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Executives
Stan Brown was selected as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of RockResorts and Vail Resorts Hospitality in June 2007. Brown oversees and directs the company’s entire lodging and hospitality division, reporting to Chief Executive Officer Rob Katz. Brown has more than 26 years of hospitality experience in locations throughout the world. His hospitality leadership career began in 1989 when he was appointed resident manager for Maui Marriott Resort in Lahaina, Maui. In 1994, he assumed the position of general manager for Jeddah Marriott in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and this experience led to his appointment to general manager for Saigon Marriott in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in 1996. Further expanding his international scope, he was selected as the general manager for the Renaissance Sydney Hotel in 1998. From 2000 to 2005 he was the vice president of Pacific Islands and Japan for Marriott International, Inc. in Hawaii, where he oversaw 23 hotels in Hawaii, Guam and Japan and supervised more than 7,000 employees. Since 2006, he has been the vice president, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea and the Philippines for Marriott International, Inc., located in Hong Kong. Brown earned his bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from Pennsylvania State University. He and his wife Nancy have two adult children, RJ and Stan Jr. David Abraham David Abraham was named Director of Engineering for RockResorts and Vail Resorts Lodging Company in November 2007. Abraham oversees the company’s maintenance, safety and asset protection systems. He also develops strategies designed to effectively reduce the energy consumption at properties, trains on-site engineering staff and supervises capital planning for engineering related projects. Abraham began his hospitality career working for Hilton Hotels and later with Marriott International where he held Engineering leadership positions in seven properties including New England, New York, Florida, Barbados, Mexico and Bermuda which included openings and renovations. He served for two years on Marriott’s Engineering Advisory Board helping to shape the direction of Engineering discipline for the worldwide hospitality corporation. In 1996 he crossed over to operations and assumed the position of Director of Operations and ultimately General Manager roles including the Renaissance hotel in Manchester, England. Since October of 2002, he has held the position of VP/General Manger of the Red Jacket Mountain View resort in North Conway, NH, where he has been working on the development of a 40,000 sq. ft. Indoor Water Park, the largest in Northern New England. Thomas DeLouise In November of 2007, Thomas DeLouise joined RockResorts and Vail Resorts Hospitality as Director of Operations. His position focuses on partnering with the properties in the RockResorts and Vail Resorts Hospitality’s collection to maintain high standards of food and beverage quality, service and merchandising. DeLouise brings more than 26 years of hospitality experience including the last seven years with Four Seasons Seattle, Philadelphia and most recently, Four Seasons Resort Nevis in the West Indies. Prior to Four Seasons, he was the Corporate Director of F&B at Sunstone Hotels, in Southern California. DeLouise spent his early career in food and beverage at The Plaza, NYC and The New York Marriott Marquis, NYC and began his career in Food and Beverage Cost Control, at Windows on the World - World Trade Center, NYC.
Julie Klein was selected as the new Director of Environmental Affairs for its Lodging Division in August 2007. In this role Klein leads the Lodging Division, including RockResorts and Vail Resorts Lodging Company, in developing and implementing strategic environmental initiatives. She coordinates with property-level personnel, including general managers and interfaces with Lodging Division functional leads to define key environmental objectives aligned with Company business strategies. Klein has served as the Director of Environmental, Health and Safety for Grand Teton Lodging Company since May of 2003 where she led award-winning Environmental and Health and Safety Management Systems to support ISO 14001 and Wyoming OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) certification. Klein previously served as the administrator for Denver Recycles, the City and County of Denver’s municipal recycling program. For nearly 10 years prior to focusing her work in environmental policy and management, Klein specialized in marketing communications and media relations, highlighted by work for Colorado Ski Country, USA, Winter Park Resort and East West Partners. Klein holds a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications and Journalism from Colorado State and a Masters degree in Environmental Policy and Management with a concentration in Natural Resources Management, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Study in Ecotourism Management from the University of Denver.
Debbie L. McCarthy joined RockResorts and Vail Resorts Lodging Company in May 2002. As Director of Sales, McCarthy coordinates with property directors of sales to more effectively drive sales and revenue. Her responsibilities include both the RockResorts luxury brand and Vail Resorts Lodging properties. Before joining RockResorts, McCarthy was employed with Marriott Hotels & Resorts for over 20 years (in multiple sales and marketing positions). She held her most recent title, Director of Sales & Marketing for the Denver Marriott City Center, for 10 years, where she managed sales and revenues of $34 million and handled marketing and advertising for all Marriott brands in Denver. McCarthy worked for Marriott in the Dallas area for ten years. McCarthy received her bachelor’s degree from Ft. Lewis College (Durango, CO).
