Our Team

Naveen Kakarla is HHM Hotels' President and CEO and serves on its Board of Directors. Naveen has worked across all disciplines since 2005 and currently spends focused time on our investment and development platform, our Independent Collection of managed hotels, finance and accounting, human resources, and capital projects. He previously led our New York City operational region, our construction division, and each of our centralized shared service departments. Prior to joining HHM Hotels, Naveen worked with a private equity firm and its portfolio companies on early-stage investments and "roll-ups" in various industries. He was previously a partner specializing in corporate and securities law at Jenkens & Gilchrist, and prior to that was associated with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Washington, DC. Naveen holds a Bachelor of Arts from Austin College and a law degree from Cornell Law School. Naveen is a board trustee at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital System, which includes the Sidney Kimmel Medical College. He also serves on the corporate board of the Barnes Foundation Museum and is an active member of the Young Presidents' Organization. Naveen spent equal time growing up in India, New York City, and Dallas… though he recalls the move to Texas as requiring the most agility.

Michael Murray is responsible for HHM Hotels' operational functions at the corporate and property levels. Mike is a 40+ year hospitality veteran with in-depth operations expertise throughout North America. During Mike’s tenure at HHM, the company has expanded from a small portfolio of urban core select service properties in the Northeast USA to a multi-dimensional collection of hospitality offerings ranging from select service to full-service to lifestyle/luxury hotels, and resorts, across a platform now in 30 states and Canada. Prior to HHM Hotels, Mike was the operations leader at Sage Hospitality Resources where he similarly led a strategy to morph that company’s portfolio into more complicated offerings than he inherited. Mike's early years were spent operating full-service hotels, resorts, and casinos in Florida, California, and the Caribbean. During a break from his college pre-law studies, Mike spent six months as the Chief Steward at the renowned Caneel Bay Resort on St. John in the USVI. That one "vacation" would cause him to pull out of that pre-law program upon his return to college and switch to a hospitality business major, leading him to where he is today.

As HHM Hotels' Chief Financial Officer and Head of Investments, Shawn Tuli is responsible for leading and executing the organization's finance and investment strategy. Shawn rejoined HHM Hotels in 2014, after receiving an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He started his career at Goldman Sachs, most recently in the Real Estate, Gaming & Lodging Investment Banking Division. Shawn sits on the board of the Please Touch Museum as its Vice Chair and is an advisor to Maidbot, a hospitality robotics company. Shawn found his love for hospitality during family travels in his youth, whether on a family trip to a New Hampshire lodge or staying with relatives in London and India, he discovered that true hospitality enabled unforgettable memories.

As Executive Vice President, Dani Elhachem leads most Operations for HHM Hotels' portfolio from coast to coast, ranging across all segments and asset tiers. In addition, Dani oversees the Commercial Services Team and its Marketing Studio which provides strategic marketing, branding services, e-commerce, distribution, revenue management, and sales for HHM Hotels' Independent Collection Hotels & Resorts. Prior to joining the firm in 2013, Dani held positions such as Corporate Vice President of Operations at Denihan Hospitality. Dani held positions in private equity firms and publicly traded companies, as well as leadership roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts/Westin Hotels & Resorts where he started his journey in Hospitality.

As General Counsel, Dan Liang oversees a team of professionals on all legal matters for HHM Hotels, including those related to hotel operations, acquisitions, and corporate governance. Dan also oversees risk-related matters for HHM Hotels and plays a critical role in the execution of our investment and development strategies. Dan started his legal career as a member of Simpson Thacher’s real estate group where he represented private equity clients in complex real estate transactions, including the sale of the Waldorf Astoria New York and the acquisition of Great Wolf Resorts. More recently, Dan was a member of Ballard Spahr’s real estate group representing clients on various real estate matters ranging from commercial leasing to zoning and land use. Dan earned his J.D. from the New York University School of Law and his B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

As HHM Hotels' Senior Vice President of Finance, Shari is a vital member of our executive team and leads a group of expert corporate finance, operational accounting, and shared services professionals. Shari is responsible for working closely with operations and ownership partners on financial reporting, analysis, and budgeting which includes critical business functions such as payroll, cash management and forecasting, and financial systems. Prior to joining the firm in 2017, Shari held numerous leadership positions where she gained extensive experience in financial and SEC reporting, project leadership, and accounting management.

