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Leadership
Currently EVERY Hospitality Ventures hotel has a market share that exceeds 100%.  With an average of more than 25 years experience in the hospitality industry, and more than 10 years working together as a team, each of our senior managers has an established track record of identifying, repositioning and managing opportunities in the hotel real estate business.

 
 
 
 
   
 
Robert S. Cole, President & Chief Executive Officer

Robert S. Cole
President & Chief Executive Officer
Through February 2001, Mr. Cole was the president and chief executive officer of Lodgian, Inc., formed as a result of the merger between Servico, Inc., a publicly traded hotel company, and Impac Hotel Group. At the time of the merger, Lodgian was one of the largest owners of hotels in the country, with a portfolio of 143 owned and managed hotels and more than 26,000 rooms in 35 states and Canada. From 1990 to 1998, Cole was the founder and chief executive officer of Impac Hotel Group, an owner-operator and developer of hotel properties. During his tenure, Impac grew from one to 55 hotels, becoming one of Marriott International and Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts largest franchisees.

As a result of his success in managing, developing, renovating and repositioning hotels, Cole enjoys strong relationships with franchisors and capital partners. Such success is evident, as Impac received the prestigious Torchbearer Award for outstanding quality and operations, eight Modernization Awards from Bass Hotels & Resorts, and numerous development and quality awards from Marriott. Prior to 1990, Cole held a variety of general manager positions in hotels throughout the United States. Cole graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Hotel Administration from the University of New Hampshire.

To learn more about Cole, review his profile in Lodging, the management magazine of the American Hotel & Motel Association's – click here.

 
 
Jay Molitor, Vice President of Operations Jay Molitor
Vice President of Operations
A seasoned hospitality veteran of 21 years, Mr. Molitor’s focus is the daily corporate oversight management of the Hospitality Ventures portfolio of hotels and various other company-wide duties and responsibilities. Prior to his appointment as vice president of operations, he served Hospitality Ventures as regional director of operations overseeing operations and management for five Marriott / Hilton brand hotels. Molitor joined Hospitality Ventures in 2005 after working with Lodgian as regional operations manager – western region. In 1999, Molitor was named Lodgian’s “General Manager of the Year” when he served as general manager of the Denver Airport Marriott, which he managed from its opening in 1998 until 2002. Molitor previously worked with Hospitality Ventures' CEO, Robert Cole, at Impac Hotel Group since 1996. Molitor holds a B.S. in Hotel / Restaurant Administration from the University of Massachusetts.
 
 
Roger A. Miller, Vice President of Sales & Marketing Roger A. Miller
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
A veteran of more than 30 years in multi-unit marketing and sales, Mr. Miller supervises each property’s sales and marketing direction, efforts, staff development and results. Miller implements technical innovations, monitors and evaluates on-site marketing/sales action plans, and determines overall media strategies. He is also accountable for Hospitality Ventures' sales and marketing policies, standards, procedures and revenue tracking. Miller has worked with Robert Cole and partners for the majority of the last 14 years. Miller served as a hotel director of sales and marketing for several years prior to taking on multi-unit responsibilities. During his career, he has marketed more than 130 hotels in 35 states ranging from 60 to 500 rooms. Miller graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
 
 
Matt A. Woodruff, Vice President of Quality and Guest Satisfaction Matthew A. Woodruff
Vice President of Quality and Guest Satisfaction
Mr. Woodruff has specialized in hotel operations quality and guest satisfaction for more than 22 years. Woodruff focuses on facilitating and providing resources, support and guidance to all Hospitality Ventures hotels, in the realm of quality and guest satisfaction. He works with Hilton and Marriot brand standards and associated personnel to achieve maximum hotel guest satisfaction and individual hotel guest score ratings. He has also held the position of general manager, and served in both rooms, and food and beverage departments. Woodruff has worked for many successful hospitality companies including Lodgian, Walt Disney World Resorts and Promus Hotels. From 1997 to 2001, he worked with Robert Cole at Impac Hotel Group. Woodruff is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and holds a degree in Hospitality Management with an emphasis on Hotel Operations.
 