John McEwan was named Corporate Director of Revenue Management for RockResorts and Vail Resorts Lodging Company in 2006. As Corporate Director of Revenue Management, McEwan is responsible for pricing, distribution and revenue management for all lodging properties owned and/or managed by Vail Resorts – totaling approximately 4,500 hotel rooms and condominium units. Though McEwan joined RockResorts just three years ago, he has worked for Vail Resorts in a number of capacities for over 20 years. From 2003 to 2006, McEwan was the Director of Revenue Strategy for the Colorado lodging properties, responsible for building and managing the Colorado-based revenue management team. Prior to that, he worked as Yield Management Project Manager and Director of Revenue Management for Keystone Resort from 1995 until 2003, and served as Assistant Ski School Director, Adult Ski School Manager and Adult Ski School Supervisor from 1986 until 1995. An MBA graduate of the University of Denver, McEwan has been a guest speaker at leading industry conferences throughout the U.S.
Benjamin Novy joined RockResorts and Vail Resorts Lodging Company in November 2006. As Director of Human Resources, Novy is responsible for talent acquisition strategy, workforce planning and analysis, employment branding and marketing, and a wide gamut of other HR responsibilities. Novy is directly responsible for recruitment, orientation and on-boarding. Novy was promoted to the Director role within the lodging division of the company after initially joining Vail Resorts as a Senior Human Resources Manager responsible for managing day-to-day operations of the corporate human resources services. From 1999 -2006, Novy spent time with various divisions of Northrop Grumman (formerly TRW Inc.), a global aerospace company that provides a wide range of products for the defense industry, including assignments across the United States and England. Novy holds a Master of Human Resources from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Purdue University. In 2005, Novy also achieved certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
James O’Donnell joined RockResorts and Vail Resorts Lodging Company in June 2002 as Director of Finance, and then served as Regional Director of Operations until early 2006. In his current role as Vice President of Lodging Development, O’Donnell oversees the acquisition of new management contracts and developments for RockResorts and Vail Resorts Hospitality. Before joining RockResorts, O’Donnell was an Assurance and Business Advisory Services Manager for Arthur Andersen LLP. He served in such capacity in Andersen’s Miami, Florida office from August 1993 to July 2000, and in Andersen’s Denver, Colorado office from July 2000 to June 2002. While at Andersen, O’Donnell specialized in the hospitality and real estate industries. O'Donnell regularly speaks on indusztry expert panels at the American Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), the NYU Lodging Conference and various other IMN sponsored conferences. O’Donnell received his bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a specialization in accounting, from the University of Miami (Miami, FL) in 1993. He received his MBA from the University of Miami in 2000.
Shelle Pourmanafzadeh joined RockResorts and Vail Resorts Lodging Company in March 2005. As Corporate Director of Marketing, Pourmanafzadeh is responsible for all channels of marketing business, strategy and communications for the lodging division. Before she came to RockResorts, Pourmanafzadeh had executed marketing and public relations initiatives for The Ritz-Carlton and Hyatt since 1992. Properties in her purvey were all AAA Five Diamond, including The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, The Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall, Jamaica and The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa (Hyatt’s flagship resort). Prior to that, Pourmanafzadeh headed a marketing and business solutions company for clients including the Senior PGA Tour, a Hawaii based sports management firm, The Hyatt Regency Maui and Trilogy Excursions.
Matthew Seim is responsible for the development and implementation of RockResorts and Vail Resorts Lodging Company's technology strategy. He joined RockResorts in April 2004, after consulting for the company for over two years. Prior to joining RockResorts, Seim provided management consulting to the ski and hospitality industry. During that time, he managed the technology integration of newly acquired assets for Vail Resorts Lodging Company, and he oversaw a project to stabilize technical environments while implementing property management systems at three luxury resorts. Prior to consulting for the hospitality industry, Seim worked in technology operations and project management with MVP.com. He also worked for Deloitte Consulting, where he specialized in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system design. Seim received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Washington University (St. Louis, MO).
