Our Team

EXECUTIVE TEAM

I. Michael Kasser

Founder and Chairman
Tucson

Michael Kasser, Founder and Chairman of Holualoa Companies, a real estate investment company with interests in residential and commercial real estate around the U.S. and in Europe. Mr. Kasser founded Holualoa in 1985 when he moved to Hawaii with his wife, Beth, after they competed in the Ironman Triathlon. Mr. Kasser has a B.S. and an M.S. in chemical engineering from M.I.T., a doctorate of engineering from the University of Grenoble (France), and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.  He is fluent in French, German, Spanish, Italian and Hungarian. Mr. Kasser’s community activities have included: trustee or board member of the University of Arizona Foundation, the College of Science at the University of Arizona, the Tucson Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Department of Scientific Research Visiting Committee, M.I.T., Arizona Theatre Company, and C-Path Institute.

Richard B. Kauffman

 Principal and
Chief Executive Officer
Tucson

Richard Kauffman, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, has over 40 years of experience in corporate leadership. Mr. Kauffman has worked in a variety of industries with a focus on finance and operations.

Mr. Kauffman joined Holualoa in 2000. Mr. Kauffman’s previous experience includes assignments as Manager of Corporate Audit for the Tuttle-Click Automotive Group, with dealerships in California and Arizona; Vice President, CFO and Board Member of Factory 2-U, a 40-store discount retailer located in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas; and Manager of Corporate Audit for Campbell Soup Company responsible for worldwide operational and financial audits. Mr. Kauffman began his career with KPMG in Philadelphia, PA.

Mr. Kauffman holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, with Distinction, from Pennsylvania State University and received his CPA license. Mr. Kauffman is a member of the Urban Land Institute and serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council and various Holualoa portfolio companies.

Aroon Chinai

Principal and
Chief Investment Officer
Los Angeles

Aroon Chinai, Principal and Chief Investment Officer, oversees property investment, financing, and sale decisions. In addition, Mr. Chinai directs the operations of Holualoa’s hotel assets as well as properties located in California and New York. In addition, he is involved in corporate direction and strategic planning. Since Mr. Chinai joined Holualoa, the company has acquired more than 100 properties. Recently, Mr. Chinai has become involved in forming relationships to access institutional capital in addition to the existing high net worth investor base. Mr. Chinai joined Holualoa Companies in 1993. Previously, Mr. Chinai was a project manager of Ford Motor Company, managing the development of industrial facilities in the U.S., Mexico, Spain, and Portugal. Mr. Chinai holds a BS degree in Engineering from the University of Rochester and an MS degree in Real Estate Development from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Mr. Chinai also completed the Harvard University “Running a Real Estate Company” program. Mr. Chinai is a member of Urban Land Institute and MIT’s Real Estate Club and is involved in various international charities dedicated to children’s education.

Steve Lindley

Chief Operations Officer
Phoenix

Steve Lindley, Chief Operating Officer, is engaged in all facets of the company’s operations, including management of the portfolio of national and international properties and working with company leadership in sourcing and capitalizing acquisitions and development.

Steve’s background includes more than 30 years as a successful capital markets broker with leading national real estate service companies including Cushman & Wakefield, Grubb & Ellis, and Trammell Crow. He brings Wall Street experience, starting his career at the New York City headquarters of investment bank Drexel Burnham.

Steve is active in industry and community leadership in Arizona and nationally. He is the incoming Chair of Urban Land Institute Arizona, is on ULI’s national Placemaking council, and is a mentor to young future leaders through ULI Arizona’s Partnership Forum. He is on the board for arts non-profit Artlink and frequently presents on the future of the workplace, placemaking, arts, culture and development. Steve is a graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Finance.

Lani Baker

 Principal and
Chief Financial Officer
Tucson

Lani has more than 15 years of experience in commercial real estate. Lani’s skills and resources are targeted toward exceeding quality objectives and attaining revenue. Her areas of expertise and responsibility include commercial real estate transactions including acquisitions, financing and sales, treasury, and investor relations. Lani is a native Tucsonan currently residing in Tucson with her family. She is a licensed CPA, received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Arizona, Eller College of Management, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Lani’s community service includes working as a past Vice President and current active board member of the Lupus Foundation of Southern Arizona where she is a driving force in determining and providing needed programs. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of CREW Tucson, and a member of Angel Charity for Children. She was a recipient of Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 40 under 40 and a Tu Nudito Remarkable Mom in 2018.

Stan Shafer

Senior Advisor
Phoenix

Stanton Shafer, Principal and Chief Operating Officer, engages in the company’s operations, focusing on the management of the company’s portfolio of national and international properties. Mr. Shafer’s background includes 22 years as a successful Capital Markets broker with Cassidy Turley BRE Commercial, joining the company in 1989 when it was Grubb and Ellis. During those two decades he completed sales of nearly $1.5 billion in assets and was selected as the NAIOP-AZ Investment Broker of the Year. Prior to his career as a real estate broker, Mr. Shafer spent 10 years as a practicing real estate attorney. Mr. Shafer’s education background includes an economics degree with distinction from Iowa State University and a Juris Doctors Degree, Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University.

