Doug "DJ Fresh" Hensel
At the end of 1999, Doug Hensel was working in the Clubhouse and as a bat boy for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, a Major League baseball team which formed in 1998 in his hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida. After taking an internship the following summer in Atlanta to work for TBS and the Atlanta Braves, Doug returned home to find out that a new radio station had taken to the airwaves. This station was WiLD 98.7 FM. Doug realized it would not be easy to simply apply for employment to the station, since there was a huge waiting list for the promotions department’s street team. He found a way in through the research and development department. There, he was hired by the station and began working on conducting radio music surveys and finding out the musical interests of certain demographics of people. After his shift was over at 11:00 p.m., he would wander down the hallway and peek into the studio to listen to the radio station’s DJ at the time. After only working a couple months in the R & D department, the station decided that it would be more valuable having him as a contributing on-air personality on the 7 p.m.-12 a.m. show, as well as a member of the promotions department’s street team. From then, each Friday night, Doug would make his way to Ybor City in Tampa to the hottest nightclub destination in town, the Pleasuredome. This is where Doug met the most well-known and talented DJ and his mentor, DJ Xtreme. All it took was for Doug to ask, "Can you teach me how to play music like that?" Two months later, he was dubbed "DJ Fresh" and he was playing music to open the club every Friday and Saturday night.
Years later, in 2008, DJ Fresh Events has blossomed into a full-force event-planning and fundraising machine. DJ Fresh now provides the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team entertainment during and after the games, as well as hosts private events for the players. DJ Fresh has also hosted celebrity events and after-parties for Rihanna, Chris Brown, Pitbull, The Roots, The Sugar Hill Gang, Clipse and even Indy race car driver Dan Wheldon’s wedding day. DJ Fresh no longer refers to himself as a DJ, but as an entertainer. His record selection and personality, mixed with his energy, are what makes him so popular to everyone he comes in contact with.
Chris Hounchell
Chris Hounchell, a Broker Associate with REMAX Metro, brings to the organization an impressive range of professional experience, as well an entrepreneurial spirit and intense work ethic.
Chris has repeatedly been a multi-million dollar producer in the Florida real estate market, and he has been formally recognized for his outstanding production by REMAX International, REMAX Metro, American Mortgage and Title Insurors of Florida.
Additionally, Chris has ascended to principal positions in a number of successful companies, including Americlaim Solutions, Zeneks, Coldwell Banker and REMAX Metro. He is also currently President of BELCON, LLC, a Florida Real Estate consulting firm.
Chris, a fifth generation St. Petersburg native, is very active in Tampa Bay’s business and philanthropic communities. He is a committed member of the Bay Area Advisors (BAA), Albert Whitted Airport Preservation Society (AWAPS), the Tampa Club, Club Excel, The Tampa Connection, the University of Florida Alumni Association, the Pinellas Realtor Organization (PRO), the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR), the National Association of Realtors (NAR), SENATE Circle and the Tracy McGrady Foundation.
Chris graduated in 2002 from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Public Relations. He shouldered a full-time work schedule while completing his studies, a work ethic that he continues to rely upon today.
Kevin Lilly
“Kevin is the definition of Grassroots Marketing… he likes to call it the Forest Gump approach. Everything about his life is grassroots… a true fish, swimming upstream.” - Neil Habgood – Author, Speaker, Nutritionist, Athletic Trainer of “What about Blue.”
"Kevin Lilly is a trove of energy and ideas.” - Jesse Landis – Paradise Advertising
“Kevin Lilly's enthusiasm and energy is a welcome asset to any project. I have enjoyed working with Kevin on several projects and look forward to many more.” - Johnny Green, Owner, Magic Promotions & Entertainment
With a deeply rooted knowledge of the grassroots marketing industry, Kevin has created, campaigned for, or physically helped launch several companies, including Hawk Brothers Coffee Co., The Downtown Bloc, and the Rock by the Sea Music Festival. On a larger scale, Kevin, with his partners in LiveAlive Productions, produced, created, and executed the Rock for Hearts Charity Concert that brought a sold out capacity of 500 people with headliners Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Mark Farner, formerly of Grand Funk Railroad, and Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult.
