Advisory Board Members of the Leven School of Hospitality Management bring industry
connections and a wealth of information to the school from varied hospitality backgrounds.
Barry Bloom, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer, Xenia Hotels & Resorts
Barry A.N. Bloom, Ph.D. is president and chief operating officer of Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc., an NYSE-listed real estate investment trust. Additionally, he currently is an adjunct faculty member at Florida International University. From 2011 to 2013, Bloom served as an associate professor of practice in the School of Hospitality Administration at Boston University. From 2008 to 2011, Bloom co-founded and was a principal of Abacus Lodging Investors LLC. Previously, he was Executive Vice president of Portfolio Management & Administration with CNL Hotels & Resorts, Inc. And, prior to CNL, he served as Vice President, Investment Management for Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Bloom has also worked for Tishman Hotel & Realty, VMS Realty Partners, and Pannell Kerr Forster (now CBRE Hotels). Bloom received his B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Management as well as an MBA from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Hospitality Management from Iowa State University.
Jessica Coane, Director of Sales & Marketing, Marriott & Springhill Suites, Atlanta
Northwest
Jessica Coane is director of sales & marketing at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest at
Galleria. She is responsible for the development and implementation of sales and marketing
strategies to generate revenue for the hotel. Coane joined the Marriott in 2019. Previously,
she was the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast, the Atlanta
Marriott Peachtree Corners and the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center. Coane is
a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Business Administration
in Hospitality Management. She began her hospitality career working front office operations
with Walt Disney World Resorts at the Polynesian Resort. After several years in operations,
Coane found her passion in sales and has never looked back. She resides in downtown
Woodstock, Ga. with her husband and two children.
Andrea Daniels, Director of Distribution Strategy, IHG
Andrea Daniels currently serves as Director of Distribution Strategy for InterContinental Hotels Group and has primary responsibility for strategy, commercial relationships, contract negotiations and business development. She is an experienced head of distribution and intermediary sales strategy leader with more than 17 years of experience working in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. She has extensive knowledge and experience in advertising, tourism & hospitality, relationship & campaign management, third party distribution strategy, online travel agencies, events management, global distribution systems, wholesale strategy, personal branding, digital channels, coaching, personal development, sales & marketing and commercial leadership. Daniels has a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management from Temple University and a master鈥檚 degree focused on Global Hospitality Management from the Georgia State University J. Mack Robinson College of Business, where she recently served as an adjunct professor in the College of Business. With a passion for community service, Daniels focuses a great deal on giving back to the community through volunteer efforts and helping students with their own personal brands. When she is not busy working, she enjoys traveling, spending quality time with her family and being a student of continuous learning, while experiencing new cultures around the world.
Amar Doshi currently serves as the Food & Beverage Procurement Category Director for Intercontinental Hotels Group. IHG is a global hospitality company with 16 brands ranging from Ultra-Premium to Limited-Service properties and a footprint of nearly 6,000 properties globally. Since joining IHG in 2014, Doshi has been responsible for the strategic procurement direction of food & beverage, including all aspects of supply chain and vendor management. He previously managed supply chains and various categories for Dunkin Brands, Arby鈥檚 and CarMax. Prior to joining the corporate workforce, Doshi owned and operated quick service restaurants in the Atlanta market for several years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Retailing and Consumer Sciences from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Business Administration from 网红头条.
Margarita Gilo, Club Manager, Ansley Golf Club
Margarita A. Gilo, CCM, is the club manager at Ansley Golf Club. Gilo joined Ansley
in December of 2018, bringing 20 years of experience in hospitality including 15 years
in platinum-level clubs. Gilo began her career at The Cherokee Town and Country Club
in Atlanta, where she spent five years gaining valuable industry knowledge. After
completing the three-year management training program, she was promoted to operations
manager. Gilo then accepted the food and beverage director position at Deerwood Country
Club in Jacksonville, Fla. After three-and-a-half years as the clubhouse manager for
Isleworth Golf and Club in Orlando, Gilo joined the Ansley family. As a leader, Gilo
believes in inspiring people around her by being available, visible, positive and
approachable. She believes in interaction and building powerful relationships with
her team and with club members. Gilo is a member of the Club Manager Association of
America and received her Certified Club Manager designation in 2017. Margarita currently
serves on the Georgia CMAA board and is the student development liaison for Georgia.
