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.

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).

Mike Armstrong is an HREC Principal in the San Diego office. Prior to HREC, Mike was the founder and president of Neptune Hospitality Advisors where he directed the company’s advisory activities, including hospitality transactional services, debt & equity raising services, and asset management services. Over its 8 year history, Neptune completed over $1.5 billion in real estate sales and financings. A 25-year hotel industry veteran, Mike brings extensive experience in hotel real estate sales, debt & equity financing, development, acquisitions and hotel management to his leadership role with the company.

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 heads up our Memphis office.  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;  served as the lead negotiator for the acquisition of a European hotel brand; and has successfully served clients in hotel dispositions.  He is a graduate of the Cornell Hotel School and a licensed Tennessee RE 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.

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.

Monty Levy heads up HREC’s Atlanta office, and has extensive experience representing a wide range of hotel sellers.  Monty has particular expertise in the sale of portfolios, having represented the seller’s of several large ($75MM+) portfolios as well as special servicers and lenders dealing with troubled loans and REO assets.  Previously, Monty practiced law as a commercial real estate attorney–both in private practice and in-house with a large financial services company.  Monty holds a BA - Emory University, JD - University of Michigan, member of the Georgia Bar and a licensed RE salesperson in Georgia.

In charge of our Seattle office, Mark has 25 years of experience in all facets of hospitality real estate. Prior to joining HREC he served as SVP for Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels and VP of Acquisitions for Wyndham Worldwide. He also worked for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and has extensive hospitality consulting experience with HVS and PKF Consulting. Mark holds an MBA from the University of San Diego and a BA in Hotel Administration from Washington State University. He also holds the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute and is a licensed RE salesperson. 

Bill Murney has joined the firm as Senior Vice President and is in charge of the HREC Investment Advisors' office in Phoenix, AZ.  Prior to HREC, he was Managing Director of Molinaro Koger’s Phoenix office.  Bill has sold over $1 billion in hotel and resort assets during his 25-year career in the commercial real estate industry.  Bill graduated with dual degrees in Marketing and Finance from the University of Arizona.

Jeff Brown is a seasoned hospitality real estate professional with over 25 years experience.  Prior to joining HREC, he developed over $90 million of new select-service hotels as a Real Manager with OTO Development and Extended Stay America.  He also had extensive hospitality consulting and valuation experience.  Jeff holds a Masters in Professional Studies from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration and a BA from Clark University.  He also holds the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute and is a licensed RE salesperson.

An 18-year veteran of the hospitality and gaming industry, Scott is a former Chief Financial Officer of Empire Resorts, a publicly traded gaming company, a former partner with Area Property Partners and ING Real Estate Fund Investing in hotel assets and an executive with VMS Realty Partner's Hotel and Resort division.  Scott holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Indiana University of Kelley School of Business.  He is a certified Public Accountant and a member of the Turnaround Management Association. 

Michael Blahosky has joined the firm as a Senior Vice President and is in charge of the new HREC Investment Advisors office located in Los Angeles, California.  Mike is widely known as a multi-market deal maker on a national level.  He has represented owners and investors in well over 150 transactions exceeding $1.5 billion in value.  Prior to his current position, he was a First Vice President with CB Richard Ellis Hotels and the Team Leader for the Southern California Hotel Investment Practice.  He attended California State University and received his Bachelors in History/Political Science.

Mark Rousseau is a Senior Vice President in the Atlanta office.  With over two decades in the hospitality industry, Mark has held senior executive positions in hotel development with Hilton Hotels, ITT Sheraton (as the head of worldwide acquit ions and development) and Holiday Inns, Inc, before joining Hordage in 1986. Over his career, Mark directly managed many large hotel and mixed-use projects through complex regulatory processes and has built and acquired hotels in the United States and internationally.

Barry Swanson is Senior Vice President with HREC Investment Advisors in Atlanta. For more than 15 years, Barry has completed successful hotel brokerage transactions representing a broad spectrum of clients including public and private hotel companies, financial institutions, REO assets, individual owners and equity investors. Advisory assignments have ranged from individual transactions to large portfolio sales. Barry's diverse background in finance and real estate has provided the strong platform that has enabled him to excel in the hotel brokerage industry.

