Meet Our Team
Who We Are
Exceptional Team, Thriving Culture
Encore’s culture is defined by diversity of leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and a collective commitment to sustainable value creation. Over two decades, we have formed a culture where every individual can contribute, innovate, and lead with integrity, ensuring that our investments remain guided by clear principles. By uniting a broad range of backgrounds from finance and operations to healthcare services and real estate development around a shared purpose, we create an environment where collaboration, strategic foresight, and accountability thrive.
Board Of Directors
Meet Our Executive Leadership Team
Together, our executive leadership team drives Encore’s success by blending industry expertise, disciplined analysis, and integrated vision. Whether navigating complex markets, evaluating new opportunities, or supporting the communities in which we invest, their inclusive approach ensures creative problem-solving and attentive asset stewardship.
Dr. Bharat Sangani
Chairman & CEO
Bharat Sangani, MD, Encore’s Chairman and CEO, co-founded the firm in 1999 as a vehicle for investors to share in the success of his real estate deals. “Doc,” as he is known by both clients and co-workers, made his first investment in real estate in 1991. He quickly learned he has a natural instinct for commercial real estate investing and began growing his portfolio. Over the 30 years that followed, Doc has established a successful private commercial real estate investment and development firm with a proven track record across multiple sectors throughout the United States.
In addition, focusing on sustainability through market instability, Doc has lead Encore in the acquisition of operating companies in the medical, dental, and restaurant industries that generate consistent cash flows, co-GP partnerships with mid-size real estate investment managers and operators, and creating a global presence as one of the first U.S. private real estate companies featured on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. He is responsible for nearly $3.7 billion in real estate transactions for Encore and oversees every aspect of the business, from operations to financial management.
Admired for his relentless work ethic, Doc, along with a team of experienced, results-driven, and forward-thinking individuals, leads Encore on the principles of honesty, integrity, and fairness. Doc sits on the Boards of Directors of Encore Enterprises, Inc. and Encore Properties, Ltd. He is an active contributor to the community and is involved in various charities both locally and in India.
Yatin Gandhi
Sr. Vice President,Chief Financial Officer
Yatin Gandhi is Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Board of Directors at Encore Enterprises, where he has helped drive the firm’s evolution into a diversified investment powerhouse with $3.7 billion in total asset value, $1.7 billion in assets under management, and over 150 completed transactions across 26 years.
Since joining Encore in 2003, Gandhi has rebuilt its financial operations from the ground up, scaled its accounting and finance teams more than sevenfold, and led critical capital strategy initiatives. He played a key role in Encore’s $500 million hotel portfolio sale, secured its first institutional equity partnership, and pioneered Encore’s corporate bond offerings on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange—raising over $375 million.
Gandhi plays a very active role in engineering the deal structure that helps Encore achieve their targeted goals in a most efficient time. A CPA and Chartered Accountant, he holds a BBA from Mumbai University and remains deeply involved in philanthropic efforts locally and globally.
Nili Sangani
Sr. Vice President, Operations
Nili Sangani serves as a Senior Vice President at Encore Enterprises where she plays an integral role in the management of several investment partnerships, the management of select shared service functions within the firm, and strategic oversight of the firm’s high net worth capital raising activities via Encore’s capital raising subsidiary, Ignite. Nili is also an active member of the Board of Directors of Encore Enterprises and Encore Properties, Ltd.
Over the course of her career, she has overseen and managed relationships with investors representing nearly $1.5 billion in equity. Prior to joining Encore in 2014, Nili worked as an investment banker in the Real Estate Group of Raymond James & Associates in New York and Florida, where she was responsible for executing a variety of public and private M&A and capital market transactions for clients across the hospitality, multifamily, student housing, industrial, single-tenant net lease, and GSA sectors, with a particular emphasis on listed REITs. Nili earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business, where she graduated with honors. Nili holds the Securities Industry Essentials License as well as the Series 7 and Series 63 registrations.
Nili is a registered representative of Umergence, LLC.
Cynthia Price
General Counsel
Cynthia Price is General Counsel for Encore and a member of the Board of Directors of Encore Enterprises, Encore Properties, Ltd., and Texas Investors Title. She leads Encore’s legal initiatives, ensuring multi-jurisdictional policy and procedure compliance, managing labor and employment matters, and advising on litigation strategy and risk assessment.
Cynthia brings more than 20 years of industry experience and has advised on all Encore businesses, playing an essential role in Encore operations. Cynthia began her legal career as a litigation associate with Strasburger & Price, LLP, and most recently served as Vice President, Legal, with Ryan, LLC where she was responsible for managing the company’s litigation docket.
Cynthia holds a J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law and a B.A. in Communications from Angelo State University.
Charlie Keels
President of EncoreMultifamily
Charlie Keels is President of Encore Multifamily and, having joined Encore in 2008, is responsible for identifying and overseeing the firm’s multifamily opportunities.
Charlie has nearly 25 years of industry experience, negotiating and closing complex financing transactions and leading underwriting and analysis functions for both debt and equity transactions. He also has experience in HUD/FHA financing, as well as conventional financing, and is actively involved with structuring new debt.
Throughout his career, Charlie has overseen nearly 45 projects totaling more than $2.3 billion, including $2.1 billion in multifamily management and development.
Prior to joining Encore, Charlie served as the controller of a skilled nursing facility chain, where he was responsible for all financing functions and found success in significantly growing the business. Charlie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas A&M University.
Glenn Pedersen
President of EncoreHospitality
Glenn Pedersen is President of Hospitality and, having joined Encore in 2001, is responsible for identifying and managing all of Encore’s hospitality opportunities. He has supervised over 165 projects and has more than 45 years of hotel industry experience with multiple national flags, including Hilton, Marriott, Radisson, and Best Western.
