About Elia
Iconic is
our baseline
We are a bold and imaginative team of investors, developers, designers, and big-picture thinkers dedicated to crafting experiences that defy expectations for our guests, cities, and partners. Everything we do, design, and develop becomes iconic.
Our elevated customer experience and attention to detail consistently garner accolades. And more than ten years in, we’re just getting started. We’ve broken down preconceived notions of what’s possible to build communities and improve neighborhoods. And more than ten years in, we’re just getting started.
The Difference Makers
How We Do It
| 01
We create iconic experiences
Our team comprises experts in their field, and our cohesive team chemistry allows us to be strategic planners and boundary-pushers in the best possible way.
Our secret to unlocking destination spaces, off-market transactions, and impactful cultural moments is our people-first approach. We’re constantly expanding our network of strategic relationships to drive business development, access to capital, tenant opportunities, and reliable supply chains. Each component is essential to consistently delivering results for our partners and the community.
| 02
We’re obsessed with the details
Meticulous design combined with expert execution brings our properties to life.
| 03
We gravitate to unexpected and imaginative spaces
We tackle projects with an experiential mindset to deliver high-growth, high-impact opportunities for our partners. Given our perspective as both a real estate and hospitality development company, we have a unique ability to see hidden opportunities.
| 04
We change the course of communities
Our team thinks and invests as long-term, neighborhood-minded owners and operators.
“People first” is not just a catchy tagline; it is the ethos that guides our creative vision and the decisions we make every day in our businesses. We move with the utmost consideration and care because we’re all in it together.
| 05
We cultivate long-lasting relationships
Whether with a potential business partner or a new guest to one of our restaurants, we go to great lengths to show how much it means when someone gives us the opportunity to serve them. We strive to truly understand our relationships and exceed their expectations in every way.
The Elia Team
Meet Our Visionaries
Zaid Elia
CEO & FOUNDER
Zaid and his team lead over 500 people, creating landmark properties that help communities thrive and leave patrons and guests with a memorable experience. He achieves these remarkable results by focusing on implementing best industry operating practices and connecting with communities to generate strong sales growth. He also generates exceptional value by assembling strategic tenants to create synergies and further enhance the economic stability of his projects.
RJ Wolney
Chief operating Officer
RJ has over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of investment, operations, entrepreneurship, and capital markets. He is responsible for shaping investment strategy, directing capital deployment, and building teams to execute the company’s vision successfully. Before joining Elia Group, RJ acted as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Bedrock Detroit for over nine years, investing in real estate and entrepreneurial ecosystems to drive economic development and human capital attraction in Detroit.
Randy Awdish
General Counsel
Randy is a trusted advisor to C-level executives and business teams, providing strategic and pragmatic legal solutions that balance business needs and risks. He has over 20 years of legal experience in real estate and hospitality. Before joining Elia Group, he oversaw legal matters for several prominent real estate and hospitality businesses within the same family of companies, including serving as General Counsel of Bedrock Detroit, General Counsel of Greektown Casino, and Deputy General Counsel of Jack Entertainment’s casino holdings. Randy has received numerous accolades from his peers recognizing his legal expertise, including dBusiness’s Top Corporate Counsel and Super Lawyer.
khalid diab
General Manager
220 Merril
A consummate professional with a hospitality career spanning over five decades, Khalid Diab is a passionate restaurant operator who counts national brands, luxury hotel properties, and unique independent concepts as ventures he has had the opportunity to shape and form. Khalid, though adaptable and well-versed in many different operations and styles of management, believes the key to success in this industry is in genuine hospitality, where relationships and care for guests are paramount above all else.
Jordan Hoffman
Director of Culinary Operations
Born and raised in Michigan, Jordan Hoffman found a natural predilection for cooking and the idea of what hospitality could be. Now, his illustrious food and beverage career spans four decades and includes working with multiple Certified Master Chefs and “Chef of the Century “Joel Robuchon and renowned organizations, including the Ritz Carlton, MGM Grand, The Light Group in Las Vegas, and Delano South Beach.
Jas Randhawa
Sr. HR Generalist
Jas Randhawa is the Sr. HR Generalist for Elia Group, managing talent acquisition strategies, employee engagement, team member relations, and company compliance. Jas is a seasoned HR professional with over 5 years of experience; she has experience acquiring talent across multiple industries, including tech, automotive, robotics, and insurance. Her responsibilities have included strategizing on talent acquisition and retention, cultivating good relationships with candidates and hiring managers, and remaining well-informed on trends, tools, practices, and technological advancements for recruitment processes. Jas is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a degree in Integrated Leadership.
Bailey Suwinksi
HR manager
Bailey Suwinski serves as the HR Manager for Elia Group, where she manages team member relations, talent acquisition, and engagement and retention strategies. Bailey is a seasoned HR Professional with over 5 years of experience. Before joining Elia, she held multiple roles at Amazon, supporting HR operations and working with senior leadership. Bailey graduated from Central Michigan University with a human resource management degree and has a SHRM Professional Certification.
RICHARD HATFIELD
DIRECTOR OF EVENTS
Richard leads the event planning team, managing social and corporate events and executing plans that consistently surpass expectations. With over ten years in the events and planning industry, Richard has cultivated an incredible attention to detail and navigates valuable relationships seamlessly.
KEMPER HOGLUND
Chief of staff
Kemper Hoglund is a Real Estate Associate with over six years of experience in real estate investment. Kemper is responsible for acquisition, development, and asset management activities. Before joining Elia Group, Kemper was a Business Development Associate at a residential co-ownership company called Pacaso and a Senior Investment Analyst at Bedrock Detroit. Kemper received a degree in Economics from Miami University.
ANDREW BANISH
Sr. Accountant
Andrew manages the daily maintenance and recording of business transactions across hospitality and real estate, month-end closing journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial reviews. After graduating from the University of Illinois, Andrew started his accounting career at Xenith Sporting Goods and Manufacturing.
Community & Sustainability
Rooted in
Community
We create a sense of community with every new concept we conceive and the space we inhabit. We engage with public sector and non-profit partners throughout our markets to develop programs benefiting each unique community.
We have a fundamental responsibility to positively impact the communities where we do business and call home.
