Audrey McGuire, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner

Audrey McGuire is the Chief Executive Officer and founding partner of Emax. Ms. McGuire started out as an investment banker on Wall Street and has since gained over forty years of experience providing public-private real estate and financial advisory services to a host of government and private sector clients. Ms. McGuire has in-depth knowledge of national real estate & capital markets, financing structures, risk assessment, and rates of return. She advances policy initiatives by implementing government programs from written legislation. In the last ten years Ms. McGuire has led, as either Engagement Manager or Senior Advisor, multiyear and multimillion-dollar public sector engagements for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), General Services Administration (GSA), the District of Columbia (DC) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Emax clients value her expertise in MHPIs, PPVs, portfolio management, strategic planning, program compliance & oversight, enhanced-use leasing, government budgeting, feasibility analysis, asset valuation, capital market financing, and program risk evaluation. Aside from her leadership of the Emax Advisory team, Ms. McGuire is also a partner in Emax Fund, a real estate investment fund. Ms. McGuire holds a B.S.F.S in International Economics from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She holds a PMP Certification from the Project Management Institute.

Michael McGuire, President and Partner

Michael McGuire is the President and Partner of Emax Financial and Real Estate Advisory Services, LLC (Emax). Mr. McGuire has worked in real estate finance for over 16 years and has advised numerous federal, state, and local government agencies. Mr. McGuire has managed engagements for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the U.S. Air Force (AF), the General Services Administration (GSA), the District of Columbia (DC), and the Department of Treasury (Treasury). He has served as both a portfolio and project manager for over 100 PPV/EUL projects. Mr. McGuire brings over 18 years of financial management experience, over 18 years of portfolio management experience for VA’s EUL program and over 15 years of Military Housing experience. His expertise includes the execution of P3/P4 government real estate and capital market transactions, program compliance and oversight of long-term residential asset operations. Mr. McGuire holds a B.A. in Psychology from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. from St. John’s University.

Emma Gleason, Executive Vice President and Principal

Emma Gleason is an Executive Vice President and Principal at Emax. Ms. Gleason’s expertise lies in conducting financial analyses, market research, compliance reviews, asset valuation & pricing, and due diligence. She leads various teams providing analytical and quantitative strategies that transform operations and achieve mission objectives for public sector clients. Ms. Gleason has eight (8) years of experience providing various real estate and financial services to clients such as the Office of Asset Sales (OAS) and the Multifamily Insurance Operations Branch (MFIOB) within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), various offices within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the General Services Administration (GSA), the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO). Ms. Gleason received her B.A. in economics from Boston College. 

Danila Weatherly, Chief Operating Officer

Danila Weatherly is the Chief Operating Officer of Emax Financial & Real Estate Advisory Services, LLC .  She comes to Emax with nearly 40 years of experience leading large multidisciplinary teams towards achieving strategic goals and objectives, fostering an environment of collaboration and mentorship while leveraging the collective strengths of her team members. Most recently, Danila served as a Managing Director at Ernst & Young in their Government and Public Policy Practice overseeing complex, multi-year engagements while also serving as the Quality and Risk Management Leader for the Firm. She worked with closely EY top Leadership as well as with CFOs, CROs, and Program Leaders of the US Department of the Treasury, Office of Financial Stability, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Housing Administration and the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal Communications Commission, the US Department of Transportation, the US Department of Agriculture, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Defense MHPI.

Mrs. Weatherly lead engagements that included the design and implementation of new programs and processes, compliance with financial management, budget and accounting requirements, budgetary scoring, audit-readiness assessments, credit reform compliance, subsidy models validations, subsidy estimate and re-estimate calculations, risk and internal controls assessments, compliance with laws and regulations, development of policies and procedures, asset management, due diligence, lender/servicer oversight, government whole loan sales and securitizations and performance measures.

Mrs. Weatherly holds a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and a BA from Rutgers University. She was an adjunct professor at the UMD graduate School of Public Policy, where she taught the Capstone course focused on Project Management.

