MAINSAIL LODGING & DEVELOPMENT - Key Persons
Adam brings over 10 years of hotel and hospitality experience to Mainsail. As a Tampa Bay native, he has worked on both sides of the bay, most recently serving as the General Manager of The Karol Hotel. Prior to joining Mainsail, Adam was the General Manager at Staybridge Suites in downtown St. Petersburg and held several positions at the St. Petersburg Marriott.
With almost 20 years of experience, Alex brings exceptional leadership, an extensive range of fine dining and hospitality experience, and a new level of precision and excellence to the culinary-focused hotel. Most recently, he served as the food & beverage director at Loews Atlanta Hotel for four years and managed a multimillion-dollar budget. Prior, he worked with Loews Philadelphia Hotel for five years, working his way up from the general manager of Bank & Bourbon to the food & beverage director.
With more than 30 years of management experience around the world, Houghton comes to Mainsail from The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong. Prior, Houghton was with Marriott International as Area VP for the Caribbean and Brazil, one of many positions he held throughout his long and distinguished career with Marriott, starting in 1986 as Director of Sales & Marketing at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square. In 1988, he moved to the Cairo Marriott, as Director of Marketing. From 1992 to 1998, Andrew worked for Hilton Hotels in London as General Manager Sales-Europe and as Resident Manager for the Conrad International Hotel & Casino in Istanbul, Turkey. In addition, Andrew worked at Marriott Headquarters in Washington, DC as Brand Executive Vice President for Full-Service Brands from 2004 to 2007.
Job Titles:
- Director of Sales
- General Manager
Becky's history with us goes all the way back to 2012 when she was in conference services at the original Mainsail Conference Center and later a senior sales manager at Epicurean Hotel. In between Mainsail experience, Becky spent time with Warwick hotels in NYC, large convention centers in Kentucky and most recently selling a cluster of select service & extended stay hotels in the Tampa market.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Director of Accounting
Ben comes to Mainsail with over 30 years of combined accounting, tax and extensive audit experience. He is a Florida CPA with work experience in both corporate and public accounting, serving a wide client base including privately owned & publicly traded companies. In his most recent role, he served as Director of Accounting for clients of a large global accounting & consulting firm. Ben received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting, from UMass Lowell.
Job Titles:
- General Manager / Luminary Hotel & Co.
As an opening member of the Luminary team, Bobby served as Director of Rooms Operations before being promoted to Assistant General Manager, while playing a pivotal role in several Mainsail openings. During his 15-year career in hospitality, Bobby has crisscrossed the country at several notable properties, including JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa, Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa and Orlando World Center Marriott. He received his Hotel Administration degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Director of Sales
With nearly 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Brandon came to the Epicurean from Marriott International. Previously, he worked for Quorum Hotel & Resorts and Harvard University's Crimson Catering in Cambridge, Mass. as a Senior Catering Manager.
With over 8 years of experience in Human Resources, Bria has primarily served as a full-cycle recruiter, a role she is deeply passionate about. She is presently pursuing her Master's degree in Human Resource Management, with aspirations to achieve her SHRM certification upon completion. In addition to her academic pursuits, she holds a Medical Assistant diploma and is a Notary Public. Eager to further her professional growth, Bria aims not only to continue expanding her experience, but also to be a valuable asset to a growing and empowering team.
After completing a degree in engineering at Iowa State University, Brian joined the industry in 1997. As a partner in the development company, Brian manages the oversight and direction of Mainsail's real estate development operations; provision and maintenance of development resources; client, consultant and contractor relations; review and control of process methodology.
Briana (Brie) graduated from Strayer University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management. She has joined Mainsail as an eCommerce specialist dedicated to crafting exceptional guest booking experiences and beyond. She brings a strong foundation in customer service and digital marketing to optimize online interactions. When not submerged in the wonderful world of digital economics, she enjoys an active lifestyle and creating lasting memories with loved ones.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Marketing Manager
Originally from Sarasota, Brooke is a University of South Florida graduate with a bachelor's degree in communications. She brings almost 5 years of experience with Marriott International, working with various hotels and brands on their marketing goals and strategies. In her free time, you can find Brooke exploring new restaurants and happy hours, going to concerts and Lightning games, or spending time with family and her pets, Jax & Violet.
