John Pons
Chief Legal Officer
Mr. Pons currently serves as Chief Legal Officer of Rincon. His responsibilities include the management of all legal affairs of the organization, responsibility for the company’s risk management program, and leading the firm’s human resources efforts. Prior to co-founding Rincon, Mr. Pons served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Real Estate, at Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc. (“Cole”), a NYSE-listed real estate investment trust (“REIT”), which he joined in September 2003. While at Cole, Mr. Pons was responsible for all legal matters involving acquisitions, dispositions, financings, joint ventures, leasing, property and asset management and the day-to-day real estate operations within the organization. He also provided oversight of the company’s risk management and general corporate and administrative matters. During his tenure at Cole, Mr. Pons was responsible and oversaw the acquisition of more than $17 billion of commercial real estate and more than $10 billion in related real estate financing. In addition, he oversaw the hiring and integration of over 150 employees to enhance the corporate infrastructure necessary to support the company’s growth.
Prior to joining Cole in 2003, Mr. Pons served as Associate General Counsel at GE Capital Franchise Finance Corporation where he advised all segments of the business, including sales, underwriting, servicing, and property management in connection with its multi-billion dollar real estate portfolio consisting of several thousand properties. Prior to GE Capital, Mr. Pons practiced real estate and finance law in Phoenix, Arizona.
Mr. Pons was an Independent Director of NexPoint Multifamily Capital Trust, Inc., a SEC registered non-traded REIT and was a member of the board of directors of Cole Credit Property Trust, Inc. A veteran of the armed forces, Mr. Pons served as a Captain in the United States Air Force as a Missile Combat Crew Commander where he was responsible for the day-to-day management of personnel, equipment, safety and security of a multi-million dollar nuclear missile complex and maintained readiness of up to 50 Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and 15 Launch Control Centers. Mr. Pons received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Colorado State University and a Master of Science degree in Administration from Central Michigan University before attending the University of Denver Sturm College of Law where he earned his Juris Doctor (Order of St. Ives).