Major brands are what we know. We operate, reposition, and repurpose. Extracting greater free cashflow from operational innovation and human resource management frees cashflow and room for further growth.
Shah Aryana is a versatile entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in alternative investments, asset management, family office management and consulting. Mr. Aryana has a successful track record of orchestrating M&A, raising capital, real estate development, and complex corporate structure.
His versatile investment and development background includes hotels, restaurants, theme parks, water parks, stadiums, special event venues for sports and concerts, QSR, flowers & gift businesses, single family and multi-family residential, retail, adaptive use, and mixed-use.
A Persian-American Businessman, Mr. Aryana has studied architecture, design, horticultural science, law, and urban planning engineering. By the time he was in High School, he had developed a gift company and soon became a senior vice president at Golden State Poppy Flowers, Inc. Four years later, he started a company called Gift Concept through which he developed a logistical operation for a wide range of products distributed to Stater Bros. Markets, Michaels Stores, Hobby Lobby, and Gate City Beverage. Fellow business associates have described Mr. Aryana as an “exponential entrepreneur”, due to his numerous exploits as a Real-Estate Developer while working in corporate finance at one of his father’s firms.
Today, Mr. Aryana’s portfolio continues to expand through American Colonial Capital, where his strong business acumen is leveraged as fund manager, platform trader, and capital raiser to deliver the highest return on investment capital to ACC’s investors. Meanwhile, he remains actively involved in the business community through BIA (Builders Industry Association), ULI (Urban Land Institute), ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers), MUCF International Franchise Association, and the American Bankers Association.
Dr. Giampaolo Parigi is a venture capitalist, merchant banker, entrepreneur and chairman of a single family office with thirty years of international track record on the primary and secondary markets, ten of which spent as a principal in a Silicon Valley VC firm. As a deal-maker, he has invested and/or advised on transactions in the five continents and over seventy-five countries across all industry sectors and served on the board of directors of investment banking groups both in Europe and the USA. He regularly advises institutionals including sovereign wealth funds and banks as well as public and privately-held companies all over the world from deep tech start-ups to large multinationals and governments. He pioneered capital markets-compliant greenfield infrastructure investments in the Emerging Markets in the CIS, SE Asia, China and South Africa and he did so by nose-diving private equity to meet baseline performance indicators. Giampaolo is a published author and often invited by leading universities and international conferences as keynote speaker on topics of finance, venture capital and private equity. He speaks English, Italian, French, German, Spanish and has a basic knowledge of Dutch, Portuguese, Russian and Norwegian.
Mr. Diaz-Fonseca serves as Chief Real Estate Officer/Broker. Mr. Diaz-Fonseca has been active in real estate brokerage and asset management since 1986, working mostly in the purchase and exchange of residential properties in the southern California area. Mr. Diaz-Fonseca has represented landlords, tenants, buyers, sellers, new development and expansion consulting, tenant mix consulting, and property management. In 2012, he returned to the Enforcement Division of the California Department of Real Estate, where his primary duties were to assess and enforce the policies of the California Department of Real Estate.
Mr. Diaz-Fonseca was a Supervising Investigator for the California Department of Motor Vehicles from 1996-2011, where he directed the staff of the investigators conducting complex criminal, administrative, and selective internal affairs investigations. He also assisted in developing and directing of major components of investigative programs, and headed various multi-jurisdictional task forces in conjunction with local, state, and federal agencies.
From 1994 to 1996, Mr. Diaz-Fonseca served as a Deputy Commissioner for the Enforcement Division of the California Department of Real Estate. During his time there, he successfully conducted several high-profile identity theft investigations. He evaluated progress on cases, case closings, and designated formal actions for submission to the Real Estate Legal Department in accordance with statues, codes, regulations and departmental policy. He also provided real estate deputies with on-the-job and classroom trainings, mentoring them to develop their analytical, investigative, and communication skills.
