Patrick Volz
Chief Operating Officer, Global Operations

As Chief Operating Officer, Global Operations, Patrick Volz leads and inspires Aimbridge Hospitality’s corporate teams that support our hotels in the pursuit of operational excellence that drives outsized returns, guest satisfaction, and owner satisfaction, overseeing hotel finance, food and beverage, rooms and engineering and operational excellence/quality assurance teams. He also works alongside our hotel transitions team and the Transitions Center of Excellence (COE). His expertise in this role is an essential part of continuing to refine and innovate Aimbridge’s resources to provide best-in-class management services to our owners and unparalleled experiences to guests. He works alongside our Divisional Presidents, who continue to report to Mark Tamis, President, Global Operations.

Patrick is a strategic industry leader with over 25 years of operational experience, previously as President and Chief Operating Officer of Blackstone Real Estate (BRE) Hotels and Resorts where he led asset management, revenue and eCommerce, capital deployment, and all operations for BRE. His career spans running day-to-day operations and providing operational and financial oversight in roles with major hospitality brands and associations. Before Blackstone, he served as Chief Financial Officer of The Americas at Hilton Worldwide, leading all aspects of the operational finance organization, including performance reporting, operating and capital budgeting, cash flow management, forecasting, and ROI analysis. In this role, he also led key decisions and strategies across Revenue Management & eCommerce, F&B, Rooms, Sales & Marketing, and Ancillary Departments. He spent the first decade of his career at Marriott International, holding roles of increasing responsibility.

Patrick is a graduate of the University of Nebraska, and the University of Texas Naveen Jindal School of Management with a Master of Business Administration in organizational behavior and strategic information systems. He also completed “The CFO: Becoming a Strategic Partner” executive education program at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Shahid Javed
Executive Vice President, Procurement & Project Management, Chief Procurement Officer

As Executive Vice President of Procurement, Shahid is responsible for developing and deploying end-to-end supply chain solutions across the entire hotel life cycle. Shahid leads innovation across the supply chain, building on data analytics to drive insights and leveraging procurement technology platform and expansive buying power to generate optimal value and efficiencies for hotel owners and investors.

His responsibilities include client facing procurement strategy and sourcing to support day-to-day hotel operations, managing Aimbridge’s differentiated capabilities in hospitality procurement of FF&E and OS&E, and overseeing project management for hotel renovations, brand conversations and new construction. He also oversees the execution of Property Improvement Plans (PIP) and all elements of capital budgeting, planning and implementation. In addition, Shahid oversees Indirect Procurement to manage Aimbridge corporate’s sourcing and procurement needs.

With over 25 years of procurement leadership and supply chain expertise across multiple industries and geographies, Shahid most recently served as Chief Procurement Officer at TIAA. Prior to that he was JLL’s Global Chief Procurement Officer, transforming the global sourcing and procurement function with a combined purchasing power of over $30 billion, implementing category management and utilizing data analytics and technology-based solutions for the commercial real estate services firm. Shahid was BP’s Chief Procurement Officer for the U.S. onshore business, managing a multi-billion dollar annual third party spend. He successfully created category strategies, conducted strategic sourcing, and embedded supplier relationship management. He has also spent time with an internet start-up establishing procurement consortium, and with a management consulting firm advising clients on procurement strategy and transformation.

Shahid graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and holds an MBA and MS in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Stanford University.

Orkun Aydin
Senior Vice President Operations-Full Service

As Senior Vice President of Operations, Orkun Aydin is responsible for managing a portfolio of full-service hotels and resorts including major branded and independent properties. Aydin has over 25 years of extensive experience in hospitality industry including executive leadership roles in full service, resort and convention properties.

Previously, Aydin oversaw full service and resort properties as Vice President of Operations for Aimbridge since 2015. Prior to that, Orkun spent 11 years with Interstate Hotels & Resorts as a General Manager for top brands and subsequently as Area General Manager for the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa - a Walt Disney World Resort, DoubleTree by Hilton Universal Studios, and Westin Tampa Harbour Island with a combined 2,055 rooms and 161,000 sq.ft. of meeting space. Earlier in his career he held hotel operations leadership roles for KSL Resorts, Boca Resorts and Starwood.

