Staff Profiles

Geoff Davis is the President of HREC Investment Advisors, and is regarded as one of the top deal makers and hotel investment advisors in the hospitality industry. For over 24 years, Geoff has provided hotel advisory and brokerage services, with extensive experience in capital markets and top-tier asset sales. Based out of New York, Geoff oversees the operation and management of the Investment Advisors offices across the country.

A Principal in HREC's Investment Advisors group, Rick is a specialist in the sales and marketing of hotel real estate, while remaining actively engaged in the management of the Investment Advisors division of HREC. With broad experience in most facets of our business - from franchising, and capital markets to operations and finance - Rick has played a leadership role in our industry for many years.  He is a graduate of Cornell University.

Scott Stephens is a Principal with HREC Investment Advisors, based out of the company’s Tampa, Florida office. For over 16 years, Scott has been providing investment banking and advisory services exclusively to the hospitality industry, specializing in valuations, debt and equity placement, and asset dispositions. Scott is actively engaged in the management and operation of the Investment Advisors division of HREC. Additionally, Scott is a member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI) and a member of the Society of Golf Appraisers (SGA).

Mark Tobin is President of HREC Development Resources. His professional experience spans across $3 billion of hotel real estate assets that have included single asset experience with individual and quasi-governmental ownership entities as well as debt/equity portfolio management with institutional investors. These experiences have been highlighted by opportunities with large-scale and high profile assets that have required proven expertise in the areas of development management, transaction advisory services and complex capital structuring and asset management.

Pat Culligan merged his consulting practice with HREC in 2008 and now heads up our Memphis office and serves the Advisory Services, Brokerage, and Asset Management divisions of the firm.  He has managed/conducted market studies reflecting billions in hotel investment; participated in the conceptual development of numerous hotel brands including Hampton Inns and Homewood Suites; participated in the formation of a hotel REIT; created significant value through asset management; provided expert testimony; served as the lead negotiator for the acquisition of a privately held European hotel brand; and has successfully served clients in hotel dispositions.  He is a graduate of the Cornell Hotel School and a licensed Tennessee real estate broker.

Jill Cahill serves as the Manager of HREC Licensing, with active involvement in the hospitality industry since 1984. Jill offers her extensive experience to HREC by directing the global branding, marketing and licensing activities for the entire Hospitality Real Estate Counselors family of real estate advisory divisions, including HREC, HREC Investment Advisors, and HREC Development Resources.  Jill is a graduate of the Cornell Hotel School.

Ronald C. Muzii, Jr. has over 25 years experience in the resort industry and holds a B.S. from Cornell University's prestigious School of Hotel Administration.  He has facilitated the acquisition, financing, and development of over $600 million of resort, timeshare, golf course, residential and commercial transactions.  Ron is Senior Vice President of HREC Investment Advisors and works out of the Boca Raton, FL office.

Andrew Broad joined HREC in 2005, and is actively involved in the execution of a number of assignments throughout the country with a focus on the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and New England States. Andrew has been an active part of the hotel brokerage community since 1999 and is a graduate of the Cornell Hotel School. He was named one of New Jersey's Top Brokers by Real Estate New Jersey in 2007.

Larry Kaplan has been actively involved in hotel real estate and finance assignments for nearly 15 years. Based in Denver, Larry has worked on hotel investment sale and financing assignments throughout the United States and Canada. Combining sound judgment, savvy deal making and a focus on client relationships, Larry has provided advisory services to over 500 hotel properties since the mid-1990s.

Chris Stein is the Senior Vice President of HREC - Hospitality Real Estate Counselors. Chris has advised over 50 clients on multiple hotel deals throughout North America and the Caribbean, including appraisals, market and feasibility studies, property sales and litigation support. His previous experience includes management positions with the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. Chris is a graduate of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas with a degree in Hotel Administration and specialization in gaming.

Ted Anka is a Vice President located in our downtown Chicago office. Joining HREC in April 2006, Ted is an industry veteran in the hotel franchise sales arena having worked with USFS, IHG and Cendant over the last 10 years. Ted has an extensive background in the Midwest with future plans to represent HREC in the Canadian marketplace.

Peter Laack joined HREC in 2000, and has been with HREC Investment Advisors since 2004. Over that time, Peter has analyzed and advised on over 200 hotels and casinos in 40 states and Mexico, with extensive hotel disposition, valuation and debt financing experience. Peter is currently based out of HREC IA’s Tampa, Florida office, and is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Colorado.

With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Jeff's career combines a unique mix of hotel operations, consulting and development skills. A graduate of the University of Denver's Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism program, Jeff has worked in management operations for Hyatt Hotels Corporation, has been a consultant with Pannell Kerr Forster, and has been a partner in several hotel developments.

