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, Mr. Watts 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. Mr. Watts 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, Mr. Watts 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. Mr. Watts earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University and a law degree from Harvard University.

Ron co-founded The Catalyst Group, Inc. in 1990 to provide expansion capital to companies in a variety of mid-market industries. In the last 25 years, Catalyst has managed nine separate investment funds with over 100 investments in 70+ industries. Ron graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas.

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.