Our Leadership
Chairman / CEO
Roger G. Hill II
With the guiding mantra of “beautiful design is good business,” Roger co-founded The Gettys Group Companies with Andrew Fay in 1988. He now leads the development strategy and analysis for this award-winning and influential global hospitality design, procurement, branding and consulting firm.
A true hospitality visionary, Roger’s vision and forward-thinking approach has grown The Gettys Group Companies into a global company with six offices in the U.S., Asia Pacific and the Middle East. He frequently shares his industry insights on the redevelopment, renovation and repositioning of hotels for various publications and organizations.
A graduate of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, Roger’s vast knowledge, combined with his civic work with such groups as the Urban Land Institute, the International Society for Hospitality Consultants and the White House Conference Delegate for Small Business, has earned him Hospitality Design Magazine’s prestigious Platinum Circle Award, an honor widely recognized for praising exceptional achievement in the hospitality design industry.
President
Andrew J. Fay
An Australian native who now proudly calls Chicago home, Andrew is the President and Founding Partner of The Gettys Group Companies, where he has spearheaded nearly three decades of growth for this groundbreaking and award-winning global hospitality interior design, consulting, branding and procurement firm.
By leveraging Andrew’s diverse background in design, hotel operations, real estate finance and branding, The Gettys Group Companies has established a worldwide reputation for having an innovative and creative approach to the hotel design and development process. The firm has also earned rankings among the top global hospitality design and procurement firms while completing several hundred hospitality projects throughout the world.
An honors graduate of the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, Andrew is a noted industry speaker who is frequently engaged to share his expertise and insight about the hospitality industry, business strategy and global trends. He is also active with a number of civic groups in his adopted hometown of Chicago.
Chief Operating Officer
Jerry Zeitner
With 30 years of hospitality industry experience, Jerry has a broad knowledge of hotel operations, program management, design implementation and development. As Chief Operating Officer, he is responsible for overseeing, developing and setting the direction of The Gettys Group Companies’s day-to-day operations and growth strategies. Jerry leads a team of dedicated, creative team members who create new brands, design beautifully engaging spaces and bring design visions to life.
At The Gettys Group, Jerry has been instrumental in developing several innovative new business groups, including our proprietary Integrated Solutions procurement system; Gettys ONE, our design approach tailored for select-service brands, and the continued growth of our Hospitality Development initiative. A natural thought leader, Jerry is a frequent speaker at industry events and is often called upon by the global hospitality media for his insights and expertise
Jerry holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Economics from Illinois State University.
Chief Financial Officer
Bradley F. Gookins
An accomplished professional with almost two decades experience in private industry and public accounting, Brad is The Gettys Group Companies’s Chief Financial Officer. In this role as well as his position on the Advisory Board, Brad is responsible for providing leadership and guidance to position The Gettys Group Companies to achieve its strategic growth objectives.
Prior to joining The Gettys Group Companies, Brad worked as the Controller for Interra Development Partners, a commercial developer based in Chicago and joint venture partner with Prudential Real Estate Investors. He was also a Senior Auditor for the Chicago Real Estate Group of Ernst & Young LLP.
Brad is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is an adjunct professor of managerial accounting at the Keller Graduate School of Management. He received his Master of Accountancy from Miami University of Ohio.
From crunching numbers to hitting all the right notes, Brad once sang on stage with John Mellencamp.
Chief Innovation Officer
Ron Swidler
With a passion for pioneering innovative approaches to hospitality design, Ron identifies new strategic growth initiatives for The Gettys Group Companies family of companies. A collaborative and an innovative thinker, Ron has shaped hundreds of hotels, resorts and brand initiatives over more than three decades with us.
In 2003, Ron was key in establishing the Hotel of Tomorrow® Project, an industry-leading think tank that brought together more than 100 companies to envision the future of hospitality. He is currently leading a new phase of this project, aimed at addressing the new needs that have arisen for hospitality in 2020. His vision also led to the founding of Gettys ONE—our interior design group dedicated to branded hotels—and our branding group—where he led brand creation and strategic thinking projects for boutique properties, large industry events and international brands.
He is a frequent speaker at industry events and has been quoted in numerous publications for his hospitality, design and branding insights. Ron received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois. He is affiliated with the Hospitality Advisory Council at DePaul University, School of Hospitality Leadership. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France; EM Lyon in Paris; Haaga Helia University in Helsinki, Finland; and Breda University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands.
Senior Principal
Ben Nicholas
In his nearly two decades with The Gettys Group Companies, Ben has been an instrumental part of the firm’s growth, overseeing our Chicago interior design studios as well as our office in Manila, Philippines. He is responsible for developing design concepts and strategy, while remaining heavily involved in project oversight.
Ben’s expertise ranges from national brand enhancements to lifestyle-driven design projects, from grandly scaled luxury properties to intimate boutique hotels. He is a confident leader who knows how to delicately balance the many nuances of hospitality design, delivering successful projects that are as distinctive as they are revenue-generating.
A graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in interior design, Ben is a dedicated fan of college football and basketball and can be found cheering for the Cyclones at his alma mater every chance he gets.
