Mark E. Shaffer

Mark graduated from Excelsior College in Albany, New York.  He began his career in insurance sales and became ranked the Number One life producer in his company, having earned the designation of Million-Dollar-Club Member, at the age of 19.  He was recruited to work for an independent life company in Atlanta, Georgia and became district manager of that firm for the state of Florida.  In 1980, Mark was recruited and trained to become a petroleum leaseman for an oil brokerage firm in Los Angeles, California.  While there, he negotiated oil and gas leases for Conoco, Gulf Oil, Shell Oil Company and Chevron, USA.  He later served as President and CEO of AmeriCal Petroleum, Inc., an independent investment company which he founded to fund limited partnerships for oil and gas exploration.  Following the collapse of the petroleum industry in the mid-eighties, Mark moved back to Florida to raise a family.  During that period, he taught mathematics and physical science at the secondary level.  Upon relocating to Arizona with his family in 1998, he worked as a curriculum consultant for a mid-sized educational consulting firm in Scottsdale. During his tenure with that firm, he traveled nationwide to consult with school districts on how to improve their scores for state mandated high-stakes tests.  In 2003, Mark and his wife, Debra, formed Desert Vista Funding Group, Inc., to assist business owners to improve their cash flow when they are unable to obtain traditional bank financing. Mark enjoys his family, playing golf, water and snow skiing, hiking, playing guitar, and church activities.

Debra L. Shaffer

Debra is a graduate of California State University, Northridge with a degree in Journalism/Public Relations.  She has worked for a number of firms including Vidal Sassoon and Arthur Anderson corporations in Los Angeles, California, and Robinson, Yesawich & Pepperdine, a prominent advertising and public relations agency in Orlando, Florida.  In addition, Debra also taught Journalism and Educational Public Relations at the secondary level while residing in Florida.  She holds an Arizona Life & Health Producers license and has held securities licenses during a period when she served as a financial consultant advising clients on annuity transfers and investment opportunities.  She is co-founder and manager of Desert Vista Funding Group, Inc.  In her leisure time, Debra enjoys pursuing her life-long interest in singing and music, fitness activities at the gym, water sports, snow skiing, hiking in the Arizona Mountains, and serving in church.  Debra, her husband, Mark, and two children reside in Gilbert, Arizona.