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Willis Cheng
VP Development at Evolution Hospitality
Professional Background
Willis Cheng is a highly respected executive in the hospitality industry, known for his strategic insights and significant contributions to various esteemed organizations. Currently serving as the Vice President of Development at Evolution Hospitality, Willis plays a crucial role in driving growth and development initiatives. His extensive experience in hospitality management and investment has equipped him with a unique perspective, allowing him to navigate complex market dynamics effortlessly.
Prior to his role at Evolution Hospitality, Willis held the position of Vice President at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), where he excelled in real estate management and strategic planning. His leadership at JLL involved overseeing various high-profile projects and building strong client relationships, further establishing his reputation as a trusted authority in the field.
Willis’s career also includes significant analytical and financial experience, having worked as a Financial Analyst at Wells Fargo. In this capacity, he honed his quantitative skills and gained a deep understanding of financial markets, which has proven invaluable in his subsequent roles within the hospitality sector.
Another notable position in Willis's career was as an Investment Products and Markets Analyst at Morgan Stanley. His responsibilities in this role allowed him to analyze market trends and assess investment opportunities, preparing him for future strategic decisions in hospitality development.
Beyond these key roles, Willis also demonstrated his passion for education and the hospitality industry as the Managing Director at Hotel Ezra Cornell, where he inspired future leaders in hospitality by mentoring students and providing valuable insights into the industry's intricacies.
His journey began with internships that laid a strong foundation for his expansive career. Willis started as an intern at Marriott International and later interned at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., where he gained hands-on experience in hotel operations and service, enhancing his understanding of guest satisfaction and operational excellence.
Education and Achievements
Willis Cheng is an alumnus of the prestigious Cornell University, where he studied hospitality management. Cornell is renowned for its rigorous academic programs and strong industry connections, providing Willis with a solid foundation to thrive in his career.
Throughout his career, Willis has not only excelled in his professional responsibilities but has also participated in various industry events and conferences, enhancing his knowledge and network within the hospitality sector. His education and practical experience have positioned him as a leader who contributes significantly to shaping the future of hospitality development.
Achievements
Over the years, Willis has been recognized for his leadership and strategic acumen. His work at Evolution Hospitality has resulted in the successful development and repositioning of numerous properties, contributing to the company's growth trajectory and reputation in the market.
His track record at JLL also speaks volumes about his ability to manage complex projects and foster client relationships that yield long-term partnerships. Willis is known for his ability to combine analytical precision with creative problem-solving, a skill set that has allowed him to thrive in various roles throughout his career.
In addition to his corporate commitments, Willis is passionate about mentoring the next generation of hospitality professionals, reflecting his dedication to the industry that has shaped his career. His journey is marked by continuous learning and contributions to the industry, making him a respected and influential figure in hospitality development.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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