Meet our Faculty of Experts

At Scholar Hotel Group, we’re building an organization that believes in the entrepreneurial spirit, where job titles are less important than the direct impact we can make with our guests and colleagues every day.

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Alex Hails

Vice President

Asset Management

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Laura Williams

Vice President

HR & Training

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Ronald Balle

Vice President

Sales & Marketing

Revenue Management

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Gary S. Brandeis

C.E.O

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Aditya (Addy) Maini

President

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Emily Pastore

Vice President

Accounting & Finance

The Music Makers, The Dreamers of Dreams

Gary S. Brandeis

Gary S. Brandeis

CEO

Gary is the CEO and Founder of the Scholar Hotel Group. He started his real estate career in 1990 which has included senior level and partnership positions with Lincoln Property Company, FB Capital Partners, and Meridian Realty Advisors. His experience and expertise include development, finance, acquisitions, dispositions, asset management and joint ventures. He has been the principal partner in four real estate investment funds, including PB Funds I & II, investing over $350 million in all property types and investment strategies.

Gary acquired his first hotel in 2006 and has since been directly involved in the hospitality business as an investor, developer and manager. He has worked with Marriott, IHG and Hyatt brands while also acquiring and redeveloping several independent branded hotels. He has led the ownership and management teams of the Marriott Courtyard – City Avenue, Philadelphia, the Hyatt Place – State College, PA/Penn State University, the Sawgrass Grand – Sunrise, Florida and the first Scholar branded hotel in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Gary was also the founder and managing partner of two real estate technology companies – (i) PropertyLogic LLC, an innovative real estate technology company that has won numerous awards including the Digital Innovation Award given by the Realcomm Conference and (ii) iBuilding, a successful business model for implementing property level technology to enhance property values and increase tenant satisfaction. A consummate entrepreneur, Gary brings a creative and thoughtful mindset to everything he does. He started his career in public accounting with Price Waterhouse. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a B.S. in Accounting from The Smeal College of Business of The Pennsylvania State University.

Aditya (Addy) Maini

President

Addy Maini started his career in 1997, and has management experience in operating luxury, business and lifestyle hotels and resorts in prime locations throughout the United States and International destinations. He has led new property openings, large-scale renovations and hotel conversions. Known for his success in turning around ailing properties, Addy has extensive experience in all aspects of multi-property management including effectively building relationships with business partners, facilitating work among multi-site teams, financial management, market analysis and strategic management.

 

Addy oversees the Scholar Hotel Group, Real Estate Capital Management’s hotel assets, and hospitality development. Addy holds a diploma in Hotel and Institution Management from Westminster College in London, UK and a Master’s in Hospitality Management from Widener University, and he is a licensed real estate professional in Pennsylvania.

Aditya (Addy) Maini
Aditya (Addy) Maini

Aditya (Addy) Maini

President

Addy Maini started his career in 1997, and has management experience in operating luxury, business and lifestyle hotels and resorts in prime locations throughout the United States and International destinations. He has led new property openings, large-scale renovations and hotel conversions. Known for his success in turning around ailing properties, Addy has extensive experience in all aspects of multi-property management including effectively building relationships with business partners, facilitating work among multi-site teams, financial management, market analysis and strategic management.

 

Addy oversees the Scholar Hotel Group, Real Estate Capital Management’s hotel assets, and hospitality development. Addy holds a diploma in Hotel and Institution Management from Westminster College in London, UK and a Master’s in Hospitality Management from Widener University, and he is a licensed real estate professional in Pennsylvania.

Alex Hails

Alex Hails

Vice President
Asset Management

As Vice President of Asset Management, Alex is involved in asset management, property management, finance, acquisitions, accounting/reporting, investment fund administration and transaction underwriting.

 

Prior to joining the firm, Alex worked on the Philadelphia Capital Markets team at Colliers International, where he was responsible for securing commercial debt and equity financing for an array of property types including multifamily, office & industrial, retail, student & senior housing and hospitality. Alex began his career in real estate as a Research Associate for CoStar Group, a provider of commercial real estate information, analytics and marketing. Alex graduated with a B.S. in Finance from Wake Forest University.

Emily Pastore

Emily Pastore

Vice President
Accounting & Finance

Emily is Vice President of Accounting & Finance and started her real estate career in 1999. Emily was a property manager for Lowe Enterprises in Washington, DC and then Lincoln Property Company in Philadelphia. Emily managed large office properties while also working on development and acquisitions for these two well-known companies. She was also a Senior Associate at FB Capital Partners where she played an integral role in their real estate business including asset management, leasing, reporting, and capital investments. Emily holds a BBA in Financial Economics from James Madison University and is a licensed real estate professional in Pennsylvania.

