Board of Directors
ALEX MLADENOVIC
Affiliate Board Member
Alex Mladenovic R. Williams Electric, Inc. Alex Mladenovic is a Sales Associate for R. Williams Electric, Inc. The company is a family business and has been in business since 1984 performing Electrical Contracting and service work on commercial buildings in DFW. There are three divisions within the company. The first is New Construction, which includes...
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STEPHANIE WYDNER
Board Member Extraordinaire
Stephanie Wydner Board Member Extraordinaire Stephanie is currently an Area Director of Operations for Icon Lodging. In the past she has served as a General Manager for TMI Hospitality, and worked for Marriott Corporate for 10 years. Stephanie won HATC GM of the Year for 2016. She is currently a Board Member for HATC, and is...
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ELLIOT DUBIN
Honorary Board Member
Elliot Dubin Board of Directors Dr. Elliot Dubin holds the position of lecturer in the Hospitality and Tourism Management program at the University of North Texas. His primary teaching responsibilities include Hospitality Law, Human Resources in the Hospitality Industry, and Management Foundations. In addition to his primary courses, Dr. Dubin is the instructor and coordinator...
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JOHN LARRIVIERE
Affiliate Board Member
John Larriviere Board of Directors United Carpet Cleaning Systems John is the founder of United Carpet Cleaning Systems, Inc in 1979. Cleaning All That Can Be Cleaned. We service the DFW area residentially and we are nationwide commercially and clean all Floors, Rugs, Fabric, Awnings, and perform Carpet Repairs. Another area we specialize in is...
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GARY LEVINE
Board Member Extraordinaire
Gary Levine Board Member Extraordinaire Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center, General Manager Quorum Hotels & Resorts, VP Food & Beverage 1800 State Highway 26 Grapevine, TX 76051 Gary is responsible for directing the food and beverage operations of Quorum Hotel & Resorts managed properties. He is also based at the company’s Hilton DFW Lakes...
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BRADY CLOSSON
Ex Officio Board Member
Brady Closson Ex Officio Board Member Upon completing paramedic training and obtaining his paramedic certificate from the College of Emergency Services in Beaverton, Oregon, Brady began his hospitality adventure as a Front Desk Agent at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque. It didn’t take him long to find his way to the sales department, holding positions at...
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ERIK WYATT
Board Member Extraordinaire
Erik Wyatt Board Member Extraordinaire Erik Wyatt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Restaurant, Hotel Management (RHIM) from Texas Tech University. As Regional Vice President, Erik is responsible for the operational and financial success of our hotels in the North Texas area. He assists in the leadership and development of mangers and is directly...
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DAVID WINTERS
Board Member Extraordinaire
David Winter Board Member Extraordinaire In January of 2013 David Winter joined the Omni Fort Worth as the Director of Catering and Convention Services. In this role, Winter has been responsible for planning, evaluating, organizing, and directing all catering, convention services and event activities for the downtown luxury property. He was recognized as the Director...
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JOE JENNINGS
Board Member Extraordinaire
Joe Jennings Board Member Extraordinaire General Manager, Hilton Arlington Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK Currently Resides: Dallas, TX Education: University of Oklahoma – Bachelor of Science – Business Administration Joe Jennings began his 20 + professional hotel management career at the highly acclaimed Westin Copley Place in Boston, Massachusetts. After spending four years in this position,...
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KEITH SPINDEN
Secretary
Keith Spinden Secretary Keith has served 30+ years in the hospitality industry, starting in Culinary and Food and Beverage through a number of independent operators before joining Hyatt in 1987. The Grand Hyatt DFW is my 12th Hyatt Hotel and my third General Manager assignment and I am truly blessed to work with such a...
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CATHERINE CARROLL
Board Member Extraordinaire
Catherine Carroll Board Member Extraordinaire “If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got.” This is Catherine Carroll’s life mantra. She makes it a point to strive for constant improvement, and has done so as the General Manager of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fort Worth—Downtown, since...
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SCOTT JOSLOVE
Board Member Extraordinaire
Scott Joslove Board Member Extraordinaire Scott Joslove has served for the last fifteen years as President and CEO of the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association (THLA). In that time, THLA has grown from the third largest state hotel association to the largest hotel association in the country. THLA serves over 2,300 lodging related member businesses...
