How She Turned a Failing Country Club Into a Profitable Community

Growth in hospitality doesn’t come from guessing, it comes from listening, testing, and executing with intention.

In this episode of ROI Masterclass, Michele Malo breaks down how she transformed a struggling country club into a thriving, revenue-generating community hub, not through guesswork, but through strategy.

Key takeaways:

• Data must drive every decision, not personal preference

• Renovations should follow demand, not assumptions

• Community + experience = higher retention and referrals

• Simplifying offers increases conversions

• Phased rollouts create momentum and continuous engagement

The results speak for themselves:

→ Event attendance up 30%

→ Membership sales hitting record highs

→ Increased upgrades and recurring revenue

→ Stronger community engagement and retention

One of the most powerful insights:

“Don’t throw money at what you like, invest in what your audience is asking for.”

From pickleball and fitness concepts to reimagined event programming and strategic renovations, this is a masterclass in turning insight into ROI.

Because in today’s market, standing still isn’t safe, it’s the fastest way to fall behind.

🎙️ Michele Malo shares how to turn your space into a high-performing asset.

#HospitalityLeadership #CountryClubManagement #ROI #BusinessTransformation #RevenueGrowth #CustomerExperience #DataDrivenDecisions #BrandRevitalization #CommunityBuilding #MembershipGrowth #RecurringRevenue #ExperienceDesign #HospitalityIndustry #BusinessStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset #LeadershipMatters #InnovationInHospitality #EventStrategy #MarketingStrategy #CustomerJourney #ClubLife #PrivateClub #DesignForROI #BusinessGrowth #StrategicPlanning

The IRS Allows This… But Most Investors Don’t Use It

Welcome back to another episode of the ROI Masterclass, where we break down the strategies driving real results in real estate.

Today’s guest is Brenten Blakeman, a specialist at the intersection of finance, real estate, and tax strategy, helping investors unlock hidden value through smarter planning.

Brenten began his career in gift and estate tax valuations, working closely with high-net-worth individuals and gaining a behind-the-scenes look at how wealth is structured, and preserved. That experience led him to a powerful realization: real estate isn’t just an asset class, it’s one of the most tax-advantaged wealth-building tools available.

He later transitioned into commercial real estate, where he discovered his niche in cost segregation and advanced tax strategy, guiding investors on how to optimize returns, increase cash flow, and leverage the tax code to their advantage.

Now based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Brenten works with investors across the country, helping them uncover opportunities that are often overlooked—even by experienced professionals.

Beyond his work in real estate, Brenten also co-runs a nonprofit foundation supporting ALS research and patient care, continuing the legacy of his mother—an inspiring trailblazer and one of the first female Senate pages—whose impact continues to shape his mission and drive.

In this episode, we dive into:

How cost segregation really works (and why it’s misunderstood)

The power of front-loading depreciation

Tax strategies investors are leaving money on the table with

The importance of building a “real estate super team”

And how to think about long-term ROI beyond just the deal

Get ready for a deep dive into the financial side of real estate, and the hidden opportunities that can significantly change your returns.

#RealEstateTips #CashFlow #PropertyInvestment #FinancialFreedom #TaxSavings #RealEstateEducation #InvestmentStrategy #MultifamilyInvesting #CommercialRealEstate #Depreciation #TimeValueOfMoney #BuildWealth #EntrepreneurMindset #RealEstateExperts #ROI

Why South Florida Commercial Real Estate Won’t Slow Down

$1,000,000,000+ in closed commercial real estate sales.

In this episode, Elon Gerberg, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Vision Real Estate Advisers, shares insights from over a decade in South Florida commercial real estate.

He discusses:

• Competing with national brokerage firms

• Advising serious investors

• Navigating tight vacancy and rising rents

• Supply and demand in Florida commercial markets

• Building a brokerage without losing the human edge

This conversation focuses on real-world dealmaking, investor strategy, and what’s driving performance in today’s commercial real estate market.

Watch to understand how relationships, market knowledge, and execution shape long-term results in commercial real estate.

