Ph: 800-504-2909 or Em: info@strativentures.com
Meet the Team
Diego melo
CEO/Owner -
Diego was born in Colombia, and moved to Houston as a young child September of 1980, and spent most of his life in Houston. He attended Catholic School from kinder garden to 8th grade then attended a Franciscan All Boys Academy in Colombia for preparatory and College. He started early in his career in banking and then transitioned into mortgage lending. He later became an independent mortgage broker. When over 100 lenders went out of business in early 2008, he took a step-back to re-evaluate his professional direction. Shortly Diego went to work as an asset manager. In 2012, Diego decided to start investing in real estate Diego has been able to grow the company StratiVentures to be a pillar in the real estate investment arena by focusing on the reality of investing "mitigating risk". He developed a training and support team that would help and partner with over 2500 members nationally in the Strativentures Company.
Phone: 832-213-7155
Email: diego@strativentures.com
maria Acevedo
Contracting and Design Director -
Maria Rodriguez was born in Jinotepe, Nicaragua. Maria attended Catholic University of Nicaragua for three years and studied Business Administration before becoming a business owner. Maria started her selection and design journey back in 2003. In 2005, she and her family moved to New Orleans where she started a real estate investing company after hurricane Katrina. Her company was engaged in many renovation projects along with buying and holding properties. In 2012, she moved to Houston and joined StratiVentures, Inc in 2017 in her current role. She lives in Houston with her two kids, a son and a daughter.
Phone: 346-457-8362
Email: maria@strativentures.com
stacy foard
Real Estate Services SVI Realty Group Broker -
Stacy believes that having the right real estate agent means having an agent who is committed to helping you buy or sell your home with the highest level of expertise in your local market and understands the investor mentality. She is skilled in understanding each step of the negotiations, buying and selling process with investors enough to be the training component to real estate agents who want to work with SVI members. This commitment level has helped her build a remarkable track record of delivering results. Nothing is more gratifying to her than the feeling she gets from helping people meet their real estate needs and goals. You can count on her to always do what's in your best interest and she prides herself on being honest, trustworthy, and knowledgeable in the investor real estate market.
Phone: 214-970-3515
Email: stacy@svirealtygroup.com
Katherine Mitchell
New Member Representative & Acquisitions-
Born in Honduras, Katherine moved to the United States at the age of 15 and has since built a strong foundation in sales and relationship building. As a bilingual professional fluent in both English and Spanish, she brings a unique cultural perspective and exceptional communication skills to her role.
Katherine is deeply passionate about real estate and committed to helping others grow. She specializes in identifying high-value opportunities for investors, helping them build smart wealth through strategic guidance and personalized support. By introducing clients to our investment membership, she ensures they’re equipped with the tools and resources needed for long-term success. With her drive, experience, and dedication, Katherine is a trusted partner on the journey to real estate investing success.
“I believe success begins when you stop doubting yourself and start investing in your purpose.”
Phone: 210-966-7748
eric christie
Home Inspector -
Eric Christie is a Professional Home Inspector at Boxer Inspections (#22974) specializing in residential inspections. His formal education includes a BS in Mechanical Engineering , AS in Engineering, an AS in Engineering Technology, and an AS in Technical Writing. After 26 year in the semiconductor and oilfield industries, Eric started a home inspections business. Eric is an SVI member and also a real estate investor. Eric is a member of and contributor to InterNACHI and the Texas Professional Real Estate Inspectors Association (TPREIA). He regularly speaks at REI meetings to educate investors and realtors on the importance of accurate repair estimates and inspections. Eric’s investor experience uniquely positions him to meet the needs of investors and provide comprehensive inspection services.
Phone: 281-783-3030
Email: info@boxerinspections.com
troy espenlaub
Property Manager-
Troy Espenlaub is a licensed real estate sales agent and is the owner of Real Property Management Avitus. Troy’s mission is to help his owner clients reduce risk and to increase their returns from rental property ownership. He is native Houstonian that graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Science degree in Finance. He passed all four parts of the CPA examination that same year and began his career working as an auditor with an emphasis on large publicly traded companies in the energy sector. Troy left his position as a Manager at a Big Four Accounting Firm at the end of 2007 to purchase his family’s multi location quick service restaurant franchise business. Troy gained valuable experience as an entrepreneur while significantly increasing the company’s revenue and value during his tenure as an owner/operator. After selling his restaurant business for a significant gain, Troy decided to team up with Real Property Management, one of the largest property management companies in North America to start his own property management company.
Troy believes strongly that a rental property is a business and should be managed with that in mind. Troy believes that a property manager’s top priorities should be to find and to retain good tenants for owner clients while not sacrificing the ability to get current market rental prices.
Phone: 832-690-0409
Email: espenlaub@rpmavitus.com
Acquisitions Team
Jessica Soto
Acquisition Manager-
Jessica built her reputation by staying consistent, showing up for others, and turning challenges into closings. From walking distressed properties to leading powerhouse sales teams, her journey in real estate started in the trenches—learning the business deal by deal, call by call.
Today, at Strativentures, she is proud to be part of a movement: empowering agents and investors to grow, scale, and build real wealth through smart real estate strategies. Whether helping a team member level up or guiding a client toward the right opportunity, she shows up to win—with heart and hustle.
She leads with purpose, passion, and the belief that success multiplies when we help others win. Let’s build something great together.
Phone: 210-304-9044
Email: jessica@strativentures.com
Alma Hernandez
Acquisition Representative-
Alma was born and raised in San Antonio, she brings heart, grit, and a deep understanding of her community to every deal she touches. With a background in both business operations and acquisitions, she’s earned a reputation for getting things done—with integrity and purpose.
Alma thrives on communication, connection, and creating win-win outcomes for sellers, agents, and investors alike. As a dedicated Acquisitions Agent, she specializes in uncovering off-market opportunities, distressed properties, and urgent seller needs—turning each lead into a potential win for everyone involved.
Now with StratiVentures, she is leveling up her skills and expanding her network to help others build generational wealth through strategic real estate investments. With a sharp eye for value and a passion for making the process smooth and transparent, she’s committed to helping everyday people grow smart, sustainable portfolios.
“I’m here to build real connections, open doors, and help others see what’s possible when they bet on themselves.”
Phone: 210-563-6534
Email: Almah@strativentures.com
Jesus quinonez
Acquisition Representative-
Jesus was born in Durango, Mexico, raised in Los Angeles, and now proud to call San Antonio home, he brings a unique blend of cultural insight, hustle, and heart to every opportunity. A dedicated father to two beautiful girls, he carries that same sense of commitment and purpose into both his personal and professional life.
As an Acquisitions Representative, he is focused on creating win-win solutions for sellers, investors, and contractors alike. He believes in doing business the right way—with honesty, transparency, and a genuine desire to help others succeed.
Whether it’s through real estate or simply lending a hand when it’s needed, Jesus is driven by impact. Outgoing, hardworking, and always purpose-driven, he’s ready for every opportunity to connect, serve, and make a difference.
Phone: 210-7278393
Email: jesusq@strativentures.com