Margarita received a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management concentrating
in private club management from Niagara University in Buffalo, N.Y.
Anish Govan, President and CEO, Five Star Hospitality
Anish Govan serves as the President & CEO at Five Star. He was raised behind a front
desk and developed a passion for the industry. During his career, he has built an
impressive track record in hotel development and operations. At Five Star, he develops
the long-term vision and supports all aspects of the firm's growing business. Anish
graduated with a Masters in Global Hospitality Management from the J. Mack Robinson
College of Business in July 2014. He pursued an undergraduate degree in Finance from
the University of Georgia. He is committed to making Five Star one of the leading
firms in the nation through continued investments, management, and development. Anish
was born and raised in Ringgold, GA. Growing up, he was passionate about development
as he visited many of his father's construction sites. In his free time, he enjoys
spending time with his beautiful wife and family. Anish's favorite trip out of the
country was an international business study abroad at the University of Oxford in
England.
Ankit Govan, Vice President of Investments, Five Star Hospitality
Ankit Govan serves as the Vice President of Investments at Five Star. At a young age,
Ankit was exposed to hospitality through his family's business and quickly developed
a passion for the industry. After graduating from the University of Tennessee with
his degree in Finance, he completed a Manager in Training (MIT) program with one of
the largest hotel operators in North America. During his career, he quickly climbed
the corporate ladder, serving as an Operations Manager, Revenue Analyst, Financial
Analyst, Asset Manager, and most recently, as a Senior Associate of Finance & Acquisition
for a private equity firm. In his current role, Ankit provides Five Star investment
opportunities across all commercial real estate asset classes. Ankit was born and
raised in Ringgold, GA. Growing up, he was passionate about basketball, cricket, horseback
riding, and attending local rodeos. He enjoys traveling with his friends and family,
working out, and watching the Georgia Bulldogs play football. In his free time, he
loves to spend time with his parents and wants to travel the world. His favorite trip
has been during his study abroad to Dublin, Ireland.
Chris Hardman, Director of Governmental Affairs and Membership, Georgia Hotel and
Lodging Association
Chris Hardman serves as the Director of Governmental Affairs & Membership for the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association representing the state鈥檚 lodging industry and is also one of GHLA鈥檚 registered lobbyists. GHLA acts as the unified voice for Georgia鈥檚 2,064 hotel and lodging properties. Hardman graduated summa cum laude with a BBA in Hospitality Administration from Georgia State University, where he also earned a Master of Global Hospitality Management degree. Prior to working with GHLA, Hardman was the research associate for Georgia Capitol Associates, advocating on behalf of the hospitality and tourism industry. He also served four years as the member development executive and as a registered lobbyist for the Georgia Restaurant Association, representing one of the state鈥檚 largest industries. Hardman was recently included in GSU鈥檚 40 Under 40 Class of 2019. He has volunteered with many organizations, including serving as Governmental Affairs Conference Chair for the international Society of Hotel Associations, sitting on the advisory board for NOSH Talks and the boards of directors of TEAM Georgia and the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, and serving as former chair of the Hospitality Syndicate. Hardman has spent his career devoting his time to creating a better environment for hospitality and tourism businesses in Georgia.
Gary Hughes, General Manager, Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel and Convention Center
Gary Hughes is the general manager of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel and Convention Center. He began his career as a front desk agent at the Philadelphia Marriott, City Line Avenue. Hughes has worked in eight states and 14 hotels covering multiple disciplines and brands during his 40-year career with Marriott International. Before his current position, Hughes spent nine years as the regional vice president of the Southeast Group Sales Organization, representing 80 hotels for multiple brands in the Southeast. He and his team were responsible for $270 million in annual sales, predominantly from the group and convention segments. Hughes has held various positions within operations and sales. He is a five-time director of sales and marketing 鈥� including for the 1,700-room Atlanta Marriott Marquis 鈥� and was the opening director of marketing at the Tampa Marriott Waterstreet. In 2015, he received the Stephen G Marriott Award of Excellence for the Eastern Region. Hughes holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Pennsylvania State University. He and his wife Linda live in Kennesaw, Ga. They have three children and three grandchildren. While away from work, Hughes is an avid golfer, runner and volunteer at St. Joseph鈥檚 Catholic Church in Marietta.
