Why I Joined EB5AN: An Intimate Conversation with Members of the EB5AN Team

At EB5AN, we’re proud of our industry-leading track record of successful projects, Green Card approvals for our investors, and repaid funds. These metrics demonstrate our growth and reliability as a leading EB-5 operator.

But besides these numbers, what most attracts both EB-5 investors and EB-5 professionals to EB5AN is our unwavering commitment to supporting our investors. Our philosophy is centered around empowering investors to make informed decisions and creating EB-5 projects that lower their risk as much as possible.

Recognizing our unique approach, many leading members of the EB-5 industry have joined our team, eager to work at one of the most highly regarded firms in the EB-5 space.

We recently interviewed five key members of the EB5AN team and asked them why they decided to work for us. We invite you to watch the full-length webinar or the highlights for each team member, or you can read a summary of the webinar below.

As you’ll see, each of our team members was impressed by EB5AN’s unique level of transparency, stringent project selection process, and deep understanding of both real estate investment and EB-5 immigration.

Full Webinar: Why Did I Join EB5AN?
How does EB5AN compare to your prior regional center?

Meet the EB5AN Team

Brian Zirulnikoff

Brian is the Director of LATAM Markets at EB5AN, where he streamlines and enhances marketing operations while expanding capital-sourcing partnerships across Latin America and other regions. With over 11 years of comprehensive experience in the EB-5 industry, Brian excels in project structuring, case preparation, risk mitigation, compliance, and managing sources of funds in markets facing capital export restrictions.

Before joining EB5AN, Brian served as the Chief Marketing Officer at GoVisa EB-5 and was the Director of LATAM Marketing Operations at Dynaxe Capital. He also held the roles of Vice President of Business Development and Senior EB-5 Paralegal at Rahbaran & Associates, PLLC, a renowned top-25 EB-5 immigration law firm. Brian holds an M.B.A. from Florida Atlantic University and a B.A. in international relations from Florida International University.

Brian’s passion for immigration stems from his personal background—his father immigrated from Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1974 on an investor visa. Brian is dedicated to helping other families achieve similar success. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, he leverages his multilingual skills to effectively communicate and build strong partnerships with investors in the LATAM market.

Mila de Olano

Mila leads LATAM business development at EB5AN, where she drives growth and fosters strategic partnerships across Latin America. With a robust background in customer care, education, and business development, Mila has honed her expertise through roles at globally recognized companies such as ExxonMobil, Promethean, and InvestAmerica.

Mila is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, enabling her to connect seamlessly with clients and partners from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds in Latin America. Her genuine passion for building relationships and understanding diverse perspectives aligns perfectly with EB5AN’s mission to create successful EB-5 investments for families worldwide.

Mila had originally joined EB5AN in 2022 and left briefly in 2024 to work as a vice president at CanAm Enterprises, another EB-5 regional center operator. She decided to return to EB5AN for our unique commitment to helping EB-5 investors and promoting transparency.

Mila explains, “I’m very happy to be back, because here, I have what no other regional center has, this total transparency with our investors. I’m here to help the families. I’m here to help the investors. That is my first priority, and EB5AN allows me to do that.”

Jordan Lawrence

Jordan is EB5AN’s Director of Business Development, a role in which he structures EB-5 offerings and forges new strategic relationships to drive the company’s growth. Jordan plays a pivotal part in expanding EB5AN’s footprint within the EB-5 industry by leveraging his extensive experience in real estate finance, development, online marketing, and international business development.

Before joining EB5AN, Jordan served as the Director of Operations at Houston EB5, where he honed his skills in managing complex projects and optimizing operational efficiencies. His background includes over five years in the real estate finance and development sectors, with a strong foundation in online marketing strategies and international market expansion.

Jordan holds a bachelor of business administration with a double degree in real estate/finance and entrepreneurial management from Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business.

Dairung Chiang

A new member of EB5AN’s expanding team, Dairung brings a wealth of experience in business immigration. She most recently served in EB-5 compliance and business development at Driftwood Capital and as Executive Vice President at Joorney Business Plans.

Throughout her career, Dairung has successfully guided over 1,000 families through various business immigration processes and collaborated with more than 300 immigration law firms, specializing in E-2, L-1, EB2-NIW, and EB-5 visas. Her extensive expertise and in-depth knowledge of the EB-5 program are invaluable assets to EB5AN.

Dairung holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Florida International University, where she also earned double minors in Asian and Latin American globalization and Asian studies.

As an immigrant herself, Dairung brings deep passion and empathy to the immigrant journey, aligning perfectly with EB5AN’s mission. A Taiwanese-American dual national, she is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, and English.

