Fastest Lenders in the West
Nico D. Howard, CEO
Nico Howard is co-founder and CEO of Silverback Capital Partners, an asset-based private lender in Phoenix, Arizona. He is also co-owner of Nidax Limited Partnership, a boutique investment firm specializing in real estate investment and development. Nico focuses much of his time on the acquisition and entitlement of raw land. While his portfolio spans asset classes, he is particularly interested in residential land development and the need for additional housing supply throughout the Phoenix MSA.
Nico received his BS from USC and received his JD, summa cum laude, and his MBA, magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame. His legal practice focused on complex M&A and private equity transactions at Kirkland & Ellis, Chicago.
In his “free time”, Nico is the co-host of the Breakfast Club and a co-founder of the Young Developers Council. In 2021, Nico co-founded Home Arizona, a non-profit dedicated to educating policy makers and elected officials on the relationship amount housing prices, labor availability, and economic development. He is joined on his founding board by several well-respected economists, business leaders, and former mayors.In 2023, Nico was appointed to Governor Hobbs’ Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing, where he continues to advocate for equitable, inclusive, and rational solutions to Arizona’s housing shortage. In 2025, Nico joined the board of the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, where he advocates for the health, safety, and fair compensation of our first responders. Previously, Nico was the Chairman of the Phoenix Planning and Zoning Commission and the Vice-Chairman of Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS), the largest emergency shelter provider in the State of Arizona. He served on each board for five years.
Outside of his business and civic engagements, Nico loves to plan extravagant international adventures, summit mountains, and spend time with friends.
Waseem J. Hamadeh, President & CIO
Waseem Hamadeh brings almost 2 decades of experience in real estate brokerage, investment and finance to Silverback Capital Partners. His background includes experience as a senior analyst at Bank of America Corporation; target acquisitions and management of personal portfolio of retail, housing, and land investments, and been involved in over $1 billion dollars in land transactions with his time at Land Advisors Organizations. Waseem has worked on many sensitive, and high-profile projects and advised clients during decisions concerning the highest and best use of land, disposition and acquisition, financial modeling, and capital placement. Outside of land and masterplan brokerage, Waseem was involved in capital placement assignments from debt, equity and mezzanine financing in major projects across the U.S.
Waseem holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and a Master’s degree in Real Estate Development from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, along with his MBA from the Eller College of Management Business School at the University of Arizona.
Waseem is a Goldwater member and is past president of the Active 20/30 Club of Phoenix, an organization founded by Barry Goldwater in 1932 to serve underprivileged children throughout the valley. He’s a member of the Arizona State University Real Estate Council, and serves on the boards of several organizations; including the Children in Need Foundation 501(c)(3), Urban Land Institute’s Young Leaders Group and NEXT, and Phoenix Art Museum’s Men’s Art Council. Waseem is also one of the founding members of the Aspiring Youth Academy, a leadership and entrepreneurship camp for business inclined disadvantaged youth and cofounder of Young Developers Council.