Gary Mendell is the founder and CEO of Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the devastation the disease of addiction causes families. Mr. Mendell founded Shatterproof after losing his son Brian to addiction in 2011 to spare other families of the tragedy his family suffered.

Shatterproof works to end the stigma and foster a community of support for families. Shatterproof provides families with evidence-based resources to support prevention, treatment and recovery. Shatterproof advocates for changes in policy at the federal and state level and supports the development and implementation of evidence-based solutions for substance-use disorders.

Prior to Shatterproof, Mr. Mendell founded and was CEO of HEI Hotels & Resorts. HEI manages a portfolio of ~40 hotels, with revenues of ~$650 million and value of ~$3 billion. Prior to HEI, Mr. Mendell was president of Starwood Lodging Trust and a member of its board of trustees.

Mr. Mendell is a member of the Clinton Health Matters Initiative, the Industry Real Estate Finance Advisory Council and a charter member of President Obama’s Better Building Challenge. Mr. Mendell received his B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and his MBA with distinction from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.