Mr. Diaz-Fonseca served as a Reserve Lieutenant with the El Monte Police Department from 1994-2011, in which he was involved with city Patrol, Auto Theft, Gang, and Special Enforcement Units. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a major in Computer Information Systems from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California.
CA Broker# 00934042
As Principal and COO of ACC’s Restaurant division, Mr. Conklin is responsible for the development and operation of ACC’s restaurant division. Mr. Conklin’s prior restaurant, retail and real estate experience includes serving as a Director of Operations and General Manager for large franchise development companies such as Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, as well as Division President of 2 Kahala Brands companies. He was responsible for franchisee growth in several Countries, and States across the U.S., and has been involved in the development of over 645 locations and over 100 territory plans. He has knowledge and direct experience in Sales, Marketing, Real Estate Development, Franchise Development, Finance and Operations of both franchisee and company locations.
Mr. Conklin brand experience includes Gladieux Food Services, Marriott, Dunkin’ Donuts, Baskin-Robbins International, Frullati Café & Bakery, RollerZ, Surf City Squeeze, Great Steak & Potato, Taco Time, Samurai Sam’s, Cold Stone Creamery, Johnny’s NY Style Pizza, Checkers, and Rally’s.
Mr. Conklin has a BS in Business Management and a MS in International Business. He remains an active member of ICSC and has been a member of the National Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives, National Restaurant Association, Total Quality Management Institute and American Management Association. He is a father of one daughter and has 2 grandsons.
Robert Habeeb is the Founder and CEO of Maverick Hotels and Restaurants. Maverick is fast gaining a reputation as an industry leader for innovation in its forward-looking approaches to hotel development and management. Maverick also offers cutting edge Beverage and Food programs with a particular emphasis on Roof Top venues through a unique partnership with two James Beard Award winning restauranteurs.
Prior to Maverick, Habeeb served for 21 years as First Hospitality Group’s high-profile President and CEO. He is regarded as one of the leading voices in the Hospitality Industry today. Over his tenure at FHG the company saw significant growth earned a long list of recognitions including multiple years as best of category on Forbes Magazine’s Best Employers and INC magazine’s Fastest Growing Companies lists.
Mr. Habeeb has received an impressive list of awards including Michigan State University Man of The Year and Global Hotelier of The Year. He is a frequent and popular industry speaker and author. His innovative approaches to management have been widely recognized in and out of the hospitality industry. With a strong passion for educating those pursuing a career in the hospitality industry, Habeeb serves as a member of the adjunct faculty of Chicago’s Roosevelt University, where he teaches at a graduate level in the Manfred Steinfeld School of Hospitality Management. He has served on numerous industry boards and councils, including the board of directors and executive committee of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and board of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association where he served two terms as chairman. He is widely considered the “go to guy” and leading expert on Chicago’s hospitality industry.
Ms. Jennifer Evans began her journey within the hospitality industry 14 years ago. Recruited from The Perrier Group, where she led business development for the consumer products company, Jennifer left to tackle hospitality with KOJO Worldwide; a bedding and drapery manufacturer. KOJO sought her out to rapidly increase sales by leading their product development team and sales force. She was able to quickly develop a partnership with one of the most cutting edge hotel brands, Westin Hotels, creating a revolutionary bedding program coined the “Westin Heavenly Bed”. This concept transformed the hospitality industry. Not only did this bring a fresh, clean look into guest rooms that were previously covered in multi-colored floral, stain-hiding bedspreads, it also brought the feel of home into the hotel room with the white, turned down duvet cover and exposed, crisp white bed pillows. The new European design flooded the market and today, over 10 years later, almost every major chain now features a white bedding program. The Heavenly Bed success spurred the launch of the Sweet Sleeper bedding program for the Sheraton brand, which Jennifer again collaborated with Starwood’s team to create. In addition, she forged a partnership with Intercontinental Hotel Group for their Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands, which in turn became an integral part of their Standardized Room Decor program.
