Dan Friedkin is Chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group, a privately held and diverse consortium of businesses and investments in the automotive, entertainment, hospitality, golf and adventure industries. Among its businesses, Dan is Principal and Co-Founder of Imperative Entertainment, a multi-media production company in the entertainment industry. In 2017 Friedkin formed 30WEST, which provides capital and strategic guidance to high caliber creative projects and forward-thinking companies across popular culture. Friedkin and 30WEST have majority ownership in NEON, one of the most coveted theatrical marketing and distribution companies in the independent film space. He is Chairman and CEO of Gulf States Toyota, one of the world’s largest independent distributors of Toyota vehicles and parts, serving more than 150 dealers. He is Chairman of Auberge Resorts Collection, a portfolio of luxury hotels, resorts and residences. Dan is also the owner of Diamond Creek Golf Club in North Carolina, and co-owner of Congaree in South Carolina.

Marc Watts is President of The Friedkin Group, a privately held and diverse consortium of businesses and investments in the automotive, hospitality, entertainment, golf and adventure industries, including Gulf States Toyota, one of the world’s largest independent distributors of Toyota vehicles and parts. Prior to joining The Friedkin Group, Marc was Vice Chairman and Managing Partner-Houston of the 700-attorney law firm of Locke Lord LLP, with over 26 years of experience in corporate and securities law, governance and related matters. Marc is the Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Houston Branch Board of Directors as well as the 2018 Board Chair of the Greater Houston Partnership. He serves on the Board of Service Corporation International and Highland Resources, Inc. In addition, Marc is a member of various civic and community boards including The Salvation Army of Greater Houston, United Way of Greater Houston and Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation. Marc earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University and a law degree from Harvard University.

Eric Williamson is President and General Manager of Gulf States Toyota, one of the world’s largest independent distributors of Toyota vehicles and parts. He is also an acting member of the Friedkin Executive Board that oversees all the Friedkin Automotive Companies including Gulf States Toyota, USAL, Friedkin Retail Operations and Accelerated Solutions Group. Prior to his current role at Gulf States Toyota, Eric held several positions with The Freidkin Group, including most recently Executive Vice President of Business Development. During his previous tenure at Gulf States Toyota, he held multiple positions across the organization including Fleet Operations, Toyota Rent-a-Car and Accessory Business Development and Director of Marketing. Eric is an acting Friedkin Executive Board Member of AS Roma Football Club and Imperative Entertainment and serves on the boards of Congaree Foundation and Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation, as well as the Greater Houston Partnership’s Transportation Committee. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwood University and advanced executive studies at University of Michigan and the University of Texas.

Coburn Packard is a Partner and Head of Real Estate at BDT & MSD Partners, a merchant bank with an advisory and investment platform built to serve the distinct needs of business owners and strategic, long-term investors. He is Chair of the Real Estate Investment Committee. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, he was a Partner at Apollo Global Management, responsible for the investment activities of its U.S. Real Estate Private Equity business. Prior to joining Apollo in 2010, Coburn was a Partner and Co-Founder of Ridgeline Capital Group, an independent real estate investment management company, and was a Senior Vice President of Lehman Brothers Real Estate Partners, where he focused on real estate private equity investment in the Americas from 2000 to 2008. He began his career in Lehman Brothers’ Real Estate Investment Banking Group. Coburn is a member of the Urban Land Institute, The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business Real Estate Center, and Real Estate Roundtable. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and three children. He earned a BA in Ethics, Politics, and Economics from Yale University.

A dynamic hospitality industry leader respected for his expertise in hotel development, management and service excellence, Craig joined Auberge in January 2014, following a noteworthy career with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts that spanned more than three decades. As President of Hotel Operations, Americas, his position since 2011, Craig was responsible for setting the strategic direction for Four Seasons hotels in Canada, the U.S. and Latin America, a region that spanned seven time zones. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President Operations for the Americas and in a variety of management roles at Four Seasons properties in Chicago, Boston, Austin, Dallas and Washington, D.C. He began his career with The Savoy Group, London, as a management trainee. Craig is a graduate of Westminster College, London, with a diploma in Hotel Administration. He completed the Summer Management Program at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.