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.

Matt Greene
Executive Vice President Operations - Evolution Lifestyle

Matt is an onion; peel back the hip, stylish veneer and he's a renaissance man who meditates regularly, and focuses on healthy living both in mind and body. He's always reading or listening to something. Books topping his list currently are: Three Essays on Universal Law: Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma, Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins. He believes that life is about a journey and the best things in life aren't things. And the two things he's most passionate about are his daughters Makenzie and Sydney.

Matt enjoys working with the Evolution Hospitality team because he thrives in an entrepreneurial environment and is constantly amazed by the energy, passion and talent by which he is surrounded. He also believes you have to be able to laugh at yourself and not take yourself too seriously.

EXPERIENCE
• Evolution Hospitality, EVP Operations 2019 - Present, SVP Operations 2016 - 2019, VP Operations 2011-2016
• Tarsadia Hotels, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego 2008–2011
• Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, SVP of Morgan’s Hotels Las Vegas 2006-2008
• W Hotels Worldwide, Senior Director of New Builds, Acquisitions and Conversions 2005-2006
• Gemstone Resorts International, 2004-2005
• Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, 2001-2003
• Wyndham Worldwide, 1995-2000
• The Phoenician Resort, 1991-1993

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.

Andrew Rubinacci
Executive Vice President, Revenue Strategy

Andrew Rubinacci, Executive Vice President of Revenue Strategy, is instrumental in shaping the company’s revenue strategy initiatives while capitalizing on big data, innovation, and Aimbridge’s talent within its revenue group to drive market share gains for the Aimbridge portfolio.

Rubinacci, a 25-year veteran of the hospitality industry, most recently served as Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer of Omni Hotels & Resorts. He joined Omni in 2018 as Senior Vice President, Revenue & Distribution and was instrumental in helping modernize revenue management, distribution, call centers and digital platforms, including bringing on best-in-class partners and evolving the brand’s reporting to drive greater efficiencies and stronger business results. In 2019, he was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer where he oversaw all marketing, digital and loyalty.

Prior to Omni, Andrew was with IHG Hotels & Resorts for 16 years, notably as Senior Vice President of Revenue Management & Distribution for four years leading revenue and distribution strategies for all IHG channels globally. For three years, he was based in London as Vice President of Distribution Marketing & Revenue Management, managing channel distribution and revenue strategies for Europe, Middle East, and Africa for IHG’s family of brands. IHG recognized Andrew throughout his tenure with a number of corporate awards, including the pinnacle IHG CEO Award–Executive of the Year. He was also the Vice President, Revenue Management, Reservations & Distribution at Meristar Hotels where he oversaw the corporate revenue management department for 277 hotels, 58,000+ units and $1.7 billion in revenue.

Rubinacci earned two bachelor’s degrees in business administration, majoring in marketing and hospitality administration from Florida State University. Mr. Rubinacci previously served on the board of Worldres, the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA), Roomkey, FSU Hospitality School Advisory Board, and the advisory board of HSMAI’s Revenue Management Special Interest Group.

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 - Enhanced 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-Enhanced Select Service

Cindy Landes is Senior Vice President, Operations-Enhanced 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.

Tony Maness
Senior Vice President Operations-Select Service

Tony Maness joined Aimbridge Hospitality in 2012 to lead the newly formed Channel Point Hospitality. He is responsible for the operations, revenue and profit growth of the Channel Point Hospitality business.

Maness has over 39 years of experience in the hospitality industry, holding various operations positions. Prior to joining Aimbridge Hospitality, Maness served as the Executive Vice President of Operations for Jameson Brands at Park Management Group LLC. He began his hospitality career as a line level employee for Holiday Inn, Inc. and grew to corporate and executive level positions as Holiday Inns, Inc., Equity Inns/McNeill Hospitality Corporation, Winfield Hospitality and Jameson Inns.

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.

Gary Spencer
Senior Vice President, Corporate Sales Strategy

Gary Spencer, Senior Vice President of Corporate Sales Strategy, oversees Aimbridge’s National Sales team and strategies to drive topline revenue in the Full Service, Select Service, Select Service Enhanced and Evolution - Lifestyle operating divisions. Gary takes pride in creating and implementing new programs and initiatives for our vast field of sales leaders as well being a liaison with our brand partners.

Gary joined Aimbridge in 2014 through the acquisition of Evolution Hospitality. Gary was a founder and SVP of Sales for Evolution Hospitality for 10 years building and growing the successful Lifestyle and Independent Hotel Management Company. Previously, Gary spent a decade working for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and 5 years with Hyatt Hotels & Resort where he launched his hotel career.

Gary graduated from Canisius College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Additionally, Gary is a graduate from the Aimbridge/Advent Harvard Leadership program, a tailored collaboration program with Harvard Business School.

Michelle Steffens
Senior Vice President Operations-Select Service

In her role as Senior Vice President of Operations, Michelle Steffens is responsible for the overall performance of primarily select service and select service enhanced properties under premium lodging brands. Michelle previously served as Senior Vice President of Operations and Administration at Interstate Hotels & Resorts before transitioning to her role at Aimbridge after the two companies merged in October 2019.

Michelle brings more than a decade of experience with the proven ability to build teams, drive positive turnarounds for underperforming assets, reach KPIs across Guest Satisfaction, Market Share, and Flow-Through, expand portfolios, penetrate regional markets and create go-to-market plans to launch new hotel locations. Prior to Interstate, she was Senior Vice President at Island Hospitality Management, where she led operations for a 58-hotel portfolio across four regions generating topline revenues of more than $300 million. Earlier in her career, she held General Manager roles.

Michelle was previously a Regional Vice President and a Senior Regional Vice President at White Lodging, and prior to that, as Regional Director of Operations at Island Hospitality, during which time she also served on the Hilton Garden Inn Brand Advisory Council for several years. Michelle is a graduate of the University of North Dakota and completed a Master’s Degree and Real Estate Investment Certification at Harvard University’s Extension School.

Denny Stewart
Senior Vice President, Sales - Select Service

Denny Stewart, Senior Vice President of Sales - Select Service, develops and implements sales strategies and policies to meet and exceed revenue and profit goals. He establishes sales quotas, profit goals, and product mix expectations for the entire sales function, and provides sales forecasts and related reports for a portfolio of 565 hotels with over 100 ownership groups.

Denny joined Aimbridge Hospitality in 2019 with the merger with Interstate Hotels & Resorts where he worked since 2005 in positions of increasing responsibility, including Regional Sales Manager, VP Sales, and SVP Sales. Prior experience included over 10 years at Marriott International.

Dennis received his bachelor’s degree from Frostburg State University, Maryland.

Scott Stuart
Senior Vice President, Operations-Enhanced 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.