#CommercialRealEstate #FloridaRealEstate #SouthFloridaCRE #RealEstateInvesting #InvestmentSales #BrokerageLife #CREMarket #RealEstateROI #DealMaking #InvestorStrategy

He tore his ACL at the University of Cincinnati.

What looked like the end of a football career became the beginning of a business one.

In this episode, Landon Brazile breaks down how he went from reselling sneakers to scaling short-term rentals on Airbnb — then building Zi-Find to solve the biggest problem in rental arbitrage: finding landlords who actually say yes.

But this isn’t just about STR tactics.

It’s about:

• Turning setbacks into leverage

• Scaling without owning real estate

• Why distribution beats skill

• How design directly impacts revenue

• And what most hosts get wrong about growth

If you’re building in Airbnb, rental arbitrage, or real estate this conversation will shift your strategy.

Drop “STR” below if you want more breakdowns like this.

🎙 @landonbrazile shares his thoughts and experiences, offering valuable insights.

#AirbnbLife #RentalArbitrage #STRHost #EntrepreneurMindset #RealEstateHustle #businesspivot

Jay Perry fell in love with hospitality at 15, even lying about his age to get into restaurants.

After decades in fine dining, global culinary training, and executive chef roles, he walked away from traditional restaurants, not because he stopped loving food, but because he was burning out managing people.

In this episode, Jay reveals why fine dining is losing its elegance, how trendy restaurants sacrifice brand loyalty for hype, and why true hospitality is like an orchestra.

We dive into experiential design, restaurant profitability, kitchen ROI, luxury service standards, and his bold new concept: a mobile fine dining restaurant built for high-end private experiences.

If you care about hospitality, design, branding, or building a profitable restaurant, this conversation will change how you think.

⏱️ 30-Minute Timeline

00:00 – Lying About His Age to Work at 15

Falling in love with hospitality

03:00 – Discovering Fine Dining in Los Angeles

06:00 – Studying Culinary in Italy & France

09:00 – Fine Dining as an “Orchestra”

12:00 – Failure at Tableside Service (Ego Check Moment)

15:00 – Why Trendy Restaurants Kill Loyalty

18:00 – The Lost Art of Elegance in Hospitality

21:00 – Burnout From Managing People

23:00 – Why He Left the Restaurant Industry

25:00 – The Mobile Fine Dining Concept

28:00 – Experiential Design = Restaurant ROI

30:00 – Final Advice: Create Belonging, Not Hype

#FineDining,#RestaurantROI,#HospitalityLeadership,#CulinaryInnovation,#ExperientialDesign,#LuxuryDining,#RestaurantProfitability,#PrivateChefLife,#BrandLoyalty,#ChefEntrepreneur

Chilon Anderson didn’t build her property management company chasing scale, she built it to pay for her daughters’ college.

Today, she manages 115 doors, serves 90+ owners, and has never evicted a tenant she placed.

In this episode, Chilon breaks down servant leadership, high-touch investor service, tenant screening systems, and why humility beats titles every time.

We talk property management ROI, luxury rental standards, zero-eviction screening processes, firing with integrity, and the three non-negotiables that protect culture.

This is a masterclass in operational excellence, leadership mindset, and building a real estate business with values.

If you manage rentals, invest in property, or lead a team, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership.

⏱️ 30-Minute Optimized Timeline

00:00 – Built to Pay for College

Why she started the company

03:00 – Selling in 2008 & Starting Over

06:00 – Faith, Purpose & Business Alignment

09:00 – Serving 90+ Owners at a High Level

12:00 – “Prickly Tenants” & Emotional Control

15:00 – Pay Scale Is Irrelevant

18:00 – Humility as a Leadership Strategy

21:00 – Zero Evictions in 20 Years

24:00 – Nordstrom vs. JC Penney Experience

26:30 – Property Standards That Increase Rent

28:30 – The 3 Fireable Offenses

30:00 – Final Leadership Advice

🎙 @realtor919 shares her thoughts and experiences, offering valuable insights.

#PropertyManagement,#ServantLeadership,#RealEstateInvesting,#RentalProperty,#LeadershipMindset,#RealEstateROI,#LandlordTips,#BusinessWithIntegrity,#TeamLeadership,#EntrepreneurMindset

Homeownership feels impossible for an entire generation.

