David’s expertise extends beyond FF&E procurement into hospitality supply chain strategy, investment planning, and project risk management. In today’s environment, owners must navigate sourcing decisions, freight costs, lead times, market volatility, and tariffs. Drawing on experience across numerous hospitality projects, he helps clients evaluate these variables and develop strategies that balance cost, timing, quality, and risk. He is recognized for helping owners understand the financial and operational implications of major project decisions. Whether evaluating renovation scope and deployment of FF&E replacement reserves, developing project budgets, procurement strategies, or asset positioning opportunities, David helps clients assess tradeoffs and make decisions that support both project objectives and long-term ownership goals.

One of the most rewarding aspects of David’s career at AK Design Group has been the opportunity to grow alongside the firm’s clients. Many owners and developers who initially engaged AKDG for a single project have continued to expand their portfolios and return with increasingly significant opportunities over time. Whether supporting clients with fixed renovation cycle management (FRCM), a new-construction concept such as a dual-branded asset, a more complex renovation with the addition of guestrooms, or development opportunities across new hotel brands and markets, David views those repeat engagements as a reflection of trust earned through consistent execution, sound advice, and long-term relationships.

David is equally passionate about building teams and professional networks that help make those outcomes possible. Over the years, AK Design Group has recruited and developed talented people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Many have become long-tenured team members, while others have gone on to assume leadership positions, launch businesses of their own, or build successful careers. He is grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to those journeys and views these successes as one of the firm’s most meaningful accomplishments. Additionally, David has helped cultivate an extensive network of FF&E manufacturers, freight and warehouse partners, contractors, and professional service providers who contribute to successful project outcomes. David believes that sustainable organizations are built through strong relationships, thoughtful leadership, and a commitment to helping people succeed.

During David’s tenure, AK Design Group has evolved from a hospitality interior design practice into a more comprehensive hospitality project services firm. One of the firm’s most significant milestones was the successful expansion into FF&E procurement in response to client demand. What began as a new service offering evolved into a core business capability through the development of specialized processes, technology, and talent, allowing AKDG to provide owners with a more integrated project delivery experience. David also helped guide the firm’s strategic transition from Memphis to the Nashville market, positioning the company to benefit from a deep hospitality ecosystem, expanded talent pool, and expanded opportunities for long-term growth.

David’s perspective is informed by more than 25 years of experience spanning hospitality operations, investment analysis, business intelligence, brand strategy, and procurement. He began his career in hotel operations and ultimately served as General Manager of two Marriott-branded properties before joining Marriott International’s revenue management organization, where he developed a deeper understanding of hotel revenue strategies, market share dynamics, competitive positioning, and the drivers of long-term asset success.

He later joined Equity Inns, a publicly traded hotel REIT, where he worked on hotel acquisition underwriting and investment analysis. Following the company’s acquisition by Goldman Sachs, David spent time supporting hotel asset management initiatives before joining Hilton Worldwide. During eight years with Hilton, he held leadership roles focused on brand performance, development economics, business intelligence, and pipeline growth strategy. Working closely with brand management executives, he helped organizations use performance data and market intelligence to support operating strategy, investment decisions, and long-term value creation. He was a frequent speaker at Hilton owner and management company advisory events.

David’s perspective is further shaped by personal experience as both an investor and project owner. Through multiple real estate renovation and construction projects, including the successful value-add renovation of AK Design Group’s first Nashville-area office, he has gained firsthand insight into the opportunities and challenges owners face when balancing investment objectives, managing risk, and delivering successful projects. He remains focused on identifying emerging technologies and business practices that create meaningful advantages for clients and organizations, including the application of business intelligence, artificial intelligence, and digital tools to improve decision-making and operational effectiveness.

David and his wife Andrea have built both a family and a business together, combining complementary skills and decades of hospitality experience to serve hotel owners, developers, and investors throughout the country. They live in the Nashville area with their two daughters and remain passionate about hospitality, entrepreneurship, and creating long-term value through trusted relationships and thoughtful execution. David is especially drawn to projects with personal meaning, including renovations of hotels originally designed by his father’s architectural firm and hotel projects in university markets where hospitality, tradition, and community are deeply connected.