Baron is the Founding Partner of BLI Capital Group, a global hospitality advisory and investment firm. With over 30 years of sector experience in investment, finance and operations, BLI has consulted and worked on projects in the US, Asia and Europe. Clients have included private equity funds, institutional investors, family offices and major hotel operators.

A Native Hawaiian, Baron previously was the Head of Hotels-Capital Markets for Colliers International based in Hong Kong. He has also served as the CEO of Indochina Hotels and Resorts, which managed the largest private portfolio of leisure real estate in Vietnam. He is a member of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association and holds a Master’s degree in Hospitality-Finance and Marketing from Cornell University.

Nate is a registered architect and a LEED AP with an emphasis in building design and construction. His expertise is in renovations and real estate management, with nearly a decade of experience working as an architect in the education, small commercial and multi-family sectors. Early in Nate’s career he joined SLATERPAULL Architects where he worked to design and manage projects in the K-12 and higher education environments. In 2013 Nate established HEM Real Estate Solutions managing a successful real estate portfolio. Nate holds a B.A in Studio Art with a minor in Business from the University of Denver and a Master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Colorado – Denver.

Stuart has spent the last 19 years working in various operations and finance roles. He most recently served as a Managing Director for Kalan Capital, a private equity firm where he acted as a board member, interim CFO and interim COO for numerous portfolio companies. He joined Kalan from Bear Stearns where he spent nine years and was a Managing Director. While at Bear Stearns, Stuart worked in the Boston office for three years and the London office for six years assisting clients with investments in real estate, structured products, hedge funds and private equity funds as well as traditional asset management. He currently sits on the committee for The Generator in Pine Bluff, as a board member of the Pine Bluff Collaborative, as a member of the Steering Committee for the Pine Bluff Comprehensive Plan, as a member of the Pine Bluff Opportunity Zone Task Force, and was appointed to the Pine Bluff Historic District Commission. He holds a B.S. in Policy Analysis and Management.

Daniel is the founder and Chief Experience Officer of Velocity Group. His varied background in culinary, marketing, teaching, film, theater, social services, urban planning and economic development has informed his process of community experience design. Daniel has worked on projects all over North America, including downtown master plans, regional placemaking strategies, culinary cultivation, tenant recruitment, event production, restaurant and hospitality concepts, property development and public advocacy initiatives. Prior to Velocity Group, Daniel served as the Executive Director of Downtown Bentonville, Inc. in Bentonville, Arkansas, where he helped broker and guide the renaissance of the 1,765-acre downtown district that includes a growing art, entertainment, culinary and entrepreneurial scene earning national attention. Daniel has an BFA-Film from the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Tom is an investor with a successful track record including his position as founder and Chairman of Arkansas based Highland Pellets and Co-founder and Vice Chairman of Singapore based Orka Energy. Previously he was a Senior Managing Director and international Executive Committee member of the investment bank, Bear Stearns. He was responsible for managing investment capital for ultra-high net worth individuals and institutional investors across real estate, private equity and traditional asset classes. Tom holds a B.A. in International Relations and Economics from University of Minnesota.