I started working for OshKosh B’ Gosh the summer of my senior year of high school in 1998, little did I know that job would turn into a career for me. I loved seeing new faces each day and helping people wardrobe their children. I received five perfect secret shops and was promoted to a supervisor my first year. Just three years later I went on to manage my own store, completely skipping the Assistant Manager role. By 2004, I was a Training Store Manager for Gymboree. During my three-year tenure, I was promoted to an Area GM role in Northern VA and named Store Manager of the Year twice! In 2008, I returned to the Maryland market to reduce my daily travel and began working for Ascena Retail. During my tenure with Ascena I was an Area GM, managing two stores and two brands. I was also named the District Trainer and Store Manager of the year 3 times.
After 7 years with Ascena I decided to pursue new opportunities. I was looking for a career change that would reward me a better work life balance but still meet my needs for future professional growth. In 2015, Sandpiper Hospitality took a chance and offered me a position as the GM of Woodspring Suites Frederick, MD. Hospitality was new for me and presented a new set of challenges and opportunities. In 2019, I was the first franchisee representative certified in the WoodSpring Suites brand to complete the full General Manager training for all of Sandpiper’s new GMs. Every new GM since then has traveled through the Frederick hotel for two weeks of intensive training with me and my team.
Starting out at Sandpiper as a Regional Manager, I oversaw multiple hotels and my career continues to grow and expand. For 2019, I was recognized with Sandpiper Hospitality’s CATALYST Award, the company’s highest honor! It has been over 5 years with Sandpiper Hospitality, and I have never looked back. In 2023 I became a Regional Vice President – This organization has certainly been one that fosters growth and invests in people!
Len always loved hospitality and travel. He learned at a very young age that experiencing new destinations and taking care of people was something that got him excited! One of his first jobs was working as a busboy for Hyatt Hotels. Being in the hotel environment gave Len the desire to travel and experience the world. He spent five years working as an on-site meeting planner and traveled the globe. Len has spent time working in more than 25 countries over the course of his career. Eventually, he came home to the hotel industry, again working with Hyatt, Hilton and now Sandpiper Hospitality. Len takes great joy in taking care of both guests as well as associates.
Tom’s journey in hospitality began over 23 years ago. He has worked for companies like Columbia Sussex, Crescent and Interstate/Aimbridge, representing various brands like Marriott, Hilton and IHG. Tom’s journey has taken him through different roles covering all aspects of hotel operations, and this eventually led to an opportunity to oversee a region consisting of various Marriott branded hotels like Courtyard, Westin and Renaissance. Tom’s experience has made him well-versed in maximizing hotel efficiency without sacrificing service. Ultimately, he believes your success is tied to your ability to motivate the people around you to maximize their potential.
Patricia joined the Sandpiper family in March of 2021 as a General Manager; this was her first role in the hospitality industry. She was able to stabilize a team and impact financial results in a historically underperforming hotel in just 90 days of her onboarding. For the first time since opening, the hotel made budget and GOP in 2021 & 2022 under her leadership. Patricia was promoted to a training manager in September of 2021 and has since trained over 20 new General Managers and hosted Regional Managers. Patricia’s success came as no surprise; prior to coming to Sandpiper, she spent 5 years with Dollar General. She was able to take 3 locations in the bottom 5% of the company and turn them into top performers under her leadership. In August of 2022 Patricia was promoted to an Area Manager role. She was also awarded the Rookie of the Year in 2021 as well as Top Performer – Associate Engagement and the GM of the year for 2022. Patricia was promoted to the Regional Manager role in July 2023.
Johnathon began his career with Sandpiper in December of 2016 as Guest Service Ambassador in the WoodSpring Suites Manassas location. He quickly evolved from there, being promoted to the Assistant General Manager at Manassas in July of 2017. It was clear that Johnathon was passionate and hungry for growth when he was promoted to the General Manager role in 2018 in Fredericksburg. By March of 2021, Johanthon was promoted for the 3rd time to the Area General Manager role. Johnathon has supported both the Fredericksburg and Andrews AFB WoodSpring Suites since March 2021, and most recently he helped support WoodSpring Suites Manassas since the start of 2023. Johnathon has shown great success in all hotels and is looked to as a trusted advisor among his peers, winning the Mentor of the Year award twice and HR business partner award in 2022.
Jennifer had a very humble childhood, growing up in a small town in southern Indiana. Prior to joining the hotel industry, Jennifer worked with law enforcement as a 911 dispatcher. She then decided to explore hospitality and was given an opportunity to be a General Manager with Intown Suites. After being in the General Manager role for three years, Jennifer was promoted to Regional Operations Manager, where she oversaw eleven properties in four states. She stayed in that role for almost 4 years, where she obtained a lot of meaningful experience and made a lot of good friends. After spending the last 7 years at Intown, Jennifer decided she wanted to further explore the hospitality industry and her career growth, which brought her to Sandpiper. She looks forward to this new chapter in her career
John joins Sandpiper Hospitality with over 35 years of hotel industry experience and after spending the past 16 years with Best Western Hotels and Resorts. He performed numerous roles while working with Best Western, to include Regional Service Manager, Hospitality Management Trainer, and Onboarding Brand Manager. Prior to Best Western, he was an Area Manager for Extended Stay Hotels, overseeing properties in Connecticut and New York as well as being on the property transition team of the first Two International Extended Stay hotels in Ottawa, ON and Markham, ON. John spent time as a General Manager for Residence Inn by Marriott along with being a General Manager for a Mainstay Suites by Choice Hotels in Lake Mary, FL. Prior to these roles John worked in the full service side of the industry for American General Hospitality where he held the roles of Manager in Training, Sales Manager, Manager on Duty, and Assistant Director of Security.
Jim brings over 30 years of extensive hospitality experience to the Sandpiper team. He has held leadership roles as a General Manager, Regional Manager, and Vice President of Operations for several notable companies managing brands such as Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Choice, and Sonesta. His expertise in extended stay hotels, as well as his proven track record in hotel renovations and new openings, will be invaluable to our organization.
Outside of work, Jim is an avid hockey fan who also enjoys golf and fishing at the beach.
Jon has spent his entire career in the Hospitality Industry, with most of that time focused on talent acquisition and recruiting. Before joining Sandpiper Hospitality, Jon was the Talent Acquisition Manager for Shamin Hotels and Gold Key|PHR Hotels & Resorts. He has been involved with all levels of both exempt and nonexempt positions and has worked for both regional and national brands and companies. Jon’s earlier experience includes Management Recruiter for Hilton Hotels and Director of Recruiting for Battleground Restaurant Group (Kickback Jacks, Tripps).
During his career, Jon has been most rewarded when he is able to help provide the ‘gift of meaningingful employment’ and to watch these associates grow and flourish over time. His experience is that a company that is genuinely passionate about its associates at all levels, will meet the financial objectives required to exceed the expectations of the investors and ownership. He focuses on finding the right candidate for the position. He strives for an efficient recruiting process for the Hiring Managers and Company and a positive experience for the candidate.
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!
