Partners
Experiential Ventures Hospitality is partnering with leaders in brand development, technology, sports, attractions, construction, publishing, crypto and more.
EMMITT SMITH
Chairman E. Smith Advisors, Partner
Emmitt Smith is the Chairman of his namesake E Smith Advisors, a full-service real estate services and solutions company with a unique scope for developing and executing business opportunities. Emmitt’s role utilizes his 12-year experience as a real estate professional, and CCIM certification to focus on new business development, client relationships, vision and strategy. In partnership with Newmark Knight Frank (NKF), E Smith Advisors, a minority-owned company creates a global network with operations in more than 400 offices worldwide offering an integrated service platform to a diverse portfolio of clients.
Prior to joining forces with Newmark to form E Smith Advisors, Emmitt served as Chairman of E Smith Legacy Holdings, a position he still holds today. E Smith Legacy Holdings combines domain knowledge and experienced professionals to create, finance and execute unique real estate solutions, which are as diverse as their client portfolio. Ever the visionary and servant-leader, Emmitt recognized the need to expand services to meet clients’ ever-changing and unique requirements. Areas of expansion included construction consulting, project management, site selection, acquisition, disposition, portfolio management, facility management, business and economic incentives and financing and capital solutions.
A graduate of the University of Florida, Emmitt Smith enjoyed an illustrious career in the National Football League with the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals, earning such accolades as the NFL's All-Time Leading Rusher, Super Bowl XXVIII MVP and induction to the NFL Hall of Fame.
AUTHENTIC BRANDS GROUP
Development Partner
Authentic owns a portfolio of iconic and world-renowned lifestyle, entertainment and media brands. Headquartered in New York City, with offices around the world, Authentic connects strong brands with best-in-class partners and a global network of operators, distributors and retailers to build long-term value in the marketplace.
Its brands generate approximately $25 billion in global annual retail sales and have an expansive retail footprint in more than 150 countries, including 10,800-plus freestanding stores and shop-in-shops and 380,000 points of sale.
Authentic transforms brands by delivering powerful storytelling, compelling content, innovative business models and immersive experiences. It creates original marketing strategies to drive the success of its brands across all consumer touchpoints, platforms and emerging media.
DANIELS IKAJEVS
Workspace Partner & Advisory Board
Daniels Ikajevs is an esteemed entrepreneur, real estate investor, and philanthropist. He has over 19 years of international experience and relationships in managing and developing office buildings, multi-family residential buildings, and retail projects. Having built his first residential project in his early 20’s, he has completed over $30M in affordable and up-scale Mixed-Use projects across the United States, Europe, and Asia. As a multifaceted professional with a diverse portfolio, Mr. Ikajevs has amassed several international holdings and is now one of the largest property owners in the Tampa Bay Area. He currently oversees $210M in imminent development projects nationally, which include local micro-breweries, culinary and art incubators.
Mr. Ikajevs serves as the Chairman and Principal Developer for Elevate Clearwater, a venture comprised of local real estate, finance, design, and engineering professionals uniquely positioned to deliver a transformational new urban development in the City of Clearwater. As a visionary, Mr. Ikajevs is also leading a groundbreaking “Smart and Sustainable City Framework” to convert existing urban infrastructures into connected, resilient, sustainable, and economically thriving domestic ecosystems. In collaboration with innovators and educators from green energy sectors, healthcare, technology, telecommunications, and other industries, the framework will provide mechanisms to integrate physical, digital, and social infrastructures.
Mr. Ikajevs is the co-founder of The Ring Workspaces, an innovative, healthy, and eco-conscious workspace built for optimal human performance, productivity, and wellbeing. The first of its kind, The Ring has collaborated with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Duke University to assess the impact of green buildings on productivity and cognitive function. In addition, Mr. Ikajevs is the Chairman and co-founder of Save On Solar, a green energy provider that delivers 100% clean renewable energy to private and public sectors across the United States and US territories. He is highly passionate about the sustainable development of his community and is committed to supporting the growth of startup businesses locally.
Mr. Ikajevs holds two Master’s degrees in Marketing and Business Management and is certified by the International Business Innovation Association to build and operate Incubators. He is an Executive Board Member of the Clearwater Downtown Partnership, Division Partner of AMPLIFY Clearwater, Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Dentons Smart City Think Tank.
