STEPHEN M. ABELMAN

Stephen recently joined as a partner in HAI Advisors. Stephen has served in a variety of capacities as a real estate expert and executive with expertise in solving complex issues in asset management, special servicing, debt structuring and restructuring, and mezzanine and preferred equity investments for all real estate product types. Stephen has completed distressed debt assignments in Germany and the UK for clients Crown Northcorp, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank. Stephen served as Executive Vice President of Asset management for Criimi Mae, Inc. (“Criimi”, NYSE:CMM). During his tenure at Criimi, Stephen restructured the special servicing and surveillance teams, led the development of new technology programs and platforms, developed and instituted new policies and procedures, led the reduction of $1 billion in Criimi’s balance of specially serviced assets and played a key role in the marketing and disposition of Criimi to CW Capital in 2006. Prior to joining Criimi Stephen was Vice-President of Archon Group (formerly J.E. Robert Companies), a wholly owned subsidiary of Goldman Sachs. During his ten year tenure at Archon he held several positions, all involving the asset management of real estate, debt, mezzanine, and preferred equity investments owned by Goldman and its Whitehall Funds with assets stretching throughout the United States. Stephen held positions for Archon in Washington D.C, New York City, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Dallas, Texas. Stephen also held positions with Ernst and Young and two commercial banks in South Florida. Stephen received a BS in Business Administration, cum laude, from Boston University (1983) and an MBA from Rice University (1989) and holds a real estate salespersons license (Florida).

WILLIAM HOWELL

Bill brings over 30 years experience in real estate development, acquisitions/dispositions, fund management, asset management, and management of institutional grade investment property. In addition, he recently served as a fund manager for a nationally recognized registered investment advisor with a variety of real estate in its portfolio. From 1986 through 1992, Bill served as Director of Acquisitions for Mitsui Fudosan in New York. Responsible for property acquisitions, development, and dispositions totaling over $2 billion in value, he also directed all asset management of a diverse multi-billion dollar global real estate portfolio. Prior to joining Mitsui, Bill was a Director of the Saudi Arabian Investment Corporation, where he was involved in the underwriting of investment grade U.S. properties. He has also been involved in real estate investment and development of commercial, hospitality, and multi-family residential properties and land on his own behalf. Bill has a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Southwestern University (1975) and a Masters in Environmental Engineering from the University of Oklahoma (1976) cum laude.

TOM POITEVENT

Mr. Poitevent has over 25 years of experience in the construction industry. Prior to joining HAI, he completed the multi-million dollar renovation of the prestigious Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas and the construction of The Forrestal Hotel and Conference Center, a $10 million project in Princeton, New Jersey. As the Director of Construction, he has led a project management team during the expansion of The Shoreham Hotel in New York from 84 to 176 guest rooms and the complete renovation of the Hotel Wales (also in Manhattan). The renovation of Five Hotels for the Elegant Hotel Group on the Island of Barbados including The Colony Club, Tamarind Cove, The House, Crystal Cove, and Turtle Beach Hotel. He served as Director of Technical Services and Project Management for Starwood Hotels & Resorts representing the St. Regis & The Luxury Brand Collections in Europe and also on the Island of Bora Bora, and represented UrbanAmerica, LP as Vice President of Project Management to direct the repositioning and renovation of a 1,100 Key, 30 Acre Resort Hotel in Orlando FL, USA. Tom has a B.S. in Business from North State University.