Caroline is a Florida native from Tampa and joined the Mainsail team in 2017. She brings 15 years of experience as a corporate meeting and event planner. When not busy having fun in the office you can find Caroline at Jazzercise, on tour with Fleetwood Mac or hiking with her dogs in Cashiers, NC.
Charlie joins Mainsail after an impressive 30 year career with Marriott International where he began his career as a Chef. As his career progressed through several hotels and cities, he transitioned to F&B Director and later to Resident Manager. His broad experience and knowledge in all aspects of hotel operations will benefit Mainsail as he supports the GMs and teams of all of our open properties and as well as our hotels currently under development.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Director of Procurement
Dale's career in the hospitality industry has included stays in California, Missouri, South Carolina and now Florida. Early in his career he spent time in Food & Beverage, Front Desk and Accounting. Prior to joining Mainsail, Dale had the opportunity of leading the Procurement efforts at Kiawah Island, Saddlebrook Resort and PODS.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Director of Retail
With more than 20 years of extensive retail experience in the hospitality industry, Denis joins Mainsail from the South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island, where he was Director of Retail. In his newly created position, he plans and directs strategies for delivering inventory to on-property retail outlets and carefully curating products for each property in Mainsail's portfolio. Cruz has worked for the Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott and Loews brands, as well as a few independent hotels. He is based at Luminary Hotel & Co. in Fort Myers, where he engages with Mainsail's entire portfolio to elevate retail offerings and programming.
Job Titles:
- Mainsail in 2020 As National Account Manager
- Manager, Strategic Partnerships
Eryn joined Mainsail in 2020 as National Account Manager. She brings over 20 years of experience in the corporate housing industry, managing high-touch global accounts and driving customer loyalty. A year after joining Mainsail, she was promoted to Manager, Strategic Partnerships, building and cultivating Stay Sojo's national supply chain and leading special projects that drive efficiency for our team and clients. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys.
Gary comes to Mainsail with over 25 years of hospitality experience. Prior to joining our team, Gary held a 13-year tenure with Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and its properties in Naples & Amelia Island, FL; Laguna Beach, Pasadena & Marina del Ray, CA and Phoenix, AZ. During his career, he has also held tenures with Florida Central Appraisal Inc., Lake Placid, FL as owner/operator; The Club at Olde Cypress in Naples, FL as general manager, GLH Consulting Group in Naples, FL, serving clientele that included The Club at Fiddler's Creek, Hardy Development Group, and The Atlantis Hotel Resort Bahamas.
Job Titles:
- General Manager, Hotel Forty Five
By leveraging his experience, Gary W. Byrd strives to develop productive and collaborative cultures and establish a positive and team-oriented working environment. Most recently, he served as the general manager at The Campbell House, Curio Collection by Hilton, in Lexington, Kentucky, where he built a dynamic culture with his associates to create memorable experiences for their guests. Prior to this, he served as assistant general manager at both The Campbell House and Hilton Garden Inn. In his free time, Gary enjoys spending time with his family, especially his daughter and granddaughter. He has an extensive vinyl collection and rocks out on the drums in his basement.
With almost a decade of hospitality experience, Grant has worked in key markets across Florida, spending over six years with the unique properties at Mainsail Lodging & Development. Most recently, she worked as senior sales manager for Luminary Hotel & Co. in downtown Fort Myers. Grant joins the Hotel Forty Five team to further cultivate relationships throughout the community and bring locals and travelers alike to experience the spirit of historic Downtown Macon. She facilitates with booking room blocks for corporate and leisure groups as well as spearheading leads for the hotel's lavish 1,600 square feet of event space. As an avid music lover with knowledge of the industry, Hart looks forward to integrating her passions by being a part of a historic hotel in a community with a deep-rooted musical legacy.
Job Titles:
- General Manager / Orlando & Tennessee
Hardy joined Mainsail in 2009 bringing with him nearly 15 years of experience in the corporate housing industry. After graduating from UCF, Hardy began his career in hospitality as an operations associate for an independent provider in Orlando. Presented with the opportunity to be part of a company expansion, Hardy assisted in opening an office in Tampa, learning all aspects of the operation over an eight-year period. In 2003, Hardy returned to Orlando to manage the operations department and oversee the transition to a Marriott ExecuStay franchise. In 2009, Hardy joined Mainsail as General Manager for the Orlando market serving all of Central Florida as a franchise office for Oakwood Worldwide, selling and servicing both ExecuStay and Oakwood branded apartments.
