Director, Brand & Communications
vzelefsky@menkitigroup.com

As the Director of Brand and Communications for The Menkiti Group, it’s Victoria’s mission to spearhead the marketing and public relations initiatives for the enterprise. Prior to joining the company, Victoria was the Creative Director at digital marketing agency, Kurv Agency, Director of Marketing for MenuTrinfo, and the Marketing Manager at Johns Hopkins University for Bon Appetit Management Company.  She is currently a member of the Forbes Communications Council where she appears often as a featured writer and communications expert, a contributing writer for Hotels.com for domestic and international travel destinations, a guest lecturer and public speaker specializing in social media marketing, and has had a robust freelance marketing and writing career working with companies across the globe. 

Victoria’s first role in marketing was with the Monte Restaurant Development Group as the head of marketing and advertising as well as the executive support for franchising efforts on behalf of their fast-casual concept, Squisito Pizza & Pasta. Prior to working in marketing, Victoria worked as an international tour guide for Euroadventures, a travel company based in Florence, Italy and was a producer, director, performer and manager for theaters and music schools in Colorado, New York City, Virginia, Maryland, Germany, and France.

As a classically trained opera singer, Victoria is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado and the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University. Today she continues to perform in Maryland with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society, Annapolis Opera, and makes regular appearances as the national anthem singer for the Baltimore Orioles. She currently resides with her husband and two cavapoos in Annapolis, Maryland.

Vice President, Finance & Accounting
scott@menkitigroup.com

Scott brings over 30 years of accounting and finance experience to the team and is focused on driving the company’s treasury management and financial reporting. Scott has held senior level finance positions with publicly traded, private equity and start-up organizations during periods of robust growth. Most recently, as CFO of Burton Rand Associates, the company was awarded a large Department of Defense contract and expanded its credit facilities.

As an independent financial consultant, Scott contracted with public defense contractors and private investor groups to design and manage corporate budget and operational forecast teams, acquisition scenarios and tax services. He served as Director of Financial Reporting at RLJ Development, one of the nation’s largest private equity hotel investment firms prior to their IPO. During his tenure, RLJ launched three closed-end private equity funds, received cumulative equity commitments of $2.7 billion, and purchased 140 hotels.  Scott designed RLJ’s original treasury controls, financial and tax reporting systems and procedures, and partner capital administration.

He was also the original Corporate Controller of what today is Interstate Hotels & Resorts, joining the early EquiStar / CapStar equity group before its public debut, serving during its IPO, then merging into a public REIT.  He managed the corporate and investor fund accounting and worked with over 100 controllers, vice presidents and the highest executive levels.

Scott is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Management Accountant and a Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive. Scott received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Kentucky.

Director of Accounting
202.733.5476
lawrence@menkitigroup.com

As Director of Accounting, Lawrence is responsible for managing the Development, Portfolio and Fund Investment Accounting and cash management functions of the enterprise.

Prior to joining The Menkiti Group, Lawrence served Development Accountant for Federal Realty Investment Trust, a Rockville, MD REIT, and Controller, Wills Companies, a private real estate investment firm. There he specialized in development accounting and financial reporting, including project cost and profitability analysis, general ledger analysis and reconciliation.

He also ran an Independent Accounting practice for 12 years consulting on engagements with clients, including the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, BearingPoint, Inc, General Growth Properties.

Vice President of Property Management and Asset Management Operations
christie@menkitigroup.com

Christie Morgan serves as Vice President of Property Management and Asset Management Operations for The Menkiti Group.  Christie has 20 years of experience in commercial property and asset management.  She joined The Menkiti Group in February of 2021.

Christie started her career in retail management and after completing her education went into real estate at retail centers doing marketing and management.  She has worked for multiple REITs including PREIT and Macerich.  She has been lucky to work with well known assets like Tysons Corner Center and one of the first mixed-use properties, Reston Town Center.  She further pursued her career as Director of Property and Asset Management at DC based Roadside Development and was excited to be involved with their local developments including City Market at O.  Her next position took her to Beatty Management Company overseeing 2.2M square feet of retail properties in the metro market as well as Charleston, SC.

Christie holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and holds a CPM designation from IREM.  Christie grew up in Pennsylvania but traveled with her husband and family while he served 27 years in the United States Marine Corps.  She and her family currently reside in Purcellville, VA. 

Controller
pete@menkitigroup.com

Pete Leoni joined The Menkiti Group in late 2022 as the Controller for the enterprise and is responsible for leading the accounting and finance teams at the company. Pete brings 10+ years of accounting in the real estate industry and a wealth of experience in areas specific to the company’s core focuses including commercial real estate, development accounting, project management, and process improvement.

