Matt Padilla brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen, and deep-rooted industry knowledge to his role as a Commercial Broker at AiCRE Partners. With a career that began in the restaurant industry at age 18, Matt rose through the ranks to become the General Manager of a multi-million-dollar restaurant in Downtown Walnut Creek. When the restaurant closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Matt pivoted, launching a successful family-run hospitality business that now includes a full-service catering operation, a food truck, and a café.
Having experienced firsthand the challenges and triumphs of business ownership, Matt offers invaluable insight to clients—particularly those in the food and beverage industry. His specialties include restaurant start-ups, site selection, remodels, and leasing. He understands the critical decisions that come with launching or expanding a business and approaches every real estate opportunity with a relationship-first mindset.
Matt is a native of the Martinez/Pleasant Hill area, a proud graduate of De La Salle High School, and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from Whitworth University. He is passionate about helping clients—from first-time entrepreneurs to seasoned investors—navigate the commercial real estate landscape with confidence and clarity.
Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, cooking, traveling, golfing, and cheering on his kids in their various sports activities.
Laura Waltz is a seasoned commercial real estate professional specializing in the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of hospitality assets throughout California. With over 20 years of operational and asset management experience in the hotel industry, Laura brings an owner’s perspective to every transaction—helping clients maximize value, mitigate risk, and execute with precision.
As the founder of Central Coast Hospitality, Laura has advised independent hotel owners across the state on improving asset performance, driving revenue, and enhancing long-term investment returns. Her practical experience in operations, combined with formal training in hospitality asset management from Cornell University, allows her to provide clients with data-driven insights and strategic recommendations that go beyond traditional brokerage.
Laura represents investors, developers, and owner-operators in hotel transactions ranging from single-asset sales to portfolio repositioning strategies. Her expertise spans market underwriting, financial analysis, contract negotiation, and deal structuring—making her a trusted advisor for both institutional and private clients.
In addition to her transactional work, Laura has played an active role in shaping local market dynamics. She was instrumental in establishing the Tourism Marketing District (TMD) in Amador County, an initiative aimed at generating sustainable tourism funding. Her leadership in organizations such as Visit Santa Cruz County (Board President) and the Santa Cruz County Hospitality and Lodging Association (CFO) reflects her deep regional knowledge and commitment to industry advancement.
Education
- Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management, Cornell University
Tobin Shaeffer brings a disciplined, client-focused approach to hospitality real estate, serving hotel owners, operators, and investors across California. With a background shaped by service in the U.S. Navy and a career in adaptive physical therapy, Tobin is known for his precision, follow-through, and deep commitment to helping others succeed—qualities that define his work in commercial real estate today.
Partnering with his wife and longtime hospitality veteran, Laura Waltz, Tobin leverages a collaborative model that leverages 20+ years of industry-specific experience in hotel operations, asset management, and brokerage. Together, they offer clients a full-spectrum advisory team with operational insight, financial acumen, and strategic execution tailored to the hospitality sector.
Tobin focuses on boutique hotels, independent inns, coastal properties, and select-service brands—supporting clients through acquisitions, dispositions, and repositioning strategies. Backed by the national reach of AiCRE Partners, he brings market awareness, analytical discipline, and relationship-driven guidance to each transaction.
Whether representing a first-time buyer or a seasoned hotel operator, Tobin is committed to long-term value creation, delivering advisory services rooted in trust, transparency, and results.
Education:
- AA Physical Education
- BS Psychology
- C.A.R. Income Property Specialist
- Google Project Management
Elamin Awadalla is a San Francisco Bay Area native who initiated his career in real estate shortly after graduating from the University of California, Riverside, where he earned his B.A. in Economics.
Elamin strives to cultivate long-lasting relationships with his clients that extend beyond transactions. He is inherently competitive and takes immense pride in the quality of work he provides, aiming to surpass all expectations and deliver nothing short of amazing results. Clients are attracted to his work ethic, honesty, and creativity.
Outside of real estate, Elamin enjoys staying active, whether that involves playing basketball, weightlifting, or going for a run outdoors.
Rupi Dhaliwal is an Investment Advisor and Principal Strategist with AiCRE Partners, where she brings a rare blend of hands-on veterinary business ownership and elite commercial real estate expertise. As a former practice owner who successfully launched, operated, and sold a seven-figure veterinary business, Rupi provides clients with a unique perspective rooted in real operational experience.
Her background includes directing full clinic build-outs, managing daily operations, and leading strategic expansions—insight that allows her to advise buyers and sellers on both business and real estate value. At AiCRE Partners, Rupi leverages this dual expertise to guide clients through complex transactions, helping veterinary owners and investors maximize outcomes by aligning business performance with property value.
Rupi’s clients range from private equity firms and consolidators to individual DVM acquirers, each benefiting from her ability to bridge operational insight with financial precision. Her work ensures every client’s legacy is preserved and their next chapter is strategically positioned for success.
Outside of work, Rupi is a proud boy mom to her six-year-old son, Armaan. Whether they’re building Lego creations, exploring the beach, or learning about trucks and excavators, he’s inspired her to bring curiosity, creativity, and play into all aspects of life.
Roman Hess is a licensed commercial real estate agent with AiCRE Partners, specializing in the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of net-leased and investment-grade commercial real estate assets nationwide.
Roman began his commercial real estate career at Marcus & Millichap, where he developed a strong foundation in transaction execution, underwriting, and advisory services. During his tenure, he worked closely with Los Angeles–based property owners, assisting clients with 1031 exchanges into single-tenant, net-leased assets across the United States. Through this experience, Roman became highly proficient in navigating exchange timelines, evaluating tenant credit, and structuring replacement acquisitions across multiple markets and asset classes.
Roman believes in a data-driven approach to commercial real estate, where decisions are grounded in market evidence, underwriting discipline, and a clear understanding of risk and return. He advises property owners and investors with a focus on objective analysis, informed execution, and long-term ownership outcomes.
Education:
- B.A Economics California State University, Northridge
Gina is the Operations Manager for the Hagar group. Her job description is immense, which makes her a critical component to the success and production of the entire office. She is responsible for a variety of tasks such as marketing, sales support, client communication, and file coordination. Gina also has a real estate license, which allows her to assist directly with clients and prospects of the Hagar group. Having owned multiple businesses prior to her joining the Hagar group, as well as being the mother to 7 kids, she is very organized and excellent at multitasking which makes her proficient in numerous roles. She draws on this prior experience to enable the Hagar group to provide the best support available to its clients.