Green joined Mainsail in early 2021 with experience in luxury, resort, and metropolitan hotels. Prior, James worked at the Hotel Director of Operations & Hotel Residence for the W Atlanta Downtown Hotel & Residences and the Hotel Manager for the W Atlanta - Midtown. He enjoys golfing, running, traveling and cheering on the Carolina Panthers and Boston Red Sox.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner & Franchise Owner / Stay Sojo and
Jana oversees all aspects of this division of Mainsail which procures, furnishes and manages luxury apartments to corporate, government and leisure clients. Jana graduated from The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University and worked in the hospitality and property management industries before landing in corporate housing 17 years ago.
Jeanette joined Mainsail in January of 2021 after being with White Lodging Services for more than 5 years. She comes with various property-level human resources and operational experience from both Marriott and Hilton full-service hotels. Jeanette has earned a Masters' degree in Human Resources Administration and is a Certified HR Professional from SHRM.
Jennifer began her journey with Stay Sojo in 2021 and brings over 30 years of experience from the hotel industry with a focus on elevating and generating memorable stays. She and her Guest Experience Team are responsible for creating a home away from home with Stay Sojo's five-star level of service. "No stay is too little or too long, every guest is a VIP!" In her free time, Jennifer and her husband enjoy RVing and entertaining along the way.
As President, Joe Collier sets the tone for Mainsail and, together with his leadership team, works to build a company where employees, partners and investors are all highly valued, and new ideas are welcomed. A native Floridian born in Miami, Joe received his Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management and Marketing from Florida State University and completed his internship in the European Hotel program in Leysin, Switzerland. He spent 15 years with Marriott International in sales, marketing and development before forming Mainsail in 1998.
Job Titles:
- General Manager / Eagle Mountain House & Golf Club
Joel was most recently the Chief Operating Officer for a hospitality and development company. Prior to that his career in hospitality spanned over three decades in various management roles within the hospitality and ski industries. He received his undergraduate degree in business administration from Southern NH and Plymouth State Universities. A veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, Joel resides in New Hampshire's Mount Washington Valley. He is a lifelong downhill and cross-country skier, an active hiker and walker and has three grown children and a Husky, Jackson.
Job Titles:
- Director of Call Center Operations
Judy has been in hospitality for twenty plus years with experience in revenue management, reservations, PMS installation & training and as a general manager. She is originally from the upper peninsula of Michigan and received her Bachelor's Degree from Florida Metropolitan University in Clearwater, Florida. Judy currently oversees the reservations team responsible for all hotels.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Creative Specialist
Juliana joined Mainsail in 2019 during her final semester of grad school at the University of Tampa, where she also earned her bachelor's degree in Advertising & Public Relations. When she's not creating marketing collateral or helping with social media campaigns, she loves travel, trips to Disney and trying new restaurants.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Vice President
Karina joined Mainsail in 2010 and has held various positions with ExecuStay-Atlanta, including sales and customer service, and currently is General Manager for the Atlanta team which services the entire state of Georgia and parts of Alabama. Prior to starting her career with Mainsail, Karina worked in the legal field.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Director of Marketing
As a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University with a bachelor's degree in Resort & Hospitality Management, Kelly began her career with Hyatt Place Coconut Point in Bonita Springs at the front desk prior to moving into the sales department. Kelly joined Mainsail in 2013 as an opening operations team member of the Epicurean Hotel before moving to the corporate office in 2015.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Waterline As Front Office Manager
Lacey first joined Waterline as Front Office Manager in December of 2018 where she later served as GM. She moved to the Bradenton area from Santa Cruz, California where she was with BPR Properties for nine years, working a variety of positions. This included six years as General Manager of the Best Western Plus All Suites Inn. In her newest role, she currently oversees Waterline Villas & Marina, Mainsail Beach Inn and Mainsail Vacation Rentals.
Lisa brings a wealth of experience in financial leadership and accounting roles to Mainsail. She spent more than 10 years working with the Big Four global accounting firms PwC and KPMG as Senior Manager of Audit and more than 15 years in M&A with private equity, public and privately held companies. Lisa also has a proven track record of success in managing financial operations and implementing business process improvements as an Advisory Consultant with RGP, Steven Douglas and Tampa Bay CPA Consulting. She received her bachelor's degree in business accounting from Stockton University and is a licensed CPA in Florida and New Jersey.
