At Sandpiper Hospitality, our strength lies in our people.
As a lifelong hotelier and business leader, Jim takes great pride in his ability to effectively utilize and balance strategic thinking, or IQ, and resonant leadership, or EQ, to lead Sandpiper Hospitality. These complimentary abilities combine to provide Sandpiper with the horsepower, collectively through his team and his strategies, it needs to maximize returns for its investors. At the end of the day, Jim knows that, “Our strategic decisions must drive our hotels to earn better than expected returns for our investors. Period.”
Jim’s leadership of the organization takes many forms, including; a resolute focus on adding and keeping genuine talent with the right abilities and mindset, setting a vision that inspires and energizes the leaders in the organization, nailing the strategic planning for the company and the individual hotels and obsessing over results, returns and the related trends. The ROI is clear and evident……internally with associate growth and development, customer-facing through guest satisfaction, and financially for the investors and owners. “We have to earn it every day, in every way,” according to Jim.
Before joining Sandpiper, Jim’s perpetual drive served him well in Denver, CO as a Senior Vice President with Sage Hospitality for fourteen years and more recently as Chief Operating Officer for Gold Key/PHR. Jim also served as a Regional Director with IHG franchise operations after learning the hotel business on property with various leadership positions at a number of award-winning hotels in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Washington DC and South Florida. At home, he is perpetually surrounded by his “girls,” including his wife and two teenage daughters.
Tasked with executing the company’s growth plans, Jim is equally focused on today’s results and tomorrow’s opportunities. These parallel paths have set Sandpiper up for an explosive growth period in the coming years. “Our continued growth and expansion of brands and geography is coming as a result of our ability to perform. According to Jim, “Our dedication to excellence in people, strategy and performance is our formula to success. We play to win!”
Amy first started her career in Hospitality 21 years ago as a part-time front desk weekend associate and fell in love with the industry. She found her passion to be in operations and began her journey in roles such as Executive Housekeeper, Assistant General Manager, and General Manager before progressing to above property support. She has worked for many of the Hospitality Industry leaders as Aimbridge, Naples Hotel Group, Hawkeye Hotels, and most recently with Shaner Hotel Group as Regional Vice President of Operations.
As leader of Sandpiper Hotel and Operations Team, she is All In for delivering consistent results and driving strong ROI for our investors by supporting our leaders to be the best of the best. She is new to Sandpiper Hospitality leadership and brings energy to her role and strategic thinking to challenge us in taking better to best. Her passion is investing in people and challenging them to have the confidence to believe in themselves and continue to grow their career in hospitality.
When Amy is not at work she enjoys spending time with her husband and fur dogs, Gnocchi & Millie. You can oftentimes find her on an adventure with her three beautiful Grandchildren whom she is known to as Nana. She has proudly served on the Board of Directors for the American Cancer Society and looks forward to getting involved in the Richmond Relay for Life and giving back to her new Community.
Victor Cruz joined Sandpiper in 2016, bringing a broad range of hospitality revenue knowledge to the organization. His previous experience includes Winegardner & Hammons, Shaner Hotels, Highgate Hotels, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Sage Hospitality and The Prococcianti Group. In 2011 and 2012, he was named Marriott’s Revenue Leader of the Year for the Eastern Region. His brand experience also includes Hilton, Starwood, IHG and WoodSpring brands.
In Victor’s first year with the company, Sandpiper was recognized with the Highest RevPAR Award for all the management companies in the WoodSpring Suites brand, a feat no doubt due to Victor’s leadership and capability.
Victor focuses on maximizing revenue, profits and market share penetration through aggressive yield management strategies and tactics. His genuine likeability and smarts have earned high marks for Sandpiper, as he gives GMs and owners the “A-Ha!” moment that result in increased revenue AND profit. Those are the type of results that make for happier investors, associates and guests.
John has a deep background in technology that started in the fifth grade, writing video games in BASIC on a TI-99/4A computer. John received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Stephen F. Austin State University and serves on the Advisory Board for that department today. Before joining Sandpiper Hospitality, John helped Capital One grow from an unknown company to become the 6th largest bank in the United States. Most recently, he shifted his focus to Managed Services for small to medium-sized businesses. With each step, John aimed to get closer to the individual users of technology. As a technology evangelist, John gets satisfaction from helping others use and enjoy technology, trying to fulfill the promise of the Information Age. As a Board Member of the Richmond Technology Council rvatech, John actively promotes technology in the community and never misses an opportunity to share his passion
Candace leads our Corporate Human Resources team, leveraging her fabulous people skills and knack for finding the right people to join—and grow within—the organization.
She is well-versed in hospitality HR, bringing over 25 years of experience from brands such as Marriott Vacation Worldwide, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, HEI, and Interstate Hotels. Candace was drawn to Sandpiper because of the unique opportunity to use her years of know-how to put her own thumbprint on the entire organization during its growth phase.
She focuses on bringing in the perfect complement of talent, from GenX to XYZ to Baby Boomers. She aims for diversity and inclusion and always keeps in mind how Sandpiper associates create a successful bond to each other, guests, partners and investors. Her aim is to have significant, positive impact on those who spend their time with SANDPIPER HOSPITALITY so that they can in turn impact the lives of those we serve – our guests and our investors.