Senior Director / Client Services
Molly O’Keefe
For the past 15 years, Molly has worked all over the globe leading business development initiatives within North and South America, the Caribbean, and Asia Pacific
Affectionately nicknamed “the linker” because she bounces around so frequently, Molly defines her role as the dot connector—the bridge between the business and creative sides of the business. She proudly wears many hats—preparing presentations, getting to know people and putting the right players together—all to ensure that every project has a smooth and successful execution. She is the face of the firm’s business development efforts, maintaining and continuing to grow it, and building strategic partnerships.
A risk-taker, adventurer and boundary pusher whose biggest fear is being uninspired, Molly believes that having a bit of a colorful personality has the power to open doors.
Director / Outside Agency
Jana Arbogast
Director Jana Arbogast oversees the Branding team of The Gettys Group Companies, leading designers, strategists, photographers and copywriters in the creation of differentiated and desirable brands. Under her direction, the team builds brands that win more than their fair share of the market through strategic positioning and the development of memorable naming, engaging experiences and distinctive visual identities.
Jana has called a variety of places home—from Florida to New York, Israel to Ohio. With a degree in Fine Arts from Washington University in St. Louis, she has applied her creative mindset and global perspective to brands such as World of Wine, Wayfarer, Sheraton Dallas, Hotel LeVeque, Reikart House, Architectural Concepts, Hotel Phillips, The Madison Washington D.C. and more.
Outside the office, Jana enjoys perfecting her hummus recipe, hopping on her bike whenever the weather permits and helping her son make fridge-worthy works of art.
Director / Populate Procurement
Anne Hiter
As Director of Populate Procurement, Anne is responsible for project management, nurturing client relationships and mentorship of the team.
Anne earned a Bachelor’s in Economics from The University of Chicago. A seasoned hospitality veteran, Anne came to The Gettys Group Companies from Hyatt Corporation over seven years ago. Her experience in that position in addition to her work as a Capital/Operational Purchasing Coordinator, have made her well-versed in collaborating with hotel management on pricing for capital and FF&E items, analyzing hotel spend against capital budgets and assisting with marketing, food and beverage and brand standards projects.
Anne is currently Chapter President of NEWH’s Chicago chapter – leading a team focused on scholarship, education and networking in the hospitality industry. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Chris, and creating a loving environment for their many foster dogs, whom they help prepare to find their forever homes.
Director / Manila Studio
Dave Li
Director Dave Li’s solution-driven attitude and his strong organizational skills make him a natural leader. He is committed to international best practices, guiding our Manila studio to provide exceptional design and technical support for our global interior design teams.
Before returning to the Philippines and joining The Gettys Group Companies, Dave previously resided in Singapore, where he contributed to international projects with DP Group Interiors and Hirsch Bedner Associates. His extensive project experience includes serviced residences and hotel developments for various international hotel brands in China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Dave holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in architecture from the University of Santo Tomas. He is a certified as a Licensed Architect in the Republic of the Philippines.
Director / Ridgeline Development Partners
Damir Sisirak
With more than 15 years of experience in retail, residential, and hotel development, Damir analyzes development opportunities with a focus on architecture, project and construction management, and hotel feasibility. Prior to joining RDP, Damir worked for a large hospitality brokerage, operations and ownership firm where he gained experience in all aspects of hotel development. His multi-faceted background and strengths on both the creative and analytical sides of the business provide him with a uniquely holistic approach to problem solving. Damir has overseen the design and implementation of more than 130 retail, department and grocery stores; and has designed, project-managed and directed procurement for the renovations of several hotels in USA and Canada.
The father of two young children, Damir is a soccer fanatic and coffee connoisseur who enjoys traveling, especially to his homeland in Balkans. He was born in Mostar, Yugoslavia and, attended schools in Slovenia, as well as Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
Studio Lead / Gettys ONE
Kara Orth
Studio Lead Kara Orth oversees the interior design direction for the fast-paced, brand-standard projects of our Gettys ONE team. She leverages her expertise in brands like Hilton Garden Inn and Residence Inn by Marriott to creatively meet each property’s unique needs while satisfying brand requirements.
Hailing from Park Ridge, Illinois, Kara holds a degree in interior and environmental design from the CIDA-accredited program at Illinois State University where she also minored in business administration.
During her downtime, Kara enjoys taking advantage of good weather to get active outdoors, unwinding by whipping up a batch of cookies or spending some quality time with her corgi, Cheddar.
Director / Information Technology
Mark Shugarman
An accomplished IT professional, Mark leads The Gettys Group Companies’s technology team. As IT Director, Mark’s role encompasses research, development, deployment and maintenance of technology systems and solutions across The Gettys Group Companies’s global operations.
A veteran of The Gettys Group Companies, Mark has two decades of experience in the information technology field. Prior to entering the IT industry, Mark worked with a general contractor to build duplex factory/office complexes, offering him unique insight into the business of designing and constructing commercial buildings.
A Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert, VMware Certified Professional and Cisco Certified Network Associate, Mark has been instrumental in the implementation of several technology advancements at The Gettys Group Companies, including the Citrix XenDesktop Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, Office 365 migration and a global file sharing system that allows the company to collaborate across its four offices. Mark is also helping to direct the firm’s emerging Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality efforts.
Mark’s passions include knowledge sharing across a variety of topics, cooking and a good game of hoops.