Lori Nelson brings nearly three decades of experience to Mainsail, specializing in corporate matters, intellectual property, and complex litigation cases on both the state and federal level. She joined Mainsail from Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, where she worked as a Senior Paralegal and most recently a Litigation Support Specialist. Lori is a graduate of Youngstown State University and the National Center for Paralegal Training in Atlanta.
Job Titles:
- General Manager / Jacksonville
With 13 years in the Corporate Housing Industry, Mark joined Mainsail in 2011. Mark manages the Jacksonville market for both Oakwood and ExecuStay brands. His office covers Jacksonville, Gainesville, the Florida Panhandle and the Savannah, Georgia areas. Prior to corporate housing Mark worked in the restaurant industry for 25 years.
Job Titles:
- Property Manager / Mainsail Beach Inn
Matthew's experience in the hospitality industry spans over 23 years, with a majority focus in food & beverage management. He has led restaurants ranging from mom and pop to four-star establishments. Prior to joining the Mainsail Vacation Rentals family, Matthew served as a Dining Room Manager in Sarasota.
Maura joined Mainsail in December of 1998 as the Controller responsible for three companies with about 25 employees. Since then, Mainsail has grown to more than 180 employees in the US with another 100 at our Caribbean location and over 30 companies. She is responsible for the oversight of all accounting functions for these entities.
Job Titles:
- Director of Sales / Luminary Hotel & Co.
Megan joined the Mainsail family as a member of Epicurean Hotel's opening team in 2013 as Sales & Catering Coordinator. She was soon promoted to an Event Manager, then again as Catering Sales Manager. After serving as a Destination Sales Executive for Waterline Villas & Marina, Megan was named Senior Sales Manager of the Luminary Hotel & Co., making her the hotel's first ever associate. In 2021, Megan was promoted to Director of Sales where she has demonstrated her passion for sales and building relationships with her clients ever since.
Melissa joins our team with a wealth of experience, most recently serving as the Operations Manager for Commonwealth Corporate Suites, where she held the position for nearly 15 years. With a background in Social Work, Melissa began her career with Commonwealth Corporates, Inc as Operations Manager in 2005. Melissa holds a Masters of Social Work degree and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. In her free time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband, two young boys, Conor and Luke and their yellow lab, Rosie.
Melissa joined Stay Sojo in 2021 to lead the sales team and sales strategy for Stay Sojo. With over 30 years in the corporate housing industry, Melissa has held a variety of strategic sales, client experience and leadership positions during her career. Melissa enjoys time with her two sons and their dog Teddy.
Melissa joined Mainsail after 10 years in the hotel industry. She began her hospitality career in North Carolina, working the front desk and eventually finding a role in accounting and administration. Since 2006 Melissa has held the Accounting Manager role for Stay Sojo and was promoted in 2023 to Divisional Controller. Melissa is passionate about fitness and her dogs. She also enjoys going to concerts and traveling as much as possible.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Director of Catering & Events
A 10-year Marriott veteran, Nancy joined the Mainsail team after relocating to the Tampa Bay area in early 2016. Nancy most recently served as the Director of Sales at Fenway Hotel. Prior, she worked at the iconic Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. for five years, where she managed high-profile events and led the sales and event teams' transition from a Renaissance Property to an Autograph Property. Nancy also managed at the Key Bridge Marriott, the longest operating Marriott hotel in the company.
Nancy joined the Scrub Island team in 2016 and has spent the last 25 years working for domestic and international hospitality markets, most recently as the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort & Spa.
Netta plays a crucial role in managing reservations and enhancing the guest experience across Mainsail's extensive portfolio. She began her career with Mainsail back in 2019, helping to open The Karol Hotel, where she worked as Director of Rooms.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Joining Mainsail in January 2012, Norwood oversees the sales and marketing functions for all the Mainsail assets. With a hospitality sales career spanning more than 30 years, Norwood was most recently the Vice President of Sales for Visit Tampa Bay. Prior to that, Norwood held various sales positions with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, JP Hotels and Ritz-Carlton. Pet peeves include dogs that won't come when called. Prefers urban settings. Fanatical traveler.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Director of Revenue
Rhonda's 15+ years of hospitality management includes Omni Hotels, as well as Hilton Corporate properties and franchises. Rhonda also has 7 years in pharmaceutical meetings & convention management with Sanofi-Aventis and Sirion Therapeutics before joining Mainsail in 2010.
