Each member of Davidson Hotels & Resort’s leadership team has an average of more than 25 years of experience. The team’s combined skills create a breadth and depth of expertise that is unparalleled in the industry, giving Davidson a foundation that breeds quality, superior returns and guest and associate satisfaction. As individuals, each member demonstrates the integrity that characterizes Davidson.
JOHN BELDEN
John Belden, President and Chief Executive Officer, joined the company in 1989. Previously, John led the Business Development team during a period of unprecedented growth for the company, overseeing new management, acquisition and development opportunities for the company, as well as asset management and asset disposition responsibilities. Prior to Davidson, John served on the Concept Development team for Homewood Suites and later became its Director of Development - Western Region. John also worked in the Development and Market Planning Division of Holiday Corporation providing development services primarily to the Embassy Suites and Holiday Inn systems. Previous to Holiday Corporation, John worked in the Franchise/Development area of The Residence Inn Company and started his hospitality career as a hotel consultant at Laventhol and Horwath.
John is currently serving on the Hilton Owner's Advisory Council, the Doubletree Advisory Council, the Starwood North American Owner Advisory Board, the Executive Board of ASFONA (Association of Starwood Franchisees and Owners North America), and the Hyatt Full-Service Hotel Franchise Advisory Committee. He is also an Appointed Director of the HRI School at Michigan State University.
John obtained a degree from the Business College at Michigan State University with an emphasis in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management.
PATRICK LUPSHA
Patrick Lupsha, Chief Operating Officer, joined the company in 2001. Prior to joining Davidson, Pat served for 16 years with Wyndham International and held a number of key positions, including that of Senior Vice President. During his tenure at Wyndham, Pat directed hotel conversions, capital projects, third-party owner relations, and revpar/profit growth. He also served as Vice President/General Manager of the Wyndham Anatole, a 1,620 room property, located in Dallas, Texas and the Wyndham Elbow Beach Resort, a four-star beachfront resort, located in Paget, Bermuda. As Senior Vice President, Pat supervised approximately 50 Wyndham hotels.
STEVEN MARGOL
Steven Margol, Chief Investment Officer, joined the company in 1994. Steve oversees the growth of the company's portfolio including investment, acquisition and disposition activity, and asset management. He is also responsible for creating and maintaining both equity and debt relationships with top-tier capital partners. Prior to Davidson, Steve was Vice President of Appraisal & Consulting with Grubb & Ellis Company, with national responsibility for hospitality industry assignments. Prior to his association with Grubb & Ellis, Steve was a hospitality industry specialist with Merrill Lynch Capital Markets' Real Estate Investment Banking Department, and Laventhol and Horwath. Steve received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Emory University.
TED ARPS
Ted Arps, Senior Vice President - Business Development, joined the company in 2005. Ted’s primary responsibility is the development of new management and ownership opportunities for the company as well as disposition and asset management functions. Prior to Davidson, Ted was Director of Hotel Investments for Crow Holdings, where he managed Crow’s hotel investment holdings. Prior to that, Ted spent fifteen years with Bristol Hotels and Resorts in a variety of operational and development roles finishing his career with Bristol as Senior Vice President of Operations. Ted holds a Bachelor of Hotel Administration degree from Cornell University.
THOM GESHAYThomas M. Geshay, Senior Vice President of Business Development has been in a management position with Davidson since 1987. Thom is responsible for new business activity and the growth of the company through management, ownership and development opportunities. He also oversees property dispositions, refinancings and asset management functions. His experience in the hospitality industry spans two decades during which he held a variety of property and corporate level positions in operations and business development. He began his hotel career at an early age as a bellman, working his way through the ranks and acquiring considerable expertise in virtually every aspect of hotel development and operations. He has completed over a billion dollars in acquisitions and recapitalizations, primarily single-asset and portfolio transactions, and has structured joint venture agreements, negotiated management contracts, and negotiated franchise agreements with virtually every brand. Geshay held several other strategic corporate positions during his tenure with Davidson including Regional Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Prior to his corporate positions, he served as General Manager for several properties within the Davidson portfolio. He also spent 3 years as Senior Vice President of Real Estate for Tarsadia Hotels. Thom received his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University.
