Meet Our Leaders

Justin Roberts
CEO, FounderI was once asked, “what’s the most important word in business?” Without hesitation I replied, “Trust.” Without trust, nothing else matters, which is why earning and keeping our business partners and customers trust is the cornerstone of how we view our business.
In 2003, I had just graduated from law school and knew two things; 1) I wasn’t immediately interested in being an attorney, and 2) I had a growing passion for real estate. I entered the University of Denver’s MS-RECM program with the intent of gaining the basic expertise in real estate finance and construction management necessary to land my first real estate job. Before I graduated, I was offered a role with a small Denver developer and my real estate career began. Over the next 16 years, I’ve held positions with AIG Global Real Estate, GE Capital, UDR, and Choice Hotels, amongst others, managing every aspect of the real estate investment, development, asset management, and financing process along the way. I’ve managed projects and portfolios nationwide and totaling several billion dollars in value.
My current role at HighSide allows me to leverage all those past experiences to help the HighSide team serve our business partners and customers across the real estate spectrum in any way they require. We have deep expertise in sourcing, investment management, asset management, and development and construction management. We look forward to putting our team’s skills to work for you.
Education: Master of Science RECM – University of Denver; Juris Doctor – William & Mary School of Law; BA – University of California Santa Barbara

Kevin McKinney
President, FounderA mentor of mine once said, “We are going to build a place that people go to, not through”. This philosophy has stuck with me throughout my career and one of the many reasons I am passionate about what we do at HighSide. We strive to be a great business partner while also positively impacting every community we work with.
I began my career working for a large General Contractor based in Denver. After completing their training program and spending a few years working on large commercial projects, I quickly realized I wanted to be part of the larger development process, allowing me to influence the design and improve the overall construction experience. It was at this point in my career that I was given the opportunity to join one of the largest privately-owned Hotel developers in the country, Sage Hospitality. I spent 10 years with Sage as their VP of Design and Construction and was fortunate to work on multiple Hotel renovations, Historic rehabs, and new construction projects across the country. It was at Sage where I learned the positive impacts design and construction can have on a local community.
At HighSide, I am responsible for all high-level strategic decisions to ensure we are exceeding our client’s expectations and project goals.
Education: I earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Colorado State University.

Aaron Pollick
Vice President of DevelopmentMy career has taken me all over the country. I’ve built ski villages, hospitals and medical offices, civic centers, police and fire stations, and numerous multi-family/mixed use buildings–with hotel projects on each coast and many more sprinkled in between. It’s in this experience that I’ve learned a deep appreciation for the hospitality industry.
Hospitality projects and “making a place” for others to experience is as good as it gets in real estate development. Whether providing a home away from home for that business trip or a family vacation, the care we take to make sure guest experiences a comfortable and enjoyable stay is paramount. Getting to that end is the challenge.
As a Vice President, I’m responsible for managing our team and overseeing the entire process from the initial concept through project construction and opening. I believe it all starts within listening to establish the team’s goals. With goals come challenges–and that’s where my job gets fun. I enjoy building teams to solve for challenges with creativity, efficiency and patience—it’s what “making” is all about. I appreciate the challenge of figuring out the best options to solve each problem, whether the goal is budget, aesthetics, engineering or customer focused. Let’s figure it out together!
Education: I’ve earned a Master of Science in Construction Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design from Purdue University, but I’m a lifelong learner.

Andrew Smith
Vice President of Finance and OperationsI have been in the CRE investment management industry for 17 years. I was fortunate to start my career in an investments role for a national, diversified REIT that invested throughout the capital stack, providing a broad exposure to underwriting, various markets, and product types. Early on, I managed a couple value-add investments and I realized I had a passion for construction and the development process. I pivoted my career since to the investment management, financing, and development of value-add and development real estate investments and vehicles. I have held positions with Black Creek Group, Unico Properties LLC, and Northwood Investors LLC, managing $3.2 billion in investments and $1.3 billion in acquisition, financing, and disposition transactions.
At Highside, I am responsible for corporate operations, finance, FP&A, and accounting and oversee the investment team’s finance, operations, and investor relations.
Education: BSBA in Finance – University of Denver; CFA® charterholder, CFA Institute

Randy Kunert
Vice President of Project ManagementThis Winston Churchill quote, “We shape our buildings; there after they shape us,” has always inspired me that we are what we have built, and that we grow in character by the quality we have left behind.
During my 20+ years in the hospitality industry I have been involved in many stages of the hotel development process. I began as an architectural drafter for an interior design firm, then became a project manager for hotel development and management companies, and finally an estimator/ project manager for construction firms specializing in the hospitality industry.
At HighSide, I oversee the management of the PIP (property improvement plan) team and guide the team through the project management process for repositioning and renovating of our client’s portfolio of properties.