In this episode, finance strategist Mitchell Fowler breaks down why traditional mortgages are failing entrepreneurs and Millennials — and what could replace them.

From seller financing and preferred equity to the real risk behind 50-year mortgages, Mitchell explains how alternative structures may reshape real estate investing.

We discuss:

• Why W2 income dominates underwriting

• How to structure deals without relying on banks

• The trillion-dollar housing bottleneck

• Scaling real estate funds the smart way

• Where real opportunity exists in today’s market

If you’re buying, investing, or building in real estate, this conversation will change how you think about capital, risk, and ownership.

⏱️ Episode Timeline

00:00 – Intro

Finance strategist building a new path to homeownership

01:30 – Why Traditional Mortgages Are Failing Buyers

W2 bias, self-employed struggle, and affordability pressure

04:00 – The Real Housing Problem

Why Millennials & Gen Z feel locked out

06:30 – Seller Financing Explained Simply

How preferred equity replaces the bank

10:00 – How the Fund Makes Money

Returns, structure, and risk protection

13:30 – Downside Protection Strategy

How underwriting protects investor capital

17:00 – Impact + ROI

Why this model blends profit with purpose

20:00 – Corporate Buyers vs Everyday Buyers

Are institutions reshaping the market?

23:00 – Scaling the Model Nationwide

Pilot states and growth roadmap

26:00 – 50-Year Mortgages: Smart Move or Trap?

Lower payments, higher lifetime cost

28:30 – Final Advice for Buyers & Investors

Long-term thinking wins

30:00 – Closing & Where to Connect

#RealEstate #HousingMarket #Homeownership #RealEstateInvesting #MortgageCrisis #MillennialMoney #EntrepreneurFinance #SellerFinancing #AlternativeInvesting #WealthBuilding #ROIMasterclass #PrivateEquity

Why Smart Investors Obsess Over Risk Before Returns

Angelo Vitale left Wall Street, rating agencies, and institutional finance to build a real estate investment platform focused on asymmetric returns and capital protection.

With experience underwriting billions in transactions, Angelo shares how institutional investors really evaluate risk, why most deals fail before closing, and how today’s capital markets are creating rare opportunities in housing and storage.

We dive into due diligence mistakes, market red flags, design ROI, and why protecting downside risk matters more than chasing returns. This episode is a masterclass on real estate investing, mindset, and long-term value creation in uncertain markets.

⏱️ Episode Timeline

00:00 – Intro

From Wall Street to real estate private equity: Angelo Vitale’s background

01:20 – Landing in Texas

Why he’s on-site evaluating a new self-storage deal

03:00 – Early Career Path

Cold-calling into CBRE and breaking into institutional real estate

06:00 – Inside Wall Street & CMBS

Underwriting billions in transactions at investment banks and rating agencies

09:30 – The Entrepreneurial Pull

Why Angelo left institutional security to build his own platform

12:00 – Two Investment Verticals Explained

Personal housing investments vs. Vital Capital’s GP partnerships

15:00 – Scaling Operators to the Next Level

Turning 4,000-unit portfolios into institutional-grade assets

18:00 – Due Diligence That Actually Matters

Why “kicking the tires” still beats spreadsheets

22:00 – Asymmetric Returns Explained

How Angelo protects downside while targeting high ROI

26:30 – Red Flags That Kill Deals

Macro risks, operator risk, and market-level warning signs

31:00 – Market Distress & Opportunity

The trillion-dollar debt wall and what it means for investors

36:00 – Lessons from 2008

Why asset value matters more than financial engineering

40:00 – Design vs ROI

When spending more actually increases profitability

44:00 – Growing Up on Job Sites

How construction shaped Angelo’s investor mindset

48:00 – What Sets Him Apart

Seeing value others miss through multi-angle underwriting

52:00 – Final Advice for Investors

Protect capital first, returns come second

55:00 – Where to Find Angelo

Vital Capital Management + LinkedIn

#realestateinvesting #commercialrealestate #AsymmetricReturns #privateequity #capitalmarkets #investormindset #realestateroi #wealthcreation #Multifamily #SelfStorageInvesting