Russell Strom, Principal

Russell Strom is a Principal at Emax. Mr. Strom has over 20 years of experience in real estate finance and consulting and has advised numerous federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as private companies. Formerly a Managing Director at Emax, Mr. Strom rejoined Emax in 2024 and has managed engagements for the U.S. Air Force (AF), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Defense (DoD), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Education (Education), among other agencies. He has served as a project manager for the Privatization Support Contractor for the $500 million Hickam Air Force Base Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) as well as many other MHPI and Enhanced Use Leasing (EUL) projects. He has also been directly involved with the purchase, development, and sale of over 50 real estate investment projects with a value of over $100 million, mostly in the San Diego, CA area. Mr. Strom brings 20 years of real estate financial management experience, over 18 years of experience with VA’s EUL program, over 17 years of MHPI experience, and over 10 years of experience in real estate investment. His expertise includes managing large, complex projects, valuation, and modeling of real estate and other unique assets, including in-kind consideration for EULs, real estate project financing, negotiation, and extensive knowledge of and connections in the local real estate and financing markets in San Diego.

Director of Strategic Implementation- Job Search in Progress

(Please email if interested jobs@emaxllc.com)

The Director of Strategic Implementation will drive the execution of Emax’s strategic initiatives and ensure alignment across business units and leadership teams. A critical focus of this role is to lead the firm’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy and implementation, ensuring that AI tools and capabilities are effectively integrated to enhance client service, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage.

Reporting to the COO and working closely with the Executive Management Committee (EMC), the Director will lead cross-functional initiatives, manage change efforts, and serve as a champion for innovation across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Execution

• Translate Emax’s long-term strategic objectives into actionable initiatives with clear timelines, owners, and performance measures.

• Drive the implementation of corporate priorities across business lines.

• Lead and coordinate high-impact, cross-functional strategic projects.

• Monitor and report on progress toward key organizational goals.

AI Leadership & Innovation

• Develop and lead Emax’s AI strategy in alignment with corporate vision and client needs.

• Identify opportunities for AI-driven solutions to enhance service offerings, internal processes, and decision-making.

• Collaborate with business units and technical teams to design, implement, and scale AI tools and platforms.

• Stay current with emerging AI trends, technologies, and regulatory considerations impacting government consulting, financial services, and real estate advisory.

• Educate and engage staff and leadership on AI capabilities and ethical use.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a key partner to the CEO, President, COO and EMC members in driving execution of Emax’s Leadership Transition Plan and other major change efforts.

• Facilitate alignment across leadership teams to ensure shared accountability.

• Partner with senior leaders to identify and resolve barriers to strategic execution.

Change Management & Communication

• Lead change management efforts related to organizational transformation, governance evolution, leadership transitions, and process improvements.

• Develop and execute communication plans to ensure transparency and engagement across all levels of the organization.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in management consulting, corporate strategy, program management, or a related field.

• Proven experience driving execution of complex, cross-functional initiatives.

• Proven experience leading AI strategy, adoption, and implementation in a professional services or consulting environment.

• Strong understanding of AI technologies (including machine learning, natural language processing, generative AI, RPA, and data analytics) and how to apply them to business problems.

• Strong understanding of strategic planning, project management, and organizational change.

• Exceptional collaboration and communication skills; able to work effectively across leadership levels and teams.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results.

• Experience in government consulting, financial services, or real estate advisory is a plus.

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Jack Perry, Director of Financial Reporting and Analytics

Jack Perry is the Director of Financial Reporting and Analytics for the Emax Companies. He specializes in supporting the Emax professionals who provide research, analytical and quantitative support services to government clients.  He provides support on projects involving government operations, internal controls, policy research and government communications.  Mr. Perry works closely with the Chief Executive Officer developing the strategic mission and vision for the company. Mr. Perry provides financial reporting and opearational analytics to the Emax Executive Management Committee. Mr. Perry graduated from Fordham University with a BA in Economics.