As our Senior Vice President of Information Technology, Mike Gartner guides all aspects of IT, including hotel systems, business systems, security, and infrastructure. HHM Hotels prides itself on our capabilities in each of these areas and ensures technology is among our key competitive advantages. Prior to joining HHM Hotels in 2022, Mike worked across many roles in the hospitality industry including as Chief Technology Officer at a national hotel management company and also in a hybrid role that involved leading technology and operations at a highly successful casino outside of Philadelphia. Mike has a solid background in tech and operations, and in leading complex and diverse teams.

As HHM Hotels' Vice President of People Support (HR), Joe Heck is responsible for leading a best-in-class company culture that emphasizes associates as the key to business success. Through the execution of total reward and talent strategies, as well as innovative associate engagement and professional development programs, Joe ensures HHM Hotels remains a leading employer in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining HHM Hotels in 2014, Joe began his career in hospitality working in various HR leadership roles in multiple full-service hotels. Today, he sits on the Management Advisory Board and guest lectures for the Trulaske College of Business at the University of Missouri.

Ray Perez serves as HHM's Executive Vice President of Operations, currently overseeing over 80 properties for HHM on the East and West Coast, as well as in Texas. With over 30 years of hotel operations experience, Ray brings a unique perspective to the hotels within his portfolio having started his hospitality career in food & beverage and sales. Before joining HHM, Ray worked extensively in hospitality operations and revenue, most recently holding the position of Vice President of Revenue for DePalma Hotel Corporation. After leading HHM's Texas and Midwest portfolios for six years, Ray was elevated in 2019 to his new senior operations role.

As Senior Vice President of Operations, Cathy O'Brien currently oversees 35 hotels in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Beyond productive operations and GM mentorship, Cathy leads guest service satisfaction programming across our diverse portfolio of branded and independent assets. Cathy lives in Boston and has been a leader at HHM Hotels since the company's early growth in New England.

Hiram Negron, HHM Hotels' Senior Vice President of Operations, strategically directs a multi-brand and independent portfolio of hotels maximizing profits and achieving brand service standards while providing leadership, direction, and mentorship to hotel General Managers for 45 properties. He directly oversees operations, sales, and revenue management functions in New York City and New England. After working with Highgate hotels, Hiram joined HHM Hotels in 2007 and has continuously grown his career in on-property and above-property operations.

Promoted to HHM Hotels' Senior Vice President of Operations in 2023, Richard Riccio joined Urgo Hotels & Resorts in October 2003 to head its U.S. operations. He continues to focus the company’s portfolio of Marriott and Hilton products on three major themes: revenue generation, exceptional service, and return on owner investment. Richard’s tenure with Urgo was preceded by a 15-year career with Marriott International and Marriott hotels, rising from a bellman position at the Marriott Trumbull (Conn.) to a general manager for Residence Inn by Marriott, specializing in opening and ramping up hotels throughout the United States. He was honored as Marriott’s 1997 Opening General Manager of the Year and has been a member of the Residence Inn by Marriott System Standards Board since 1998. Richard holds a marketing and finance degree from the University of Connecticut.

As Senior Vice President of Revenue Management, Bill Winzer is responsible for leading all the revenue management efforts for all branded and independent properties. Prior to joining HHM Hotels, he had worked for Marriott International for 26 years. He previously held senior regional revenue management positions in the United States, Canada, and China. Bill got his start in the hospitality business as a valet car parker at the Omni Hotel in Detroit.

