Detroit Emerging Markets

Throughout the multifamily housing and hospitality industries, Barbara Hale is known for her enthusiasm, synergy, and unbridled passion for sales. As Executive Vice President of Village Green Holding, directly overseeing the management company and three of its’ sister corporations, Barbara acts as an irreplaceable force, assisting associates in implementing best business practices while also encouraging them to brazenly reach beyond their goals. Regardless of the task, Barbara is determined to aggressively grow business within Village Green and V- Suites through fostering strong networking relationships, boosting corporate culture, and communicating a clear and focused business strategy. Following her graduation from Central Michigan University in 1989, Barb obtained a Sales and Operations position at the renowned Hyatt Hotels Corporation. For 12 years, she worked diligently with Hyatt to increase company revenue, establish beneficial business relationships, and successfully leverage the company’s brand. Before moving on, she held various positions with her final title being National Sales Director. After Hyatt, Barbara accepted a position as Director of Global Accounts for Starwood Hotels and Resorts where she spent five years structuring the corporation’s international brand and growing profits worldwide. In this role, Barbara utilized her strengths in business development, brand management, and also her go-getter attitude to create partnerships that are still effective and profitable for the company to this day. Parting from the hotel industry, in 2007, Barbara undertook the role of Director of Sales and Marketing for Leading Apartments, and for four years, she labored relentlessly to mold the company into V-Suites, LLC, the corporate housing powerhouse that stands today. In January of 2014, Barbara also accepted the position of Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Village Green Holding and immediately championed that role, eagerly surpassing company goals and growing annual business by 15% with a 35% operating margin. Barbara’s keen business acumen and success in sales and marketing did not go unnoticed, and in early 2016, she earned the role of Senior Vice President of Business Development at Village Green. In less than a year, Barbara achieved pivotal partnerships with new ownership groups and exponentially increased business revenue and brand reach. In March of 2017, Barbara’s performance earned her the prestigious title of Executive Vice President of Village Green Holding where she currently oversees the sales, marketing, and branding strategies of all Village Green companies. Outside of her exceptional efforts with V-Suites and Village Green, Barbara is a full-time mom of three, often spending her weekends cheering wildly at her son’s football games or daughter’s volleyball matches. Additionally, she is a supportive wife to Richard Hale and an avid sports fan. Barbara is also a member of the Corporate Housing Providers Association. Whether at home with her family or in the boardrooms of Village Green, Barbara’s success is built upon her passion for those around her. As an inherent leader, she has excelled in each of her professional roles by exhibiting a wealth of business knowledge, an unmatched sense of professionalism, and an immense willingness to learn, innovate, and motivate.

Andrew is responsible for all aspects of property management accounting, corporate accounting, construction accounting, financial services, asset management, information technologies, and human resources. Mr. Gutman's focus is on internal and external client services and the provision of timely and accurate client-required information and maximizing asset value. He has been responsible for direct oversight of over $100,000,000 in debt and equity vehicles for the organization and for clients.

Robert Pliska, CRE, CPA serves as owner/managing director for SVN, specializing in the sale, financing, leasing, managing, consulting, auctioning and accelerated marketing of multifamily, retail, office, industrial, hotel and other investment and commercial properties. With over 40 years of commercial real estate experience, Pliska has secured over $1.5 billion in real estate transactions. Prior to joining SVN, Pliska served as president and/or officer of several commercial real estate firms. He was the president of a full-service commercial realty firm providing sales, financing, leasing, property management and consulting services. Pliska’s past commercial development transactions boast millions in volume and ranged in product type from office, retail, multifamily, industrial and hospitality. In addition, he assisted in the financing of $500 million in real estate transactions. As a certified public accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, he advised real estate and financial institution clients. Pliska is a local and national speaker, author, radio guest, panelist and social media expert for many local and national organizations as the Counselors of Real Estate of the National Association of Realtors, the Commercial Board of Realtors, the state association of Realtors, the state association of CPA’s, the Chambers of Commerce, CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member), the Real Estate Answer Forum and others on investment and commercial real estate. He is quoted in numerous publications as Globe Street, CCIM, the Counselors of Real Estate, local news publications, Midwest Real Estate News and others. He is followed by thousands in social media on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. He sits on local, national and international Boards. Pliska’s professional activity includes: former president and member of Detroit Area Commercial Realtors; member and elected chairman of the Detroit Board of Realtors for the Detroit Metro Commercial Investment Division; member of the Michigan Association and recipient of the organization’s “Realtor of the Year” award; member of The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) and recipient of the CRE designation. Pliska’s community involvement includes: officer and/or board member of numerous community and non profit organizations, former president and recipient of membership growth awards from a CEO/President’s group.