KILLIAN CONSTRUCTION
Development Partner
William F. (Bill) Killian is the President of The Killian Group (killco.com) and is a partner in the Galleria Blue Water Bay, LLC. The Killian Group has been providing general contracting and development services through its group of companies since 1948. In 1992, Bill Killian bought the company from his family and began to transition the company into the larger scale General Contractor that it is today. Bill Killian is a true visionary who has always believed in the future of information technology and modernization of the construction world. Due to the industry and client demand our company has grown to more than $200 million in yearly revenue and an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 400 firm consistently delivering quality construction from coast to coast.
We have completed projects in 28 states and counting. The majority of growth has been attributed to our mission statement that clients, architects, and subcontractors can embrace; "Killian Construction Co. provides an extraordinary construction project experience. We lead, inspire, and reward team members by sustaining success built on our partnerships."
JANELLE BRANCH
Workspace Partner
Janelle Branch is an accomplished International Senior Executive with over 10 years of experience in Project Management, Business Development, Sales, Branding, and Research Analytics. Currently, Ms. Branch is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-owner of The Ring Workspaces, an innovative and eco-friendly flex-office space, designed and supported by scientific research to optimize human health, performance, and productivity. Having acted as a Senior Project Manager during facility construction, she now oversees multiple aspects of the business, with a core focus on marketing, growth strategies, operations, and technological advancements.
In addition, Ms. Branch is the Chief Operating Officer and Caribbean Partner of Save On Solar, a renewable energy company providing smart energy solutions for private and public sector entities. Her vast expertise has also led her to become the Director of Innovation for Elevate Clearwater, a venture aimed at stimulating economic growth through responsible urban planning, design and real estate development.
Passionate about sustainability and new business success, Ms. Branch has led several ventures through early-stage development to eventual investor acquisition. She began her Project Management career at Keen Info. Tek, an IT consulting and services company, offering SaaS Solutions for Automotive, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Media companies. In her successive years, she joined Global Soft Technologies US, which provided on-demand Software integration, data analysis and reporting services. As the Director of Business Development, she applied her understanding of organizational change management and product diversification to strategically accelerate corporate expansion. Concurrently, Ms. Branch worked as the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Digital Strategy for HospitalityJobs.com, an online platform for quality vocational solutions, job training, and employment support services for both employers and employees in the Travel and Hospitality industry.
Ms. Branch holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business with a minor in International Relations and Diplomacy. She is the first woman to Chair the Clearwater Downtown Partnership, is a member of the Tampa Bay Business Journal Leadership Trust and sits on the City of Clearwater Brownfields Advisory Board.
MARTIN AQUATIC DESIGN AND ENGINEERING
Development Partner
Built on a history of engineering excellence, we are a team of design professionals that sets the standard in producing one-of-a-kind aquatic features. Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering bridges creative design with industry-leading engineering to successfully bring projects from sketch to splash.
Since 1987, we have helped craft nearly 2,500 projects worldwide. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, with a branch office in Dubai, UAE, Martin Aquatic is well positioned to service the aquatic needs of our clients in our key market sectors of water features, resort amenities, water parks, and themed entertainment experiences.
Combining mechanical, electrical, chemical and structural engineering disciplines all within one firm, we are uniquely qualified to work on any project creating engaging aquatic bodies of water. Our focus on both capital return on investment and long-term operational cost savings helps guide our development partners toward the proper, sustainable, aquatic feature that is tailored for each project.
STORYLAND STUDIOS
Development Partner
We are a unique collection of down-to-earth specialists, artists, architects, strategists and problem solvers who believe in the power of story to change the world. We exist to help business leaders create and connect their stories in three dimensions: strategic brand narratives, spatial environments, and interactive media. We partner with brands and fellow agencies to create environments and immersive experiences that lift the spirit.
Our Team Members and Executive Leadership include alumni from The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney lmagineering, Pixar Animation Studios, Universal Studios, and LEGOLAND® - all passionate about creating immersive storytelling experiences that shape culture and connect with people on an emotional level.