A Calling to Serve, Built Into a Business
MBE didn’t start in a boardroom. It started with a pastor and his wife who believed a hotel could be a place of real connection, and then proved it.
- The calling
Ministry first
Eric grew up in Arizona and was drawn to ministry early. He earned degrees in communications and theology from Walla Walla College and a Master of Divinity from Andrews University, and then he and Rita pastored New Life in Seattle.
- Portland
A church that ran a hotel
After founding Eastside Church in Portland, Eric and Rita did something nobody expected: the church bought a run-down Travelodge. After a $5 million renovation it reopened as a Quality Inn & Suites and a Rodeway Inn, and Choice Hotels named both Platinum award winners, each ranked in the top three of its brand. Eric told the story in his book, The MBE Revolution.
- Mentorship
Lessons from Horst Schulze
Eric was mentored by Horst Schulze, co-founder and former president of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. It gave him a deep respect for the details and the guest experiences behind the Ritz-Carlton name, and a conviction that service, done right, touches lives. Those lessons still shape how we work.
- Building the platform
From partner to owner
Eric became a partner in Lincoln Asset Management, growing its management and ownership business across 15 hotels. A 2010 partnership with BGW, a construction and architecture firm, sharpened his development skills. In 2013 he took full ownership of MBE Hospitality Management.
- 2015 · Kalispell
Home to Montana
Eric and Rita moved to Kalispell full time to pour everything into MBE. Their home, Coyote Bluff Estate, is now a full-service luxury retreat that welcomes guests from around the world. For us, hospitality isn’t just an industry. It’s how we live.
- Today
A team built for owners
Today Eric leads a team of experienced hotel professionals, and our portfolio has reached from Washington and Oregon to Texas and Illinois. We own hotels too, so we understand what is at stake for the owners we serve.