About Me
- Researcher
- Writer
- Mentor
- Commercial real estate investment banking executive
- Avid scuba diver
Research Interests
Strategic Management with an ESG (environmental, social, governance) focus in the hospitality and tourism context.
My research addresses sustainability issues and the impact of sustainability on social, cultural, and economic capital. I am particularly driven by the factors of change with implications for social and economic policies. My work contributes by informing the arrangement of social, economic, environmental, and political equity so that they are to the greatest benefits of the least advantaged.
Select Professional Experience
2023- Present
Assistant Professor
University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
- Research in the area of strategic management.
- Teach the capstone strategic management course (TIM431) and the graduate level finance seminar course.
2014-2020
Partner
Jade Hill Investments
- Multifamily real estate asset pricing.
- Capital raising and underwriting for Class A and B multifamily real estate assets ranging from $20MM to $400MM.
- Conducting market research and feasibility studies for institutional multifamily investors, including rent growth, property tax, demographics, sales comparable, and rent comparable research.
2012-2014
Senior Associate
Jackson Cooksey (now Newmark)
- Built hotel financial models to assist in hotel investment evaluations.
- Conducted market research and market analysis for luxury hotel operators and private equity groups.
- Identified real estate M&A transactions and management contract opportunities for luxury boutique hotel owners/operators in U.S. gateway markets as well as in Asia.
Education & Board Positions
Ph.D. in Hospitality Administration
University of Houston
2023
MBA in Finance
University of Houston
2013
Immediate Past President
Hilton Alumni Association
2023 - Present
Advisory Board Member
PIMA Medical Institute
2015 - Present
Select Works
Published
(*Denotes my current or former graduate student author.)
Mao-Clark, X., Koh, Y., & DeFranco, A., *Nakajima, R., African American style project pitches in business fundraising: Strategies for African American entrepreneurs. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 120, 103783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2024.103783
Koh, Y., Mao-Clark, X., & DeFranco, A. The impact of relative prosperity and race on crowdfunding success. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 35 (11), 4031-4050. https://doi.org/ 10.1108/IJCHM-11-2022-1420
Koh, Y., Mao-Clark, X., & DeFranco, A. Black Lives Matter movement and black entrepreneurs’ crowdfunding performance. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 111, 103472 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2023.103472
Manuscripts Under Revisions
Mao-Clark, X., Koh, Y., DeFranco, A., & Back, KJ. The impact of two opposing economic policies on restaurateurs’ crowdfunding Activities. 1st round of revision. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research
Mao-Clark, X., Koh, Y., DeFranco, A., & Back, KJ. African American restaurateurs’ financing behaviors: A grounded theory approach. International Journal of Hospitality Management
Mao-Clark, X., Koh, Y., & DeFranco, A. Start-up team gender diversity and financing success: Evidence from restaurant crowdfunding. 3rd round of revision. Tourism Economics