BERNIE MURPHY
RON KIM
Ronald Kim, Vice President – Business Development, joined the company in 2005. Ron’s primary responsibility is new acquisitions and management contracts for the company in the Western United States. Prior to Davidson, Ron was with Hilton Hotels Corporation where he served as Vice President-Project Finance and most recently as Vice President-Managed Development. Before his tenure with Hilton Hotels Corporation, Ron was an Associate in the Lodging & Leisure Group with Lend Lease (formerly the Yarmouth Group) and Senior Auditor in the Real Estate Group with Arthur Andersen, LLP. Ron holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics from UCLA. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
DEREK MARTIN
Derek Martin joined Davidson Hotel Company in 2007 as Director of Business Development. Derek’s primary responsibility includes underwriting new management and ownership opportunities as well as providing asset management for current investments. Prior to Davidson, Derek worked for Crow Holdings in Dallas, TX. He spent three years as an analyst and was then was involved in acquisitions and asset management for their hotel portfolio. Derek received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Texas A&M University
MARK FRENCH
Mark French, Senior Vice President - General Counsel, joined the company in 1986. Mark's primary responsibility is overseeing the legal and contractual obligations of the company. Mark also participates in the coordination of financing requirements of the management company and its operating hotels. Prior to Davidson, Mark was Vice President of Commercial Lending in the banking industry and previously an attorney in private practice. A native Memphian, Mark obtained his undergraduate degree from Rhodes College and his law degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
CRYSTAL BEASLEYCrystal Beasley, Associate Counsel, joined the company in 2007. Crystal’s primary responsibility is working with Mark French in monitoring and overseeing the legal and contractual obligations of the company. Prior to joining Davidson, Crystal was an Associate in the Commercial Transactions and Real Estate practice group of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing Management with a minor in Political Science from the University of Arkansas. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law where she also served as the Executive Editor of the Arkansas Law Review.
RALPH TIPTON Ralph Tipton, Vice President of Risk Management, joined the company in 1978. Ralph's primary responsibility is administering the Property and Casualty Insurance Programs, as well as the safety programs for all Davidson hotels. A native Memphian, Ralph obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Memphis State University.
LARRY MILLS
Larry Mills, Senior Vice President - Controller, joined the company in 1991. Larry's responsibility is overseeing the accounting operations for all Davidson hotels. Prior to Davidson, Larry was employed by Holiday Inn Corporation as Director of Hotel Accounting for company-owned and managed hotels in the U.S. A native Memphian, Larry obtained a degree from Memphis State University as well as certification as a CPA and CHAE (Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive).
MARY JEAN CAMPOCHIARO
Mary Jean Campochiaro, Vice President of Hotel Accounting, joined the company in 1987. Mary Jean's primary responsibility is overseeing all aspects of hotel accounting, culminating in the preparation of periodic financial statements. She also personally oversees accounting for Davidson's various hotel acquisitions and dispositions. Prior to Davidson, Mary Jean was employed by Wilson Hotel Management Company as Assistant Controller. Mary Jean earned her Bachelor of Business Administration Degree majoring in Accounting at Memphis State University.
KRISTI HARRIS
Kristi Harris, Director of Reporting/Compliance, joined the company in 2006. Kristi's primary responsibilities are overseeing corporate financial reporting, internal audits, payroll, and sales/use tax reporting. She is also responsible for monitoring contract compliance with our owners and lenders and producing and maintaining additional reporting required by various owners. Prior to Davidson, Kristi was an Assurance Manager with Memphis-based Rhea & Ivy, PLC. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Accountancy from the University of Tennessee at Martin and is a Certified Public Accountant.
PHILLIP MILLER
Phillip Miller, Vice President of Project Development, joined the company in 2000 and currently heads up the Design and Construction Department for Davidson. During his tenure, Phil has developed and managed over $500 million worth of projects from renovations to ground up build-out.
Under his leadership, Design and Construction oversees the development, management and reporting of all new construction, renovation activities and yearly capital expenditure plans. Phil also assists the business development department with repositioning plans when involving conversions and new purchases that require renovations; he also assists operations in developing and implementing special projects that produce favorable ROI.