Dan Mullen is President and Chief Marketing Officer of Bedrock. In this role, he is responsible for creating and implementing the company’s vision for Detroit’s downtown. He has played a crucial role in locating and attracting unique, innovative companies and retail tenants to the city’s Central Business District. Mullen also serves on the board of the Empowerment Plan, a Detroit non-profit that hires previously homeless women to make sleeping bag coats for the homeless. He has been recognized as one of Detroit’s top young business leaders, receiving a “30 in Their Thirties” award from DBusiness magazine and a “40 Under 40” award from Crain’s Detroit Business. Mullen began his career with Dan Gilbert’s Family of Companies in 2003 as a mortgage banker for Quicken Loans.

As Senior Advisor of Strategic Projects, Mark overseas community development programs and efforts of the MEDC such as brownfield redevelopment; community revitalization loans and grants to spur private investment in downtowns and traditional commercial corridors; assisting communities to ready themselves for redevelopment through adoption of state of the art zoning and other best practices. As MSF Fund Manager, Mark overseas the administration, business and policy decisions of MSF programs to assure compliance with Board actions and policies. Mark joined State Government in 1977 when he assisted the Departments of Labor and Commerce work on reforming how the state’s unemployment insurance system was funded.  He joined the Department of Commerce in 1978 and has held a variety of positions from leading the MEDC’s Capital Markets Team, heading the Policy and Legislative Affairs efforts, as well as several other stops throughout his long economic development career. Mark holds a bachelor’s degree from Oakland University with dual majors in Political Science and Economics; he also holds a Master’s of Public Policy Degree from the University of Michigan.

Vittoria is the Executive Director of Hatch Detroit. She has spent the majority of her career and personal life working on positive projects in the City of the Detroit. Using a combination of her background in Marketing and Urban Planning she has been able to provide unique ways to move the city forward through the creation of targeted neighborhood marketing efforts, and creation of area specific events. She is a resident of the City of Detroit, and believes the City to be one of the best places to live and raise a family. She resides in West Village with her husband, son and three dogs. She is a runner, a rower with the Detroit Boat Club Crew, and cures her own meats.

Alexander is Design Director in HKS’s Detroit office. He has managed diverse design teams on nearly 40-million square feet of award-winning projects in a variety of practice sectors and scales. Alex spent most of his career at Arquitectonica and Perkins Eastman where he specialized in mixed-use, hospitality, retail and education developments in New York, Toronto, Asia and the Middle East. At HKS he has been involved in mixed-use and healthcare projects in Detroit, Chicago, Washington DC and the Middle East. Alex is a graduate of the University of Michigan and is also an AIA Detroit Director. HKS conducted the Downtown Toledo master plan and the award-winning ProMedica corporate headquarters, which has been a catalyst for revitalization of the former industrial lands along the Maumee River.

Dan Duggan serves as a vice president for loan origination at Bernard Financial Group, the largest commercial mortgage banking firm in Michigan. Bernard Financial originates debt for commercial real estate developments through a wide range of sources including life insurance companies, agencies and CMBS placement. Dan comes to Bernard after more than a decade of commercial real estate experience both in Detroit and Chicago. He led the coverage and analysis of Detroit’s commercial real estate sector for Crain’s Detroit Business and prior to that was editor-in-chief of the Illinois Real Estate Journal, a commercial real estate publication in Chicago. He is a proud graduate of Michigan State University and the fifth generation of his family to call metropolitan Detroit his home. Outside the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