With many successful hotel programs under her belt she began her own company, consulting to the industry. She has completed thousands of hospitality projects, ranging from renovating over 2600 guest rooms in a Las Vegas casino at 100% occupancy, to the full design and installation of over 1000 rooms at the Imperial Palace Biloxi. Educated in Boston, at the number one business school for entrepreneurial studies, Babson College, she developed an enterprising business acumen and an infallible work ethic. Jennifer currently resides in San Diego and enjoys traveling to all regions for her projects.
Mr. Mark Johnson knows every major aspect of real estate. In 1981, while earning a Bachelor of Science, Mark focused of real estates, business, economics and accounting. Mark lead a team of master’s students in assisting California Department of Transportation purchase several hundred homes to make way for a freeway. While attending Seattle Pacific University, Mark developed a sea grass study, including photography underwater grass degradation and water quality analysis relationship inHawaii. As Director of Winding Bay Beach Resort, Mark maximized the occupancy and got national acknowledgement for the brightest hotel in the Bahamas. In 1985, Mark built the property management division of Heyming and Johnson Real Estate from 20 to 300 homes in 12 months. In 1987, Mark designed and built the Inland Soccer Center, hosting local, regional and national televised indoor soccer matches. In 1989, Mark joined Occidental Mortgage Bank. He produced award winning results in a constantly dynamic market. In 1997, as an adjunct instructor at the University of Redlands, Mark developed and taught the off-campus course syllabus for 5-unit course named “ISLANDS IN TRANSITION”. Interacting with the government, business’s and academia in Morea and Fiji, we explored each country from a multitude of disciplines including economics, sociology, immunology, recreation, tourism, underwater photography/video, SCUBA, ecology, water quality/pollution causes, air quality, employee relations, village life, dolphin research, shark & eel feeding, food production, and international cuisine. In 2002, Mr. Johnson joined Shahvand Aryana and grew Pacific West Coast Development LLC into a multifaceted venture-oriented concern. Evaluating, acquiring, consolidating or mapping over 100 properties.
Mark consulted with Blue Diamond Company, NW Ayres, South Eleuthera Properties, Fiji Water, Cal State University at Berkeley, Roberts Helicopters, United States Soccer Federation, RDH Group LLC, Bahamian, Fijian, Belize, Turks and Caicos, Mexican, Canadian, Australian universities, governments and multiple resorts in California, Washington, Mexico, Bahamas, France, Virgin Islands, Fiji and Indonesia.
In 2013, Mark moved his wife, Doreen, of 24 years to Idaho to address uses of geothermal in development, he researched over 30 hot springs while opening a historic motel. He assisted the most viable geo opportunity to sell to the Nez Perce Nation for a resort development.
Mr. Johnson is educated in the formal sense, yet continually blends all his entrepreneurial talents to see the value-added aspect of real estate and business, bringing fresh perspectives to all aspects of enterprises.
Mr. Abarro grew up in San Diego, CA where he received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Calfornia, San Diego. Mr. Abarro worked for various Fortune 500 Companies as well as Unocal Corporation for 12 years. While working for Unocal Corporation, he was responsible for overseeing Service Stations , Convenience Stores, Quick Lubes and Car Washes. Mr. Abarro’s interest in Franchising led him to become a Del Taco Franchisee In 2003. Mr. Abarro has been operating Fatburger, IHOP, and other fast casual Restaurants in the Hawaiian Islands for the past 10 years.
With over 15 years of franchise experience in QSR, Family Dining and Fast Casual concepts and is currently a franchisee of Del Taco, IHOP, Max’s Cuisine of the Philippines and Fatburger. Mr. Abarro also brings experience managing multi-unit operations across multiple brands and the development, new construction and opening of ground up units. Mr. Abarro has also been involved with other franchise brands which included Subway and Weinerschnitzel. Mr. Abarro brings a wide range of experience in the areas of store management, new store development and executive management.