Matt Berge
Senior Vice President Operations-Full Service

As Senior Vice President of Operations, Matt Berge is responsible for operations, performance, owner relations and capital planning for assigned full-service properties in Aimbridge Hospitality’s portfolio.

Berge joined Aimbridge Hospitality in 2007 with 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Previously, he held various positions with Starwood Hotels and Resorts for 21 years. These roles include Convention Services Manager of The Westin in Seattle, Director of Food & Beverage of The Westin Maui, Director of Operations at The Westin Galleria in Dallas, General Manager of Sheraton Suites Market Center in Dallas and General Manager of The Westin Riverwalk in San Antonio.

Berge’s career with Aimbridge Hospitality began in Dallas, as General Manager of the DoubleTree Campbell Centre and transitioned to the corporate office in 2010, where he has held regional operations positions.

Berge is a graduate of Washington State University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Hotel and Restaurant Administration.

Matt Engels
Senior Vice President Operations-Full Service

As Senior Vice President of Operations, Matt Engels is responsible for managing a portfolio of full-service hotels under major franchise lodging brands. A results oriented and highly driven hospitality executive, Engels has a solid record of accomplishment over the past 30 years building high performing teams to achieve client and company objectives.

Engels is well versed in operations, labor relations, brand management, operating transitions, ground-up new build hotel openings, and purchase and sale transactions. His operations experience spans hotels in urban, suburban and airport markets throughout North America under brands such as Marriott, Hilton, Starwood, Hyatt and InterContinental, as well as independent boutique hotels.

Previously, Engels served as Senior Vice President with Interstate Hotels & Resorts and prior to that as Executive Vice President of RIM Hospitality. His early career includes hotel culinary, food and beverage, and operations leadership roles culminating in regional operations positions with Hilton Hotel Corporation and Red Lion Hotels and Resorts. He also served as Chairperson of the Washington State Hotel and Lodging Association.

Jamie Grittman
Senior Vice President, Sales - Full Service

Jamie Grittman, Senior Vice President of Sales, is responsible for driving top line sales for the Full Service Division.

Grittman joined Aimbridge Hospitality in 2010. Prior to her current role at Aimbridge, Grittman worked in various positions within the company that included: Task Force Sales Manager, Regional Director of Sales and Regional Vice President of Sales.

Prior to joining Aimbridge, Grittman served as Director of Sales and Marketing at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton in Tampa Bay, Florida where she played an integral role in exceeding sales budgets and revenue forecasts. Grittman is a designated Global Leadership Professional through the Global Business Travel Association.

Grittman is a graduate of Kansas State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Allison Handy
Senior Vice President, Sales - Select Service

Allison Handy, Senior Vice President of Sales, joined Aimbridge in December of 2021 through the acquisition of Prism Hotels & Resorts. Allison spent 15 years at Prism, most recently as a partner overseeing Sales, Marketing and Revenue Optimization. Throughout that time she developed the overall sales culture, created the company’s field marketing platform and established the sales training curriculum to ensure her topline teams delivered best in class results for their owners. Allison was also responsible for all marketing and public relations initiatives to promote Prism across the industry and generate new management contracts for the company. Before joining Prism, she spent nearly a decade working for Interstate Hotels & Resorts and MeriStar Hotels & Resorts in various sales capacities throughout northern and southern California.

Allison has been actively involved with HSMAI serving on the sales advisory board for the last 3.5 years and helping to launch the Rising Sales Leaders program for the organization. She graduated from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles with a degree in Business Administration and an emphasis in entrepreneurial studies. Additionally, she studied internationally through the University of Pittsburgh’s Semester at Sea Program, gaining valuable experience and perspectives while traveling and studying in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia.

Allison currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, twin daughters and son, as well as a chocolate lab and tabby cat. She enjoys traveling the world, cooking, hiking, biking, and spending time with her family.