Stephanie Esposito, Senior Vice President of Sales, has over 30 years of experience in hospitality sales and marketing. Since the company's inception, Stephanie has been integral in building HHM Hotels' sales organization, which she now oversees. Stephanie is responsible for the development and implementation of company-wide sales and marketing initiatives generating revenues at the hotel, regional and corporate levels for HHM Hotels' portfolio of hotels. She has served on multiple committees throughout her career and is currently a member of Marriott's Full-Service Sales and Marketing Advisory Council. Stephanie is a graduate of Villanova University's School of Business and is an avid participant in the university's mentorship and women in business programs.

Theresa Rayos del Sol, HHM Hotels' Vice President of Sales, drives total sales and revenue penetration for over forty-seven HHM Hotels throughout New York, New Jersey, Boston, Connecticut, Florida, and the entire independent portfolio. She oversees the hotel sales teams through an active and intimate role with the property and regional sales leaders. Before working with HHM Hotels' elite branded and unbranded portfolio, Theresa grew her hotel luxury/upscale experience with Hyatt Hotels.

Lindsey Johnson, Vice President of Sales, drives total sales and revenue penetration for eighty-plus HHM Hotels, including the oversight of hotel sales teams through an active and intimate role with the property and regional sales leaders. Her above property leadership extends from California to Colorado to Texas to Florida. Lindsey joined HHM in 2013 as a Regional Sales leader and was promoted to VP in 2019. Prior to joining HHM Hotels, Lindsey worked as the Area Director of Sales for Premier Hospitality Management.

As Vice President of eCommerce, James leads a team of eCommerce, CRM, and hospitality digital marketing specialists to support HHM Hotels' variety of branded and independent lifestyle, luxury, and resort hotels in the digital space. A 25-year HHM Hotels veteran, James has held several Regional Director roles in Sales, Marketing, and Revenue. He earned his degree from the Hersha School of Hospitality Management at HACC, where he has served on the Advisory Committee for the Hospitality and Lodging program for 17 years. In the early ‘90s, James got his start in the industry as a lifeguard at a resort hotel.

Melissa Sibal was promoted to Vice President of Revenue Management at HHM Hotels in 2023. She joined Urgo Hotels & Resorts in 2002 and grew through a series of revenue management roles, from the property to the regional level, leading up to her latest promotion. She works closely with the operational leadership and plays an integral role in guiding revenue management efforts and best practices to increase hotels’ market share and deliver optimized revenue. Before joining, Melissa held a variety of revenue management, operations, and reservations positions at Interstate Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Hotels Corporation. She also has an extensive background in property development, sales and marketing, and corporate leasing.

In the role of Vice President of Risk Management, Mark Ludwick oversees the procurement of HHM Hotels' property, casualty, and executive lines insurance coverage to minimize the company's exposure and protect its assets. Mark oversees the reporting and handling of all claims and is involved in litigation management while leading the Risk Management team. He also oversees OSHA compliance and company safety programs and training. Mark has held senior leadership positions at three hotel-casino companies including Resorts International Holdings, Tropicana Entertainment Inc, and Ocean Casino Resort in a career spanning thirty years. When Mark is not in HHM Hotels' corporate offices, you can find him on the golf course or involved in the Atlantic County, NJ schools where he serves as President of the Board of Education.

In the role of Vice President of Accounting, Erika Rodkey oversees timely and accurate accounting processing and financial statements for managed and owned HHM Hotels properties from coast to coast. She directs the functionality of a team of centralized accounting professionals in our corporate office as well as throughout hotels across all regions. Together with regional operations, sales, and revenue, she helps execute the financial performance of our entire portfolio. Erika began her career with HHM Hotels in 2011 and has continued to produce outsized results for owners since.

As HHM Hotels' Chief Financial Officer and Head of Investments, Shawn Tuli is responsible for leading and executing the organization's finance and investment strategy. Shawn rejoined HHM Hotels in 2014, after receiving an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He started his career at Goldman Sachs, most recently in the Real Estate, Gaming & Lodging Investment Banking Division. Shawn sits on the board of the Please Touch Museum as its Vice Chair and is an advisor to Maidbot, a hospitality robotics company. Shawn found his love for hospitality during family travels in his youth, whether on a family trip to a New Hampshire lodge or staying with relatives in London and India, he discovered that true hospitality enabled unforgettable memories.