Frank D. Fusco joined HREC in September 2007, and is actively involved in hotel real estate and finance throughout the country but focused primarily on the Northeast and New England States. Frank has 25 years of experience in hospitality and real estate and is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Hotel Administration.

Mark Darrington is a Vice President with HREC Investment Advisors, with over 20 years of experience in the hotel industry. Mark brings a "hands on" perspective to each real estate transaction for both the buyer and the seller, with expertise in corporate managed, franchised, and independent assets in resort destinations, suburban and city center locations. Since joining HREC, Mark has been involved in over $40 million of hotel real estate transactions.

Joining HREC in 2004, Mark Fasulo is a Senior Broker with HREC Investment Advisors. Mark is a ten-year industry veteran with both extensive hotel operational and investment analysis experience. Mark holds an MBA with a specialization in Hotel Asset Management and Property Development from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.

Steven Senft joined HREC Investment Advisors in March 2008, with over ten years experience in hotel operations, ownership and real estate. He is currently based in Los Angeles and represents sellers and buyers of hotel properties nationally, with a focus on assets in the Pacific states. Steve completed his undergraduate work in Hospitality Management and holds a MBA from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and is in process of earning his Certification in Real Estate, Development, and Hotel Investment from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. Steve is a licensed real estate salesperson in the State of California.

Kody Mutz, a Senior Associate-Brokerage, provides investment banking analysis and support. Kody specializes in single asset, resort and portfolio hotel valuations, dispositions, and debt financing support.  Since joining 2004, Kody has analyzed and advised on over 150 hotels and resorts in 35 states and Mexico.  Kody holds an MBA with a specialization in Hotel Finance and Investment from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.

Bryan Esposito is a Senior Associate-Consulting, where he specializes in market and feasibility studies and appraisals. Bryan has over seven years of experience in hotel operations, most recently at various casino-hotels in Atlantic City. As a Senior Associate with HREC, Bryan provides lead support for engagements and assists in the professional development of new associates. Mr. Esposito is a graduate of the Cornell Hotel School.

Alexandra Ryan provides marketing and operational support to the entire HREC family.  Alexandra has a background in the liberal arts, as well as finance and hospitality, and also holds a Masters of Project Management from Keller Graduate School.  She is a licensed real estate broker in the State of Colorado.

Bhavin Vivek is an Associate-Brokerage, providing investment banking analysis and support to the brokerage services division, specializing in various single and portfolio asset dispositions, valuations and third-party equity investment. Bhavin holds a BA in Hospitality Business with a specialization in Real Estate Development from Michigan State University and actively serves on the Hospitality Real Estate Development Advisory Board at The School of Hospitality Business.

Parimal Thakor is an Associate-Consulting, where he specializes in market and feasibility studies and appraisals.  Parimal has over 5 years of experience in hotel operations; most recently he gained management experience in full service hotel operations at the W Hotel – Union Square in Manhattan.  Mr. Thakor is a graduate of The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University.

Chris Eckstein is an Associate-Brokerage where he provides investment banking analysis and support for the brokerage service division. He specializes in single and portfolio asset dispositions, valuations, as well as third-party debt and equity placement support. Chris has asset repositioning experience in full service and luxury hotels, most recently serving in a project management role with the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. Chris is a graduate from the Cornell Hotel School.

Melanie Milton serves as Director of Research and Administration in the Memphis office. She has managed and conducted hospitality research that includes hundreds of corporate demand generator interviews for both proposed and existing hotels.   Melanie also manages the administrative responsibilities of the office and oversees report production and delivery.  Her background includes experience in corporate law and franchise compliance.  She attended the University of Mississippi and is a graduate of the Southwestern Paralegal institute in Houston, Texas.    

Colin Toole is an Associate-Consulting, where he specializes in market and feasibility studies and appraisals. Colin has gained a diversity of hotel management experience at five separate full-service lodging facilities, most recently at the Four Seasons Aviara in San Diego. Mr. Toole is a graduate of the Cornell Hotel School.

Mackenzie Snyder is an Associate-Consulting where she specializes in Market Studies, Feasibility Studies, and Appraisals.  Mackenzie has hotel operations experience, most recently at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City and at Le Parker Meridien in New York City.  Mackenzie is a graduate of the Cornell Hotel School

Patrick Culligan, Jr. is an Associate-Consulting where he specializes in market research and feasibility studies. Patrick conducted research and analysis on market feasibility studies while at the Hospitality Consulting Group, Inc. and gained diverse operational experience with an award winning Courtyard by Marriott hotel and the Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis.  Mr. Culligan is a graduate of the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management program at the University of Memphis.