Wayne Little has a unique background combining significant legal experience and extensive business leadership. Mr. Little is experienced in corporate, civil litigation, technology, banking and international law/transactions. He has served as special counsel to several companies, with an emphasis in the financial and technology markets. He is experienced in working with cross border transactions in the commercial, governmental and financial sectors. In addition, Mr. Little has built and managed risk, underwriting and compliance programs for companies interfacing and working in the financial sector, including the implementation and management of programs ensuring compliance with Anti-Money Laundering, Patriot Act and various Federal/State statutes.
Serving in an executive capacity with a variety of clients, with extensive experience in the money remittance and the prepaid debit markets, he has been an advisor and counselor to various companies, financial institutions and organizations in those sectors. In 1999, Wayne Little founded and served as CEO of the first verification, certification and high-touch management services for online auction transactions. He was directly responsible for the development of North American and European business and networks, capital acquisition, and relationships with key partners and clients, including many Fortune 500 companies.
Mr. Little served as a Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, one of the largest prosecutorial offices in the world. Early in his career, Mr. Little served as a legal intern in the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the United States Justice Department, Office of Special Investigations.
Roman Whittaker is a Partner with Anderholt Whittaker LLP, a boutique business and real estate law firm in Palm Desert, California. Mr. Whittaker founded Anderholt Whittaker LLP with J. John Anderholt III, prior General Counsel to the manufacturer of Emergen-C®. Roman spent nearly a decade with Best Best & Krieger LLP, the largest and one of the most prestigious law firms in the Inland Empire, before founding Anderholt Whittaker LLP in order to provide more cost effective services to his clients. Roman’s practice focuses on all facets of business, corporate and real estate matters, from business start-ups to contract negotiation and drafting to litigation. Roman has helped launch start-ups such as PloughBoy Organics, which utilizes tobacco for the production of natural dyes and fibers; BuzzBox Beverages, which manufactures and distributes “juice box” packaged cocktails; and BluStor Personal Mobile Cloud, the newest venture of Seagate Technology co-founder, Finis Conner. Roman holds a B.A. from U.C. Santa Barbara and a Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University School of Law. Roman serves as a court appointed arbitrator for the Riverside County Superior Court – Desert Bar Association’s Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program, and has been voted Top Lawyer three years running by Palm Springs Life Magazine.
Hamilton Pinto Jr. holds a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications, with formal training in Computer Graphic Design, Multimedia, and Computer Aided Design. His educational foundation has enabled him to pioneer, develop, and engineer high impact marketing and communications strategies that align creative execution with business objectives.
He specializes in defining product positioning, clarifying key benefits, and identifying target audiences to drive effective go to market strategies. His ability to see the big picture while executing at the technical level allows him to translate vision into scalable, real world solutions.
Mr. Pinto is a disciplined problem solver with deep experience in software architecture and development. He regularly architects and builds custom software solutions, integrates third party and proprietary APIs, and implements systems that improve operational efficiency, data flow, performance coaching, and business intelligence.
As the owner of Pinto Design Group and Pinto Consulting, he has opened and supported more than 60 establishments across multiple industries. These include financial solutions and debt management firms, restaurants, law firms, medical practices, and professional service organizations throughout the greater Southern California region.
His client experience includes nationally recognized brands such as Jack in the Box, Del Taco, T.G.I. Friday’s, Anchor Blue, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, Bimbo Bakeries, and Lancôme, in addition to numerous regional and growth stage companies.
Mr. Pinto attended Westwood College of Technology, earning his BA in Visual Communications. He also holds certifications from Point Loma Nazarene University and completed advanced studies in blockchain and cryptocurrency applications in business and finance through UCLA.
J. B. (Bill) McKinney, CFO, started his career in Nashville, Tennessee with Ernst & Ernst, Certified Public Accountants (now Ernst & Young). After five years experience, he joined GENESCO, a New York Stock Exchange-listed company headquartered in Nashville, and was eventually promoted to Director – Internal Auditing, where he managed a 26-person team of auditors, 10 of whom were CPAs, and conducted both financial and operational audits of the various GENESCO divisions throughout the U.S. and Canada. He later accepted a position as Chief Financial Officer of Bonwit Teller, a $100 million in sales fashion department store chain headquartered in New York City and a division of GENESCO.