As an investment leader, David help guides our third-party growth, investment efforts, and asset management business. He has over 40 years of hotel industry experience, most recently as President of Northwood Hospitality, where he helped execute investment and business plans for highly successful investments such as The Palace New York, London West Hollywood, Revere Boston, Cheeca Lodge in the Florida Keys, and Parrot Key in Key West. David started as a busboy at an independent restaurant and has been a member of two NYSE boards of directors.

Mathew Jalazo serves as our Senior Vice President of Acquisitions, where his responsibilities include sourcing management, acquisition and development opportunities, as well as underwriting, due diligence, market feasibility, entitlement, design, development, construction, and equity & debt financing. During his tenure with Urgo Hotels & Resorts, Mathew deployed more than $250 million of capital on new construction and acquisition projects helping to grow the portfolio from 18 to 45-plus hotels. Mathew served as executive vice president of development at Winston Hotels where he focused on sourcing acquisition and development opportunities. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received his BSBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School. He remains actively involved in the school, serving on the Kenan-Flagler Business School Alumni Council. He has spoken at several industry events and institutions, including the New York New Hotel Development & Construction Conference and the Cornell University Baker Program in Real Estate, as well as published articles in the Cornell Real Estate Review.

Kelly is a senior leader on the HHM Hotels investment team. Kelly oversees asset management and owner relations for a coast-to-coast portfolio of join ventures within the organization. She brings an impressive background of asset management experience from PwC, Starwood Capital Group, and Hersha Hospitality Trust. Kelly graduated from Cornell University's prestigious school for Hotel Administration.

As HHM Hotels' Senior Director of Acquisitions, Robert Brewer is responsible for leading HHM Hotels' investment platform acquisitions as well as facilitating third-party management opportunities. With over 10 years of hotel real estate experience, Robert has executed over $2.0 billion in hotel transactions in both ownership and consulting roles. Prior to HHM Hotels, Robert led acquisitions for Excel Group, a hotel private equity group in Washington DC. Robert also has worked for GFI Hospitality, a New York-based hotel investment firm, and Ernst & Young in its Hotel Transaction Real Estate practice.

As Senior Director of Finance & Sustainability, Matthew Lobach oversees corporate FP&A, capital markets, and plays an integral role in HHM Hotel’s investment strategy. As a certified LEED Green Associate by the US Green Building Council, Matthew also leads the development of HHM’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) program. Prior to joining HHM, Matthew held roles with Hersha Hospitality Trust and Bayer Corporation. Matthew earned his MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management and holds a MS in Sustainability from the Blekinge Institute of Technology located in Karlskrona, Sweden.

As Director of Asset Management, Eshan is responsible for operational performance, capex tracking, capital markets, and investor management across HHM's owned hotels. Prior to joining HHM, he started his career in hospitality working across roles in strategy, design & development, acquisitions, and asset management for MGM Resorts, Hospitality House, and most recently, Starwood Capital Group. Eshan holds a M.S. in Real Estate Development from Columbia University and a B.A. in Economics from Indiana University.

As Director of Asset Management, Graeme is responsible for operational performance, capex tracking, capital markets, and investor management across HHM's owned hotels. Graeme had previously worked for HHM as an Operational Senior Analyst, and rejoined the company in 2022 after working in Development and Asset Management roles for Toll Brothers Hospitality Living and Morgan Properties. Graeme holds a Certificate in Real Estate Investment and Asset Management from Cornell University and a B.S. in Energy Business and Finance from Penn State University.

As Director, Acquisitions & Development, Steven is responsible for HHM’s underwriting and due diligence efforts since he joined in 2016. Steven started his career working on various hotel operation and financial service positions in China. Prior to joining HHM, Steven was with Buccini Pollin Group/PM Hotel Group as a Financial Analyst on Asset Management.  During his 2 years with BPG/PMHG, Steven asset managed a portfolio of 25+ hotels across the US.  Steven holds a Master of Management in Hospitality with a Graduate Minor in Real Estate Investments from Cornell University.

