WLA’s Incoming Directors and Officers Bring High Level of Hospitality Experience and Civic Involvement to the Board
The Washington Lodging Association’s new officers and 2014-2015 slate of directors assumed their responsibilities at the Association’s Annual Convention & Trade Show November 9-11 at Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, Washington.
Meghan Wiley, General Manager of Holiday Inn Express & Suites Pullman, is the new chair and leads a Board of six officers and 23 directors, who serve two-year terms and represent the geographic regions and different property sizes. Ms. Wiley has served on WLA’s Board since 2004 and has 20-plus years’ experience in the industry. In addition to her position as general manager, she has worked on numerous hotel openings for The Hotel Group, which operates her property, and taught hospitality classes at Washington State University.
John Taffin is the new treasurer, bringing experience as a chair of WLA from 2000 to 2001. As Chief Operating Officer of CoHo-Services, he oversees the operations of hotels and restaurants managed by CoHo-Services, including the Inn at Queen Anne and Marqueen Hotel in Seattle, the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver and the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel in Yakima.
Eric Campbell, Vice President of Operations, Campbell’s Resort in Chelan, joined the Executive Committee as secretary. His experience includes the operation of boutique hotels in the Seattle market and at destination resorts, and he has been active in promoting tourism, business and industry with the Chelan Chamber of Commerce.
Joining the Board are the following Directors:
Larry MacDonald, General Manager, Best Western Plus Lakeway Inn and Conference Center
With 30 years’ experience in the industry, Larry MacDonald has worked as a general manager at properties throughout the Western United States. He has served on the Board of the Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association and on the Wyoming Restaurant and Lodging Advisory Board.
Pat McShane, Executive Vice President, InnSight Hotel Management Group
Pat McShane has worked in the industry for 38 years and in 1996 he co-founded Innsight Hotel Management Group which manages lodging properties in Washington and Oregon. He was chair of the Oregon Lodging Association when it merged with the Oregon Restaurant Association and subsequently served as the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association’s vice chair and chair. He served on WLA’s Board from 1994 to 1996.
Ronald Oh, CHA, General Manager, Holiday Inn Express North Seattle
Ron Oh is a board member of the Korean American Hotel Owners Association with responsibility for education and scholarships, serves on the South Seattle Community College Hospitality Program Advisory Board and has piloted internship programs for local community colleges. He was active in the One Seattle Coalition, which addressed proposals for a $15 minimum wage, and is a plaintiff in the International Franchise Association lawsuit challenging the discrimination against franchise businesses in the City’s new wage ordinance.
Mike Schabbing, General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Southcenter
Mike Schabbing has over 25 years in the hospitality industry and has been general manager at Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Southcenter since 2002. He is also the chair elect of the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, serves as the government affairs chair of the Seattle Marriott Business Council and is on the steering committee overseeing the establishment of a tourism promotion area/public development area for Seattle Southside hotels.
Tom Waithe, CHA, Regional Director of Operations, Kimpton Hotels
Tom Waithe has been a regional director of operations for Kimpton Hotels since 2006 and currently oversees four properties in Seattle and three in Portland. His general manager experience includes the Bellevue Club Hotel, Woodmark Hotel, Semiahmoo Resort and Willows Lodge. He has worked closely with tourism boards in British Columbia and Oregon and currently serves on the Visit Seattle Board of Directors.
Cindy Fanning, Director of Operations for Silver Cloud Inns & Hotels, who served as chair 2012 to 2013, cycled off the Board and was honored at the Convention for her significant contribution to WLA by Immediate Past Chair Zahoor Ahmed, CFO and VP of RC Hedreen Company. Also leaving the Board of Directors are Paul Jinneman, Managing Member, Icicle Village Resort Associates, L.P., Leavenworth; Mona Sarrensen, General Manager, The Inn at Gig Harbor; Denise Vickerman, General Manager, Ramada – Spokane Airport; and Lenny Zilz, Vice President of Operations, Columbia Hospitality.
Read more about the 2014-2015 Board Officers here and Board Directors here.