MASOUD MAHMOUD, PE, MS, MBA, LEED AP

Pepperdine University for the past six years and where he was responsible for over $200 million of design and construction work. He oversaw Pepperdine’s magnificent 830-acre Malibu campus of which 290-acres are developed with over 1.3 million square feet of academic, athletic, residential, and support facilities.  He was responsible for the management of capital design, master planning, and construction and renovation projects. He successfully completed a $140 million Graduate Campus Development consisting of: Infrastructure and Grading; Academic Buildings 91, Masoud began his career as a Civil engineer with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.  During his twelve years of progressive experience at Public Works, Masoud held positions in five different divisions where he took full advantage of the Department’s rotation program for engineers, and thereby gaining highly valuable experience as well as an excellent understanding of the complex responsibilities for horizontal and vertical infrastructure design, construction, operations and maintenance. He also learned contracting rules; building, zoning and fire regulations and codes; and achieved a broad technical understanding of architecture, engineering, and construction for both the public and private sector. Masoud understands the inner workings of different agencies and regulatory bodies and has successfully managed a wide variety of public-works projects, as well as developed successful relationships with different agencies and administrative authorities of the County, City and State.Masoud has successfully guided multiple projects from design through construction and occupancy – developing successful relationships with clients, consultants, construction partners and governmental review and permitting agencies.  He understands the challenges of construction and focuses on bringing clarity and vision to projects, solving problems with an optimized project recommendation, enabling owners to make informed choices and realize their project vision. Masoud is a registered Civil Engineer, Certified Plan Examiner and LEED Accredited Professional.  He is a graduate of University of Southern California, holds a MS from California State University of Northridge and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

NICHOLAS T. DOBRON  

Mr. Dobron specializes in the valuation and disposition of distressed retail, residential, mixed use, and senior living opportunities. Formerly as Vice President of Acquisition and Disposition at Innovative Communities, he was directly responsible for over $185 million of land acquisitions and dispositions and managed all physical and analytical due diligence critical for the securitization of over $450 million in debt and equity. Additionally, Mr. Dobron spearheaded Innovative Living, a senior housing division, through an acquisition of a California based portfolio. Mr. Dobron also possesses a sound understanding of land use and entitlements through his prior experience as forward planner at KB Home Coastal, where he managed the entitlement and permitting of multiple tracts in Riverside County. Mr. Dobron graduated from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California with an emphasis in Real Estate Finance and currently holds a Real Estate Broker’s License in the State of California.

EDWARD A. PROSSER

Mr. Prosser specializes in the valuation and disposition of distressed retail, residential, mixed use, and multifamily opportunities. Formerly as a Finance & Budget Manager at Innovative Communities, he was responsible for the analysis, investment performance, and budgets for 25 residential communities and was integral in procurement of over $350 million in debt and equity. Additionally, he participated in the creation of work-out, re-entitlement, and repositioning strategies to remedy debt default on numerous projects. Prior, Mr. Prosser was a commercial real estate advisor at Sperry Van Ness Commercial Real Estate with a nationally ranked team where he facilitated the acquisition and disposition of over $240 million of multifamily and infill development opportunities. Mr. Prosser graduated from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California with an emphasis in Real Estate Finance. Furthermore, he holds a Real Estate Broker’s License in California and is an active participant with the Urban Land Institute.

K.C. PATEL

Mr. Patel is a hospitality expert with more than two decades of experience ranging from property management, asset management, investment sales, acquisitions and development.  Having roots in the hospitality business through his family’s company, Mr. Patel experienced all aspects of property management at a young age.  Subsequent from graduating from Cornell’s School of Hospitality Management, Mr. Patel endeavored into financial services consulting working with major banking corporations on consumer debt products, including home mortgages and credit cards.  After two years of non-hospitality experience, Mr. Patel joined Boutique Hotel Group, in New York, where his responsibilities ranged from asset management, underwriting, to sourcing opportunities.  Upon his two years of experience at Boutique Hotel Group, Mr. Patel joined Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels’ investment sales team in New York.   At Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels he led a team to oversee all aspects of the investment sales process, including: BOV assessment, due diligence review, property inspections, P&S negotiation,  offering memorandum production and debt placement.  Following his two and half years at Jones Lang LaSalle, Mr. Patel was asked to join JP Morgan’s newly launched Alternative Property Fund where he served as lead for all hospitality-related acquisitions.  At JP Morgan Mr. Patel oversaw a team of analyst and associates and managed all aspects of the acquisition process, including: underwriting, due diligence, property inspection, third-party reviews, lender negotiations, purchase contract negotiation, JV partnership contract, brand management selection, legal approval, investment committee approval, financial oversight, transition integration, and asset management.  Mr. Patel graduated from Cornell University in 1999 and lives with his wife in New York City.