When she’s not at work or with her teenage son, she’s at work in the community, often cooking for a rehabilitation center. In her words, “It allows me to show people seeking help that they will not be judged.”
Carrie graduated from the University of Lynchburg in 2003, and shortly thereafter started her career in hospitality. Spending the next 15 years in Washington, DC, Carrie worked her way through the hotel industry with Marriott, Starwood and several independent hotels in the City.
She recently joined Sandpiper and will oversee the portfolio of Extended Stay America hotels from a Revenue Management standpoint.
In her spare time, she spends time with her dog Clover hiking, camping and exploring the outdoors near Richmond, VA.
Tiffany Lewis joined Sandpiper in 2023 after having a successful 20+ years in sales within the hospitality industry. She has experience with various Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG brands including full-service, select service and extended stay. As an award-winning Hospitality Sales Professional, she credits her successes to the contributions of her teams and commits her leadership efforts to developing her fellow team members. Tiffany’s teams have come to know her as being an innovative, engaging and supportive leader who fosters a culture of excellence and achieves outstanding results
William has over 25 years of accounting, operational, and financial management experience with independent luxury brands, as well as brands such as Hilton, Holiday Inn, Marriott, Omni, and Sheraton. Previously, he’s held a Regional Director of Finance and General Manager position for Meristar and Sage Hospitality.
As a Regional Director of Finance, William oversaw the accounting departments for properties in the state Indiana; Tennessee, where he oversaw the opening of the Marriott Vanderbilt hotel; and Kentucky at the famous historic Hilton Seelbach. During his time at Sage Hospitality, William was responsible for hotel openings, regional accounting, and the PMS and POS conversion of 11 indoor water-resort hotels. Later on, his experience grew again at the Hotel Madeline Resort and Inn at Lost Creek in Telluride, CO and Omni Montelucia Resort in Scottsdale, AZ.
For the past four years, William has enjoyed the opportunity to work as a General Manager for the Courtyard Marriott and Four Points brand where he received awards in both Financial Performance and Brand Standards. Now at Sandpiper, William is proud to be a part of a family that never stops adding innovation to the hospitality industry.
Brad started his career as a sales manager for Sunburst Hospitality in 1998. In 2000, he joined Wyndham Vacation, where he sold and managed sales lines. Brad also served as the Program Manager for Wyndham Vacation’s $50 million dollar Exit Program called Discovery. Later, in 2010, he became a Regional Sales Director at Extended Stay America, and there, he created the GSR Superstar Sales Program, which evolved into the companywide Reach for Rewards Program. This program became the largest revenue-producing initiative in Extended Stay America’s history, generating over $350 million a year in qualified leads.
In 2012, Brad was promoted to Director, National Account Sales, overseeing an $80 million dollar portfolio. Subsequently, in 2018, he joined Hotel Management Services as a Regional Sales Director, responsible for 12 hotels in the Southeast. Brad furthered his journey in 2023 by becoming a Regional Sales Manager at Sandpiper Hospitality.
An ambitious sales leader, Brad passionately embraces the art of sales. He collaborates with hotel teammates to devise strategies that drive new revenue, consistently exceeding budgets for hotel owners. Working with people and ensuring clear goal comprehension, he executes plans of action with precision. Brad adopts various sales styles to prospect, manage, and achieve goals that surpass budgeted expectations. With over twenty-five years of experience in the hospitality industry, Brad’s expertise and dedication continue to shine.
Brandon began his hospitality journey back in 2011 working as a front desk agent for Woodspring Suites (formally known as Value Place) in Columbus, Ga. He worked his way up to property manager, and after a few years he found his calling with Sandpiper Hospitality in late 2013 in the role of General Manager for the newly constructed WoodSpring Suites Manassas, VA location. Throughout his journey with the hospitality company, he has been awarded numerous awards within the brand; these include WoodSpring Suites hotel brand champion, Mentor of the Year, and Sandpiper Cup Champion. Takingadvantage of opportunities in the Atlanta, GA market, Brandon has transitioned from the General Manager role into the Area Director of Sales role.
Daniel was born and raised in the great state of Nevada. Having grown up in Vegas, it was very natural to begin in the service industry. Daniel did so while in school, prior to joining the military, and when he returned from military service.
Daniel joined the Army National Guard in 2008 and trained as a Military Police officer in FortLeonard Wood, MO. He deployed with the 137 th Military Police Detachment to Afghanistan in2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. After his year-long deployment and making hisway back home to Vegas, Daniel rejoined the team at the Holiday Inn; he has embraced thehospitality industry ever since. Daniel is proud to have worked in all line level positions for boththe Front & Back of the house, later developing as a leader. He has worked with IHG,Wyndham, Marriott, and Choice branded hotels, becoming a General Manager in 2016.
Daniel was welcomed into the Sandpiper Family in the beginning of 2024 as a Task ForceGeneral Manager, and later in 2024 he was promoted to Regional Manager. Daniel takes greatjoy in making memorable experiences for guests and is excited to apply this experience andskillset to his career with Sandpiper Hospitality!
