Our Team

Jonathan Lopez, LEED Green Associate
Project Director

Jonathan Lopez brings a diverse wealth of hospitality and managerial experience to the Creo Hospitality team. Beginning his career in New York City, Jonathan spent several years managing high-end residential properties.  Jonathan's hospitality experience includes a position as the Purchasing Manager for Morgans Hotel Group.  Jonathan spent several years managing FF&E procurement projects for a New York City-based procurement firm serving projects for Kimpton, Hilton, Marriott, Ace Hotel, independent brands and New York residential properties. Jonathan’s hands-on experience managing new construction, renovation and capital improvement projects adds the perfect addition to any project team.  As a LEED Green Associate, Jonathan is always conscious of the environmental impact of every project and can also facilitate project LEED certification.

Amit Patel
Project Director 

Amit Patel is a driving force in the purchasing department; with over 5 years of residential and hospitality experience, he is focused on delivering a quality product to a satisfied customer every time. Amit is meticulous and detail oriented which provides the client with comprehensive reporting in all areas of their project. From logistics to final installation, Amit’s dedication and focus on his client’s needs are his biggest priority. Amit has a vast network of vendors that he can call on to achieve the client’s goals and because of his strong connections he is able to get the best pricing and quality product available. Because Amit is client-driven, he is well respected in the industry. Amit is committed to getting the job done right, on time and in budget every time.

Jeff Zmuda
Project Manager

Jeff Zmuda is a veteran within the hotel industry bringing over 35 years of experience to the Creo team. He has spent his most recent years as a Purchasing Director for White Lodging Development. In his previous role, he has managed over 100 successful, on-time new construction and renovation hotel projects ranging from prototype select service hotels to large scale full service hotels such as JW Marriott. He leads with integrity & accountability while purchasing product that includes FF&E, OS&E, interior & exterior signs, and operational equipment. Jeff’s experience working with owners, design teams, and general contractors is an asset to the team that ensures project and ownership satisfaction.

Dave Aminov
Project Manager

Dave has over 10 years of project management and FF&E procurement experience. During his career he has managed a diverse group of hospitality, luxury residential and commercial projects across the United States and Caribbean. Some of his projects include Mandarin Oriental Grand Cayman, Avalon Residential, Sister City Hotel, Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs, Margaritaville Atlantic City, Club Quarters, PLG Brooklyn, Midtown 5 Miami, Eve District Miami, The Bath Club Miami Beach, Whitney Museum of American Art. Dave’s attention to detail, vendor negotiation and hands on approach on all facets of the project life cycle ensure our projects stay on target and under budget.

Erica Dittmann
Purchasing Agent

Erica serves as a purchasing agent at Creo Hospitality.  With a BFA in Interior Design from Kean University Erica brings a wealth of interior design knowledge and is influential in assisting with re-selections, value engineering & space planning.  Erica has over 5 years of experience working with a national home-builder, where she became well versed in the fast-paced needs of design & procurement for construction projects from the ground up. Erica’s organizational and communication skills aid in maintaining the highest level of client satisfaction, ensuring all facets of our projects are delivered on time and under budget.

Atilla Aknil
Senior Project Manager

Atilla boasts a strong real estate development and construction background. He has worked on a myriad of projects including Marriott Hotels, 250-unit residential building and an office tower. He was also involved in predevelopment of mixed-use projects in St. Louis, MO and San Jose, CA. Atilla has strategically managed over $100 million in construction loans and has procured +$10 million in materials for these projects. Atilla has travelled around the world vetting and building an impressive network of suppliers and manufacturers. Atilla is a graduate of University of Virginia and can speak Turkish, French and Spanish.

Niklas Hesse
Project Manager

Niklas is serves as a purchasing agent for Creo Hospitality. He has a BS in applied mathematical economics from SUNY Oswego. Niklas’ background in e-commerce, purchasing for a large-scale consumer goods distribution company, brings valuable experience to the team. Previously being a key component in the management of supply chain, he has been able to apply his skills to critical timeline action items and project logistics. He is a detail-oriented, analytical thinker who is eager to ensure Creo’s services exceed client expectations. 

Hetal Patel
Project Manager

Hetal earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in interior design from Kean University. Having held previous positions for hotel owners; her experiences include roles in operations, project management, construction, and procurement. A diverse mindset to the Creo team. Hetal's passion for design and sourcing fuels her to be a thoughtful and pro-active project manager. With over a decade of experience in interior design, hospitality, and procurement, her primary objective is to align with the clients' needs and aspirations; assisting to bring any project to completion. 

Manish Shah
Accounting Manager

Manish became a valued member of Creo in 2018, assuming the pivotal role of Accounting Manager. Manish brings over two decades of expertise across various financial capacities. His impressive repertoire includes roles such as Accounting Manager, Finance Manager, Senior Accountant, Staff Accountant II, and Accounts Receivable specialist. Throughout his career, Manish has spearheaded crucial initiatives, from product launches to accounting system migrations, and has played a vital role in financial integrations and internal control implementations.

Notably, Manish possesses extensive knowledge in project accounting, honed through 13 years of dedicated service in the advertising industry. His adeptness in this area has been instrumental in ensuring project closeouts occur promptly, thanks to his adept collaboration with both internal and external teams. Manish's influential presence and comprehensive skill set make him an invaluable asset to any organization fortunate enough to have him on board.

Ilham Youssef
Accounting

Ilham Youssef is an Accounts Payable Specialist and has been a valued team member of Creo since 2017. Holding a Bachelor's degree in accounting from Cairo University in Egypt, she brings over 20 years of experience in accounting operations to her role. Responsible for managing project funds and invoices for Creo, Ilham plays a crucial role in ensuring timely payments for each project. She collaborates closely with team members to conduct optimization audits, resulting in increased accuracy of financial reports and significant time and cost savings.