Mr. McKinney left Bonwit Teller to accept a position with the American Express Card Division as Vice President – Department Store Sales and Marketing, a position created by Amex because they had been unsuccessful in getting the nation’s major department and specialty store chains to accept the American Express Card. Less than four years later, after 30 of the top 50 store chains in America had been persuaded to accept the American Expresss Card, Mr. McKinney was promoted to Regional Vice President in charge of the American Express Southern Regional Operating Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which employed more than 3,000 workers and was the largest American Express operating center in the world.
Mr. McKinney left American Express to join SafeCard Services, a national provider of credit card registration services located in Fort Lauderdale, as Executive Vice President. At that time SafeCard was a NASDAQ listed company, but was subsequently listed on the New York Stock Exchange before being acquired by a larger company. Mr. McKinney was successful in attracting American Express as one of SafeCard’s largest clients.
Mr. McKinney holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Delta State University. He is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Internal Auditor, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. He is a member of the American Institute of CPA’s and the Florida Society of CPA’s. Mr. McKinney has been active in entrepreneurship and in numerous civic activities in Broward County, Florida, and was a co-founder of the Broward Workshop, a highly active organization of CEOs of major Broward County businesses.
Dr. Steinman spent over two decades working with senior executives and CEOs developing business and corporate strategy. Some of his clients include: Texas Instruments, Hewlett-Packard, DuPont, Halliburton, Mary Kay, Ryder, the Atomic Energy Commission, Liberty Mutual Insurance, AT&T, Bank of America, Longaberger, Becton Dickenson, and Praxair.
His client engagements span a wide range of businesses including: parallel computing, mobile communications, telecommunications, displays, optical storage, laser printers and copiers, semiconductors, defense electronics conversion, software, rocket motors, medical devices, flow cytometry, industrial gases, mining, pipe, packaging, direct sales(cosmetics and baskets), real estate development, finish product pipelines, retail gasoline, engineering and construction (environmental, nuclear and fossil power, pulp and paper, petrochemicals, buildings, and highways), agriculture, consumer equipment rental, development banking, leasing, retail banking, and insurance (life, property casualty, health and workers compensation.)
Dr. Steinman played an important role in creating many executive seminars and is an experienced and skilled presenter to executives. For 12 years he taught a one-day course in strategy development three times a year for Stanford University’s continuing education program. In addition he has lectured at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and was a Professor for four years at the School of Business of Washington University in St. Louis.
He was a director and member of the executive committee of Strategic Decisions Group when it had revenue of $60 million per annum and over 300 employees in five locations. He served as leader of the Marketing, Change Management practices and co-leader of the Strategy practice.
He was in charge of strategic planning for the Southern Pacific Company in the early to mid 80’s. Before that was a senior management consultant in the strategy practice at Stanford Research Institute (now know as SRI International) and worked as an operations analyst for Lockheed Missiles and Space Company and Douglas Aircraft. Dr. Steinman has served on the board of SCOR (Stanford Center for Organizations Research), as a member of the Strategic Process Committee of the United Way of America, as a loaned executive to the San Francisco United Way, on the steering committee of Business Week Corporate Planning 100, and on the Economic Advisory Council of the California Chamber of Commerce.
He is a real estate investor and is a partner in large apartment complexes in various locations around the US.
Dr. Steinman earned a BS in mathematics from Brooklyn College, City University of New York, an MS in applied mathematics from San Jose State University, and a Ph.D. in business administration from the University of California at Berkeley. He was a post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University.
Stephan Day is a founding partner of Blue Martini, an upscale nightclub with live
entertainment nightly. There are currently twelve (12) locations with eight (8) in
Florida, one in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Plano, Texas & Seattle. Sales of Blue Martini are approximately sixty (60) million yearly and his primary duties are concerned with
marketing and the selection of new site locations.
