The principals of GAA are accomplished, “cycle-tested”, individuals with extensive experience managing institutional investment funds, and managing real estate assets on a national scale. They lead a highly qualified team, and leverage multiple strategic partnerships that enable the firm to operate comparable to organizations several times its size.

The senior leadership of GAA is:

DENNIS E. PEMBERTON, JR. - Founder & Chief Executive Officer

As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Global Asset Alternatives, LLC (“GAA”), Dennis is responsible for creating and implementing the vision of GAA and identifying and executing investment strategies.  Prior to founding GAA, Dennis served as Managing Director – Capital Markets of Shoptaw & Garrard, LLC, a boutique investment management firm, where he oversaw research, portfolio management and capital raising activities.  Prior thereto, Dennis was affiliated with Security Capital Group, Inc. (SCG), a global investment and research organization.  There he held several positions of increasing responsibility including:  Vice President of an SCG affiliate, where he identified, analyzed and structured global investment opportunities; Associate, Security Capital Markets Group where he participated in raising in excess of $3 billion of public and private equity for SCG affiliates; and assistant to the Vice Chairman where he analyzed and participated in several merger and acquisition transactions.  Dennis has also worked for CIGNA Investment Management as an asset manager, responsible for a $300 million multifamily portfolio.  Additionally, he has held positions at Lehman Brothers and the Prudential Realty Group. 

Dennis has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Morehouse College, having graduated with honors; an Executive Certificate in Real Estate Development from Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

J. DAVID DESHONG – Principal & Chief Financial Officer

As Principal and CFO of GAA, David is responsible for all financial, due diligence, treasury and investor reporting activities of the firm and the individual partnerships. In addition he is responsible for due diligence efforts in connection with the evaluation of potential real estate fund investment opportunities and, monitoring the performance of existing real estate portfolio investments.

Prior to joining GAA, David was Vice-President Special Projects for BKR Investment Ltd., a foreign owned commercial real estate firm. In this role he was responsible for the structuring and execution of the company’s property acquisitions, dispositions, financings and joint-venture activities. Prior to BKR Investments, David was the Chief Financial Officer for Monarch Capital Partners, a technology based venture capital firm. At Monarch he was responsible for the financial, investor reporting, treasury and human resource functions for the firm. Prior to his tenure at Monarch, David was a partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP where he serviced clients in the private equity, real estate and hospitality industries. At Deloitte & Touche he assisted real estate clients raise over $5 billion dollars of capital from equity and debt financings, including 10 REIT initial public offering transactions.

David holds an MBA and a BBA in Accounting from Baylor University where he graduated with honors.  He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Accountants. 

THEO C. RATLIFF – Principal

As a principal, Theo serves GAA in a business development capacity. A retired, sixteen‐year National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran, 2001 NBA All‐star, and most recently a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, Mr. Ratliff is an accomplished athlete and businessman. As president of Ratliff Enterprises, Inc., he oversees a portfolio of diversified holdings in real estate, financial services, media, telecommunications, and sport & nutritional supplements. A major contributor to several charities, he also served as member of the NBA Players Association Executive Committee, serving as a key contributor and negotiator during two, multi-billion dollar labor negotiations. Theo attended the University of Wyoming, where he majored in Communications; and completed executive coursework at Stanford University Graduate School of Business.