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.

Tom is a Vice President of HREC Investment Advisors. His 18-year career in the hotel industry has included a wide range of experience in various facets of the business. Most recently Tom served as Vice President with Mumford Company in their Chicago office where he focused on investment sale brokerage for mid-scale and economy hotels throughout the United States. Tom is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Paul Sexton heads up HREC’s Orlando office. During his 20-year career, Paul has worked primarily as a senior acquisitions/ development professional for three publicly traded hospitality companies. He was responsible for investments totaling nearly $750 million. As consultant and broker, he has advised clients–including individual developers, public companies and private equity funds–on hospitality projects throughout the US, the Caribbean and Latin America. Paul has a degree in Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management, is a licensed State of Florida broker and is a member of ULI.

Jaimin Patel comes to HREC after more than 10 years of experience in the hospitality real estate industry, including: brokerage, acquisitions, development and consulting.  Prior to joining HREC, Jaimin owned, operated and developed numerous franchise hotels and quick service food restaurants.  Jaimin is an active member of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), one of the largest hotel owners associations in North America. 

Ketan Patel has over ten years experience in the hospitality industry including five in brokerage.  Located in the HREC Washington, DC office, Ketan plays a strategic role in assisting our clients in the Mid-Atlantic region with their hospitality acquisitions/dispositions however his area of expertise ranges from New England to the Carolinas.  Ketan was previously at CBRE Hotels in New York and Molinaro Koger in Washington, DC. 

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.

Ashley Hunt, based in HREC's Denver office, provides marketing and operational support to the entire HREC family.  Ashley serves as a communication manager, oversees the administration and development of the marketing/advertising materials including press releases, coordination of travel and conferences, and manages the company's website.  Ashley graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Marketing.

Ameet Patil is an Associate-Brokerage where he provides investment banking analysis and support for the brokerage service division.  Ameet has held multiple management positions including  General Manager and Director of Operations, overseeing a regional portfolio including a Hampton Inn and two Holiday Inn Express’s.  Ameet graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the George Washington University while lettering in Division 1-A Golf and received his Master’s in Management of Hospitality from the Cornell Hotel School.  Ameet is a certified Hampton Inn General Manager.

Loren Berkley is an Associate-Brokerage in the Denver office; he provides investment banking analysis and support for the brokerage service division.  Loren has held multiple positions as an analyst within the hotel industry including an Operations Analyst with the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and a Financial Analyst at Molinaro Koger.  Loren is a graduate of the Cornell Hotel School.

Cody Swatek, based in HREC's Denver headquarters, serves as a quality control expert for the entire HREC family.  Cody reviews documents drafted by firm members and directs design decisions on reports and other investment sales materials that are prepared internally.  Cody graduated from Colorado State University with a Degree in English concentrating in writing. 

Michael Moriarty is an Associate-Brokerage in the Denver office; he provides investment banking analysis and support for the brokerage service division.  Michael has held multiple positions within the hospitality industry, completing internships with Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises and Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels in Chicago.  Most recently, Michael completed an externship with Starwood Hotel & Resorts in New York City.  Michael graduated from The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University with a degree in Hospitality Business and specialization in Real Estate & Development.

Bhavnesh Vivek is an Associate-Brokerage in the Denver office; he provides investment banking analysis and support for the brokerage service division.  Bhavnesh has held multiple positions as an operations management intern including a special operations project with Mandarin Oriental Management and a corporate internship with JHM Hotels.  Bhavnesh is a graduate from Cornell Hotel School.

John Basting is a Consulting Associate in the Denver office where he specializes in market research and feasibility studies.  John has held many positions within the hospitality industry including an internship at Wild Dunes Resort and employment at Holiday Inn.  John gained an in depth analyst experience while at JPMorgan's Investment Bank, performing financial control for the global securities desk.  John is a graduate from the Cornell Hotel School with a minor in Real Estate, while lettering in Div-1 wrestling.

Alex Williams is the Investor Database Manager in the Denver office. Alex provides support to the HREC team by implementing ways to improve the existing international database of hotels and casino investors. He interacts with senior level executives and analyst to refine and improve profiling of investors. Alex graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in Management and a certificate in Real Estate. Alex is also ARGUS certified.