Kevin designed and created The Bloc, which is a Community Action Group/Member Benefits Program that pours countless hours each month into their local downtown district of St. Petersburg, Florida, to clean the streets, advocate changes in the city council, and plan and execute events designed to bring merchants more business. This program unites the merchant community with the consumer in a unique and innovative manner. Currently, the program benefits over 60 merchants in the downtown district, as well as several charities and city-wide functions. “This program benefits the merchant…By benefiting the merchant first and supporting their investments in our city, we can return a benefit to our Bloc Members in the form of discounts and offers,” Kevin said in a recent statement. “The Bloc merchants benefit from this program each and every time we promote them, in the hopes that they will turn that benefit we provide them over to our Bloc Members.”
“My fervent passion in life is to serve others with all that I do…” Kevin Lilly
Brendan McDowell
Brendan McDowell moved to the city of St. Petersburg from Scranton, Pennsylvania at the age of 9. Spending the majority of his life in St. Petersburg provided Brendan with a passion and fire for the city, a passion that he and the other members of the Four Aces share. Brendan is an alumnus of St. Petersburg Catholic High School and St. Petersburg College.
In 2004, Brendan founded InfinaSol, a local technology and marketing consulting firm that provides services to a wide variety of Tampa Bay area businesses. Brendan also created TampaBayParty.com, a local entertainment website that caters primarily to downtown St. Petersburg. Thousands of members utilize Tampa Bay Party for information on events, entertainment news, and interaction in community forums.
Currently, Brendan serves as the Chief Information Officer for SMH Radiology Associates in Sarasota. But his bond with the city remains unbroken, as Brendan continues to reside in St. Petersburg. Brendan also volunteers for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the American Cancer Society, the City of St. Petersburg, and the 2008 McCain-Palin presidential campaign.
The idea for the Four Aces’ inaugural event, CASINOVA 2008, was born out of Brendan’s advocacy for pancreatic cancer research. Brendan lost his father, Timothy McDowell, to this deadly disease in 2000.
Michael S. Novilla
NOVA 535, an Art Lounge, is the brainchild of Michael S. Novilla. Michael is a graduate of the USF M.B.A. program and the owner of Crescent Lake Apartments. A St. Petersburg native, Michael has a passion for maintaining the quintessential charm and design characteristics of all the properties he owns and develops. Since 1994, Crescent Lake Apartments has become some of the most sought-after rental property in St. Petersburg.
Michael got the idea for NOVA 535 while traveling through over 30 countries on 5 continents to some of the world’s most renowned art galleries - from the Musée d'Orsay to the Tate, to the Guggenheim, and countless others. While he was off enjoying spectacular rooftop lounges, cavernous night clubs, raves in Ancient Castles, market street bazaars, modern Discos and crazy Aboriginal festivals the concepts and ideas he encountered percolated deeper and deeper into his mind. With these sights and experiences compelling his creative side, it occurred to Michael that his home town of St. Petersburg was just the city to support such a world-class destination. Thus was born his notion of NOVA 535: a modern gallery-space-meets-swanky lounge-meets -world-class- event- venue.
The building, located at 535 Dr. M.L. King, Jr. Street North, started out as Slap Happy’s Five and Dime in the 1920’s, and was the “Pet Planet” in its most recent incarnation. Michael and his dogs were regular customers at the Pet Planet, and when he heard the building was for sale, he knew he’d found the home for his new project. This gorgeous 1920’s structure boasts 8” red clay block walls, 18 foot ceilings, a second story and over 7,000 square feet of gallery and event space.With input collected from local and international visual and performing artists, theatrical set and lighting designers, club promoters, event and catering professionals, architects and interior designers (just to name a few), NOVA 535 features a fusion of modern and classic design features, state of the art audio/visual equipment, a swanky full service bar and spacious, modern catering kitchen. The only event venue of its kind in the area, NOVA 535 exhibits year-round, featuring the best local and international talent in all artistic mediums, providing the ultimate backdrop for unique and memorable special events.