Mehul “Mike” Patel, CHA, Lead Principal

The executive team is led by Mike Patel, a company founder, with over 12 years experience managing and developing hotel properties. A primary architect of the company’s growth strategy, Mr. Patel provides oversight and direction for the hotel management and hotel development executives.

Mehul is a second-generation hotelier who learned the lodging business from his father. Acquiring his first motel, a 16-room independent property when he was only 17 years old, he quickly mastered the management and deal-making skills that have been critical for his career.

Mr. Patel is responsible for developing and maintaining relations with the company’s franchise partners. He is also responsible for lender and investor relations, and project funding of the company’s development efforts.

Mehul was elected to a three-year term on the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Board of Directors in 2005. In addition to his membership in AAHOA, Mehul is active in the American Hotel & Motel Association and ALIS. Mehul has his B.S. degree in Computer Information Systems from the University of Texas at Arlington, TX.

Chirag “Chuck” Patel, M.B.A., Principal

Chuck Patel is one of the founders of the company and has over 12 years experience managing and developing hotel properties. Mr. Patel has been a business partner of the CEO since their high school days in Garland, Texas.

Chuck supervises the activities of the Corporate Office and provides leadership and direction for the company’s hotel management group. Mr. Patel was a key architect of the company’s recent re-structuring into two single-focus corporate entities. Chuck provides leadership for the Corporate Field staff regarding daily operations and planning, and he is actively involved in monitoring quality assurance goals and the resolution of guest service issues.

Mr. Patel earned his M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Dallas. He has a B.S. in Computer Science & Engineering from the same university.

Vaishali Patel, CHO, Controller

Ms. Patel is responsible for managing a variety of financial, administrative and support services that are vital to the company’s operations. Her diverse responsibilities include many critical and sensitive aspects of the company.

Vaishali and her support staff manage the company’s centralized accounting system, which includes payroll administration, purchasing and accounts payable, budgeting, cash management, cost controls and operational reporting. Her responsibilities with payroll entail the larger human resources issues as well.

Ms. Patel varied background in marketing, hotel management and health services, and her high ethical standards, make her a valuable member of the executive team. Vaishali earned her B.S. in Nursing at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ.

Miraj Patel, Corporate Secretary

As the company’s Corporate Secretary, Ms. Patel is focused on the company’s legal filings and ensures compliance with all of the company’s regulatory requirements. She supervises the tax filings, property insurance and worker’s compensation for all of the company’s hotels and the Corporate Office.

She also responsible for ensuring the company’s compliance with loan covenants for its various projects. She verifies the proper recording and filing of all corporate records, supports the corporate-level staff in developing administrative and human resource policies and procedures for the field and headquarters.

Ms. Patel has her B.S. degree in Business Information Systems from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.

Mark Shook, Vice President

Mark provides dedicated support to our hotel GM’s assisting them and their Team Members to provide exceptional service to our guests. One of Mr. Shook’s crucial responsibilities is ensuring each property’s compliance with the standards of our brand partners. Mark is also a key member of the hotel opening team.

The lion’s share of his tenure has been spent executing a variety of market research studies and other special assignments for the Corporate Office. His 25+ years of Fortune 100 management experience has allowed him to provide the principals with practical organizational advice as the company has grown and matured.

As a Texas-licensed Real Estate Broker, Robert is the company’s in-house expert on real estate issues, and has completed development site acquisitions for the company. His M.B.A. is from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Robert’s B.A. is in Economics from Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA.

Mark Shook, Vice President

Mark provides dedicated support to our hotel GM’s assisting them and their Team Members to provide exceptional service to our guests. One of Mr. Shook’s crucial responsibilities is ensuring each property’s compliance with the standards of our brand partners. Mark is also a key member of the hotel opening team.

Mr. Shook is a seasoned 22-year hospitality professional with a portfolio of General Manager assignments in private country clubs, full service hotels and select service hotels. Mark worked for John Q. Hammonds for 10 years before joining the Newcrest organization in early 2006. Mark’s responsibilities with the Hammonds organization included all phases of hotel management, including the lead position for a number of hotel openings.

Mr. Shook is responsible for the complete operations of all of the Newcrest hotel assets. He is the direct liaison between the on-site GM’s and Newcrest’s principals. As leaders of the on-site management teams, the GM’s are critical to the success of the company’s hotel investments. And Mr. Shook is a key player in their recruitment, selection, training and career development.

Mark started out with a BA in Music Education and made his musical debut in Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Angel Foshee, Assistant Field Operations

Ms. Foshee’s diverse background in hotel management, banking and personnel operations allows her to provide informed support to Mr. Shook and the on-site Team Members.

Angel works closely with Mark on compliance and field operations issues. In addition, she consults frequently with our Controller and Corporate Secretary on payroll administration, purchasing and human resource issues.