The Partners

Ariana Thomas has spent her career doing one thing exceptionally well — seeing the potential in something before anyone else does and building it into something people can't stop talking about.

A GIA Graduate Gemologist and founder of ExtraordinAri Gems, Ariana built a jewelry house rooted in intentionality, permanence, and the belief that the objects we surround ourselves with should mean something. That same philosophy now drives her work at NXS Group.

As Managing Partner of Creative Vision and Community, Ariana is responsible for the aesthetic identity of every NXS experience — how it looks, how it feels, and who is in the room. She curates the guest list, shapes the brand, and ensures that every event NXS produces is not simply attended but remembered.

She brings to hospitality what she brought to jewelry — an instinct for what the moment calls for, and the discipline to execute it at the highest level.

Dontrelle Inman has built a career defined by performance, precision, and an instinct for bringing people together. A former NFL wide receiver with nine seasons across the Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, and Washington Football Team, Dontrelle developed a discipline on the field that has shaped everything he has built since leaving the league.

Today he serves as a Wealth Advisor at J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, advising a select group of clients while building a portfolio of ventures including Milano Consulting, Inman Enterprise, and Lake Murray Manor. His work across finance, real estate, and consulting has given him a rare vantage point — understanding both the numbers behind a business and the atmosphere that makes people want to be part of one.

At NXS Group, Dontrelle leads Finance and Corporate Relations. He oversees the financial strategy of the company, shapes the sponsor and partnership conversations that fund the brand, and ensures every decision NXS makes is built to last.

He brings to NXS what he brought to the field — performance, precision, and the ability to make the people around him better.

Cheick Koné built his career on understanding what luxury actually feels like — not as an idea, but as an experience. A former basketball player turned entrepreneur, Cheick is the founder of one of the nation's leading luxury exotic car rental companies, where he has spent years curating high-end moments for the kind of clientele that expects the best and recognizes it instantly.

Beyond the exotic car business, Cheick curates luxury home experiences and works as a consultant and mentor — offering courses and guidance to entrepreneurs building and scaling their own ventures. He brings a rare combination to hospitality: an operator's instinct for what people actually want, a network built across automotive, real estate, and lifestyle, and a deep commitment to helping others grow.

At NXS Group, Cheick leads Lifestyle and Experiential — shaping how the brand shows up outside the venue. From the exotic car fleet that arrives with every NXS event to the partnerships that turn a night into a full sensory experience, Cheick ensures the NXS name carries the same level of taste and execution in every corner of the experience.

He doesn't just host events. He elevates every step of the journey that leads to them.