Leadership
Meet The Chase Merritt Team.
Chase Merritt brings together seasoned investment, development, and asset management leadership with deep roots in the Telluride region and decades of hands-on execution across hospitality, mixed-use, and operating real estate.
Chad Horning
Founder & CEO
Founder of Chase Merritt and a long-time Telluride-based investor and developer, Chad Horning leads the firm’s capital strategy, project vision, and operating approach across hospitality and resort-oriented investments. His background spans acquisitions, repositioning, fund deployment, and complex ground-up development. He has led major hospitality and mountain-market projects from sourcing through capitalization, execution, and long-term ownership strategy. Previously, Chad spearheaded the acquisition of Telluride Ski & Golf Resort while serving as President of Newport Federal.
25+
Years Experience
$1B+
Hospitality & Resort Projects
$300M+
Self-Managed Funds Deployed
Derek Hrzek
Managing Director
Derek brings more than two decades of investment and development experience across hospitality, mixed-use, office, retail, and industrial sectors. At Hines, he played a key role in the firm’s Asia Pacific growth, including opening the Shenzhen office and leading the acquisition of the pioneering APAC logistic asset that launched the regional platform. His track record includes cross-border execution, institutional platform building, and disciplined transaction management across complex asset types.
20+
Years Experience
$1.5B+
Acquisitions & Developments
Chase Horning
Director, Real Estate Development
Chase brings nearly a decade of hands-on experience in real estate development, investment, and project management across hospitality, retail, office, medical, multifamily, single-family, affordable housing, and resort assets. As Director of Real Estate Development at Chase Merritt, he leads complex ground-up and redevelopment initiatives across the Mountain West. Prior to joining Chase Merritt, Chase worked for the largest affordable housing developer in California and has successfully delivered projects in California, Utah, and Colorado — navigating some of the most demanding regulatory environments in the country.
10
Years Experience
3
States Delivered