WE ARE INNOVATORS, DISRUPTORS, AND STORYTELLERS.
VERSUS is a multi-vertical lifestyle brand with best-in-class hospitality venues, a cutting-edge marketing agency and an innovative venture arm.
Simply put, we blow sh*t up.
CULTURE IS EVERYTHING
At VERSUS, we use our core beliefs as the foundation to create our own unique way of doing things.
This resulting culture is our “x-factor” that differentiates us from our competitors and allows us to create spaces, campaigns, experiences, and products unlike anyone else.
OUR TEAM
VINODA BASNAYAKE
CEO and Founder
Vinoda Basnayake:
Vinoda is one of Washington, DC’s top business entrepreneurs, specializing in the nightlife, hospitality and lifestyle industries. Vinoda has established himself as a sought-after retail guru whose mission is to open authentic concepts and invest in bold personalities. In 2019, Vinoda was appointed to be the first Chairman of Nightlife and Culture of DC by Mayor Muriel Bowser. He has received numerous media honors and recognitions including being named Top 40 Entrepreneurs Under 40 by Washington Business Journal, Most Influential Under 40 by Washington Life Magazine for the past seven years and profiled for “journeying from party promoter to powerbroker” by the Washington Post. Vinoda is also the youngest partner at Nelson Mullins LLP, the fastest growing law firm in America. He is ranked in the Legal 500, has been named one of The Hill’s Top Lobbyists and was recognized as Top Lobbyist of 2020 by the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics. Vinoda is an honors graduate from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business where he was a double major and double minor. He received the Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Contribution to the Campus, received the Outstanding Student Leader Award and was selected student graduation speaker by his class. He received a joint degree from the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School of Business in 2008. Vinoda was previously appointed Commissioner of the Small and Local Business Opportunity Commission for DC by former Mayor Adrian Fenty, served on Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Transition Team for Economic Development, was named to Muriel Bowser’s ReOpen DC Advisory Committee for safe reopening during the pandemic. He was formerly the Chairman of the Board of DC Vote and sits on the boards of the Washington Institute, the Asian American Pacific Islander Victory Fund and the National Children’s Museum. He was also the executive producer of the movie Sprinter with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.
Jared Nozick
Chief Marketing Officer
Jared Nozick:
Hailing from Rockville, Maryland, Jared is a versatile marketing leader with a unique entrepreneurial drive. He completed his marketing degree at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business in 2018, distinguishing himself as a self-propelled professional with an affinity for innovation and relationship building. At an early age of 26, Jared took the reins as VERSUS’ Chief Marketing Officer, masterfully infusing data-driven strategies into the traditional hospitality realm. His oversight encompasses brand strategy, growth, management and revenue generation across the company’s hospitality venues, activations, marketing agency, and venture arm. Jared’s notable achievements include the development and implementation of marketing initiatives for a number of clients, including Fortune 500 CEOs, national brands, and celebrities. Notable names on his client roster include: Live Nation, Spike Mendelsohn, Jay Sean, PLNT Burger, The St. James, Tom Collichhio and Donald Glover. He has generated numerous viral campaigns, garnering over 20,000,000+ media impressions, as well as $1,000,000+ in direct advertisement sales on paid advertising platforms. At VERSUS, Jared has helped increase the venues’ digital metrics by a conservative estimate of 300%. Jared is also a distinguished guest lecturer at the University of Maryland Business School, where he shares personal anecdotes and insights on entrepreneurship with University of Maryland digital marketing students. In his personal life, Jared’s talents extend beyond the boardroom. Jared enjoys cooking, he’s a state champion athlete and is a pianist armed with semi-perfect pitch. His passion for music, food and creativity intertwines seamlessly with his professional endeavors, illustrating the holistic approach he brings to every facet of his life.
Nikki Braden
Vice President | Hospitality
Nikki Braden:
Nikki is the Vice President at Versus and youngest member on the squad. She grew up in South Orange, New Jersey and attended the University of Maryland and graduated with a B.S. in Marketing and Information Systems. An entrepreneur by heart Nikki has had the fastest ascent at the company. She joined the VERSUS team as a Marketing Intern in February 2021, became Marketing Manager in June 2021, then quickly went on to manage all of the marketing for the VERSUS venues as Marketing Director in October 2021. Now as VP of Hospitality she is responsible for guest experience, restaurant systems and technology, decor, and marketing and events execution.
ANDREW FEHRETDINOV
Chief Financial Officer
Andrew Fehretdinov
Andrew Fehretdinov has over 15 years of financial management and accounting experience. Prior to Versus, Andrew was a Director of Finance at SystemsNet, Inc., where he spearheaded M&A due diligence efforts as part of a private equity-backed portfolio company. Andrew started his career at J.P. Morgan as an investment banking analyst in the Equity Capital Markets Group in Hong Kong, followed by an investment banking role at Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., in New York, and a subsequent analyst role at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Washington, DC. Andrew obtained a BSBA degree in Finance/Accounting from Georgetown University and an MBA from the University of Florida.
