Erik Beach
President

Erik was born and raised in Boone, Iowa and moved to the La Crosse, Wisconsin area in the early 1990's. He started his finance career with Associates Financial and worked for them in Alaska prior to moving back to Wisconsin. He has been in the brokerage industry for many years and has used his experience to grow River Funding into the success that it is today. Erik graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and he went on to receive his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse as well. He enjoys golfing, reading, and spending time with his wife, Cindy, and son, Joshua.

Jason Lassen
Vice President

Born and raised in Winona, Minnesota, Jason moved to the La Crosse, Wisconsin area in 1995. Before starting River Funding Corporation, Jason gained a wealth of experience working for a global finance company for several years and managing a mortgage company based in Onalaska, Wisconsin. In his free time, Jason enjoys hockey, softball, racquetball, reading, and most of all, spending time with his wonderful wife, Gayle. He also officiates youth and high school hockey and participates in a men's hockey league. As a loan officer, Jason learned what to expect (and what not to expect) from a mortgage banker. He knows that price is an important factor in determining whom to do business with, but exceptional customer service is even more important.

Eve Siverling
Closing Supervisor

Eve Siverling moved to Onalaska, Wisconsin when River Funding opened the doors in 2003. She was born and raised in Milwaukee where she attended the business program at UWM. She previously worked in a number of different positions at a funding company where she was able to gain a wealth of knowledge in regards to the industry. She was also previously employed as the manager of the closing department at a title company. Eve enjoys spending time boating and waterskiing. She spends quite a bit of time traveling to Milwaukee to visit friends & family, as well as up to Rhinelander where she has a cabin. With the extensive knowledge she has gained through working for a lender and a title company, Eve is excited to offer the best possible service to clients.

Charesse Popp
Account Executive

Charesse was born and raised in Cornell, Wisconsin. She moved to La Crosse in 1999 to attend the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She graduated from UW-La Crosse in August 2003. Shortly after graduation, she joined the River Funding team. Charesse enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris while biking, working-out and golfing. They currently resides in Onalaska with their yellow lab, Peyton.

Melissa Dayton
Senior Account Executive

Melissa Dayton is originally from Wadena, Minnesota and moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota to attend college where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from St. Cloud State University. After college, she moved to Rochester, Minnesota and worked in the auto industry for seven years. She married her husband, Randy, on December 31, 2001. A year later in December 2002, they had their first child, Emily. Recently, her family moved to Galesville, Wisconsin. They enjoy spending their free time (what free time they have since Emily was born) on the river whether it's fishing, hunting, or sitting on the sand bar soaking up the sun. Her husband, Randy is from La Crosse, Wisconsin and most of his family still lives in the area.

Emily Mashak
Closer

Emily Mashak was born in Janesville, Wisconsin and grew up a few hours west in Onalaska, Wisconsin. She graduated from Onalaska High School in 1992. She now resides in the Holmen, Wisconsin area. She comes to River Funding with previous mortgage, banking, and sales experience. In Emily's free time, she enjoys spending it with her three daughters, Haley, Ricki and Camryn, and her husband Brode. Emily is excited about working for River Funding and looks forward to offering her customers the best possible customer service.

Andrea Ratajski
Production Supervisor

Andrea Ratajski was born and raised in Minnetonka , Minnesota. In 1995, she moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin to attend the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with a concentration in Risk and Insurance in 2000. She brings to River Funding four years of experience in both Residential Mortgage and Consumer lending. While attending school, she met her husband, Todd, who grew up in Holmen, Wisconsin. They have since decided to make Onalaska, Wisconsin their new home. During their spare time when they are not working on their new home, they enjoy golfing, bike riding, and going for walks together.

Ryeanne Powers
Loan Qualification Specialist

Shortly after Ryeanne Powers was born in Walnut Creek, California she and her family moved to a small rural town in Calaveras County, California where she grew up. After graduating high school from Calaveras High School in 1999, she attended the University of California in Santa Cruz. Ryeanne relocated to Onalaska, Wisconsin with her two younger brothers in August of 2005. She joined the River Funding team in April of 2006. She is very excited to join the team and can not wait to provide excellent service to all the River Funding customers and associates.

Autum Raymer
Full-Charge Bookkeeper

Autum was born and raised in Sparta, Wisconsin. After graduating from high school, she attended Viterbo University for a semester and then transferred to Western Wisconsin Technical College where she received her degree in Accounting. Autum, her boyfriend Jason, and five year old son, Jaden, enjoy attending sporting events, spending time with friends and family, and watching the Packers.

Joe Sexton
Sales Manager

Joe was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, but considers Viroqua, Wisconsin his hometown. Joe's interest in commerce and sales started at the age of 10 by selling garden seeds door to door for the American Seed Company. Many sales jobs, 42 months in the U.S. Air Force and 4 years later, Joe received a Marketing degree from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. In 1983, Joe co-founded a direct mail software company called Postalsoft. There, Joe learned the art and science of business to business sales while studying the Solution Selling methodology under Michael Bosworth, Solution Selling's founder and a few of his early associates. Joe's wife Rhonda is described by his son Joey III as the calming Yin to Joe's raging Yang. In fact, they've been successful partners in life and various businesses for the last 29 years.

John Pecha
Managing Director, Reverse Mortgage Channel

Originally hailing from Detroit, John moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan to attend Western Michigan University. After earning a bachelors degree in criminal justice John spent 9 years managing for a national retailer and relocated to La Crosse in 2003. His passion for selling and delivering exceptional service caught the attention of Joe Sexton, River Funding’s Sales Director. In 2007, John joined River Funding and is the company’s Reverse Mortgage Specialist. He says that it’s more than a job- it’s become his passion to help seniors live more comfortably in retirement.

Lora Steele
Secondary Market Specialist

Biography Coming Soon...

Mike Lopez
Underwriter

Biography Coming Soon...

Mary Madsen
Regional Sales Director

Born and raised in Maquoketa, Iowa, Mary and her family have primarily lived in the Minneapolis area. Mary first met and married her husband, Mark, while attending the University of Iowa. When Mark accepted a position in Minneapolis, Mary transferred to the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management, with an emphasis in accounting and finance. After graduation, Mary held a position with a CPA firm, but decided she wanted to be more involved with the public and became a licensed real estate agent. In 1998, Mary and her family moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin where she was offered a finance position in the Chrysler Automotive store. After three years, she moved to the Ford store where she was promoted to Finance Director. In January of 2008, Mary joined the River Funding team as the new Regional Sales Director. Her experiences have taught her persistence and how to think outside the box; Mary leaves no stone unturned. Mary enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, Ben, Maria and Emma. In their free time they enjoy travelling and spending time on the water. Mary is excited to be one of the newest members of an innovative and growing company.

Benjamin Madsen
Trailing Document Specialist

Ben is from Holmen, Wisconsin. He has recently graduated from Holmen High School and will be attending the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in the fall majoring in Biology (pre-med). In Ben's spare time he enjoyes going outside and jumping on the trampoline for a good workout, just relaxing on the computer or with a book, and watching movies. He is determined and excited to help those get started in their River Funding experience.

Ed Maroon
District Sales Manager

Ed has spent over 35 years in the retail auto industry. He understands how "taking care of the customer is the number one priority". Transferring this to the mortgage industry also means being responsive. Ed and his wife of 38 years moved to La Crosse in 1999. Helping others reach their goal and dreams is very important to Ed. He is part of the team that organized the first Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club in La Crosse and is the facilitator for the meetings. He also is a very active member of the Chamber Membership Committee. Ed enjoys boating and spending time with his wife, friends and family.