Where did you grow up? Upstate New York, in the Syracuse area.
Where did you go to school and what did you study? I graduated from Purdue University, majoring in hospitality management with a minor in marketing.
Tell us about your career path in hospitality that led you to your current role. From a very early age, I was bitten by the hospitality bug. My first “official job” at 16 was as a restaurant busser and housekeeping houseman. While interacting with my managers and senior hotel leadership, I realized that this was the career I wanted to pursue. After graduation, I started in a management training role with Marriott in Chicago, then joined Westin Hotels/Starwood, which became a pivotal moment in my career. Over my eight-year tenure, I spent more than half of that time involved in the ground-up openings of hotels.
Since then, my entire career has revolved around hotel development projects—whether ground-up construction, renovations and repositioning, or independent hotel brand creation. Through this journey, I have developed a deep understanding of how to create and market unique hotel brands and products, and how to develop memorable experiences that lead to emotional guest connections, which drive customer loyalty and retention. This, in turn, enhances hotel financial performance, ultimately increasing asset value for ownership groups and providing me with a comprehensive understanding of asset investment for ROI and value creation. These experiences have shaped the full cycle of my professional passion.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? My incredible family! My wife, Ruztique, and daughters Payton, Izabella, and Sophia. And our dog, Vita, too.
What is your most treasured possession? My Michael Jordan, Fleer 1986, Rookie basketball card.
Which historical figure do you most identify with? As a child, I was deeply interested in American history, particularly the Civil War era. I always admired Abraham Lincoln for his ability to navigate an incredibly turbulent time—managing a civil war, handling a volatile political environment, and balancing it all with a strong moral compass.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? To live a productive and meaningful life, and for my wife and me to see our children grow and achieve personal and professional happiness in life.
What excites you about Aspen Hospitality? I have always gravitated toward opportunities where I can play a key role in creating something ra-ther than simply maintaining the status quo. What excites me most about working with the Crown family and Aspen One is the opportunity to build upon the incredible foundation and reputation of Aspen Hospitality. My goal is to develop a world-class hospitality team and organization that will evolve this business with the same passion and care for people that initially sparked this amazing journey. This is an incredible responsibility we’ve been given, and nothing excites me more about our growth than to deliver on that.