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Since
its founding in 1988, GF Management has experienced tremendous
growth, due to the entrepreneurial nature of its principals, the
efficiency of the management company, and GF’s ability to move
quickly in accomplishing critical tasks. GF Management has five
principals as well as many talented senior staff members. The
following synopsis reflects a diverse background that helps to
bring unique solutions to today’s challenges.
The
following individuals oversee the respective corporate divisions
within GF Management:
IRA
LUBERT – Chairman
Ira Lubert,
as Chairman, oversees the acquisitions strategies for GF Management.
Mr. Lubert has had a successful history of acquiring hospitality
properties, commercial real estate and active businesses. In 1997
Mr. Lubert joined Dean S. Adler, formerly of CMS Companies, to
create the Lubert-Adler Real Estate Opportunity Fund. Several
multi-million dollar funds have been designed to invest primarily
in undervalued and opportunistic real estate and real estate related
ventures. Previously, Mr. Lubert served as Managing Director of
Radnor Venture Partners, a venture capital fund, providing a combination
of venture capital, management, marketing and technical expertise.
Mr. Lubert formerly served as Vice President of Acquisitions at
Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange firm. Prior
to this, he served as Chairman of the Board & President of
CompuCom Systems. Mr. Lubert has a B.S. Degree in Hotel &
Restaurant Management from Pennsylvania State University.
ROBERT
E. KEITH, JR. – Vice Chairman
Robert Keith joined TL Ventures, a high technology venture capital
fund, after a lengthy tenure at Wachovia Bank in Philadelphia,
PA, where he was Vice Chairman. While at the bank Mr. Keith was
responsible for a substantial portion of the bank’s commercial
banking business, which included the bank’s real estate
lending group and a commercial mortgage banking company. Mr. Keith
provides GF Management with an in-depth knowledge of real estate
finance and an understanding of financial institutions, management
and strategic planning. Mr. Keith is a graduate of Amherst College,
and Temple University School of Law. Mr. Keith is a member of
the Pennsylvania Bar.
KENNETH
KOCHENOUR – Chief Executive Officer
As founder and CEO of GF Management, Ken Kochenour brings a unique
entrepreneurial approach to the hospitality industry. Mr. Kochenour
has more than twenty years of experience in owning and operating
various hotel/resort facilities. His experience in turnaround
deals, property evaluations, market analyses and cost controls
are the keynotes of GF’s ability to increase profitability
in excess of industry standards. Previous senior management experience
includes Vice President of Operations for Shawnee Management,
Inc., as well as being Regional Director for Ramada Inns. Mr.
Kochenour holds a B.S. Degree from York College of Pennsylvania.
BARBARA
EVANS, CPA – Executive Vice President of Finance
Barbara Evans is the Executive Vice President of Finance of GF
Management. Ms. Evans brings with her several years of diverse
business experience, during which she spent more than ten years
in public accounting, and twenty-three years in various accounting,
budgeting and treasury functions within Exxon Corporation, Commodore
Business Machines, and QVC Network, Inc. Ms. Evans is a Certified
Public Accountant. Ms. Evans attended Drexel University, where
she obtained her Undergraduate Degree in Business Administration,
and her Masters Degree in Finance & Economics. Ms. Evans is
a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of CPA’s.
ANDREW
S. TOD – Executive Vice President
Andrew Tod is the Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing
of GF Management. Mr. Tod is a twenty-eight year veteran of the
hospitality industry. Prior to joining GF Management Mr. Tod spent
seven years as Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, representing more
than 12,000 hotel rooms, a $522 million Pennsylvania Convention
Center, and more than 1,050 hospitality related organizations
in the City of Philadelphia. Preceding this role, Mr. Tod spent
six years with the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company in Atlanta, Georgia,
during which he was Corporate Director of Sales & Marketing
for all Ritz Carlton Hotels. Additionally, Mr. Tod was responsible
for the development of all Ritz Carlton Hotel Company sales &
marketing systems, and technology and measurement programs. Prior
to his involvement with the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, Mr. Tod
was the Director of Sales & Marketing for the 800 room Canadian
Pacific Franklin Plaza Hotel in Philadelphia. Mr. Tod joined GF
Management in 1994.
STAN
GLANDER– Senior Vice President of Operations/Food
& Beverage
Stan Glander joined GF Management in 2007 as Senior Vice President
of Food & Beverage. Prior to joining GF, Mr. Glander was the
General Manager of Knotts Berry Farm Resort Hotel, and a Western
Regional Director of Food & Beverage for Wyndham Hotels. Mr.