Keith Thomas

Keith has extensive experience in both high finance and the EB-5 industry. With a career on Wall Street as a commodity floor broker and high-frequency trader, Keith developed a deep understanding of financial markets and trading strategies. His pursuit of new horizons led him to the People’s Republic of China, where he served as the International Marketing Director for a leading biotechnology firm specializing in cutting-edge cellular medicine. In this role, Keith was instrumental in promoting innovative medical solutions and forging international partnerships.

Transitioning to the EB-5 sector, Keith has excelled as an executive, assisting international clients from China, Southeast Asia, and India in immigrating to the United States through the employment-based investment visa program. He has successfully educated and guided hundreds of EB-5 investors through the immigration process.

Keith holds a B.A. in psychology from Lehigh University and has lived and worked in four countries, enriching his professional journey with diverse perspectives and cross-cultural communication skills.

Why They Joined EB5AN

EB5AN’s #1 Priority: Helping EB-5 Investors Succeed

The team at EB5AN focuses on serving the needs of investors rather than project developers. Our primary responsibility is to protect investors’ funds and ensure that projects perform as promised so our investors qualify for U.S. Green Cards. EB5AN monitors developers closely to ensure they meet their commitments, maintaining our fiduciary duty toward our investors.

Our investor-focused approach means that EB5AN prioritizes the interests and security of our clients above all else. By holding developers accountable, EB5AN protects our investors’ hard-earned funds and prized immigration goals. As a result, we have built strong, trust-based relationships with thousands of EB-5 investors from around the world.

This philosophy guides EB5AN’s entire business approach, from structuring safe EB-5 projects to providing investors with the highest possible level of transparency.

Creating Institutional-Quality EB-5 Projects

EB5AN stands out in the EB-5 industry for its high-quality EB-5 projects. Our team is excited about both our urban and rural offerings, each of which follows a proven, successful business model and offers investors a high level of safety.

Our track record speaks for itself: We enjoy a USCIS project approval rate of 100%, and all of our EB-5 capital has already been repaid or is in good standing.

Our approach toward structuring EB-5 projects is not about reinventing the wheel but refining and perfecting what already works. By focusing on proven strategies and successful project models, EB5AN ensures that each new venture builds on a solid foundation. This method allows the team to deliver reliable and effective EB-5 projects without the uncertainties that come with experimenting with risky business models.

We are extremely selective with the EB-5 projects we choose to sponsor. Our projects meet the highest standards in safety, immigration compliance, and financial stability. By prioritizing quality over quantity, we provide investors with the best possible options in the market.

Our underwriting process focuses on one key factor: mitigating risk for our investors. EB5AN makes sure that each project is capable of starting, progressing, and completing without solely depending on EB-5 capital. Because our projects are financially stable, our investors have peace of mind that their funds are in safe hands.

We also stand out among EB-5 firms by honoring our fiduciary duty toward our EB-5 investors. Unlike other regional centers that may have conflicts of interest by holding limited partnership shares alongside EB-5 investors, we maintain a clear separation. This structure allows us to prioritize investors’ interests without being influenced by other financial commitments.

Sam Silverman and Mike Schoenfeld, our co-founders, both have backgrounds in private equity and financial consulting. They use their expertise to carry out an exhaustive underwriting process for every potential project before deciding to sponsor it. EB5AN reviews many projects but selects only a few based on conservative risk assessments.

Sam and Mike’s dedication to thorough research and their active involvement in project selection is an asset for EB5AN. Their hands-on approach, including frequently travelling to project sites, ensures that each project meets our high standards. It’s no accident we enjoy a perfect track record with all of our regional center–sponsored projects, with every project performing as expected.

By not pursuing unrealistically risky or exotic projects, EB5AN has earned recognition among investors, professionals, and attorneys. Our goals are to help our investors obtain their Green Cards and recover their funds—not risk their goals by sponsoring unsound projects.

Additionally, we offer reimbursement and job creation guaranties on most of our projects, adding another layer of security for investors.

EB5AN’s Leads the Rural EB-5 Sector

The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA) brought significant changes to the EB-5 program, especially in its immigration incentives for investors in rural projects. EB5AN was in an ideal position to take advantage of this shift toward rural projects, as we had extensive experience with rural offerings.

We have a deep understanding of rural master-planned communities, and we have already created a number of highly successful rural projects under the RIA.

