Who We Are

Casner Shepard Financial enjoys a proven record of success with a wide range of financing structures, including long term (“permanent”) financing or refinancing, construction financing, bridge or mezzanine financing. Our team of seasoned professionals knows what is required to take each transaction through the approval and closing process.

The Principals

Elizabeth Shepard

Elizabeth has over 25 years of experience in the field of commercial real estate, including commercial finance, leasing and sales. Prior to her current role as the head of production, Elizabeth was active in commercial sales and leasing in Marin County, CA, and was responsible for effecting Marin County’s single largest real estate transaction, the sale of Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato as a 300-acre mixed-use development.

Elizabeth is and honors graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. She is a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America and the Bay Area Mortgage Association, and is a licensed California real estate broker (DRE #00597883). She is responsible for loan production and oversight of the other producers with the firm.


John Casner

John has over 30 years experience as a multi-disciplinary real estate professional with expertise in commercial property acquisitions, dispositions, asset and portfolio management, development and project management and financing, including complex debt restructuring. At Casner Shepard Financial, he is responsible for financial analysis and loan packaging.

He began his career with The Equitable Life Assurance Society in its Commercial Mortgage Department where, among his accomplishments, he led a team in the successful workout of a troubled 165-property portfolio of specialized assets. He has worked with Citibank, Dean Witter Realty, Richard Ellis, Inc. and The Yarmouth Group, managing large portfolios of commercial, industrial and multi-family property, specializing in value enhancement.

John acquired a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Real Estate from Indiana University. He is a member of the Bay Area Mortgage Association and is a licensed California real estate broker (DRE #01213756).