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Ben Weprin

Founder & CEO, AJ Capital Partners 

Ben Weprin is the Founder and CEO of AJ Capital Partners, a dynamic organization of counter culture hospitality and real estate investors and operators with the collective goal of acquiring, repositioning, and developing highly desired hospitality assets and prestigious resort destinations. Mr. Weprin is a real estate investment manager committed to building timeless, scalable businesses, and branded platforms. Mr. Weprin founded Graduate Hotels in 2014, Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts in 2021, and Memoir Residential in 2023. In 2024, Hilton agreed to pay $210 million to acquire all rights to the Graduate brand worldwide, enter into franchise agreements for all existing and signed pipeline Graduate Hotels, and become responsible for the brand’s future development and growth. AJ Capital will remain the owner of the more than 35 operating and pipeline Graduate properties, each of which will be operated under long-term Hilton franchise agreements. 

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Mr. Weprin graduated from the University of Tennessee Haslam College of Business in 2001 and earned his M.B.A. from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He currently resides in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood with his wife, Mary Ann, and their three daughters.