Emily Pastore

Vice President
Accounting & Finance

Emily is Vice President of Accounting & Finance and started her real estate career in 1999. Emily was a property manager for Lowe Enterprises in Washington, DC and then Lincoln Property Company in Philadelphia. Emily managed large office properties while also working on development and acquisitions for these two well-known companies. She was also a Senior Associate at FB Capital Partners where she played an integral role in their real estate business including asset management, leasing, reporting, and capital investments. Emily holds a BBA in Financial Economics from James Madison University and is a licensed real estate professional in Pennsylvania.

Emily Pastore
Ronald Balle

Ronald Balle

Vice President
Sales & Marketing/Revenue Management

Ronald started his hospitality career in 1993. His field of expertise is hotel sales, primarily with full-service brands in the Mid-Atlantic region. He is known for his ability to turn around struggling properties to achieve increased revenues and profitability. Ronald was part of the team that opened an indoor water park at a Marriott property in Southern New Jersey, which resulted in significant performance improvements and brand awards. In addition to hotel sales, he is also skilled in revenue management and is in the process of completing his Certified Revenue Management Executive certification with HSMAI. He currently oversees sales and marketing for the Scholar Hotel Group. Ronald holds a BA in English from the University at Albany.

Laura Williams

Laura Williams

Vice President

HR & Training

Laura is the Vice President of Human Resources & Training at the Scholar Hotel Group. She began her career in 2006 and has human resources training and management experience in luxury and business hotel brands in prime locations throughout the United States. She has been a member of the team that led new hotel openings in Miami, Atlanta and Riviera Maya Mexico for Rosewood Hotels and Resorts. Known for her success in developing and implementing training programs to increase guest scores and product knowledge for struggling properties, Laura has extensive experience in all aspects of human resource management including effectively creating company policies that reflect state and national laws, facilitating training among multi-site teams, assisting in operational management, budgeting and benefit management. Laura holds a diploma in Hotel Management from Johnson and Wales University and is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management, having obtained her SHRM-CP certification.

Laura Williams

Vice President

HR & Training

Laura is the Vice President of Human Resources & Training at the Scholar Hotel Group. She began her career in 2006 and has human resources training and management experience in luxury and business hotel brands in prime locations throughout the United States. She has been a member of the team that led new hotel openings in Miami, Atlanta and Riviera Maya Mexico for Rosewood Hotels and Resorts. Known for her success in developing and implementing training programs to increase guest scores and product knowledge for struggling properties, Laura has extensive experience in all aspects of human resource management including effectively creating company policies that reflect state and national laws, facilitating training among multi-site teams, assisting in operational management, budgeting and benefit management. Laura holds a diploma in Hotel Management from Johnson and Wales University and is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management, having obtained her SHRM-CP certification.

Laura Williams
Mahim Sharma

Mahim Sharma

Vice President
Operations

Mahim is the Vice President of Operations for Scholar Hotel Group. Drawing on his more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, he provides guidance and support to all of the Scholar properties. Mahim has an extensive leadership background and knowledge of the food & beverage sector honed while managing large teams as Regional Vice President and General Manager with Hilton, IHG, and Landry’s Inc. His MBA in Management Information Systems, plus a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Temple University, demonstrate a comprehensive education that complements his years of industry experience.

Chelsea Morrison

Chelsea Morrison

Chelsea is an experienced accounting manager in the hospitality industry. Chelsea’s role in accounting and financial management is to work as the liaison between the hotels and the management group. Her responsibilities include accounts receivable, accounts payable, daily revenue reporting, cash management, loan compliance and financial reporting. Prior to joining Scholar Hotel Group, Chelsea worked in the Accounting Department of the Courtyard by Marriott – City Avenue in Philadelphia and in numerous retail outlets as a Sales Lead. She graduated with a B.A. in Anthropology from Widener University.

Chelsea Morrison

Chelsea is an experienced accounting manager in the hospitality industry. Chelsea’s role in accounting and financial management is to work as the liaison between the hotels and the management group. Her responsibilities include accounts receivable, accounts payable, daily revenue reporting, cash management, loan compliance and financial reporting. Prior to joining Scholar Hotel Group, Chelsea worked in the Accounting Department of the Courtyard by Marriott – City Avenue in Philadelphia and in numerous retail outlets as a Sales Lead. She graduated with a B.A. in Anthropology from Widener University.

Chelsea Morrison

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