Sandra has spent the past 30 years in operations and/or management at various resorts throughout the United States and Caribbean. Most recently she was General Manager of Divi Carina Bay in St. Croix, USVI, and, before that, General Manager of Alaia Belize, an Autograph Collection resort in San Pedro, Belize. She's also held management positions in the BVI with Bitter End Yacht Club, Peter Island Resort, and Rosewood Little Dix Bay. Grisham-Clothier has a degree in business administration from California Southern University. She resides on Great Camanoe, adjacent to Scrub Island.
Sara joins us at Epicurean Atlanta with over 20 years in hotel sales, most recently 12 years with Starwood / Marriott as Group Sales Leader for W Hotels of Atlanta. No stranger to pre-openings, this will be her 3rd hotel to open. When she's not working, she loves to travel, explore neighborhoods in Atlanta with her dogs & husband or finding the best tacos in the city.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Director of ECommerce
Joining the Mainsail team in December 2020, Sara brings over 14 years of experience with Marriott International in hospitality eCommerce and Marketing. When Sara isn't too busy developing and executing digital strategies, she enjoys traveling to new destinations and spending time with her husband, daughter, and labradoodle.
Job Titles:
- Vice President / Stay Sojo and
With more than 25 years of experience in the apartment industry and a successful track record as a manager and sales leader, Sarah joins Mainsail from Commonwealth Corporate Suites, where she served as President and founder. While Sarah is very proud of her professional accomplishments, her true passion stems from raising her two teenage daughters, Lauren and Anna Leah. When she is not cheering for them on the soccer sidelines, she also enjoys traveling, living an active lifestyle and simply enjoying time at the beach.
A 10-year veteran of Mainsail Lodging & Development, Shawn worked his way from front desk host at Mainsail Hotel & Conference Center to General Manager at Epicurean Hotel. While he isn't cracking jokes, Shawn has played an integral role in the achievement of many awards and recognitions, including Marriott's Best New Hotel of the Year in 2013 and Marriott International Hotel of the Year in 2017.
Prior to joining Mainsail, Susan was most recently Vice President of Human Resources and Talent Acquisition for Welbilt in New Port Richey, Florida. In her new role, she is responsible for the overall strategic direction of Mainsail's Human Resources including talent acquisition, retention, training, compensation and benefits programs, leadership development and maintaining Mainsail's culture.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Development
Born in Key West, Theresa is a Florida native who built her career working in the restaurant industry before transitioning to hotels in 2008. She worked for the Ritz-Carlton for over 10 years where she held multiple roles in food and beverage, transient & leisure sales, reservations & revenue management, and even spa sales to name a few. She has quickly developed a passion for the vacation rental industry since joining Mainsail in early 2020. When she is not working, she enjoys spending her time either watching her son play baseball, supporting her daughter in her dance performances, or traveling with her husband and kids.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Operations, Openings & Transitions
A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and a hotel veteran with Hyatt and Loews experience, Tom joined Mainsail in 2012 to open Epicurean Tampa before earning the title of VP of Operations. Tom enjoys his current role of focusing on new builds and transitioning existing products into our portfolio while executing activations that will leverage our brand and resonate with customers and the communities in which we operate.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Technology
As a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems, Tricia began her career with Mainsail in 2004. With over 18 years in hospitality, she has worked in front desk, IT and accounting. Currently, she supports all hotel finance leaders pre and post opening and works together with IT on system implementations.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Director of Food & Beverage
- Mainsail 's Corporate Director of Food & Beverage
In addition to serving as Mainsail's Corporate Director of Food & Beverage, Vicente oversees Epicurean's food and beverage programs. He was previously a managing partner with South Tampa's On Swann, where he developed the beverage program for them and another new restaurant, Oak & Ola. A former General Manager for TAPS Restaurant Bar & Lounge in Tampa, his other industry experience includes Hudson at Waterway East, JB's on the Beach, and the Boca Raton Resort & Club. A native of Miami, Lavayen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Johnson & Wales University and is a certified specialist in wines and spirits and a platinum level certified mixologist.
Victoria joined Mainsail in August 2010. She comes with an extensive background in corporate housing. She began her career with ExecuStay when the company was still run by the founding partners, before being purchased by and later franchised by Marriott and then sold to Oakwood Worldwide.
Victoria joined Innovation's team not too long after opening. With her more than 25 years with Ritz Carlton, mostly representing the Ritz Naples Golf Resort, we couldn't have asked for someone more ingrained in the Naples community.