Josh Woodward

President and CEO
Lima One Capital

What are you most looking forward to in your new position?

I was an early partner and chief financial officer of Lima One Capital before becoming CEO, so I am looking forward to spending more time with our teams in underwriting, sales, technology, and other divisions that I have not spent as much time with historically. I am very proud of the firm that we’ve built over the last decade plus, but, just as I felt the first day I arrived, I am excited to constantly evaluate our company, discover where we can be better, and relentlessly pursue excellence. I am also looking forward to amplifying our special and powerful culture which is driven by hard work, integrity, entrepreneurship, and teamwork — this culture and values are the foundation of Lima One Capital.

What is the biggest challenge facing your industry right now?

Lima One Capital is the nation’s premier lender to real estate investors. We lend to house renovators, home builders, and rental property buyers all over the country. Higher interest rates, insurance, and building costs, coupled with economic uncertainty, have reduced housing demand from end buyers. All else equal, this is a headwind for our clients’ projects which, in turn, is a headwind for our business. To combat this challenge, we invested heavily in technology to make our business more efficient, and we have ramped up our marketing and sales efforts to grow market share.

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?

I worked at a fast-food restaurant in my hometown of Augusta, Ga. I learned how to cooperate and communicate with a variety of different people. I also learned how hard the restaurant business is — suffice it to say that there are a lot of variables to contend with. 

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever heard?

To be a better leader, always fight for the highest possible good of your team and create conditions where others can be at their best.

What is something most people would be surprised to know about you?

I’m a huge “Star Wars” fan. One of my favorite pictures is a selfie that I took with Chewbacca when I ran into him at Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World.