David Johnson, Director of Finance, Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel and Convention
Center
David Johnson is the director of finance at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel in Atlanta. He has been with Marriott for 14 years and has worked at the Memphis Marriott Downtown as well as the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Prior to Marriott, Johnson worked for several hospitality companies, including 15 years with Hilton. Leadership roles that Johnson has held outside of finance and accounting include general manager, director of hotel operations, director of rooms operations, and front office manager. His operations experience enables him to better understand the needs of an operations leader and to tailor financial learning and strategies to meet those needs. Johnson has a strong passion for teaching and motivating others. He utilizes his 40 years of hospitality experience to help others grow. Johnson鈥檚 hospitality career started in hotel operations and has spanned multiple disciplines. When not working, Johnson enjoys spending time with his wife of 40 years (Kathy) and his two daughters (Sami & Sarah). He and his family enjoy spending time at the beach and love to explore new beaches for shells!
Cartarwa Jones joined RLJ in 2007 and is a Senior Vice President in the Investment & Portfolio Analysis group.鈥� RLJ Lodging Trust is a publicly traded hotel REIT with 96 properties located in 23 states and the District of Columbia and one unconsolidated hotel. Cartarwa has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining RLJ, Ms. Jones held various positions at the InterContinental Hotels Group as well as PwC, providing market & feasibility, strategic planning, financial, and project planning analysis on numerous projects. She holds a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Economics from Florida State University, as well as a Master鈥檚 degree in Business Economics from the University of South Florida.
Daniel Laterza, General Manager, Marietta Country Club
Daniel Laterza, CCM, has been the general manager of Marietta Country Club since December 2020. He oversees the $10 million full-service country club, which includes 27 holes of golf, 12 tennis courts, three restaurants, and a pool complex. With 1,100 members, Marietta Country Club is one of the top private clubs in the Atlanta area. Laterza was formerly the assistant general manager of East Lake Golf Club. He oversaw all clubhouse operations including the execution of the Tour Championship. He has more than 16 years of private club management experience and has spent time at Dunwoody Country Club, Green Island Country Club, and Ansley Golf Club. Laterza grew up in Peachtree City and has a degree in business hospitality administration from Georgia State University. He is the Club Management Association of America where he recently served as the president of the Georgia Chapter. He loves spending time with his wife of 11 years, Karyn, and his two boys, Daniel(7) and Matthew(5). He also enjoys CrossFit and the outdoors 鈥� biking, hiking, running 鈥� and of course, trying new wines and craft beer and checking out new local restaurants! Laterza is passionate about the game of golf and is around a 15 handicap.
Robert Leven, Chief Investment Officer and Principal, Procaccianti Companies and TPG
Hotels & Resorts
As Chief Investment Officer Mr. Leven is responsible for overall portfolio development
strategies which includes all aspects of evaluation, analysis and execution of real
estate investment opportunities for Procaccianti Companies.
A principal and senior member of the Investment Committee for more than a decade, Mr. Leven has played a critical leadership role in driving the Firm鈥檚 growth having been involved with hundreds of transactions including acquisitions, dispositions, and new hotel developments. His pragmatic approach, superior analytics and entrepreneurial vision have led to the expansion of the Firm鈥檚 national platform which now comprises approximately $3.5 Billion in diverse real estate assets currently under management.
Since joining the Firm in 2002, Mr. Leven has also expanded relationships with institutional
ownership groups, capital partners and global hospitality brands like Marriott, Hilton,
Hyatt, and InterContinental. Furthermore, through his leadership Rob has helped to
position Procaccianti Companies and its affiliates as one of the largest and most
respected privately-held real estate investment and management firms in the United
States.
Prior to joining Procaccianti Companies Mr. Leven held a senior position with a leading
U.S. hotel brokerage firm and he was also one of the original founders of U.S. Franchise
Systems in 1995.
Mr. Leven is a graduate of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.
Katie Line began her hospitality journey by completing Gwinnett Technical College鈥檚 hospitality management program while working front desk at a Hampton Inn. She worked her way up the ranks to become assistant general manager before finding her passion for human resources. Line joined her current company, Legacy Ventures Hotels, in December 2016. Throughout her career with Legacy, she has worked in all five of Legacy's downtown properties as director of human resources. In 2022 she was promoted to her current role of talent acquisition manager for all 10 properties. Line鈥檚 new role is focused on sourcing candidates for primarily management and key positions and building brand recognition for Legacy Ventures Hotels through college recruiting, job fairs, and networking with associations.
