Kenneth Kochenour, Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Kochenour is Founder and CEO of GF Management and brings to the company more than twenty-five years of experience in owning and operating hotel/resort facilities, turnaround deals, property evaluations, market analyses and cost controls. Mr. Kochenour holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from York College, Pennsylvania.
Ira Lubert, Chairman
Mr. Lubert oversees the acquisitions strategies for GF Management. In 1997, Mr. Lubert joined Dean Adler to create the Lubert-Adler Real Estate Opportunity Fund. Mr. Lubert holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management from Pennsylvania State University.
Robert E. Keith, Jr., Vice Chairman
Mr. Keith provides GF Management with 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 and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar.
Barbara Evans, CPA, Executive Vice President Of Finance
Ms. Evans brings many years of diverse business experience to GF Management, including accounting, budgeting and treasury functions. Ms. Evans is a Certified Public Accountant. Additionally, Ms. Evans holds an Undergraduate Degree in Business Administration from Drexel University and a Masters Degree in Finance & Economics.
Andrew S. Tod, Executive Vice President
Mr. Tod is a twenty-eight year veteran of the hospitality industry, specializing in sales and marketing efforts, and new business development projects. Mr. Tod joined GF Management in 1994 and plays a crucial role in the development of new business strategies, property evaluations and hotel operations.
Stan Glander, Executive Vice President Of North American Operations
Mr. Glander joined GF Management in 2007. Mr. Glander’s background includes various hotel franchises and free standing restaurant ownership and operations. Mr. Glander has served as President for the International Food Service Executives Association in Ohio, as well as Advisor to the Cypress College Hospitality and Culinary Program in California. Mr. Glander brings over twenty years of industry leadership experience to the GF Team.
Joseph A. “Jay” Wellenbusher, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions
Mr. Wellenbusher came to GF Management in 1994, and possesses nearly thirty years of experience in hospitality accounting and finance, specializing in acquisitions, renovations and finance repositioning. Mr. Wellenbusher had previously acted at Chief Financial Officer for over 10 years at GF Management. He also held various positions in the accounting field with various hotel groups including ITT Sheraton, Morgans Hotel Group and Helmsley Hotels. In this current role, Mr. Wellenbusher is actively looking to expand GF's portfolio through investment opportunities. Mr. Wellenbusher holds a B.S. in Accounting from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY.
Jeffrey Kolessar, Senior Vice President Of Development
Mr. Kolessar is responsible for hotel acquisitions, receiverships and third party management contracts for hotel properties throughout the country. Mr. Kolessar joined GF Management in 1990. Since then, he has acted as a receiver for hotel properties and has executed hotel management deals, receiverships and workouts, and evaluated over 300 hotel properties for financial institutions. Additionally, Mr. Kolessar negotiates franchise agreements, assists lenders in the sale of hotels and oversees third party management contracts with the company.
Mr. Kolessar’s experience in the transitional and distressed hospitality field has warranted regular invitations to participate as an expert speaker or panelist for industry events. Recent speaking engagements have included the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, regarding Hotel Workouts, Challenges and Solutions, Hotel Business Magazine Roundtable, regarding Making the Right Moves [in Franchising] and at several HREC seminars and webinars covering the topic of the role of a Hotel Management Company in Hotel Loan Resolutions.
Matthew S. Pica, Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Pica has in excess of twenty-five years of hospitality industry experience and joined GF Management in 1993. Mr. Pica has an extensive, strong background in hotel/resort operations and is familiar with all major hotel franchises. Mr. Pica sits on the Board of Directors for the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association and is also a member of several National Hotel Franchise Boards. Mr. Pica holds a B.S. in Business from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Richard C. Henrikson, CHA, Senior Vice President Operations
Mr. Henrikson joined GF Management in early 2009. Prior to his current position, Mr. Henrikson was Executive VP of Operations for another major hotel management company. Having experience with major hotel brands including Marriott, Hilton and InterContinental Hotels Group, he is a strong asset to the overall operations effort. Mr. Henrikson brings over 30 years of experience in the hotel industry and has served on IHG's Crowne Plaza and IAHI committees. Mr. Henrikson attended Fergus Falls Community College and is a graduate of Loyola University's Management Certification program.
Candice Kochenour, Vice President Of Sales & Marketing
Ms. Kochenour has been in the hospitality industry for over twenty years. Ms. Kochenour joined GF Management in 1999 and has held various positions in the Sales & Marketing arena during her tenure. Offering the experience of managing multiple sales teams and driving incremental revenues, Ms. Kochenour offers strong support and expert knowledge in the day to day operation of a hotel sales department. Her expertise ranges from turn-around situations to established properties that need to redefine their edge in the market. Ms. Kochenour has served as Chair of the Valley Forge Bureau Marketing Committee and Director of Business Development & Finance for the Philadelphia Chapter of Meeting Professionals International.
James R. “Jay” Burnett, Vice President Of Corporate Strategies
Mr. Burnett has over 15 years of hospitality industry experience. Prior to joining GF, Mr. Burnett was asset manager for a private equity real estate investment company with responsibility for hospitality and senior living assets. Previously, he spent six years with Marriott International in a number of corporate positions with responsibility for information technology, revenue management, competitive analysis and sales and marketing analysis. Having begun his hotel career in 1992 with the Hampton Inn in Charlottesville, VA, Mr. Burnett possesses a B.S. in Commerce degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute and the Cornell Hotel Society.
Andrew Taymans, Vice President Asset and Revenue Management
Mr. Taymans brings over 30 years of hospitality experience, the last 17 of which have been with GF Management. Having started his hospitality career in various F&B Management roles, MR. Taymans then performed as a General Manager and Regional Operations Manager, and spearheaded the development of the Revenue Management department at GF, prior to his current role as Vice President. Mr. Taymans has a wealth of experience supporting and managing e-Commerce and Revenue Management efforts across multiple brands, which include InterContinental Hotels Group, Carlson, Hilton, Starwood and Wyndham, as well as independent properties and resorts. Mr. Taymans had served as President of the Regional Hotel Marketing Association Board and on the IAHI Distribution & Reservation Channel Committee, and is currently active as an IAHI Ambassador.
Mike Bowman, Senior Vice President
Mr. Bowman brings over 20 years of hospitality leadership to GF Management. His diverse experience is derived from various management roles throughout major brands and organizations including Hilton Hotels, Wyndham Worldwide, Harrah's Entertainment and Rush Street Gaming. Mr. Bowman has achieved numerous hospitality industry accolades, including Harrah's annual top leadership award. Additionally, Mr. Bowman has studied at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. In his role at GF Management, he will oversee property and gaming operations and well as be a participant in special projects.
M. Daniel Hatch, CHA, Senior Vice President
Mr. Hatch has over thirty years of experience in the hospitality industry. Mr. Hatch joined GF Management sixteen years ago and has held positions ranging from General Manager to Senior Vice President of Operations. Mr. Hatch has experience with all the major hotel brands to include Starwood, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Wyndham Worldwide, Radisson and Choice Hotels. This experience includes eighteen years managing resort properties and golf courses, multi-use real estate and four years during which Mr. Hatch owned and operated a management company. He is versed in receivership takeovers, bank workouts and repositioning and rebranding properties. Mr. Hatch is a graduate of Plymouth State College and holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration.
