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Meet the Team

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D. Brett Stewart
Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Real Estate and Hospitality Investment, Development, Strategy & Finance

Brett has over 15 years of experience in real estate and hospitality investments worldwide. Brett’s experience includes leading strategy and corporate finance at a >$3bn top publicly traded Hotel REIT, serving as an SVP of Acquisitions & Development at the world’s leading third-party hotel management company, a stint at Hilton Worldwide and significant experience dealing with all the major brands as well as luxury and boutique hotels globally.

•    Columbia University, MBA (Finance, Real Estate)
•    University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, BA
•    US Fulbright Scholar
•    Named Top 15 Emerging Leaders in Hotels

Chef

Chef Kelly Barbato

Chef & F&B Lead

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Chef Kelly, a local of Highlands, NC, studied under Chef Nick Figel, who emphasized the exceptional food that results from cooking seasonal and local food in global styles. Kelly then spent time cooking at King + Duke in Atlanta, where traditional Southern meals moved from grandmom’s kitchen to the best dining room in town. He is proud to serve the best mountain cookery and hopes to bring our region’s flavors to visitors and friends alike.

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Daniel Fletcher
Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Head of Operations , Architecture & Design, Branding & Marketing, Media

Daniel leads the hotel operations as well as creative branding and marketing efforts for the team. His background encompasses architecture & design with several high end international firms in NYC and DC, construction management, as well as branding and graphic design. Daniel has co- designed and overseen the construction of ultra-luxury residential projects as well as hotel and restaurant designs worldwide. 

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Taylor Stewart
Managing Partner

Due Diligence, Construction & Development, Licensed General Contractor

Taylor is actively involved in evaluating investment opportunities, provides critical support for physical and site due diligence as well as all renovation and maintenance projects. Taylor leads Stewart Construction, a luxury residential and commercial (Hospitality, retail, office, arts) general contractor and developer with over 35 years experience in Western North Carolina.

•    Pratt Institute, Bachelor of Architecture, Honors
•    Pratt Institute, Minor in Const. Management
•    VP - Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce
•    Chairman - Jackson County Tourism Board

•    Extensive experience in the area’s most exclusive clubs
•    Fully-licensed Commercial General Contractor

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Riekert Smith

Construction & Project Management, Maintenance 

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Ashley Stewart

Real Estate Sales, Acquisition, and Property Management, 

(Licensed Broker-In-Charge)

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Gabriel McCoy

Operations, Revenue, Marketing,

Food & Beverage Lead

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Shane Ryden

Operations, Guest Services,

Front of  House Lead

Hotel Receptionist

Steve Powell

Operations, Guest Services,

Front of  House

Bartender

Victor Venjohn

Front of House, Guest Services

Waitress Portrait

Evelyn Cotterman

Front of House, Guest Services

Image by Timothy Barlin

Kaitlynne Schroeder

Front of House, Guest Services

Cheerful Waitress

Katharine Conner

Front of House, Guest Services

Female Baker

Josselin Lopes

Food and Beverage

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