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The Principal
Kenneth C. Free, President
Mr. Free is Straightline’s majority owner and the key manager for most of its client engagements. His depth of experience in hotels and resorts in the areas of real estate development, operations and finance provide the background for the Company’s assignments. Over the years he has worked on hundreds of projects in the USA and eighteen other nations.
Before founding Straightline, Mr. Free was Managing Director of Bristlecone Hotel Partners LLC, Beverly Hills, which was a management firm with a portfolio of thirteen 5- and 4-star hotels and resorts under asset management to institutional owners and lenders.
Prior to Bristlecone, Mr. Free was an executive with Hilton Hotels Corporation in its World Headquarters in Beverly Hills. At Hilton he was charged with responsibility for real estate administration for all owned properties, a multi-billion dollar portfolio. He also structured and negotiated certain real estate transactions of strategic importance to the Company. At that time Hilton was the largest owner of hotel real estate, the largest operator of large hotels, and the largest gaming company in the world.
Before that he was Vice President/Operations and, later, Chief Financial Officer for Connect Hospitality Systems in San Francisco. He also has had career experience in operations and finance with Amfac Hotels & Resorts (Hawaii, mainland and national parks) and Westin Hotels & Resorts.
Mr. Free received his MBA in Finance from the Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri in Kansas City and his Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration from the Harrah College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. He is a Registered Resort Professional (American Resort Development Association), a Certified Master Hotel Supplier (American Hotel & Lodging Association), and a Licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of California (License #01164691). He has been active in ARDA, AH&LA, and the Urban Land Institute, including membership on various committees and having published articles in trade magazines and being a quoted resource in various trade and general purpose publications. He is a past member of the International Association of Hospitality Accountants and a current member of the Forensic Expert Witness Association. He also has been Adjunct Professor in Strategic Planning and Finance in the Graduate School at the University of Phoenix.
Ken and Patti, his wife of forty years, recently relocated from the Los Angeles area to Las Vegas, where they have established a new home.
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