Marc G. Nassif, MAI, LEED AP, MRICS is a Senior Managing Director with BBG, Inc. His expertise is in real estate valuation and advisory services. Mr. Nassif is responsible for management, client liaison, business development, appraisal production, and training. His practice consists of clients and assets nationwide. Named one of Crain’s Detroit Business 40 Under 40 for 2017, Mr. Nassif’s experience encompasses a wide range of commercial real estate engagements for local and national clients for a variety of purposes, including asset valuation for pension funds, financing, estate taxation, proposed developments, ad valorem taxation, purchase price allocation, fresh start accounting, property insurance placement, and litigation. He has appraised numerous property types, including office, industrial, retail, vacant land, residential, automobile dealerships, and special purpose facilities such as parking garages. Mr. Nassif has completed assignments throughout the United States and Europe, and has experience managing large portfolio assignments. Mr. Nassif has also completed feasibility analyses, market analyses, market rental rate determinations, and impact studies. His ] experience ranges from high-density CBD developments to low-density agricultural land uses. He is licensed as a certified general real estate appraiser in multiple states. Additionally, Mr. Nassif is a member of the Appraisal Institute and the Urban Land Institute. Mr. Nassif is a LEED Accredited Professional through the U. S. Green Building Council. Mr. Nassif is also a Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Prior to joining BBG, he was a Vice President with First Place Bank where he was responsible for site inspections and appraisal reviews. He was also employed at SRR, and was previously employed by National City Bank where he worked with the Investment Real Estate loan group.

Paul has 30 years of transactions and property management experience in a variety of specialties to include office, medical, industrial, and retail. He has served national clients such as Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen of North America, Audi, Trinity Healthcare Corporation, Kennedy Associates, Piedmont Office Realty Trust, RREEF and Franklin Street Partners. Paul joined Trammell Crow Company (TCC) in 1997 and for the first eight years at TCC Paul successfully led the Property Management Group and simultaneously served as an office broker to a diverse group of clients specializing in owner and tenant representation. Paul’s past experience in property and facilities management uniquely positions him to bring a unique and diverse perspective to representation of both tenants and landlord. He is focused primarily on representation of corporate users.

Jim is a creative, award-winning designer and recognized leader in the architectural community. With his extensive experience in developing design initiatives and managing operations, in addition his unique accomplishments in master planning, strategic planning, and team leadership, he has created iconic work places and spaces that inspire innovation and reinforce corporate leadership strategies. His purpose is to uncover and make extraordinary connections that enhance the value of investments in architecture, workplace, people and brand; he works by designing and developing collaborative creative engagements generating targeted solutions to the specific issues, contexts and values of the client organizations. Jim’s engagement begins with corporate management by supporting executives and leadership in the communication and implementation of the intended transformation. This engagement centers on an initial and continuing set of conversations and interviews with client leadership team. His goal is to have them look at their project as an instrument of corporate strategy and to articulate its measures in a way that a planning and design team can generate and deliver differentially innovative, creative and clever solutions. Throughout the workplace industry, Jim is known as an innovative, creative thinker and a motivator of top team performance. With more than 30 years of experience in the design of cutting-edge workplaces for some of the nation’s top companies, he is comfortable in scales from start-up to mega structure.

Jeff Gaines AIA, AICP, LEED AP BD+C is a Corporate Director and Principal at Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. where he serves as the Director of Design, Planning and Sustainability. With over 30 years of experience in the fields of architecture, planning, and urban design, Mr. Gaines is committed to sustainable design and planning solutions that improve the well-being of those that occupy and are affected by the resulting built environments. He is the past Chair of the Board of Directors for the Detroit Regional Chapter of the U. S. Green Building Council, an organization that he has been involved with since its formation. He is also actively involved in the Detroit Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Michigan Chapter of the American Planning Association. He is a registered architect in the State of Michigan, and a Certified Planner. In addition, he holds certificates from the National Charrette Institute and the Form Based Codes Institute, and is also a Michigan Place Partnership Placemaking Curriculum Certified Trainer. He has also taught Architectural Design and Urban Planning courses at Lawrence Technological University, University of Detroit Mercy, and the University of Michigan. Jeff lives in Northville, Michigan and serves on the City’s Planning Commission and Historic Commission.