 
Matt A. Woodruff, Vice President of Quality and Guest Satisfaction Mike Stevens
Vice President Capital Projects & Procurement
During the past two decades, Mike has supervised and overseen hotel purchasing, design and project management for 27 “new construction” hotels with a total asset value of $216,000,000.  In addition, he has provided the same expertise and services for 176 hotel “complete” renovations, totaling $880,000,000 in value. Mike’s geographic boundaries of projects range from Maine to Oregon, San Diego to the Florida Keys and practically every state in between.  In total, Mike has provided expertise, management and services in over 41 states. Mike is a “hands-on” professional averaging 38-40 weeks of annual travel. Mike began his career in the hospitality industry by running his own purchasing / design / installation company in central Florida. His success led him to holding prestigious positions with IDC Construction, Impac Hotel Group and Lodgian, Inc. At IDC, Mike was president of their procurement division. At Impac Hotel Group, Mike served in all capacities with major emphasis in multi-unit project management.  He was corporate director of capital expenditures & purchasing for Lodgian, Inc. Mike is based out of Hospitality Ventures’ corporate office in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
 
Margie Vito, Operations Manager - Food and Beverage Margaret Vito
Operations Manager – Food and Beverage
Ms. Vito’s responsibilities are to maximize food & beverage profit centers for all full-service hotels and provide general managers with resources, tools, and technical and brand support, to meet and exceed the property’s annual financial, guest and associate satisfaction targets in the F&B areas. Vito’s primary duties include assisting general managers with recruiting in food & beverage areas, brand & technical training materials and sessions, ensuring brand standards are met in all F&B areas, cost control management, procedures and maximizing F&B quality. She also assists in property acquisitions, transitions and troubleshooting under-performing hotels. Vito has worked with Robert Cole and partners for more than 20 years in several capacities including food & beverage director, general manager and corporate director of food & beverage.
 
 
Ron Disbow Ron Disbrow
Operations Manager, Human Resources
Based in Nashville, TN, Mr. Disbrow has more than 25 years experience in hotel operations, quality assurance and human resources. As operations manager – human resources, Disbrow will specialize in human resources, assist in the recruiting of key hotel department heads and help maximize associate satisfaction. Disbrow will provide general managers cost-effective, results-driven human resources support, resources and tools. In addition, Disbrow will assist with new property acquisitions and company associate benefit packages. From 1988 – 1998, Disbrow served Robert Cole and Impac Hotel Group, dedicating the majority of his time to hotel profitability and guest / associate satisfaction. By progressing through the ranks of general manager and regional director, Disbrow eventually landed at the corporate office and developed a Quality Department for Impac. A native of upstate New York, Disbrow holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Roberts Wesleyan College with a focus in the social sciences.
 
 
Dave Price David Price
Operations Manager
Based in Lexington, KY, Mr. Price is a seasoned hospitality veteran, focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence for Hospitality Ventures’ hotels.  Duties include: research, review and providing recommendations regarding any and all industry or brand resources, support and tools to hotel general managers and key department heads. Where appropriate, he will assist general managers in purchasing, procurement, negotiation/renegotiation of utilities management and various other contracts and leases. He will also assist Hospitality Ventures in the transition of acquiring hotels and will act as an interim general manager when necessary. Price brings more than 17 years of hotel operational and multi-unit, multi-brand experience – the last four years with Hospitality Ventures.  He has also served Prime Hospitality, Richfield, Turton Properties and OFI. Price is a South Georgia native and graduated with a Liberal Arts degree in 1989 from the University of Hawaii and a Bachelor of Science / Psychology degree in 1995 from Georgia Southwestern College.
 
 
Carol A. Twardoch, Director of Communications, Investor & Franchise Relations Carol A. Twardoch
Director of Communications, Investor & Franchise Relations 
An integral part of Hospitality Ventures, Ms. Twardoch spearheads, supports and follows through on daily investor, financial, franchise, real estate and hotel communications and relations. In addition, she directs and supervises multiple "Special Projects" at the request of the senior management team. Twardoch has served Robert Cole and partners for over 14 years. Previously, Carol worked in similar roles with United Artists Television, MGM/UA and Orion Pictures, all located in New York. Her technical skills, experience and dedication provide the edge in all facets of internal and external communications and relations. She has served on the International Emmy Awards committee and assisted with multiple political campaign functions in New York City. A native of Long Island, NY, Twardoch was awarded a scholarship from Briarcliff Business School, Garden City, NY, where she focused on a business administration curriculum.
 
 
Karen L. Kish Karen L. Kish
Controller
Ms. Kish establishes and oversees the accounting functions and procedures for Hospitality Ventures’ owned and operated hotels. She has held this position within the hospitality industry for 20 years, including eight years with Robert Cole and partners. During these years, Kish has been responsible for all aspects of full-service and limited-service hotel accounting including: setting up of new accounting department, budget preparation, monthly financial statements, cash analysis, cash forecasting, cash management, accounting procedures, payroll, accounting software purchase / conversion and owner / financial institution relationships. Since 1992, she has been responsible for 176 hotels with combined annual revenues of $200 million. Kish received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio and has acquired 30 years of experience in various accounting functions of the hotel industry.