose thru the tough times and the fruitful periods in the first sixty years of the twentith century. It is from those genes that JB puts forth the effort, perseverance and integrity to guide Grace Capital through not only good times but the tumultuous swings in our economy. Grace Capital is now enjoying over 25 years in the business of securing financing and equity for our clients.

JB started Grace Capital in 1995 after 15 years in the commercial banking industry. He began his career in commercial real estate financing with Security Pacific Bank in 1978 as Vice President of the Corporate Real Estate Lending Group, Los Angeles. In 1980, he and a group of investors formed, funded and opened Laguna National Bank, a regional financial institution in Orange County California. In 1985, he was heavily sought after by Great Western Savings Bank as their Regional Manager for the Major Loan Department providing perm and construction financing on commercial real estate and subdivision financing. In 1988, he became the Western Regional Manager for the rapidly expanding CRE Lending Division at GMAC Mortgage for the West Coast division with 5 Commercial Real Estate offices from San Diego to Seattle. Then in 1996, he started Grace Capital Group in the midst of one of the worst real estate recessions, the RTC days. Subsequently, 12 years later, he successfully navigated Grace Capital thru the Great Recession of the 2008 period. During the past 40 years, JB has personally structured over $2.5 Billion of residential developments and commercial real estate financings, equity placements and investment sales.

JB has served on several Board of Directors over the last 30 years; a Southern California Residential Mortgage Company, Regional Bank, Land Development Company and a land re-use company. He was one of the founding members of an Orange County California based regional commercial bank and served as the Chief Credit Officer. JB has also served on Loan Committees with two Fortune 100 Companies, Security Pacific Bank and Great Western Savings plus the Loan Committee for Laguna National Bank. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Kings County Ventures, Goodyear Land Reclamation and Grace Capital Group Real Estate Partners.

JB is also a land developer with three projects is various stages of entitlements or operation and has successfully bought, rehabbed and re-sold industrial and multifamily projects.

JB is a 1977 graduate from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a degree in Economics and Business Management. He originally hails from the New England area where he played ice hockey and then moved West to play college hockey in Colorado and then for a semi professional hockey team in California for 2 years. After hanging up the skates, he then coached ice hockey at the university level for 3 years after which he began his business career.

JB is married with 5 children plus three granddaughters and one grandson.  He has resided in Laguna Beach for over 40 years involved in the community, schools and Church by the Sea where he has been active for 25 years with the men’s groups, bible studies and organizing special events. He is an avid blue water ocean boater, out-of-bounds skier and stand up paddle boarder, but mostly enjoys rooting his kids and grandkids in their sports and life’s journeys.