Cindy Landess
Senior Vice President Operations-Select Service

Cindy Landes is Senior Vice President, Operations-Select Service Division. Most recently, Cindy was Vice President, Operations of Aimbridge Hospitality since May 2019, leading a portfolio of 130 properties.

Cindy is a tenured operations leader with multi-brand and hotel segment experience with a strong record of accomplishment and creating an environment of highly engaged, inclusive associates in the properties she supports. She began her hospitality career as a Night Auditor at the Sheraton Hotel in Texarkana, TX, and held a variety of hotel sales and operations positions ultimately becoming General Manager in 2000 for full-service hotels in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. Cindy joined Aimbridge Hospitality in 2017 through predecessor company ONE Lodging Management, where she served as a Regional Director of Operations for six years.

Amir Mustafa
Senior Vice President Operations-Select Service

Amir Mustafa, SVP OPerations, has a track record of hotel operations success, strong owner relations, and building high-performing teams. His career journey took him from his first job working at a deli counter after arriving in the US at 22 years old to his current role as Senior Vice President. Early on, as he continued his education he waited tables, which led to his first hotel role at the Embassy Suites in Crystal City, Virginia. It did not take long for Amir to receive consecutive promotions leading to his first General Manager role. While Amir was an Area Operations Manager, his then-ownership group acquired Extended Stay America and Amir was eventually promoted to a Regional VP of Operations with oversight of nearly 60 hotels based in South Florida. His next chapter brought him to Aimbridge Hospitality in May 2019.

Amir studied at the University of Ain Shams in Cairo, Egypt, and graduated with a degree in Agricultural Economics

Greg Nurse
Senior Vice President Operations-Select Service

As Senior Vice President, Operations - Select Service, Greg Nurse is responsible for the operations and performance of multiple portfolios and regional operations leaders within the Aimbridge Select Service Division. Previously he was Vice President, Operations where he was responsible for the overall performance of over 55 properties.

Greg’s 28-year hospitality career began with his role as a lifeguard at the Marriott St. Louis Airport hotel. His journey carried him from the Midwest to the East Coast and eventually to Texas. He has worked for Marriott International, Buffalo Lodging, Texas Western, and TPG Hotels and Resorts before joining Aimbridge in 2016 as a Regional Vice President of Operations. Greg has experience operating all major brands and received multiple brand performance awards with Marriott, Hilton, and IHG. Earlier in his career, Greg held roles in F&B operations, accounting, sales, and as an Area General Manager and Area Director of Operations. Greg's vast knowledge of hotel operations, brand expertise, sales, experience with new construction projects and openings, business development and underwriting, brand management, owner diversity, and executive-level experience is key to his success as SVP of Operations. His well-rounded experience brings together a skill set that emphasizes excellence in the Select Service Division.

Adam Patenaude
Senior Vice President Operations-Full Service

Adam Patenaude, SVP Operations Full Service, is responsible for all facets of managing a portfolio of assets within the Full Service Division. Previously, Adam held a successful tenure as Vice President, Operations with oversight of full-service hotels under major brands including Marriott, Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, and Hilton. Adam has a track record of consistent results and excellent owner relations.

With Aimbridge for over 15 years, Adam served in various roles of increasing responsibility throughout his tenure, including as Regional Director of Operations, Area General Manager, and General Manager. Adam and his teams have been recognized with several awards for excellent performance, including General Manager of the Year, Hotel of the Year, Hotel Sales Team of the Year, Leadership Excellence, and eCommerce Excellence.

Adam holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and has completed various continuing education courses, including Harvard University's Exercising Leadership. Adam currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Sidekicks Foundation

Marsha Ray
Senior Vice President Operations-Full Service

Marsha Ray, SVP Operations, Full Service, is responsible for all facets of managing a portfolio of assets within the Full Service Division.

Marsha has a proven track record of success over her 10-year tenure with Aimbridge and Interstate, as a skilled leader with strong owner relations. Her operations areas of expertise include resorts, city center, and airport assets, both branded and independent. Previously, she served in operations roles with increasing responsibility including General Manager, Area General Manager, and most recently Vice President, Operations. She played a significant role during the Aimbridge/Interstate transition.

