**Q&A: Artes Capital’s New COO on Scaling a Sponsor-First Lending Platform**
When Tom Noble joined Artes Capital as Chief Operating Officer, it marked a pivotal strategic shift for the Westlake Village, California-based private credit platform. Noble, who previously held the same role at Archway Capital, now leads company operations across originations, underwriting, marketing, investor relations, and asset management.
His arrival also brought a change in responsibilities for longtime team member Samantha Mansfield. Formerly focused on transaction management, she is now stepping into a more external, client-facing role in business development, working closely with Noble to expand the firm’s relationships.
Founded by Scott Taylor and Michael Jin, Artes Capital is a vertically integrated lender that has carved out a niche in servicing value-add and opportunistic real estate sponsors. The firm is known for providing bridge and construction loans, with notable specialization in the triple-net build-to-suit segment. But what truly sets Artes apart, according to Noble and Mansfield, is its sponsor-first philosophy—prioritizing long-term relationships and following sponsors into new markets and asset classes.
We sat down with Noble and Mansfield to learn how their roles are evolving, how Artes is scaling its business, and what lies ahead for the firm.
**Q: Tom, what drew you to Artes Capital and how does your role fit into the firm’s broader evolution?**
**Tom Noble:** Historically, Artes has operated as a lean organization focused on originations and credit. That model has served the company well and allowed for impressive growth. However, the next phase calls for more defined infrastructure and specialization. My role focuses on formalizing the platform to increase deal volume, serve more sponsors, and broaden our capital sources.
Additionally, I bring a broker-facing background, which is new for Artes. Until now, the firm has primarily reached clients directly. Expanding our reach into the mortgage brokerage community is a big part of my mandate, all while preserving the relationship-driven value that makes Artes unique.
**Q: Samantha, how is your role shifting with these changes?**
**Samantha Mansfield:** My experience lies in transaction management and high-touch client services. I’ve always been the point person guiding sponsors through deals from start to finish. With Tom on board, I’m transitioning into a more forward-looking role—focused on building broker relationships and growing our network. It’s a natural extension of what I’ve done, but now it’s more outward-facing and connected to scaling the business.
**Q: Artes is known for its sponsor-first model. How does that influence your lending strategy and deal structuring?**
**Noble:** This approach is our foundation. While many private credit funds focus solely on the asset and treat deals as isolated transactions, we focus on the sponsor first. That enables us to move faster, be more flexible, and build trust—resulting in better terms and streamlined execution over time.
We often start with deals we know well, like a Starbucks build-to-suit in Southern California. As the relationship deepens, we’re comfortable following that sponsor into new locations and asset types. It’s a partnership mentality, not a transactional one.
**Mansfield:** Over 90% of our deals come from repeat clients. Our sponsors have access to plenty of capital options. They choose us because we offer speed, flexibility, and consistency. We don’t try to fit every sponsor’s profile—but if you’re a strong operator who values execution, we’ll be there for your current and future projects.
**Q: What types of deals are seeing the most activity right now?**
**Noble:** Our triple-net build-to-suit program is central to the business. These are typically single-tenant pad site developments—think Starbucks, 7-Eleven, or quick-service restaurants—arranged by experienced developers. With pre-leases in place and reliable outcomes, we’re able to lend up to 85–90% loan-to-cost, especially with repeat sponsors.
Beyond that, we’re also active across ground-up construction and bridge lending—covering a mix of commercial and residential assets, from light industrial to master-planned communities and scattered-site single-family rentals. Different deal types, but the consistent thread is always the sponsor relationship and deep understanding of the assets. Performance at the deal level is just as critical as relationship continuity.
**Q: How does your capital structure affect the types of deals you pursue?**
**Noble:** We work with both Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and institutional investors, and we tailor structures accordingly. RIA capital is housed in a mortgage REIT and is well-suited for bridge and construction risk. Institutional money, which operates through separately managed accounts, aligns better with our triple-net strategies. This variety allows us to serve a wider range of deal types while staying aligned with each investor’s appetite and objectives.
**Q: What’s your outlook on the current market landscape—and where do you see opportunities?**
**Noble:** We believe the commercial market is approaching an inflection point. Deal volume has been suppressed since 2022, but activity is gradually picking up. We’re especially optimistic about retail and industrial sectors. Retail, in particular, still appears undervalued relative to fundamentals.
Conservative bank lending dynamics are creating a gap in the market—which platforms like ours are well-positioned to fill. On the residential side, things feel a bit overheated today, so we are being selective, particularly with transitional loans. But we’re still relationship-driven—if the right sponsor brings the right deal, we’ll take a serious look.
**Q: Final thoughts—what’s next for Artes Capital?**
**Noble:** Growth—on both the organic and strategic fronts. We have plans to bring on additional senior team members, including a CFO and a Head of Originations. We’re also monitoring the private credit landscape for potential M&A. The market has seen its share of volatility, and we expect consolidation ahead. Artes is well positioned to expand—with our sponsor-first model, integrated platform, and diverse capital base giving us a strong foundation for what’s next.
