Dan Whalen

Founder & Managing Principal
Places Development

Dan has led nearly $1 billion in real estate development over his career. Prior to founding Places in 2024, he spent six years at Harbor Bay Ventures, where he oversaw all aspects of INTRO Cleveland, a $150 million mixed-use mass timber project recognized globally for its scale, innovation, and record-setting performance. The project earned numerous national and international awards and positioned Dan as a leading expert in tall, sustainable mass timber development. In parallel, Dan founded Harbor Bay Hospitality, a restaurant, coffee, and event operations company that launched four award-winning concepts in 2022.

Previously, Dan served as Director of Development at Starwood Retail Partners, managing projects across its national shopping center portfolio. Before Starwood, he was a Development Associate at Snavely Group, focusing on urban multifamily and hospitality developments.

A first-team All-American quarterback, Dan still holds multiple records at Case Western Reserve University, where he earned both his B.A. in English and MBA. He currently serves on the boards of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and CWRU’s Athletic Visiting Committee. Dan was named a 2024 Crain’s 40 Under 40 honoree and NAIOP Rising Star of the Year. He lives in Cleveland with his wife, Jillian, and their dog, Ash.