Elise Majetich, Operations Manager, Encore
A first generation college student from Chattanooga, Tenn., Elise Majetich graduated in Spring 2022 from 网红头条with a BBA in Hospitality Management, becoming the program鈥檚 first graduate. She also graduated with a minor in marketing. At Kennesaw State, Majetich was the founding president of the Hospitality Leadership Club. She recently joined Encore, a global event management firm, as part of its National College Leadership Program. Upon completion of the rotational training program, Majetich will be placed in an operations leadership role at a luxury hotel property.
Robert Mandelbaum, Director of Research Information Services, CBRE Hotels Research
Robert Mandelbaum is the director of research information services for CBRE Hotels
Research in Atlanta. He oversees research information service, which produces the
annual Trends in the Hotel Industry statistical report, and customized financial and
operational analyses for client projects. On a quarterly basis, CBRE Hotels produces
five-year performance forecasts for six national chain-scales, six national location
categories, and 65 major U.S cities using its proprietary Hotel Horizons econometric
forecasting model. Mandelbaum began his hospitality industry career with Holiday Inn,
Inc. in Memphis, Tenn. In 1983, he began working for Pannell Kerr Forster, where he
conducted market and financial feasibility studies and operational analyses for hotel,
restaurant, club, and conference center clients. Mandelbaum holds a Bachelor of Science
in Hotel Administration from Cornell University. He serves on the Global Finance Committee,
which is a joint American Hotel and Lodging Association and Hospitality Financial
and Technology Professionals committee responsible for preparing the Uniform System
of Accounts for the lodging industry. Mandelbaum was a global president of the Cornell
Hotel Society. He frequently writes articles for industry trade publications, hosts
guest lecturers at college and university hotel school programs and speaks at industry
forums.
Dwayne Marshall, Chief Development Officer, Valor Hospitality Partners
With over 18 years of experience in corporate hospitality, Dwayne joined Valor Hospitality
Partners following senior leadership roles with Chesapeake Hospitality, Marriott International
and IHG, as well as previously serving as a hospitality consultant at REVPAR International.
As Chief Development Officer, Dwayne leads the execution of Valor鈥檚 growth strategy in the Americas by sourcing, structuring, negotiating and executing third-party management contracts and assisting with underwriting acquisition and development opportunities for the company and its capital partners. Additionally, he continues to build and nurture Valor鈥檚 strategic relationships with hotel ownership groups, hotel brands, asset managers, hotel brokers and the hotel investment community at large.
In addition to his role at Valor, Dwayne works as a facilitator for eCornell, Cornell University鈥檚 online learning platform, instructing classes courses within Cornell's SC Johnson College of Business (including the Nolan School of Hotel Administration) in hotel real estate investments, hotel asset management, hotel brand management and franchise negotiation, hotel owner relations, and commercial real estate. These courses taught form part of the Hotel Real Estate Investments & Asset Management, Hotel Management & Owner Relations, Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate Development, and Real Estate Property Management certificate programs.
Dwayne is currently completing an Executive Master of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University and holds a Master of Business Administration (with Distinction) from Curtin University and a Master of Entrepreneurship from The University of Adelaide. Additionally, he holds bachelor鈥檚 degrees in marketing and in leisure sciences and sports management from Edith Cown University. Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Dwayne currently resides in Milton, Georgia. Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time with family, traveling, attending concerts, beach activities, supporting the Liverpool and Hawthorn football clubs and being a foodie.
Steve Mayers MBA, IAP, C., Airport Director, Customer Experience, ADA and Title VI
Coordinator, Hartsfield Jackson International Airport
Steve Mayers is the director of customer experience, ADA, and Title VI coordinator at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. He oversees the guest experience, ADA and Title VI administration, volunteer and nonprofit program, and team member development program. With more than 25 years of management and hospitality experience, Mayers has held leadership positions in some of the world鈥檚 top companies, including Sandals Resorts, Wells Fargo, Radisson and Best Western Hotels & Resorts. Mayers has earned the International Airport Professional and Certified Member designations from Airports Council International and the American Association of Airport Executives respectively. He is also a Federal Aviation Administration Office of Civil Rights award winner. Mayers received his undergraduate degree from Temple University鈥檚 Fox School of Business and his MBA from Louisiana State University.