Piero Spada
Chief Operating Officer | Hospitality
Piero Spada:
With over 40 years of operational experience in Hospitality, Piero Spada is a veteran in all different aspects of food & beverage and entertainment. Dual Citizenship Italian from the Calabria region, Piero grew up in Pennsylvania and spent most of his summers in Europe. He spent a lot of time in New York, Philadelphia, Miami, and Las Vegas. He has a dual degree from Albright College in Psychology and Biology. Piero also is a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps and brings his military knowledge to Versus, especially when it comes to security policies and procedures. Piero grew up working in his parent’s Italian restaurant at the age of ten and basically has worked every job imaginable in operations. He’s a bit of an adrenaline junkie especially when it comes to adventure. He enjoys skydiving, scuba diving, soccer, lacrosse, martial arts as well as motorcycles. After graduating from college, Piero found himself in the modeling and acting career working in NY, NJ and Philadelphia. A renaissance man, Piero moved to DC in 2001 and has made it his home there among the who’s who of DC while entertaining celebrities, politicians and diplomats. Piero is comfortable and professional in all different social circles. He’s learned a lot from some of DC’s best from which he was mentored, especially when it comes to all aspects of night life, operations and hospitality. Piero is passionate and energetic to say the least. He has in-depth knowledge of all avenues of operations, while constantly evolving, learning and open to new methods. His constant thirst for learning and pushing the throttle drives him to achieve any task at hand. He enjoys concept development and design, project execution as well as being even a construction manager on many projects. As a multi-use tool, Piero is of great use to Versus in multiple facets.
ASHLEIGH PAYNE
Director of Private Events
Ashleigh Payne:
A native Washingtonian, Ashleigh has over twenty years of experience in restaurant hospitality and event planning in both Washington D.C and Los Angeles. After building an event staffing and event planning company in DC, she moved to Los Angeles to obtain a degree in fashion design and pursue a career in design and buying, while working at prominent L.A. bars. She now has two beautiful children and enjoys entertaining with a good martini.
HANK BOWERS
Beverage Director
Hank Bowers:
Hank Bowers is a seasoned restaurant industry professional with over two decades of experience in various roles, from line cook, bartender, manager and most recently beverage director. He’s renowned for his menu creations at iconic D.C. restaurants like Dlena, Fiola Mare, and Mintwood. In September 2021, Hank joined Versus Equity, where he contributed to the successful launch of three new locations, focusing on crafting exceptional cocktail menus and wine lists. His inventive approach combines advanced mixology techniques with seasonal ingredients. Notably, Hank played a pivotal role in transforming Ciel Social Club into a two-time award-winning rooftop hotspot. His creativity and dedication continue to make a significant impact in the culinary and beverage industry.
MEG KLINK
Director of Marketing | Hospitality
Meg Klink:
Megan currently works as Director of Marketing for our Hospitality arm at VERSUS. She is a recent Curatorial Practice MFA recipient from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and holds a B.A. in Art History with minors in Physics and Anthropology from Washington College. She was born into a family of professional chefs and artists, so she found a home in the multifaceted creative environment VERSUS cultivates. Megan strives to use her creative, yet analytical, background to implement innovative digital and physical marketing campaigns for VERSUS brands. She specializes in creating in-venue campaigns that drive business growth, revenue and engagement across multiple channels for Morris American Bar, Ciel Social Club, HEIST, and Casta’s Rum Bar.
ALDEN NEWMAN
Vice President | Agency
Alden Newman:
Alden joined VERSUS as a Marketing Intern right after graduating from University of Maryland in December 2020. Since then, he has risen to Vice President, where he leads our creative marketing agency and also works closely with our venture arm to support the launch and development of new products.
DAVID SARGSYAN
Director of Finance
David Sargsyan:
Born in Yerevan, Armenia; David has lived in Eastern Europe and USA. David graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance from the University of Maryland, College Park. He has experience with CFO Advisory, FP&A and Corporate Finance, Pre- and Post- M&A transaction advisory. He loves traveling, meeting new people and trying new food.
IAN BURKHARDT
Art Director
JIMMY MURRILL
Creative Director | Venture
Jimmy Murrill:
Jimmy Murrill is a proud graduate of the University of Maryland GC, where he graduated with a BA in Communications. Jimmy’s most significant achievement came through his rapid rise to internet fame on the app Vine. With over 1 million followers and an astonishing 1 billion views, he left an indelible mark on the platform and the social media industry. He has worked with dozens of major brands like LG, K-Mart, Spotify, Apple, Music Choice, Beatbox Beverages, and many more. After Vine, he has worked behind the scenes in the world of digital marketing and social media. He has launched 2 clothing lines and numerous successful products. His stint as an influencer and his entrepreneurial experience equips him with invaluable insights that he applies to his position as the Creative Director of Venture at Versus.
LYDIA FRANKLIN
Director of Partnership and Programming
WILMOT MWANDANDA
General Manager | Ciel
MARLHON LUCERO
General Manager | Casta’s DC
doug FISHER
General Manager | Morris
JIMMY ZEIGLER
General Manager
NICK POTO
Marketing Executive
PEYTON DOYLE
Private Events Manager
ROB BERMEO
General Manager | HEIST
RHINE DIZON
Assistant General Manager | Morris