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RONNIE PRICE
Ex Officio Board Member
Ronnie Price Ex Officio Board Member Ronnie Price became President & CEO of Experience Arlington in April 2013 following a nationwide search. He comes to Arlington with over 16 years of hospitality leadership, sales and marketing experience. Before coming to Arlington, he was the Assistant Executive Director of Sales & Marketing for the San Antonio...
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BOB JAMESON
Ex Officio Board Member
Bob Jameson Ex Officio Board Member Bob Jameson began his career in the hospitality field in 1977, as a tram driver at the Santa Clara Marriott Hotel. He progressed to Front Office Manager at Marriott’s Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Ranch Mirage, California and on to Resident Manager at Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Arizona for...
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AARON OGBURN
Affiliate Board Member
Aaron Ogburn Affiliate Board Member Aaron Ogburn has 21 years of experience in the service industry. He thrives on education for himself and others with an MBA, Bachelors in Business Management, and Associates Degree in Business. Aaron is Vice President of Operations for Regions Pest, LLC. Through this position he is able to deliver his...
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JONATHAN HOOPER
Affiliate Board Member
Jonathan Hooper Affiliate Board Member Jonathan Hooper is the Director of Commercial Sales Texas for Massey Services, Inc. Jonathan joined Massey Services in September of 2012 after the company acquired Myers Pest & Termite Services. Prior to his current role, Jonathan served as the Director of Business Development. Jonathan has over 24 years of experience in...
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JOHN YEUNG
Treasurer
John Yeung Treasurer John Yeung is the General Manager of the Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel and Spa a full service Starwood property dedicated to meetings, conventions, weddings, and individual travelers. The Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel and Spa is managed by Interstate Hotels and Resorts, one of the largest international independent hotel management companies in the...
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CRESTON WOODS
Vice President
Creston Woods Vice President Creston Woods currently as General Manager for Benchmark Hospitality at Deloitte University. His involvement in the project began in the pre-opening design and construction phase 2010. He was responsible for creating and implementing the operations plan which included all aspects of hospitality services, building operations, energy management, transportation and fitness center...
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GRACIE VEGA
Board Member Extraordinaire
Gracie Vega Board Member Extraordinaire As the Director of Human Resources for the award-winning Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, Gracie Vega oversees the 1,511-room property’s recruiting efforts, staff training, benefits, and internal communications & events. Vega joined the resort in 2003, serving on the pre-opening team that hired and trained over...
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JAGS PATEL
Board Member Extraordinaire
Jags Patel Board Member Extraordinaire Jags Patel brings 33 years of formidable tried-tested-proven innovative and entrepreneurial know-how to Q Hotels. With a wealth of resources and relations, Jags provides the vision, leadership and the critical close working relationships with our operating partners (associates) and team members that make it possible for Q Hotels to achieve...
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CARLOS GONZALEZ
Board Member Extraordinaire
Carlos Gonzalez Board Member Extraordinaire Carlos currently lives in the North Dallas area. He recently had his first newborn, little girl, with his wife of 3 years. His first job was a room attendant while in High School. Continue working in the hotel business in all different positions while attending college. After college, he became...
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TINA PATEL
Board Member Extraordinaire
Tina Patel Board Member Extraordinaire Tina – A 1993 graduate from The University of Oklahoma with a BBA in Management, Tina’s career started out in retail at the Limited, Inc. She moved to the DFW area in 1997 and started her career in advertising with The Wall Street Journal. She managed the Southwest region until...
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JED WAGENKNECHT
President
Jed Wagenknecht President Jed Wagenknecht grew up in St Louis Missouri. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in the hospitality program. His first job was with Marriott at a Residence Inn as a sales manager. After moving to a few cities back east in different sales positions, he landed his first GM job in...
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NANCY SORRELLS
Immediate Past President
Nancy Sorrells Immediate Past President Nancy Sorrells has a business degree from Oregon State University. Her hospitality career began working the front desk on weekends and holidays during college. Her career has taken her from the front desk to sales, to operations and general management. She has worked from a beachfront resort on the Oregon...
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JULIE FAVER-DYLLA
Executive Director
Julie Faver-Dylla Executive Director Hotel Association of Tarrant County Julie brought more than 15 years hotel sales experience to the Hotel Association of Tarrant County when she accepted the role as our Executive Director in 2010. As the Senior Sales Manager for the DFW Airport Marriott South for more than 10 years, she built relationships...
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