Since joining Encore, Glenn has overseen nearly $155 million in ground-up developments and more than $675 million in acquisitions through 51 hospitality deals. He began his career with Marriott International in New Orleans as a Front Desk Manager and before leaving Marriott after 15 years was a Market Manager responsible for 75 hotels across three states. Subsequently, Glenn was Regional Manager of the Courtyard/Fairfield Inn division in Georgia and Alabama, where he achieved the highest market share and yield goals in the Southeastern United States and was one of four managers to qualify for the Courtyard Division Achievement Forum recognition program seven years in a row.
In 1994, Glenn left Marriott International to start Pineapple Management Services and developed, built, and opened 20 Marriott hotels in less than four years before being acquired by Encore in 2001, along with 11 accompanying hotels. Glenn attended LSU and the University of New Orleans with specialization in Hotel, Restaurants, and Tourism.
Mike Nelson
President of EncoreCommercial
Mike Nelson has a successful record of maximizing asset value for developers, owners, and third-party management firms. Mike is responsible for site selection, analytical market studies, finding new tenants, and negotiating leases with national and local tenants, as well as sourcing and managing ground-up development, and the acquisition and disposition of retail, office, and public sector assets.
He has overseen 26 million square feet and $4.4 billion in acquisition and development throughout his 45-year career. In his time with Encore, Mike has overseen the signing of more than 520 leases and is currently managing two ground- up development projects valued at $120 million, a portfolio of Veterans Administration Clinics, 18 retail developments, and four third party leasing assignments.
Prior to joining Encore in 2000, Mike was the Managing Director and COO for RM Crowe where he sourced new leasing and management assignments and focused on real estate solutions for national and international investors in the Southwest region.
Mike’s commercial real estate career also includes serving as Senior Vice President of the Southwest region for PM Realty Group, and Regional Portfolio Manager for Cushman & Wakefield, where he oversaw their Houston portfolio. Mike has a B.S. in Political Science from Oregon State University.
Dwayne Rash
President of EncoreConstruction
Dwayne Rash, President of Construction, has been with Encore since its founding in 1999 and oversees all of the firm’s construction. Dwayne has more than 30 years of commercial and industrial construction experience and is a licensed general contractor in all states where Encore currently conducts business.
Dwayne is a seasoned professional who has supervised more than $2 billion in construction projects, including 75 hospitality projects and over 20 million square feet of commercial and industrial space, office buildings, electronics and semiconductor plants, telecommunications facilities, and distribution centers.
Throughout his career, he has served in the capacities of field superintendent, resident manager, construction manager, and vice president of construction operations and has successfully managed budgets for projects of up to $200 million.
Dwayne majored in business administration at Louisiana State University and has taken specialized courses in construction estimating, industrial management, and OSHA certification.
Keith Miller
President of Partnershipsfor Dentists
Keith Miller has over 26 years of experience, a seasoned executive that has been successful leading high-growth platforms in both the retail and retail healthcare sectors.
Most recently, Keith led Legacy ER and Urgent Care as President of that DFW-based business, tripling the size of the organization in his first year through strategic acquisitions.
He spent 13 years as a leader of Dental One Partners (a top ten national Dental Services Organization), starting with Dental One in 2002 when the DSO owned 20 practices, and serving as EVP and COO as the company grew to over 160 locations in 14 states during his tenure.
He built the operational platform to a level of $220 million in annual revenues and achieved a practice-level EBITDA of 20%. Keith holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Marketing major from Ohio University.
Dale Doerhoff
President of EncoreRestaurants
Dale Doerhoff joined Encore in 2015 and identifies and manages all of Encore’s restaurant opportunities. He is a diversified leader with a successful track record, having overseen more than $600 million and 250 projects throughout his career, including over $150 million in acquisition and development at Encore.
Prior to coming on board with Encore, Dale served as Vice President of Operations and Development for Studio Movie Grill. While there, he built and oversaw an operations team of 3,500 employees, supervised new site development and construction, and grew the company’s annual revenue from $12 million to $150 million in five years. Dale holds a B.S., F.S.N. in Business Management from the University of Missouri.
Michelle Newsom
President of SurepointMedical Centers
Michelle Newsom serves as President of Surepoint Emergency Centers, leading all FSED development and management activities. Michelle’s healthcare projects have included strategic and tactical planning for overall implementation of ED Information Systems in 87 hospitals for Community Health Systems, the largest healthcare system in the United States.
She has served as the Manager of the Emergency Departments for both Methodist Dallas Medical Center and Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, with 65,000 and 110,000 annual patient visits respectively.
Michelle is trained as a Meaningful Use expert and is a member of the Emergency Nurses Association and past board member of the Texas Nurses Association Governmental Affairs Committee. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Texas at Arlington.
Azure Erickson
Head of IgniteInvestments
As head of Ignite Investments, Azure is responsible for the development and execution of Ignite’s strategic initiatives. Azure curates and manages investor deal flow, cultivates and maintains investor relationships, advocates alignment of interest between Ignite’s sponsors and investors, and directs equity distribution for the firm.
Prior to joining Ignite, Azure was the director of investor relations at a Kansas City-based quantitative asset management firm, responsible for all marketing, communications, and client service for the firm and its investment products, and served on both the product development and compliance committees. Previously, she worked for a single-family office in a similar role.
Azure has more than 14 years of experience in the asset management industry and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Kansas, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin. Azure earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA®) designation and holds Series 7, 24 and 66 registrations.
Diversity of thought begins with diversity of individuals—each bringing unique experiences, perspectives, and ideas together to drive our success.
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