Sheree Pressley, HR Manager, Omni Atlanta Hotel, CNN Center
Sheree Pressley graduated from Georgia State University Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business. While at Georgia State, she studied hospitality. In 2014, Pressley had an opportunity to join Hilton Hotels as a hostess at the restaurant Trader Vic鈥檚. She worked at Trader Vic鈥檚 for a several years as a hostess and server. After graduating in 2016, Pressley was promoted to outlet supervisor where she mostly oversaw the 24-hour coffee shop while also assisting in all the other outlets. In 2017, she joined the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN as the food and beverage administrative assistant. She later transferred into the role of human resources generalist in 2019. In April 2021, Pressley was promoted to human resources manager. She is an Atlanta United season ticket holder and a big fan of the team In her spare time, Pressley likes to travel, attend concerts, and spend time with her two dogs.
Holly Quinlan, President and CEO, Cobb Travel & Tourism
Holly Quinlan became the president and CEO of Cobb Travel & Tourism in December 2010. She is responsible for the organization鈥檚 operations, including strategic planning, finance, sales and marketing. Cobb Travel & Tourism is responsible for promoting and generating tourism, convention, trade show and sports development activity throughout Cobb County. Previously, Quinlan was chief operating officer for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. Very active in the community, Quinlan is the vice chair for the Leadership Cobb 2023 class and is chairing the selection committee for the Tribute to Women by LiveSAFE Resources. She also is a member of 网红头条鈥檚 Coles College of Business Advisory Board and the Marietta Kiwanis Club. Quinlan was named a 40 Under 40 by Georgia Trend magazine, 20 Under 40 by Cobb Life magazine and has been given the Up and Comers Award by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. She has also received the LiveSAFE Resources Women of Achievement Award. She was a volunteer probation officer for Cobb County Superior Court for 13 years. She is a graduate of the Regional Leadership Institute, Leadership Cobb and Honorary Commanders. A native of Cobb County, Ga., Quinlan graduated from the University of Georgia. She is a mother of 12-year-old twin daughters.
Scott Reed, Owner-Operator, Chick-fil-A franchise
Scott Reed began his Chick-fil-A journey in 1980 at the age of 15 as a team member at the Greenbriar Mall location on the south side of Atlanta. While attending the University of Georgia, he became a marketing intern at the Chick-fil-A home office and started to dream of owning his own business. He soon realized he could do this by working for Chick-fil-A. After completing the Business Intern Program and assisting with opening new free-standing restaurants, Reed became the operator of Chick-fil-A Sprayberry in 1991. He became a multi-unit operator in 2015 with the opening of Chick-fil-A Lassiter. Reed considers himself a life-long learner and has devoted his life to God, his family, personal and career growth, and to developing future leaders. In his free time, Reed, a car enthusiast, enjoys spending time with his family 鈥� especially at the beach 鈥� reading books and enjoying Georgia football.
Maggie Rosa, General Manager, Hospitality Ventures Management Group
Maggie Rosa is a full-service general manager with Hospitality Ventures Management Group. She a Certified Hotel Administrator and a John Maxwell Team Certified coach, speaker, and trainer with 20+ years of hospitality industry experience. Rosa began her career with Marriott International in 1997 while pursuing her undergraduate degree in hotel and restaurant management with a minor in business administration from Northern Arizona University. She worked on several executive committees at six hotels in four states before joining the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Downtown Hotel in 2018, which underwent a $50+ million transformation to become the C. Baldwin, Curio Collection by Hilton. Rosa has served on the Houston Hotel Lodging Association and Texas Hotel Lodging Association boards of directors; the Greater Houston Women鈥檚 Chamber of Commerce, the 网红头条 Houston Board of Directors executive committee, the dean鈥檚 advisory board at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College, where she spoke at the Fall 2017 commencement ceremony.She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Texas Woman's University. She and her husband Moises are the proud parents of four amazing kids, Valerie (25), Tracy (23), Tre (20), and Joel (9). Rosa enjoys having fun with her family and staying fit to keep up with an active family and energizing career.