Glander’s professional background also includes Doubletree
Hotels, Embassy Suites, and free standing restaurant ownership
and operations. Mr. Glander has served as an Area President for
the International Food Service Executives Association in Ohio,
as well as an advisor to the Cypress College Hospitality and Culinary
Program in California. Mr. Glander brings more than twenty years
of industry operational and leadership experience to the GF Team.
M.
DANIEL HATCH, CHA – Senior Vice President
Daniel Hatch has over twenty-five years of experience in the hospitality
industry, in which Mr. Hatch held various positions ranging from
General Manager to Senior Vice President of Operations. Mr. Hatch
is experienced with all major hotel chains including Sheraton
and Sheraton Four Points, Holiday Inn, Days Inn, Quality Inn,
Comfort Inn, and independent resort properties. This experience
includes eighteen years managing resort properties and golf courses,
and four years during which Mr. Hatch owned and operated a management
company.
MATTHEW
S. PICA – Chief Operating Officer
Matthew Pica has in excess of twenty-five years of hospitality
industry experience, and joined GF Management in 1993 as General
Manager of the Holiday Inn Center City in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Mr. Pica has had an extensive and successful career with GF Management,
holding positions of General Manager, Regional Vice President
of Operations, and his current title of Chief Operating Officer.
Mr. Pica’s hospitality experience includes Hyatt Hotels
and Holiday Inn (Intercontinental Hotels Group). Mr. Pica also
sits on the Board of Directors for the New York State Hospitality
& Tourism Association. Mr. Pica is a graduate of Fairleigh
Dickinson University and holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in
Business.
JOSEPH
A. "JAY" WELLENBUSHER – Chief Financial
Officer
Jay Wellenbusher came to GF Management in 1994 as Corporate Controller.
Mr. Wellenbusher has over twenty-five years of experience in hospitality
accounting and finance. Mr. Wellenbusher began his career with
the Sheraton Corporation, where he held various controller positions,
and was a member of the Regional Team, North American Division.
Mr. Wellenbusher later joined Morgans Hotel Group (now Ian Schrager
Hotels), where he was instrumental in the company’s growth,
participating in the acquisition, renovation and repositioning
of Royalton, Paramount, and Barbizon Hotels in New York City.
Mr. Wellenbusher also held controller positions with the Flately
Hotel Corporation and Helmsley Enterprises. Mr. Wellenbusher holds
a B.S. Degree in Accounting from Le Moyne College in Syracuse,
New York.
CATHY
BRAND - Corporate Controller
Cathy Brand joined GF Management in 2006 as Corporate Controller.
Prior to joining GF Management, Ms. Brand was the Corporate Director
of Accounting & Financial Reporting for The Melrose Hotel
Corporation. Ms. Brand is a twenty year finance and hotel veteran.
Ms. Brand has held numerous controller positions with HEI, and
Starwood Hotels & Resorts, with a good portion of her time
spent at Westin Hotels. Ms. Brand also spent five years in public
accounting, where she performed financial and internet control
audits. Ms. Brand holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting
& Business Economics from Oneonta State University.
JEFFREY
KOLESSAR – Vice President of Business Development
Jeffrey Kolessar is Vice President of Business Development of
GF Management, Inc., and is responsible for hotel acquisitions,
receiverships, and third-party management contracts since 1995.
Prior to that, Mr. Kolessar served as a Regional Controller with
GF Management since 1990. Over the past twelve years Mr. Kolessar
has acted as a receiver for hotel properties throughout the country,
and has performed hotel management, receivership, workouts, and
evaluated over 100 hotel properties for financial institutions.
Additional responsibilities have included negotiation of franchise
agreements and assisting lenders in the sale of hotels. Mr. Kolessar
also oversees all third party management contracts with the Company.
CANDICE
ELLESIN - Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Candice Ellesin has been in the hotel and hospitality industry
for over twenty years. Ms. Ellesin joined GF Management in 1999,
and has held various positions in the Sales & Marketing arena
during her nine year tenure with GF Management – primarily
at a Regional or National Account level. Offering the experience
of managing multiple sales teams and driving incremental revenues
Ms. Ellesin offers strong support and expert knowledge in the
day to day operation of a hotel sales department, strong experience
in turn-around situations, as well as established properties that
need to redefine their edge in the market. Ms. Ellesin holds a
Bachelor of Arts from the University of Akron, and has served
in various area leadership positions such as Chair of the Valley
Forge Bureau Marketing Committee, Director of Business Development
& Finance for the Philadelphia Chapter of Meeting Professionals
International, and Regional Committee representation for the International
Association of Conference Centers.
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