Meet the Team

Ryan Gibson is an entrepreneur, real estate investor, and the Founder & CEO of Midwest Haven Escapes, a hospitality and property management company based in Columbus, Ohio. Ryan has built his career around identifying opportunities in real estate and creating businesses designed to support the entire lifecycle of an investment—from acquisition and renovation to operations, hospitality, maintenance, and long-term asset performance. Through Midwest Haven Escapes and his portfolio of affiliated companies and investments, he is focused on building exceptional properties, strong partnerships, and businesses that can scale without sacrificing quality. His approach is rooted in ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement. Ryan believes great hospitality goes far beyond managing reservations—it requires thoughtful design, disciplined operations, strong teams, memorable guest experiences, and treating every property as an investment that deserves to perform. As an active real estate investor himself, Ryan brings an owner's perspective to every property and partnership. His long-term vision is to continue growing Midwest Haven Escapes into a vertically integrated hospitality and real estate platform while developing unique destination properties throughout Ohio and beyond. Outside of business, Ryan's greatest priority is his family. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Cory, and their two boys, staying active, golfing, traveling, and making time for the friendships and experiences that matter most.y

“How we cultivate our relationships is often the greatest determinant of the type of life we get to live. Business is no different.” - Gary Vaynerchuk

Michalla Moon is the Director of Hospitality Operations & Finance at Midwest Haven Escapes, where she plays a key leadership role in the day-to-day operations, financial organization, and overall performance of the company. With a strong background in management and a natural ability to bring structure to fast-moving environments, Michalla helps connect the many moving pieces behind Midwest Haven Escapes. Her responsibilities span hospitality operations, financial oversight, owner reporting, internal processes, team coordination, and ensuring important initiatives move from conversation to execution. As Midwest Haven Escapes continues to grow, Michalla works closely with leadership to develop stronger systems, improve accountability, and create the operational structure necessary to scale while maintaining a high standard of service for guests, property owners, and partners. Known for her organization, attention to detail, and ability to keep priorities moving forward, Michalla has become an integral part of the company's leadership team and continued evolution. Outside of work, Michalla enjoys spending time with her family and friends and caring for her two dogs.

“If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.” - Michele Ruiz

Jayden Tharp is the Asset Manager at Midwest Haven Escapes, where he is focused on protecting and improving the performance of the properties entrusted to the company. Working closely with property owners, partners, and the Midwest Haven Escapes operations team, Jayden helps ensure each property is positioned for long-term success. His role spans property performance, owner communication, asset quality, inspections, maintenance coordination, operational improvements, and identifying opportunities to enhance both the guest experience and overall value of each investment. Jayden serves as a key link between ownership and day-to-day operations, turning property-level data, guest feedback, and operational insights into clear action. His goal is not simply to manage issues as they arise, but to proactively identify opportunities and ensure every property continues to meet the standards expected by Midwest Haven Escapes and its partners. As the portfolio continues to grow, Jayden plays an important role in maintaining accountability across each asset while building strong, transparent relationships with the owners and partners Midwest Haven Escapes serves. 

“If something’s important enough, you should try. Even if – the probable outcome is failure.” - Elon Musk

Jake Ortiz is the Property & Project Manager at Midwest Haven Escapes, where he helps oversee the physical condition, maintenance, improvement, and long-term care of the company's managed properties. With hands-on experience across maintenance, property operations, and construction projects, Jake plays an important role in ensuring each property is maintained to the standards expected by Midwest Haven Escapes, its owners, and its guests. His responsibilities include coordinating property improvements, supporting quarterly property inspections, identifying preventative maintenance needs, and helping oversee larger repair and renovation projects from planning through completion. As Midwest Haven Escapes continues to expand its asset management and property improvement capabilities, Jake's role is increasingly focused on project management—helping owners and partners navigate larger renovations, capital improvements, property upgrades, and projects designed to protect and enhance the long-term value of their investments. Jake works closely with the asset management and operations teams to turn inspection findings and property needs into actionable projects, helping ensure issues are addressed proactively rather than reactively. His combination of field experience and project oversight provides an important connection between the day-to-day physical needs of a property and Midwest Haven Escapes' broader commitment to protecting and improving the assets under its management.

Cory Gibson is the Creative Director & Lead Designer at Midwest Haven Escapes, where she helps bring each property to life through thoughtful design, distinctive concepts, and memorable guest experiences. Cory works across new property launches, renovations, and property transformations to develop spaces that are both beautiful and intentional. From establishing the overall design direction and selecting finishes, furnishings, and décor to helping conceptualize unique amenities and memorable spaces, her work plays an important role in creating properties that stand out in an increasingly competitive hospitality market. Her approach to design goes beyond aesthetics. Cory considers how guests will experience a property, how spaces will photograph and market online, and how design decisions can contribute to both the property's identity and its long-term performance. Working alongside the Midwest Haven Escapes operations, asset management, and project teams, Cory helps take properties from an initial vision through a cohesive finished product—balancing creativity with the durability and functionality required of high-performing vacation rentals. As Midwest Haven Escapes continues to develop and manage increasingly unique destination properties, Cory helps define the creative vision behind the brand and the experiences guests remember long after their stay.

“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” - Winston Churchill