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 Development 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.
Principal / Gettys Interiors
Chris McDonough
Chris McDonough, AIA
Principal
With his long and diverse background in hospitality, food & beverage, retail, multifamily and custom residential spanning more than 25 years, Chris has always centered his design approach around true collaboration with all key stakeholders on his projects. His ability to see all aspects of the project process as both an accomplished interior designer as well as a licensed architect — from business development to establishing scope to setting expectations — allows Chris to gain consensus and guide his dynamic team in creating award-winning projects around the world that are beautiful, functional and fiscally successful. A natural teacher, he takes great satisfaction in seeing his team members learn and grow through his hands-on approach and mentorship.
Chris leverages this experience and emphasis on partnership, hospitality and developing the story of spaces to lead Gettys Interiors and Gettys ONE. His team-first leadership philosophy builds a culture of trust for his staff, clients and the end user — the guest.
McDonough has worked on such high-profile projects as the Tribune Tower Residences and the Ronald McDonald House in Chicago, The Rand Tower Hotel in Minneapolis (a Marriott Tribute), the Hyatt Regency in Portland, the Godfrey Hotel Hollywood in Los Angeles, and the AGC Rotana & Rayhaan in Dubai, UAE.
Growing up and working in the Chicago area, Chris received both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is accredited by the American Institute of Architects (AIA); Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED); and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).
Principal / 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.
Senior 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.
Senior Director / Gettys ONE
Kara Orth
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 / Gettys ONE
Timothy Freeman
Tim Freeman is a Director with Gettys One with 25 years experience in the Interior Design industry. Hailing originally from North Carolina, he holds a BA from UNC Chapel Hill in Art History and studied Interior Design at the University of Georgia. Tim brings a passion for design to all of his work whether it be new build architecture, renovations, or historic preservation.
When not focusing on hotel design, he tends to the restoration of his 1910 Chicago bungalo with a true DIY spirit as well as tending to his urban garden. A family of 4 cats (Saffy, Khaleesi, Jenks, and Mouse) and dog Zoey occupy much of the rest his time when he is not building models or travelling to explore the world.
Director / Gettys Interiors
Ryan Schommer
As a Director for Gettys Interiors, Ryan’s responsibilities include leading other design team members though project design development and management, client presentations and correspondence, drawing documentation, coordination and quality control, FF&E specifications, and construction administration. From concept through completion, Ryan develops thoughtful concepts and unique solutions that create an elevated experience for guests and ensure the overall success of our client’s project vision.
Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts from Gustavus Adolphus College and a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His extensive training and background allow him to skillfully develop concepts that carry through in design statements, details, and elevated incorporation of art that successfully reinforce storytelling through design. His dedication to efficient project management and creative problem solving is an invaluable asset to his team and to his client’s projects.
Director / Gettys Interiors
Matt Swope
As a Director with Gettys Interiors, Matt delivers beautiful environments for our hospitality clients, managing the project process from concept to completion with attentive client service and commitment to great design. A skilled graphic artist, he delights in his ability to translate the conceptual to the tangible, allowing our clients to experience a space before it’s built through robust renderings and virtual and augmented reality tools.
A design enthusiast from an early age and an avid traveler, he draws inspiration from his journeys around the globe, as well as the iconic design found throughout his current hometown of Chicago. This international influence can be found in his work on projects such as the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada, The Farnam in Omaha, Nebraska, and the Hotel Viking in Newport, Rhode Island.
Account Director / Outside Agency
Jessica Cockerill
A passion for hospitality and the desire to help build communities and meaningfully invest in people has guided Jessica’s career path and led her to The Gettys Group Companies, where she serves as Account Director of Gettys Branding. She applies her distinctive skill set acquired over more than a decade in healthcare marketing and digital media management to this business-critical leadership role.
Her traditional agency background grounds Jessica’s client management approach in strategy, process implementation, and the ability to translate customer needs into creative deliverables. In addition, Jessica’s experience working with a hospitality training nonprofit as well as her consultancy with Hospitality of the Future Think Tank, a global consortium of business leaders dedicated to ensuring the sustainable development of the hospitality industry, give her a unique, 360-degree perspective on the scope of Gettys projects.
Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications, Advertising and Public Relations from Towson University. After residing in both Costa Rica and Panama, she now lives in Philadelphia in a home she renovated, enjoys traveling, meeting new and interesting people, and hiking with her dog.
Creative Director / Outside Agency
Koren Nelson
As a creative director and multi-disciplinary designer, Koren’s career spans more than 20 years working simultaneously in every aspect of branding, interior, and product design. Koren is now Creative Director of Gettys Branding, an agency within The Gettys Group Companies that creates world-class, award-winning hospitality branding projects.
Koren’s diverse background and expertise allows her to look at the entire picture to envision and execute projects and products that possess a high-touch, high-design and highly coveted quality. Her vast experience working throughout the U.S., Europe and South Africa informs Koren’s work through an international, multicultural lens. Her work often considers and incorporates the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals allowing her to contribute this knowledge to the Gettys social impact task force. Born an innate creator with a social entrepreneurial spirit, Koren believes that we are all made for more — each of us destined to use our passion and talents to uplift businesses, one another, the environment, and the world.
Koren branded and launched two of Los Angeles’s first co-working spaces, Blankspaces and Cross Campus. Other celebrated clients include Bellagio Resort & Casino, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Goal 17 Partners, LA Opera, MGM Resorts, Princess Cruises, Skybridge Capital, Sushirrito, UMusic Hotel, and dozens more. Koren holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design and Fine Arts from Simmons College in Boston and a Design Thinking Certificate from Ideo.
Director / Gettys Interiors
Ji hyun Kim
As a Senior Project Designer, Ji hyun brings 15+ years of design experience to the The Gettys Group and leads day-to-day design efforts, acting as liaison between clients and hotel brands, ensuring design outcomes that achieve client goals, meet brand requirements, and provide a unified, cohesive vision.
Ji hyun’s extensive design experience allows her to be a consultative voice to our clients from the earliest beginnings of a project providing conceptual direction and setting the tone for the rest of the design engagement.
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 / 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.
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.