Prior to Davidson, Phil was employed by Lodgian Inc. located in Atlanta, Georgia. Phil earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
DAN MONAHAN
Dan Monahan, Regional Vice President, joined the company in 2002 as General Manager of the Renaissance Agoura Hills, in southern California. In June of 2003, Mr. Monahan was promoted to Regional Vice President. Mr. Monahan’s background includes over 20 years experience with such companies as Westin, Ritz-Carlton and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. During this time, Mr. Monahan has gained experience in all disciplines of the industry, ranging from limited service properties to upscale resorts, and the landmark Plaza Hotel in New York City. With multi-unit responsibility, Mr. Monahan oversees our Renaissance Hotels, Doubletree and several of our Hilton and Holiday Inns.
TOM HARWELL
Tom Harwell joined the company in early 2005 as Regional Vice President of Operations. With a background in the hotel industry spanning almost 30 years, Tom has spent 22 of those years as Vice President of Operations with multi-unit responsibilities. For the past 4 years, Tom served as Regional Vice President for John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. overseeing nine upscale properties including Marriott, Embassy Suites and Holiday Inn/Intercontinental hotel franchises. Prior to that, he was Vice President/Director of Operations for Lane Hospitality/Sunbelt Hotels for 18 years responsible for 15 owned and managed hotel assets. At Davidson, Tom will continue his multi-unit responsibilities overseeing 4 of our Hilton hotels along with Renaissance, Radisson and Holiday Inn/Intercontinental brands.
MIKE MCCURDYMike McCurdy, Regional Vice President of Operations, joined the company in 1997 as General Manager of the Omni in Indianapolis, Indiana. He also served as General Manager at the Park Vista in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and most recently at the Renaissance Chicago North Shore in Chicago, Illinois. During his tenure with Davidson as General Manager, Mike is the only two-time recipient of the General Manager of the Year Award which he received in both 2003 and 2005. Under his leadership, the Chicago Renaissance also won the prestigious Hotel of the Year Award in 2004. In January of 2008, Mike was promoted to Regional Vice President. Prior to joining Davidson, Mike served in General Manager positions with Snavely Hotel Group and Harley Hotels. During his hotel career as general manager, he was responsible for leading three hotels to four diamond status. Mike received his Bachelor of Science degree in Food Service and Housing Administration at The Pennsylvania State University and a Masters of Business Administration from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
KATHY HOODKathy Hood, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Management, joined the company in 1987 as Sales Manager and subsequently Director of Sales for our Holiday Inn Atlanta-Roswell. Kathy’s primary responsibility is overseeing all aspects of sales and revenue generation. Her ongoing successes as Director of Sales in Roswell paved the way for her promotion in 1989 to General Manager of the property. Kathy has also held General Manager positions at our Chicago Sheraton, Doubletree Atlanta-Buckhead, and the Albuquerque Radisson. Kathy holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia.
TIM DEBRUIN
Tim DeBruin, Corporate Director of Catering and Convention Services, joined the company in 2002. Tim’s primary responsibility is overseeing the company-wide catering sales and convention service programs. Prior to joining Davidson, Tim was Regional Director of Catering with Wyndham International responsible for 53 hotels and resorts. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Tim earned his degree in Restaurant Management form the University of Wisconsin – Stout and his degree in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.
STEVE KILROYStephen Kilroy, Vice President of Food & Beverage, joined the company in July 2006. Steve is responsible for directing Davidson’s Food & Beverage programs, profitability, and customers’ dining experiences. Prior to joining the Davidson team, Steve worked for Wyndham Hotels for 12 years holding several positions including Executive Chef, Food & Beverage Regional, and Corporate Director of Food & Beverage, Corporate Director of Operations for Shula’s Steak House, and Corporate Asset and Procurement Manager for the South Hampton Beach Resort Bermuda. Steve is originally from the Boston area and earned his degree in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI.
RON HARDINRon Hardin, Vice President of Information Technology, joined the company in 1999. His responsibilities include managing the acquisition, implementation, and support of systems and networks company-wide. Prior to joining Davidson, Ron was a Senior Systems Analyst for Planet Hollywood International, Inc. in Orlando, Florida. Previous positions held by Ron also include Manager Systems Integration and Professional Services Consultant for Micros Systems of Beltsville, Maryland, Manager of Computer-Based Systems for ServiSystems America, Inc. of Herndon, Virginia, and Hotel Systems Manager for ITT-Sheraton in Dallas, Texas and Bal Harbour, Florida. Ron is originally from Hendersonville, North Carolina and holds a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from Cornell University.