Our Team

"Your Experience... Our Passion"

Shaiza Damji, Managing Director
Shaiza Damji serves as the Managing Director for the 360° Hotel Group and has held senior positions for the group since 1999. As Managing Director, she oversees operations, sales, financing and capital improvements of the group’s hotels.

Shaiza graduated from Yale University with a BA in History. She then attended Harvard Law School where she received a JD law degree. She practiced international corporate law at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton in New York before returning to the west coast to join her family's hospitality business.

Shaiza recently served as the Chairperson of the Washington State Hotel & Lodging Association. She is currently a board member of the Seattle Hotel Association, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center and Northgate Chamber of Commerce. She is also a member of the Yale Alumni Schools Committee.

Shaiza was born in Mombasa, Kenya and grew up in Vancouver, BC. She currently resides in Kirkland, Washington, with her husband, Alif Nurani. In her spare time, Shaiza enjoys traveling, reading, walking and social activities.

Alif Nurani, Executive Vice President – Finance & Development
Alif Nurani has served as Vice President - Finance & Development for 360° Hotel Group since 2004. He oversees and manages new development as well as renovation, expansion and construction for existing hotels. He is committed to high quality in construction and encourages innovation in design. He conceptualized the Boeing 727 wing porte cochere and Fokker F-28 awning at the Best Western Navigator Inn & Suites in Everett, Washington, part of the 360° hotel portfolio.

Alif's background is in economics and manufacturing. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics.

Born in Eldoret, Kenya and having lived in Africa, London and Canada, Alif currently resides, in Kirkland, Washington, with his wife Shaiza. He is a film, history and world music buff and enjoys running and hiking.

Amaan Kurji, Chief Operating Officer
Amaan Kurji serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the 360° Hotel Group. He brings to his role of managing the group's operations and sales, an educational background in hospitality management, extensive retail operations experience and a passion for training and people development.

Prior to joining the 360° Hotel Group, Amaan worked in the retail industry, serving in sales and senior management roles.

Amaan was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya and also spent a number of years living and working in Canada. He now lives with his wife and daughter in Kirkland, Washington.

David Mullins, Real Estate Advisor & Finance / Lending Specialist
Dave Mullins has served as a real estate and financing advisor to 360° Hotel Group since 2002, when he retired from US Bank after a 35 year career in banking. During his banking career he served as President of the Washington Mortgage Bankers Association and also worked as a bank examiner. A Seattle native and UW graduate, Mullins has been active in community affairs with the YMCA and the Washington State Soccer Association.

Dave lives in Whidbey Island and West Seattle with his wife, Gretchen. They have three grown sons in Washington and California.

Fred Smith, Branding and Development
Fred Smith joined 360° Hotel Group in 2007 to advise on new hotel development and acquisitions. He also works closely with the development process. Fred brings to the company thirty years of experience in the hospitality industry. He has a background in operations, administration, and development. He most recently served as Regional Director-Franchise Development for Hilton Hotels Corporation. Prior to his role at Hilton, Fred worked in similar Franchise Development positions with Holiday Inn (now IHG) and Best Western. Fred is a graduate of Miami University Oxford, Ohio and lives in Portland, Oregon.

Shawn Walker, Director of Operations & Human Rsources
Shawn joined 360° Hotel Group in July, 2006, as General Manager of the Hampton Inn & Suites in Lynnwood, Washington. Since February, 2008, he has served as the Director of Operations & HR. Shawn has worked in the hotel industry for the past 18 years, for both private and public entities including such corporations as Hilton Hotels, DoubleTree, Promus, RFS, Red Lion and West Coast.

Shawn has served on many boards and associations, including franchise co-ops, chambers, tourism boards, and airport board of directors. He currently is President of the Snohomish County Lodging Association and serves on the Lynnwood Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Shawn lives with his wife and four children in Arlington, Washington.

Geraldine Olson, –Corporate Controller
Geraldine Olson, affectionately know to the Company as "Gerry", has served as the Corporate Controller of 360° Hotel Group since 1989. As the Controller she oversees the Finance and Accounting Departments. Gerry has been directly involved in all financial aspects of the Company as it has grown from a single hotel (the Ramada Inn Northgate), through its renovations and repositioning as Hotel Nexus, and the addition of three properties in our portfolio, the Hampton Inn & Suites, Lynnwood, the Best Western Navigator Inn and Suites, Everett, and the Staybridge Suites (under construction).

Gerry was born in St. Louis, Missouri and currently resides in Des Moines, Washington. She has a grown daughter and son, and five grandchildren residing in Massachusetts and Washington.

Kevin Eld, Vice President –Facilities Management
Kevin Eld is responsible for Facilities Management for 360° Hotel Group. Kevin guides the engineering and maintenance departments at the hotels, assists in overseeing renovations and special projects for existing Hotels, and advises on construction of new developments. Kevin has worked with 360° Hotel Group in various capacities since 1990.

Kevin and his wife Debbie live in Bellevue, Washinton with their three teenage children.