Foiz Ahmed, HHM Hotels' Senior Vice President, has more than 30 years of hospitality experience. Most recently, he was the EVP of Global Operations for Standard International overseeing operations, finance, food and beverage, nightlife and entertainment, sales and marketing, PR, and all things commercial. His prior experience includes President of Quadrum Global’s Hospitality Division where he helped create Arlo hotels, managed various hotel assets, and led a newly launched multi-tiered senior living development. Before Quadrum, Foiz worked with HHM Hotels, starting as the Regional Director of Operations for the company’s New York City portfolio and later becoming VP of the Independent Collection. In his early hospitality career, Foiz spent 15 years with Marriott International in various leadership roles.

As Vice President of eCommerce, James leads a team of eCommerce, CRM, and hospitality digital marketing specialists to support HHM Hotels' variety of branded and independent lifestyle, luxury, and resort hotels in the digital space. A 25-year HHM Hotels veteran, James has held several Regional Director roles in Sales, Marketing, and Revenue. He earned his degree from the Hersha School of Hospitality Management at HACC, where he has served on the Advisory Committee for the Hospitality and Lodging program for 17 years. In the early ‘90s, James got his start in the industry as a lifeguard at a resort hotel.

Melissa Scallan, Head of Marketing, joined HHM Hotels nearly a decade ago and grew her career both on-property and in our corporate office. She's exceeded expectations in leading marketing strategies and branding, while also strengthening our market position and achieving desired business goals across our independent properties. She is influential on all projects related to Independent Collection Hotels & Resorts and is gaining further leadership over our branded portfolio. Melissa collaborates daily with a team of talented internal experts in our corporate offices, as well as partners with outside marketing and PR professionals.

As Vice President of Distribution, ICH&R & Regional Director of Revenue, Jeff Levy has a uniquely designed role with two parts. On the RM side, he develops room sales and distribution strategies, while coordinating revenue management processes and procedures to maximize revenue for HHM Hotels in New York City and New England. Further, Jeff guides distribution strategies and management across all independent properties from coast to coast. Before joining HHM Hotels in 2017, Jeff held several leadership roles with major brands and management companies in our industry.

Theresa Rayos del Sol, HHM Hotels' Vice President of Sales, drives total sales and revenue penetration for over twenty HHM Hotels throughout New York City and the entire independent portfolio. She oversees the hotel sales teams through an active and intimate role with the property and regional sales leaders. Before working with HHM Hotels' elite branded and unbranded portfolio, Theresa grew her hotel luxury/upscale experience with Hyatt Hotels.

With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Kate Joseph has worked in various roles within operations at respected hotel chains such as Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and Four Seasons Hotels. She also played a crucial role in increasing distribution revenue through her work with Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and leading account management at NextGuest Digital, focusing on independent lifestyle hotels and resorts. Presently, as HHM Hotels' Director of Digital Marketing & E-Commerce, Kate is channeling her efforts toward expanding the direct channel for the ICH&R portfolio. In her current role, she leads digital marketing and eCommerce strategy with the primary goal of enhancing the hotel's online presence.

With over 15 years of experience in hospitality, Tana Fils has a proven history of driving results as HHM Hotels' Director of CRM & Email Marketing. She started her career as a front desk agent during an internship and quickly worked her way through various departments ranging from Operations, Revenue to Sales and Marketing, where she learned of her passion for eCommerce and Digital Optimization. Her areas of expertise are digital marketing, website optimization, email marketing, and distribution. Tana has represented major brands including Marriott, Hilton, and IHG, ranging from mid-scale to luxury as well as independent lifestyle brands such as Faena Hotels & Residences.

Noelle Saltzgueber is a highly skilled and creative Graphic Design Director with over 13 years of experience in the industry. She has worked with some of the top names in the hospitality and retail sectors, including Starr Restaurants and Macy's. Noelle is responsible for ensuring that HHM Hotels' visual identity is compelling, engaging, and aligned with its overall mission and values.