North Central Group
Founded in 1981 by our Chairman David Lenz, North Central Group has become one of America’s foremost developers, owners, and operators of focused-service and extended-stay hotels. Our more than 25 company-owned hotels are primarily located in the Southwest and Midwest, concentrating on upscale select service hotels within the Hilton and Marriott family. We are based near Madison, Wisconsin, where we manage more than 1,100 guest rooms across nine different hotels. We leverage our three decades of unparalleled expertise to offer hotel management services to other hoteliers. We also provide hotel development services, renovation and construction management services, as well as complete investment and mortgaging expertise to support your development, renovation, and financing needs.
Real Estate Specialization
| Hotels |
Investment Type
| JV partnership |
| Acquisition/Fee Simple |
| Debt |
Investment Style
| Value-add |
| Development |
David Lenz
David Lenz formed North Central Group in 1981 with the purpose of engaging in mortgage brokerage and real estate activities, including developing and managing hotels. The company has certainly grown and changed throughout its 30-year history, but one thing remains, and that is Dave’s passion and commitment to the industry. He proudly leads the company’s long-term growth strategy and dynamic positioning in the hospitality industry. Dave is a member of Hilton Worldwide Hampton Inn & Suites Franchise Advisory Council and Courtyard by Marriott Franchise Advisory Council. He is a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), past founding board member of PROMAC (Promus Acceptance Corporation), past member of the Super 8 Motels Inc. Presidents Advisory Council, and a board member of the University of Wisconsin James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate.
Jeffrey Lenz
Jeff Lenz is President & Chief Development Officer for North Central Management, Inc. He is responsible for the overall development, construction and renovation of all new hotels within North Central Group portfolio. His duties include conducting site selections, contract negotiations, land entitlement and franchise selection, in addition to acting as the owner's representative with regard to hotel design and construction. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, Jeff went on to earn his Master of Science degree in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He began his career at North Central Group as a Real Estate Analyst in 1995, and before moving into his current position, he also worked as an Associate for the mortgage banking firm Eberhardt Company in Denver, Colorado and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Jonathan Bogatay
Jonathan Bogatay serves as the Chief Executive Officer of North Central Group. Currently as CEO, Jonathan sets the operational, financial and cultural expectations of North Central Group to ensure the success of a premier hotel management and development company. Prior to joining North Central Group, Jonathan held several senior management positions with various lodging owners,operators, and developers, as well as having worked as a Regional Director with the Promus Hotel Corporation, now a part of the Hilton Hotels Corporation.
Cathy Gillman
Cathy Gillman is Vice President, General Counsel for North Central Group. Her duties include legal counsel related to real estate transactions, general business matters, the hotel design and construction process, financing, and issues affecting operating hotels; conducting contract negotiations and due diligence; as well as overseeing outside legal counsel. After earning a BS degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, Cathy worked in the tax department of KPMG LLP in Minnesota. She received a Masters in Business Taxation from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management and a JD from the University of Minnesota Law School. She clerked for Judge John T. Noonan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit before joining the Business Law Department of Foley & Lardner LLP in 1997. While employed at Foley & Lardner LLP, Cathy also taught Business Law I at Madison Area Technical College. She joined North Central Group in 2006.
Cheyenne Begay
Jane Braatz
Dennis Clark
Jessica Faris
Erin Jahn
Peter Johnson
Bernie Kelcher
Cassie Lopez
Cory Mace
Katie Marron
Greg Opgenorth
Jeff Ryan
Linda Saron
Gillian Simms
Shawn Swenson
Seth Frisbee
- +1 815 229 3322
- sfrisbee@ncghotels.com
Michelle Schultz
- +1 608 662 3653
- mschultz@ncghotels.com
Chris Retterath
- +1 651 688 3343
- cretterath@ncghotels.com
Jeremy Dunkin
- +1 623 271 7771
- jdunkin@ncghotels.com