Kara West

About Kara West

I’m a bilingual operations and finance professional with over 15 years of cross-sector experience spanning real estate, travel, procurement, and global nonprofit management. My background includes leading high-stakes contracting efforts, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, optimizing supplier relationships, and designing systems that improve performance and accountability across diverse sectors.From structuring real estate investment and lending strategies to managing international procurement and vendor contracts, I’ve worked at the intersection of finance, operations, and impact. I bring deep expertise in contract negotiation and compliance, asset oversight, financial planning, and vendor performance management—having successfully led agreements with global suppliers, partners, and funders.My work has supported organizations like Jhpiego, International Medical Corps, and Project Concern International, as well as private real estate and mortgage lending firms. I’ve led cross-functional teams, built CRM-integrated systems, managed domestic and international vendor networks, and driven operational strategy for complex portfolios.Whether I’m overseeing a housing portfolio, coordinating supplier performance across travel operations, or negotiating strategic partnerships, I bring a results-driven, collaborative approach rooted in mission and efficiency.

Experience

1. Lending Advisor

   Barrett Financial Group Llc

   Jun 2025 — Present · San Diego, CA, US

   Originate and structure residential and construction mortgage loans tailored to diverse borrower profiles, including non-QM and affordable lending solutions.Lead end-to-end client engagement from financial analysis through closing, aligning lending products with long-term asset and capital strategies.Review and negotiate loan terms, disclosures, and third-party contracts to ensure accuracy, compliance, and favorable client outcomes.Analyze borrower credit, income, and asset documentation to support sound underwriting decisions and risk mitigation.Implement CRM enhancements to improve pipeline tracking, communication workflows, and deal visibility across stakeholders.Cultivate strategic partnerships and referral networks across real estate, legal, and financial sectors to drive business growth.Support broader portfolio oversight through contract management, regulatory compliance, and market trend analysis.Kara Quen West | NMLS #19•••82 | Barrett Financial Group, L.L.C.| NMLS #181106 | 2701 East Insight Way, Suite 150, Chandler, AZ 85286 | CA 60DBO-46052 & 41DBO-148702 Licensed by Dept. of Financial Protection & Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. Loans made or arranged pursuant to a California Financing Law License | Equal Housing Opportunity | Equal Housing Lender | This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval.| nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/COMPANY/181106

Education

• San Diego State University

  B.A. Degree, Latin American Studies

  2005 — 2007

• Oxford Brookes University

  M.A. Degree, International Relations and Affairs

  2011 — 2012

Skills

• Editing
• Foreign Languages
• Tutoring
• Teaching
• Training
• Volunteer Management
• Grant Writing
• Proposal Writing
• Community Organizing
• Program Development
• Intercultural Communication
• Ngos
• Spanish
• Teaching English as a Second Language
• Food Security
• Policy Analysis
• Public Policy
• Microsoft Office
• Program Evaluation
• Human Rights
• Sustainable Development
• Social Media
• International Development
• Language Teaching
• Environmental Education
• Public Speaking
• International Education
• Research
• International Relations
• Qualitative Research
• Curriculum Design
• Non-Profits
• Economic Development
• Political Science
• Fundraising
• Capacity Building
• Public Health
• English
• Curriculum Development
• Event Planning