Prior to joining The Menkiti Group, Pete served as Director of Commercial Real Estate and Development Accounting at Fundrise, where he helped build and structure the accounting team and processes for the growing Washington, DC-based company. Prior to Fundrise, Pete served as Director of Accounting for Donohoe Real Estate services, and before that, led several different accounting teams at Carr Properties. Pete began his career in public accounting, at Dopkins & Company in Buffalo, New York, before moving to Washington, DC in 2013 and working for Baker Tilly out of the Tysons Corner office.

Pete graduated from Canisius College in 2010, with degrees in Finance, Accounting, and Accounting Information Systems. He currently resides in Washington, DC with his wife and daughter.

Marketing Associate
abigail@menkitigroup.com

Abby joined The Menkiti Group as a part time Marketing Associate in the summer of 2023. In her role, she assists with projects and initiatives related to digital marketing, branding, content creation, social media, public relations, and corporate communications across the enterprise.

Prior to her role at The Menkiti Group, Abby lived in Madrid, Spain where she taught English to young children. Before Spain, Abby worked remotely as a Project Assistant during her junior and senior years of college where she had hands on experience in marketing and communications. In this role, she spearheaded campaigns, created content, and handled all company social media accounts.

In addition to working at The Menkiti Group, Abby is also pursuing a Master of Science in Applied Psychology online at the University of Southern California. She is excited to be part of a team at The Menkiti Group that prioritizes community, creativity, and growth. 

Abby graduated from Denison University with a major in communications and a double minor in psychology and Spanish. There, she was also captain of the women’s soccer team and was awarded a scholar all-American for her efforts both in the classroom and on the field. She is originally from Grosse Ile, Michigan and now lives in Washington DC.

Office Manager
charles@menkitigroup.com

Joining the team in early 2022, Charles Jones currently serves as the Office Manager for The Menkiti Group enterprise based out of their HQ in NE Washington, DC. As a native Washingtonian, Charles is proud to see the neighborhoods develop into what they are today and to work for a company that is working to make an impact on those neighborhoods long into the future.

Prior to his role at The Menkiti Group, Charles worked as the concierge for a luxury apartment community in Georgetown, Highbridge, and at AmeriCorps where he taught health and wellness to middle school children in the District. He joins the enterprise with extensive experience in customer service with prominent companies such as Shake Shack, Gucci, and more and his business experience includes office management, team leadership, and project management where he managed communications for executives leading large-scale projects.

Charles grew up in NE Washington, DC and currently resides in Hyattsville, Maryland with his family.

Accounting and Operations Associate
haley@menkitigroup.com

Haley Harris joined The Menkiti Group in December 2021 as their Accounting and Operations Associate. In this role, Haley is responsible for handling AP, AR, and other accounting needs for the enterprise. Prior to her role at The Menkiti Group, she worked in operations analytics for We Communities, a multi-family property management and ownership company.

Haley is a native of Wilmington, North Carolina where she attended the University of North Carolina – Wilmington and she currently resides in Ashburn, Virginia with her family.

Executive Assistant
shiron@menkitigroup.com

Shiron Gaines is currently serving as the Executive Assistant to our President and CEO, Bo Menkiti, at The Menkiti Group. A native Washingtonian, Shiron knows a thing or two about achieving results in fast-paced environments.  With nearly 20 years of experience working in high-performing corporate and academic settings, she has extensive experience in adding value to each organization by providing operational support. 

An award-winning executive administrator, Shiron has served as executive assistant to the NASA Administrator, to the Chancellor of Louisiana State University (LSU), and to the Chairman and CEO of Airbus Group.  Years of working closely with C-Suite executives helped prepare Shiron for managing the needs and expectations of the organization as well as achieving her own objectives.

Known for loyalty and providing discrete and confidential support to Executives, Shiron has the unique talent to successfully interact with all levels of executives, administrators, clients, and stakeholders, gaining the respect and confidence of all involved. She is committed to quality and consistency while working relentlessly to get the job done.

Outside of work, Shiron enjoys spending time with her family and friends.  She is also a passionate champion of breast cancer awareness and research, inspired to get involved on behalf of an aunt and two cousins who lost their battles with breast cancer and friends who are breast cancer survivors.  She participates in several breast cancer awareness events each year to help bring attention to the disease and raise money for research to find a cure. Shiron is a graduate of the University of Maryland Global Campus.