Stephanie Nye Cassiday, Office Manager

Stephanie Nye-Cassidy is Emax’s Office Manager.  She is responsible for providing administrative assistance to the teams in Washington, DC and New York, NY.  She supports the Human Resources department in the areas of hiring, payroll and benefit maintenance.  She has 15 years’ experience in administration working for financial and real estate institutions.  Ms. Nye-Cassidy holds a BA from University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Deborah Gates, Managing Director

Deborah Gates is a Managing Director at Emax.  Ms. Gates specializes in Government Real Estate and was a Real Estate Contracting Officer for both the Army and the Navy.  Her recent work included developing classes for the Army and the Navy, working at the Secretarial level, writing the Navy Real Estate Procedural manual, co-writing a Military Housing Privatization Initiative class, and drafting real estate policy for the Navy.  She has also served in several contingency operations.   She has a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University.  She is a certified Housing Development Finance Professional and a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps.

Mashiyat Karim, Deputy Manager

Mashiyat Karim is a Deputy Manager at Emax. Ms. Karim specializes in creating and updating financial models; preparing custom reports for clients; assisting in real estate oversight and compliance reviews; synthesizing data for published monthly reports; conducting various levels of quality assurance reviews for various federal programs; and performing financial evaluations on real estate assets. She has worked with a variety of clients including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), General Services Administration (GSA), Department of Treasury, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Ms. Karim holds a B.S. in Hotel Administration from Cornell University.

Frederic Liu, Deputy Manager

Frederic Liu is a Deputy Manager at Emax, specializing in providing financial and real estate consulting services to government clients. Mr. Liu creates and updates financial models; assists in real estate oversight and compliance reviews; performs both qualitative and quantitative analyses for federal clients; and develops project timelines for projects. He has worked with a variety of clients including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the D.C. Office of the Chief Financial Officer (DC OCFO), the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), and the General Services Administration (GSA). Mr. Liu graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Swarthmore College. 

Salil Jajodia, Associate

Salil Jajodia is an Associate at Emax specializing in providing financial and real estate services to government clients. Mr. Jajodia assists clients with financial modeling, real estate oversight, compliance reviews, and asset valuation. He works with a variety of clients including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Navy (DoN). Mr. Jajodia graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Mathematics.

Nadine Del Carmen, Associate

Nadine Del Carmen is an Associate at Emax, specializing in providing financial and real estate consulting services to government clients. Ms. Del Carmen assists clients with financial modeling, real estate oversight, compliance reviews, and asset valuation. She works with the Department of Navy’s Public Private Venture and Real Estate Program. Ms. Del Carmen graduated with a B.S. in Economics from Santa Clara University and an M.S. in Finance from Georgetown University.  

Mariana Pennybacker, Analyst

Mariana “Mari” Pennybacker is an Analyst at Emax, providing qualitative and quantitative analytical insights to government clients. Specifically, she has worked on Department of the Navy (DoN) Public Private Venture program, monitoring utility consumption data through the Resident Energy Conservation Program (RECP) and supporting Family Housing project finance working groups. Ms. Pennybacker holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Economics from Colgate University.

Liam Murphy, Analyst

Liam Murphy is an Analyst at Emax providing financial and real estate consulting services to government clients. Mr. Murphy assists clients with financial modeling, compliance reviews, and asset valuation. He works with a variety of clients including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Navy (DoN). Mr. Murphy graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Boston College and is pursuing a M.S. in Finance from Hofstra University.

Amy Han, Consultant

Amy Han is a consultant with Emax. Ms. Han specializes in supporting quantitative and analytical services to a variety of federal government clients. During her time at Emax, she has been supporting clients including the Department of the Navy’s Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Public Private Venture (PPV) and Real Estate (RE) Program. Ms. Han holds an M.A. in International Affairs from the George Washington University and a B.A. in Global Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.