We remain focused on building the leaders of our organization to meet the challenges of tomorrow: Stephen Nalley of BlackBriar Advisors

“Our core expertise is the repositioning and/or turnaround of distressed real estate assets.”

Stephen Nalley is an American real estate executive, entrepreneur, veteran, author, and the founder and CEO of Black Briar Advisors, which is a full-service real estate investment company that specializes in the acquisition, repositioning, and turnaround of distressed real estate assets.

Over the past 20 years, Stephen has participated in the ownership of over 100 hotel and resort assets and has managed over $2 billion in distressed real estate assets.

Prior to Stephen’s professional career, he served in the United States Army as a Light Infantry Squad Leader with the Army’s Elite 10th Mountain Division and the 2145th in the US Army Reserves.

Stephen earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of North Florida, a Master’s in Business Administration and a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Atlanta, as well as a Law Degree from the University of Washington School of Law.

Stephen is a Certified Hotel Administrator through the American Hotel & Lodging Association, a Member of the Forbes Business Council, and a Writer for the Entrepreneur Leadership Network.

The Silicon Review reached out to Mr. Nalley for an interview, and here’s what he had to say.

Interview Highlights

How would you describe your professional journey so far? Tell us about a few roadblocks and learning lessons that helped you grow through the years.

After graduating from high school, I joined the United States Army, where I served as a light infantry squad leader with the 10th Mountain Division. My military career established many of the foundations and principles that I not only live by today but also frame my mentality in business.

After being honorably discharged from the United States Army, I attended college while working full-time in a variety of different industries. I earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of North Florida and went on to get my MBA and DBA from the University of Atlanta.

Upon graduation, I accepted a position with St. Vincent’s Medical Center as the Patient Access Services Supervisor, and from there, I entered the biotech industry as the Regional Sales Manager for ViroPhara. While working in the biotech industry, I was introduced to a real estate investment company called Ocean Waters, which I fell in love with. Shortly thereafter, I went to work for them as a vice president. More importantly, the owners of the company took a vested interest in me and began exposing me to all aspects of the business. Within two years, I became the Chief Operating Officer of a $1.6 billion real estate company.

In 2005, the majority partner retired, and I co-founded a company with the other partner. The name of the company was Inner Circle. Inner Circle was a full-service real estate company that owned and operated 11 hotel and resort assets along with residential, office, and restaurant components.

In 2020, I formed Black Briar Advisors to address the unique problems caused by the pandemic. Mainly, the amount of financially distressed hotel and resort assets, as well as the fact that a large majority of the assets that were becoming functionally obsolete, would need to be repositioned and/or repurposed.

Q. Trust is one of the most important currencies of leadership that requires authenticity and consistency to maintain. What’s your take on this?

Trust indeed stands as one of the foundational pillars of effective leadership. It’s a currency that, once earned, can yield immense dividends in terms of team cohesion, morale, and productivity. The assertion that trust requires authenticity and consistency to maintain is profoundly accurate. While both authenticity and consistency are vital, the real magic happens when leaders manage to balance the two. Being too consistent might come off as rigid or inauthentic, while being too focused on authenticity might lead to perceived inconsistency or unpredictability. The balance is in being true to one’s self and values while also being a reliable anchor for the team.

In conclusion, trust in leadership doesn’t just spontaneously occur; it’s cultivated through a leader’s authenticity and nurtured by their consistency. It’s about being real and relatable while also being a steady, dependable figure. This combination encourages a culture of openness, mutual respect, and strong work ethics, ultimately driving the team and the organization towards shared goals and success.

Q. As the CEO of the company, what are your major roles and responsibilities?

 My role as the CEO is multifaceted and pivotal to the success of a company. I am obviously the highest-ranking executive in a company, whose primary responsibilities include making major corporate decisions, managing the overall operations and resources of the company, and acting as the main point of communication between the board of directors and corporate operations. The role encompasses a wide array of duties, traits, and skills:

Major Roles and Responsibilities

Visionary Leadership: Setting the strategic direction of the company and ensuring that the vision is communicated clearly and compellingly to all stakeholders.

Decision-Making: Making key decisions that affect the company’s direction, health, and viability. This includes financial, operational, strategic, and human resource decisions.

Management Oversight: Overseeing the company’s operations, ensuring that the business runs efficiently and effectively, and ensuring that the company’s goals and objectives are met.

Financial Stewardship: Ensuring the financial health of the company by overseeing budgeting, financial planning, financial reporting, and the efficient use of resources.

Corporate Culture Guardian: Establishing and nurturing the company’s culture, values, and behavior. The CEO sets the tone for the company’s ethical compass and working environment.

Stakeholder Communication: Communicating with shareholders, government entities, the public, and the company employees. This role involves being the face of the company and ensuring that the company maintains a positive public image.

Risk Management: Identifying potential risks to the company and ensuring that appropriate strategies are in place to mitigate these risks.

Essential Traits and Skills

Strategic Thinking: Ability to see the big picture, anticipate market trends, and devise effective strategies to propel the company forward.

Leadership: Inspiring and motivating a diverse team, setting clear goals, and leading the company with conviction and integrity.

Communication Skills: Exceptional ability to communicate, persuade, and negotiate, both within the company and with external stakeholders.

Problem-Solving: Skillful in addressing challenges head-on and finding innovative solutions to complex problems.

Adaptability and Resilience: Ability to adapt to change, face adversity, and bounce back from setbacks.

Emotional Intelligence: A high level of self-awareness, empathy, and the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions and the emotions of others.

Decision-Making: Strong analytical skills and the courage to make tough decisions under pressure.

Financial Acumen: Understanding of financial strategies, accounting principles, and economic trends.

Innovation: Encouraging creativity and innovation to keep the company ahead in a competitive market.

Integrity and Ethics: Upholding and exemplifying high ethical standards and ensuring the company operates with integrity.

Anyone’s role as the senior executive of an organization is both demanding and dynamic, requiring a broad skill set and a profound commitment to the company’s success. The best CEOs are those who not only drive profitability and value for shareholders but also create an environment where employees flourish and the company contributes positively to society at large.

Q. What can you tell us about BlackBriar Advisors? What are its focus areas?

Black Briar Advisors is a multi-faceted full-service real estate investment company that specializes in the acquisition, repositioning, and turnaround of distressed real estate assets. Our primary focus is in the hospitality sector, with hotels and resorts. (You can find additional information here: www.blackbriarus.com.)

Q. How do you see BlackBriar Advisors changing in five years, and how do you see yourself creating that change?

Black Briar Advisors is constantly evolving and focused on the needs of our customers and clients. Our core expertise is the repositioning and/or turnaround of distressed real estate assets. We remain focused on building the leaders of our organization to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Our goal is not necessarily to get bigger but to become better at delivering outcomes that provide value to our customers. Our flexibility and ability to adapt to the changing environments around us is our strength. We are excited about the future and well positioned to meet the needs of tomorrow.

“I formed Black Briar Advisors to address the unique problems caused by the pandemic. Mainly, the amount of financially distressed hotel and resort assets, as well as the fact that a large majority of the assets that were becoming functionally obsolete, would need to be repositioned and/or repurposed.”