Christine Sudmalis oversees the financial functions of all RockResorts and Vail Resorts properties, and is responsible for forecasting, budgeting and financial reviews. She joined the company in February 2004. Before joining RockResorts, Sudmalis worked with LandBank Group, an environmental real estate company, where she was Corporate Controller. With LandBank, Sudmalis was responsible for the financial operations of the company as well as Pro Forma analysis and budgeting. Prior to working at LandBank, she worked at the Marriott South Central Regional Office as Property Director of Finance. Sudmalis received her bachelor's degree in accounting from Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO). Mark Symonds Mark Symonds joined the company in October 2007 as the Director of Technical Services for RockResorts and Vail Resorts Lodging Company. In this role, Symonds helps coordinate the various design, programming, architectural, and operational reviews of the lodging projects in development, along with significant renovation projects. He serves as a main point of contact for VRDC on the lodging projects being developed by the Real Estate division, including Ever Vail and Peak 8 in Breckenridge. Mark came to RockResorts and Vail Resorts Lodging Company with many years of experience in project management and the design of hotels and resorts, and has served similar roles with Starwood, InterContinental Hotels, and Hyatt, with a focus in the luxury market throughout the world. He was officially trained in Wales, Great Britain, where he attended South Gwent College and Allt-Y-Ryn University, with a specialization in architecture and construction management. Paul Toner Paul Toner has been selected as the new vice president of sales and marketing for RockResorts and Vail Resorts Hospitality. Toner brings more than 22 years of hospitality experience to the position. He began his hospitality career in 1985 as a sales manager for the Key Bridge Marriott. From 1987 until 1989, he was the director of sales for the Boston Long Wharf Marriott. In 1989 he embarked on a career selling and marketing resorts in the Hawaiian Islands. His first property was the Maui Marriott. Paul then became the director of sales and marketing for the Hyatt Regency Kauai and then the Hyatt Regency Maui. In 1994, he returned to the island of Kauai to lead the sales and marketing efforts for the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club that was acquired by Marriott after Hurricane Iniki and later taking on all marketing activities for Marriott’s resorts in Hawaii. His career took on a more international scope in 1999, when he became the director of marketing Central/Southern Asia and Pacific Islands for Marriott Hong Kong. Paul’s extensive resort experience brought him back to Hawaii in 2002, as the area director of marketing for Marriott Pacific Islands and Japan. Before accepting the position of vice president of sales and marketing for RockResorts and Vail Resorts Hospitality, he was the vice president of sales and marketing of Asia Pacific for Marriott based in Hong Kong. Toner graduated cum laude from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA with a bachelor of science degree in food marketing. Additional Company OfficersTim Estes
Since joining the company in 2003, Estes has been employed by the Grand Teton Lodge Company and served as general manager at Cheeca Lodge & Spa, a former RockResort. Prior to his Vail Resorts experiences, Estes worked for Kimpton Hotels where he held the position of mountain and midwest regional director of operations, overseeing seven AAA 4-diamond hotels. While working with Kimpton, Estes managed one of the headquarters hotels for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. He began his career in the hospitality industry as the general manager of Red Lion Hotels. In addition to these roles, Estes is a certified hospitality administrator who has taught hospitality management at the community college level and was president of the Portland Convention and Visitors Bureau. Paul Jeppson Paul Jeppson was promoted to Vice President of Hospitality at Keystone Resort in August 2005. Jeppson was most recently Director of Lodging and Property Management of Vail Beaver Creek Property Management (VBCRP), a post he began in 1998. In his current role, Jeppson oversees lodging operations at the 1,481 room Keystone Resort, which includes the AAA Four Diamond Award winning Keystone Lodge, The Inn at Keystone, Ski Tip Lodge, and Keystone property management. Jeppson also supervises the Keystone Conference Center, the largest conference center in the Rocky Mountain region, with more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space, and Keystone Golf Operations, which offers golfers 36 championship holes. Prior to his position at VBCRP, Jeppson was the Director of Resort Associations at Vail Resorts, as well as General Manager of the Seasons at Avon, Arrowhead Properties, Borders Lodge, and Townsend Place. He also worked for Orient Express Hotels at The Lodge at Vail and The Turnberry Hotel and Golf Course, and holds a real estate brokers license.
John Rutter directs operations for Grand Teton Lodge Company, implements service standards and business systems, and manages an operating budget of $30 million in revenues. He is responsible for overall management of visitor services at Grand Teton National Park, including financial and contractual management, development of environmental and safety programs and community outreach. Rutter joined Grand Teton Lodge Company in October 2002. From 1992 to 2002, Rutter was Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Keystone Resort, where he directed development and implementation of resort-wide strategic business plans to increase operating income. Rutter also acted as Executive Vice President of Ski Operations for Ralston Purina Company/Ralcorp, Inc. from 1989 to 1992, where he oversaw Ralston Resorts, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Breckenridge Resorts. For the same company, he also worked as the Director of Ski Operations from 1980 to 1989. From 1974 to 1980, Rutter provided supervision and direction for Keystone Ski Area. Rutter graduated from the University of Washington, School of Forestry (Seattle, WA) in 1972. He went on to receive an MBA from Denver University in 1988. |
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Stan Brown
Julie Klein
Debbie L. McCarthy
John McEwan
Benjamin Novy
James C. O'Donnell
Shelle Pourmanafzadehardabili
Matthew H. Seim
Christine Sudmalis
Tim Estes is the vice president of Beaver Creek/Aspen Hospitality for Vail Resorts, Inc. Estes oversees The Hotel Jerome and The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, both RockResorts, in addition to the Vail Beaver Creek Resort Properties (VBCRP).
John Rutter