Gary S. Brandeis
CEO
Gary is the CEO and Founder of the Scholar Hotels. 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 Hotels, 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
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.
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 Hotels. Ronald holds a BA in English from the University at Albany.
Mahim Sharma
Vice President
Operations
Mahim is the Vice President of Operations for Scholar Hotels. 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.
Zachary DiPinto
Corporate Accountant
With a strong academic foundation, Zachary holds undergraduate degrees in Finance, Accounting, and Business Administration, as well as an MBA. His multifaceted expertise and strategic oversight contribute significantly to the financial health and operational efficiency of the organization.
Collin Stevenson
Asset Management & Development
Prior to joining the firm in 2023, Collin interned with CBRE’s Global Institutional Debt Advisory Group in New York City. During his time there, he gained valuable experience in debt placement and capital markets, working on institutional large loan financing assignments across various property types nationwide. Collin graduated with a B.S. in Finance with the Real Estate Analysis and Development Certificate from The Smeal College of Business of The Pennsylvania State University.