Marsha began her hospitality career in Canada, working as a Hotel Manager and General Manager at full-service Sheraton and Westin hotels in British Columbia and Ontario.

Marsha graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor's in French Language and Literature.

Scott Stuart
Senior Vice President, Operations-Select Service

Scott Stuart is Senior Vice President, Operations of Aimbridge Hospitality, with a proven track record of steering transformation, growth, and brand maximization for Aimbridge Hospitality's portfolio of hotels within the Enhanced Select Service Division. Most recently he was Vice President, Operations for Aimbridge since December 2014. Scott is a trusted advisor to private equity, investment groups, family offices, and individual investors with strong owner relationships. In his role, he influences owner profitability and enables team success with best-in-class tools and processes that inform decision-making and catalyze growth.

Scott joined Aimbridge in December 2012 as a Regional Director of Operations and was promoted to Vice President two years later. His hands-on approach produces winning results in the areas of team building, leadership development, vendor management, budget allocation, marketing, operations, and more. Early in his career, Scott spearheaded initiatives as the General Manager of the Signature Inn in South Bend, Indiana. He achieved the highest occupancy and ADR in the company for five consecutive years, earned multiple awards for operational excellence, and served as a municipal representative of his community. Over the next several years, Scott earned promotions to Regional Director of Operations for multiple hotel management groups including Kitchin Hospitality and Park Management Group. He played a key role in leading a major rebrand initiative in 2012 encompassing the transition of 103 newly acquired hotels from Jameson Inns into Choice and Wyndham brands.

Scott received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management from Ball State University, Miller College of Business, Indiana.

Bob Sullivan
Senior Vice President Operations-Select Service

As Senior Vice President of Operations-Select Service, Bob Sullivan is responsible for the operations and performance of multiple portfolios of select service and extended stay verticals. Bob has held the Senior Vice President role for Interstate Hotels & Resorts prior to the integration with Aimbridge Hospitality in October of 2019.

Bob was a principle and Executive Vice President for the Noble Investment Group with responsibility for overseeing the operational leadership for Noble’s hotel group. Bob has an extensive background in all areas of hotel operations, sales, deployment and a track record of delivering return on investment. Mr. Sullivan has led and managed operations for large and complex portfolios of nationally branded hotels and held numerous key leadership positions in various aspects of hotel operations throughout his career. His career hospitality experience includes full and select service general management positions, corporate director of food and beverage positions as well as executive leadership positons.

Bob has served on owner’s advisory committees for Hilton, IHG and Starwood brands as well as serving as a hospitality instructor on the continuing education and community college levels.

Gary Thomas
Senior Vice President, Operations-Evolution Lifestyle

Gary was born in Swaziland and learned to speak Swazi before he could speak English. He spent his early childhood in boarding school before moving to South Africa where he lived on the Indian Ocean in Durban.

After completing high school, he joined the military to complete his national service, spending an additional couple of years on active duty in Southern Africa attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Once Gary left the military, he went right on to study and complete his degree in hospitality management. Having caught the hospitality “bug”, Gary then spent several years working post college in Cape Town before relocating to London – where he spent the next 10 years working and travelling in a variety of lifestyle properties and loving every minute of it.

Gary says he was born to be in hospitality as his paternal grandparents and father had both been in hospitality having owned and operated hotels, so hospitality is in his blood. Gary shared during the interview process that he was so thankful he has been able to find a career that has afforded him the opportunity to travel and live around the world - being able to meet so many different people and experience the beauty of so many different cultures.

Over the course of his career, Gary has overseen an array of esteemed lifestyle brands throughout the US and overseas. Most recently Gary led operations for MakeReady Hotels and a large part of his formative years were spent with Ian Schrager and the Morgans Hotel Group. He also served with The Lightstone Group & Bridge Hotel Group. He developed a deep operational skill set as Area General Manager for SBE Hotels as he led the re-branding of The Redbury New York and the pre-opening of the SLS Park Avenue. In addition, Gary served as General Manager at the SLS Beverly Hills and was the opening Managing Director of The LINE in Los Angeles.