Mr. Day moved from Toledo, Ohio to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1960 and obtained his
undergraduate degree in Business Administration & Management from Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida.
His original background was in printing and he operated a very successful family
printing business for over thirty five (35) years. He sold the company and started
another print brokerage in 2005. His foray into the nightclub business began in 1999
when he met his partner and they concepted the idea of Blue Martini.
He has served on the Board of Directors of Fort Lauderdale Country Club for eighteen
(18) years of which he has been a member for over forty (40) years. He has also served on the Board of the Fort Lauderdale Executives’ Association along with the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association. In the past he has served on the Board of
the South Florida chapter of Cystic Fibrosis, co-chairing the Jeb Bush Cystic Fibrosis
golf tournament and also served on the Board of the Winterfest Boat Parade.
He currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with his wife, Debbie. He may be
contacted at sday1313@bellsouth.net .
Mr. Klein is Senior Vice President of the Company responsible for business development. Mr. Klein has over twenty five years of residential, industrial and commercial real estate development experience. Mr. Klein has been responsible for acquiring land, planning, financing and development of in excess of 4,7 million square feet of commercial and industrial properties as well as 1,300 single family residential units and 950 multi-family units. Mr. Klein has also developed a number of resort properties, including Snowmass Ski Resort, the Malibu Country Club, Whittier Narrows Golf Course and the Links at Victoria. The completed value of these projects was in excess of $4 billion.
Mr. Klein received his Bachelor of Science degree in History with a minor in Finance from the University of Southern California.
Mark Klein brings more than 40 years of experience of accounting experience. First working with Oppenheim Appel and Dixon, a powerhouse accounting organization which grew to be the 13th largest firm in the United States. Mr. Klein specialized in the firm’s clients in the securities industry, the entertainment industry, including high profile and celebrity personal management and real estate development companies.
Mr. Klein has operated his own firm since 1988 specializing in corporate structure and restructuring, forensic analysis studies, accounting system creation and maintenance and tax planning and compliance. He is known for his creative solutions to complex business and individual financial problems.
Additionally, Mr. Klein has taken Chief Financial Officer positions in the Real Estate Development, Biotech and Film Distribution sectors.
Mr. Klein is a graduate of the University of Manitoba, with a Bachelor’s in psychology degree. He has also attended CA State University Northridge for graduate level accounting and business courses.
Principal and CEO of Tricorp Hearn Construction, has 34 years of construction experience. He is also CEO and President of TMCS, a Construction Management firm which he personally founded in 2003. Under Tony Moayed’s tutelage, TMCS has managed over $2 billion of construction projects over the last ten years.
The Company was named the Fastest Growing Company in the Sacramento and its four surrounding counties in 2006 and the General Contractor of the Year in 2007 by the American Subcontractors Association, Sacramento Chapter. In 2010, Tricorp structured a business transaction to acquire Hearn Construction, a 32 year old general contractor specializing in hospitality and multifamily projects. The new entity, Tricorp Hearn, grew over 110% in 2011, created employment for over 50 additional employees and expanded its operations to the Bay Area and Southern California.
Tricorp Hearn has completed over 50 hotel projects in California, including the award winning Hyatt Place Los Angeles/LAX/El Segundo. The company is currently building: Springhill Suites by Marriott in Anaheim and Atascadero, Hampton Inn and Suites in San Diego (Mission Valley), Salinas and Union City, and an expansion to Hyatt Place at UC Davis in Davis.
Tony Moayed’s diverse experience as a general contractor and construction manager includes programming, pre-construction, estimating, sustainability best practices, design/build and Public Private Partnerships. Mr. Moayed holds a Bachelors of Science in Construction Management, and an M.B.A. from CSU Fresno, and is a LEED Accredited Professional. Tony was a professor teaching construction management courses at CSU Sacramento and served on CSU Sacramento’s Construction Advisory Board for three terms, or nine years.