I. Michael Kasser

Founder and Chairman
Tucson

Michael Kasser, Founder and Chairman of Holualoa Companies, a real estate investment company with interests in residential and commercial real estate around the U.S. and in Europe. Mr. Kasser founded Holualoa in 1985 when he moved to Hawaii with his wife, Beth, after they competed in the Ironman Triathlon. Mr. Kasser has a B.S. and an M.S. in chemical engineering from M.I.T., a doctorate of engineering from the University of Grenoble (France), and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.  He is fluent in French, German, Spanish, Italian and Hungarian. Mr. Kasser’s community activities have included: trustee or board member of the University of Arizona Foundation, the College of Science at the University of Arizona, the Tucson Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Department of Scientific Research Visiting Committee, M.I.T., Arizona Theatre Company, and C-Path Institute.

Richard B. Kauffman

 Principal and
Chief Executive Officer
Tucson

Richard Kauffman, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, has over 40 years of experience in corporate leadership. Mr. Kauffman has worked in a variety of industries with a focus on finance and operations.

Mr. Kauffman joined Holualoa in 2000. Mr. Kauffman’s previous experience includes assignments as Manager of Corporate Audit for the Tuttle-Click Automotive Group, with dealerships in California and Arizona; Vice President, CFO and Board Member of Factory 2-U, a 40-store discount retailer located in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas; and Manager of Corporate Audit for Campbell Soup Company responsible for worldwide operational and financial audits. Mr. Kauffman began his career with KPMG in Philadelphia, PA.

Mr. Kauffman holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, with Distinction, from Pennsylvania State University and received his CPA license. Mr. Kauffman is a member of the Urban Land Institute and serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council and various Holualoa portfolio companies.

Aroon Chinai

Principal and
Chief Investment Officer
Los Angeles

Aroon Chinai, Principal and Chief Investment Officer, oversees property investment, financing, and sale decisions. In addition, Mr. Chinai directs the operations of Holualoa’s hotel assets as well as properties located in California and New York. In addition, he is involved in corporate direction and strategic planning. Since Mr. Chinai joined Holualoa, the company has acquired more than 100 properties. Recently, Mr. Chinai has become involved in forming relationships to access institutional capital in addition to the existing high net worth investor base. Mr. Chinai joined Holualoa Companies in 1993. Previously, Mr. Chinai was a project manager of Ford Motor Company, managing the development of industrial facilities in the U.S., Mexico, Spain, and Portugal. Mr. Chinai holds a BS degree in Engineering from the University of Rochester and an MS degree in Real Estate Development from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Mr. Chinai also completed the Harvard University “Running a Real Estate Company” program. Mr. Chinai is a member of Urban Land Institute and MIT’s Real Estate Club and is involved in various international charities dedicated to children’s education.

Steve Lindley

 Chief Operations Officer
Tucson

Steve Lindley, Chief Operating Officer, is engaged in all facets of the company’s operations, including management of the portfolio of national and international properties and working with company leadership in sourcing and capitalizing acquisitions and development.

Steve’s background includes more than 30 years as a successful capital markets broker with leading national real estate service companies including Cushman & Wakefield, Grubb & Ellis, and Trammell Crow. He brings Wall Street experience, starting his career at the New York City headquarters of investment bank Drexel Burnham.

Steve is active in industry and community leadership in Arizona and nationally. He is the incoming Chair of Urban Land Institute Arizona, is on ULI’s national Placemaking council, and is a mentor to young future leaders through ULI Arizona’s Partnership Forum. He is on the board for arts non-profit Artlink and frequently presents on the future of the workplace, placemaking, arts, culture and development. Steve is a graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Finance.

Lani Baker

 Principal and
Chief Financial Officer
Tucson

Lani has more than 15 years of experience in commercial real estate. Lani’s skills and resources are targeted toward exceeding quality objectives and attaining revenue. Her areas of expertise and responsibility include commercial real estate transactions including acquisitions, financing and sales, treasury, and investor relations. Lani is a native Tucsonan currently residing in Tucson with her family. She is a licensed CPA, received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Arizona, Eller College of Management, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Lani’s community service includes working as a past Vice President and current active board member of the Lupus Foundation of Southern Arizona where she is a driving force in determining and providing needed programs. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of CREW Tucson, and a member of Angel Charity for Children. She was a recipient of Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 40 under 40 and a Tu Nudito Remarkable Mom in 2018.

Stan Shafer

Senior Advisor

Stanton Shafer, Principal and Chief Operating Officer, engages in the company’s operations, focusing on the management of the company’s portfolio of national and international properties. Mr. Shafer’s background includes 22 years as a successful Capital Markets broker with Cassidy Turley BRE Commercial, joining the company in 1989 when it was Grubb and Ellis. During those two decades he completed sales of nearly $1.5 billion in assets and was selected as the NAIOP-AZ Investment Broker of the Year. Prior to his career as a real estate broker, Mr. Shafer spent 10 years as a practicing real estate attorney. Mr. Shafer’s education background includes an economics degree with distinction from Iowa State University and a Juris Doctors Degree, Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University.
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