Our Commitment to Transparency and Protecting EB-5 Investors

EB5AN’s commitment to safeguarding investors’ interests has motivated many leading EB-5 professionals to join our firm. EB5AN’s transparency is unparalleled in the EB-5 industry.

For example, unlike many of our competitors, who are reluctant to provide financial statements, EB5AN offers detailed financial statements for all its projects. This level of openness is a valuable resource for investors who want to understand where their life savings will be going over a five-year investment period, or even longer.

We provide monthly, quarterly, and annual updates on construction progress as well as sales reports. This level of detail makes sure investors are always aware of how their funds are being used. Investors can see firsthand how the projects we sponsor start, reach completion, and repay investors without relying solely on EB-5 capital. Compare this to many other projects, where the failure to secure sufficient funding can lead to incomplete projects and unfulfilled investor promises.

What is more, the EB5AN team is highly approachable and supportive of investors. Our managing partners are always available and involved in the investment process. Indeed, investors can speak directly with the managing partners. Knowing that the management team is actively involved helps investors feel that they are not alone in the process. We make sure our investors receive the support they need at every step.

In addition, our investors often have the chance to visit project sites and meet with the principals. This level of access is uncommon in the EB-5 industry.

By openly sharing financial statements, project details, and performance metrics, EB5AN builds trust and ensures that investors have all the information they need to make informed decisions. This transparent approach not only enhances the investor experience but also establishes EB5AN as a leader in the EB-5 industry.

And our commitment to promoting transparency and education extends beyond just our projects. We have also created a large library of free resources for our investors, including over 800 informative videos, interviews with successful investors, and useful guides for evaluating EB-5 projects’ risk profiles.

EB5AN’s Regional Centers are Independent of Project Developers

EB5AN’s regional centers are always strictly separate from the project developers we sponsor, which allows us to avoid potential conflicts of interest. This independence ensures we are solely focused on complying with EB-5 requirements, without any external influences that could compromise the EB-5 funds. As a result, we can give our investors unbiased information and support throughout the EB-5 process.

Helping EB-5 Investors Find Trustworthy Immigration Attorneys

Most EB-5 investors have never spoken to an immigration attorney—or perhaps any attorney—before and are unaware that they need one. Investors should be looking for attorneys who understand the complexities of the EB-5 program. These attorneys have a long track record of USCIS approvals and specialize in EB-5 immigration. Not all immigration attorneys are familiar with the specific requirements for EB-5 investors.

In addition, the EB-5 process is long term, often taking five to seven years. Therefore, our investors need to build a strong rapport with their immigration attorneys. We always advise clients to interview multiple attorneys to find the right fit.

An immigration attorney acts as an EB-5 investor’s legal representative to the U.S. government. They handle all communications with the government on behalf of the investor, from filing the necessary forms to managing correspondences until the investor receives a permanent Green Card and their capital is returned.

To avoid conflicts of interest, we encourage investors to work with immigration attorneys who are not affiliated with developers or regional centers—including ourselves.

Still, EB5AN may recommend a list of immigration attorneys based on their EB-5 expertise, which can help investors find an attorney who can effectively handle their cases. Over our years of sponsoring projects, we have developed relationships with numerous EB-5 immigration attorneys, and we have an excellent reputation with immigration attorneys, many of whom respect us for our commitment to quality and compliance.

Whether investors require attorneys with expertise in sourcing funds from particular countries or those who speak specific languages, EB5AN offers guidance to match investors with the right legal professionals.

Of course, our investors are free to work with any immigration attorney they choose. What matters most is that you pick the right immigration attorney for your needs.

EB5AN’s Expertise in Both Business and EB-5 Immigration

With a high volume of clients and projects, EB5AN is always learning and sharing insights about the latest trends in the industry. This constant exposure helps us stay informed about the latest developments in the EB-5 landscape, helping us to stay ahead of regulatory changes and offer our investors the safest experience.

Understanding both business and EB-5 immigration is essential, and many of our competitors only have significant expertise in one of these areas. EB5AN’s team excels in this dual expertise—a rarity in the industry. Because of this, our business decisions align with both EB-5 policies and investors’ goals. When clients seek advice, we can provide solutions that make sense from both a business and immigration perspective.

Learn More About EB5AN

We’re proud of having built a solid reputation in the EB-5 industry. EB5AN has one of the most impressive track records in the industry and is widely recognized as the regional center operator that cares the most about its investors.

Simply put, our investors’ success is our success.

We invite you to learn more about EB5AN and the best way to go about the EB-5 process by scheduling a free consultation. Our team will be delighted to help you and your family obtain U.S. Green Cards as quickly as possible while protecting your invested funds.