Andrew Rubinacci is a seasoned hospitality veteran with over 25 years of experience. He is considered by many in the industry as one of the foremost revenue management and global distribution experts anywhere. Rubinacci serves currently as EVP, Commercial & Revenue Strategy for Aimbridge Hospitality. Previously, he was EVP & Chief Commercial Officer for Omni Hotels & Resorts, where he was responsible for marketing, sales, loyalty, revenue management, digital marketing, eCommerce, distribution and channel strategy. In addition, Rubinacci was previously the Senior Vice President of Distribution & Global Revenue Management for InterContinental Hotels Group and was responsible for the leadership of an integrated distribution and revenue management strategy team. He has also worked with Bristol Hotels & Resorts and MeriStar Hotels & Resorts.Rubinacci holds bachelor of business administration degrees in both marketing and hospitality administration at Florida State University. He has served on the boards of HEDNA, Worldres, HSMAI, Open Travel, Roomkey, and the Dedman College of Hospitality at Florida State University.
Lexy Stevens, Talent Development Manager Hotel Equities
Lexy currently serves as a Talent Development Manager at Hotel Equities. She is responsible for developing associates through various management and leadership programs, recruiting collegiate talent, GM onboarding and coaching Marriott owner鈥檚 to be Owner-Operators. She is a graduate of the Hotel Equities鈥� Management Development Program; a program which she now facilitates. Lexy realized she had a passion for training and development through mentoring others in various Hotel Equities development programs throughout her career in operations. She has 8 years of on-property operations experience. She began her hotel career as a front desk agent at the SpringHill Suites in Alpharetta, Ga and served as the Operations Manager at the Courtyard by Marriott in Buford, Ga. She was promoted to a GM position at the Fairfield by Marriott Buford, Ga after just 3 years in the industry. When not at work, Lexy is an avid sports fan. She and her family have season tickets to the Atlanta Falcons and regularly attend Atlanta United games. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Electronic Media and Journalism.
Favorite Hotel Equities Value Statement: Hire an attitude and teach them the business.
Omar Vega, General Manager, Omni Hotel at the Battery Atlanta
Omar Vega is a hospitality executive with morethan 18 years of luxury experience.
Driven by his passion for service, he worked his way up the ranks at Ritz-Carlton
and later served as the regional corporate director of food and beverage for FirstService
Residential. Vega currently serves on the board of directors for Cobb County Tourism
and is a member of the Georgia Hospitality Lodging Association. In his free time,
Vega enjoys cooking and exploring different styles of cuisine with his wife, his 16-year
old son, and his 8-year old daughter.
Karen Wilson, Assistant Director of Human Resources, Omni Hotel at the Battery Atlanta
With more than 13 years of luxury hospitality experience, Karen Wilson serves as the
assistant director of human resources at the Omni Hotel at The Battery Atlanta. Her
luxury journey began in 2009 when she became the executive assistant to the general
manager at The St. Regis Atlanta. While serving in that role, she was awarded the
2012 Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association Administrative Employee of the Year award.
Her deep-seated desire to serve others made the transition to human resources a natural
progression in her hospitality career and in 2016 Wilson was promoted to HR manager.
In her current role, Wilson oversees HR operations.
Dina Winder, Senior Vice President, Asset Management, Highgate
Dina Winder brings 20+ years of experience in hospitality real estate with a demonstrated
track record of driving superior results through active asset management and forging
strategic partnerships. She is intensely focused on maximizing investor returns with
an eye to the guest experience and executing value-add renovation and repositioning
plans.
Dina is currently Senior Vice President, Asset Management at Highgate, a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Dina was previously a Principal with Walton Street Capital in Chicago, focused on the asset management of $1+ billion of hotel and resort properties across the US. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Acquisitions at Chartres Lodging Group responsible for sourcing, underwriting, due diligence and financing efforts for off-market and adaptive-reuse acquisition opportunities across the US. Prior to Chartres, Dina was with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, implementing the boutique lifestyle brand鈥檚 growth strategy as Senior Director of Acquisitions and Development. Dina began her career as an investment banker at Bear Stearns in the Real Estate, Gaming, Lodging and Leisure Group in New York.
Dina has a BS from Cornell University and an MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of HAMA (Hospitality Asset Managers Association) as chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, is active in the Castell Project and champions advancing women within the real estate and hospitality industry. Dina lives in Dallas, TX, and can often be found running the trails around town.
