Todd Pigott

CEO & Founder

In a word, Todd is passionate about the private money equity space. Previously, over an 18-year period, he held the position of President of one of the largest interior and exterior maintenance companies in the central valley employing over 400 individuals. Sold in 2006 to a private equity firm in New York, he now devotes all of his time and energy to his passion for private money lending.

Today he presides over ZINC’s four separate entities, all involved in the private equity space. ZINC is a licensed lender, not a broker, and we have our personal funds invested in the space our investors consider. This is a rare difference in the ZINC brand. To date, ZINC has originated hundreds of millions of dollars in private money loans, with a loss ratio of less than 1/8%. We oversee millions of dollars of private equity loans every day and fund millions monthly.

All Loans originated by ZINC are secured by a 1st position lien against the underlying collateral. Typically, ZINC focuses on secure branches of lending just outside the bank space. All of our borrowers, whether real estate or auto, are required to participate financially in the transaction with hard cash, creating a real alignment of interest in the transaction.

John Evangelista, C.P.A.

Chief Financial Officer

John joined the ZINC team in 2012 and has over five years of experience in the accounting, forensic analysis, and oversight of various financial investment instruments. He acquired his license as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of California in February of 2012.

Before joining ZINC, he practiced in public accounting for six years at CBIZ & Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C., a national independent CPA firm focusing on litigation and valuation services. He performed analyses in hundreds of litigation engagements involving marital dissolutions, fraud, and fund tracings in this capacity.

He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Claire Kasaian

Community Director

Claire is the Community Director at ZINC, overseeing community relations across 11 counties in California’s Central Valley. Born and raised in the area and a Fresno State graduate, she has deep local roots and is dedicated to helping investors get their Central Valley properties funded.

 

Mario Paulino

IT Operations Manager

Mario serves as the IT Operations Manager at ZINC, where he oversees the end-to-end technology ecosystem that powers the organization. By prioritizing enterprise-wide reliability and data security, he ensures that ZINC’s entire infrastructure remains a resilient catalyst for efficiency and innovation.

 

Matt Wolff

Customer Experience Manager

Matt leads ZINC’s Customer Experience team, focused on building strong relationships and ensuring a smooth, supportive experience for every client. He serves as the primary internal contact for borrowers and oversees operations from application through funding. Matt works closely with borrowers to make the funding process clear, efficient, and stress-free.

Nick Pigott

Field Assistant

Nick is a Field Assistant at ZINC Realty, supporting on-site operations and project coordination. He works closely with the team to help ensure projects stay organized, on schedule, and moving forward efficiently.

Piper Taylor

Marketing Coordinator

Piper is ZINC’s Marketing Coordinator, leading our social media efforts and helping shape the brand’s voice online. With a strong background in marketing and brand identity, she brings creativity and strategy together to engage our community and showcase what makes ZINC unique.

Ryan Greth

Vice President

Ryan joined ZINC in 2024 to lead ZINC Auto Finance, bringing over 30 years of experience in subprime auto lending. Before ZINC, he held senior management roles at Westlake Financial Services, where he oversaw more than 150 employees and played a key role in growing receivables from $300 million to over $2 billion while maintaining exceptionally low delinquency and loss levels. Ryan has also held leadership positions at WFS/Wachovia, United Auto Credit, and Bayside Credit, leveraging his deep industry knowledge to drive operational excellence and strong results.

Kyle

Director of Marketing

Kyle is the Director of Marketing at ZINC with over 15 years of experience in the real estate industry. He leads brand strategy and marketing initiatives that drive growth and strengthen ZINC’s market presence.

Sean Sanford

Chief Operations Officer

Sean Sanford serves as Chief Operating Officer across the ZINC family of companies, including ZINC Financial, ZINC Realty, ZINC Income Fund, HomeownerRelief.com, and ZINC Auto. He provides executive oversight of operations, talent strategy, systems integration, and cross-functional alignment across all entities.

Sean is responsible for building the infrastructure, workflows, and leadership rhythms that allow each division to operate with clarity, accountability, and consistency. From sales and processing to investor relations and acquisitions, he focuses on ensuring teams are equipped, aligned, and positioned for sustainable growth.

He is deeply committed to developing leaders, strengthening culture, and designing scalable systems that support long-term organizational health. His approach blends operational discipline with relational leadership, emphasizing transparency, ownership, and shared purpose.

Leadership Statement:
Sean believes that strong organizations are built through clear expectations, empowered people, and values-driven execution. His leadership is grounded in service, stewardship, and the conviction that when teams are aligned around mission and accountability, meaningful impact follows.

Kelly Samson

Manage Post Closing & Capital Markets

Kelly Samson is a seasoned mortgage professional with over 30 years of industry experience. Throughout his career, he has successfully led teams of more than 30 employees, serving in leadership roles including Area Processing Manager and Underwriting Department Manager.

Currently, Kelly oversees the Post-Closing and Capital Markets divisions at ZINC Financial, Inc., where he is responsible for ensuring operational excellence and supporting the efficient delivery of loan transactions. He is known for fostering high-performing teams by continuously refining processes and creating an environment where individuals are empowered to reach their full potential.

Outside of the office, Kelly enjoys staying active through pickleball and bowling.

Jack Achey

V.P. Operations & Construction

I am Jack Achey, the V.P. of Construction at Zinc, where I bring nine years of hands-on experience and a high-energy approach to every project. My journey at Zinc has been one of dedicated growth—starting as an intern and rising through the ranks to my current leadership role, where I manage crews through full property rehabs and lead our off-market acquisitions team.

A Fresno native through and through, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Business Management from California State University, Fresno. I am truly in my element when I’m out in the field and immersed in the outdoors. When I’m not overseeing construction sites, I stay active by skiing, hiking, and riding mountain bikes.