2024 HLAGH BOARD OF DIRECTORS

HLAGH Board of Directors is comprised of over 50 members, representing various cross sections of the hospitality industry in the Greater Houston area. Members are elected for two-year terms and serve on an alternating schedule. Nominations are accepted each October.

If you are interested in volunteering to serve on the board or one of its committees, please contact us at info@houstonhotels.org.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chair
Ramon Ventura-Guzman | General Manager, JW Mariott Galleria
Chair Elect
Jennifer Gohagan | General Manager, The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel
First Vice Chair
William Venegas | Complex General Manager, Hilton Houston North / Marriott Houston North
Secretary
Steven Terrebonne | General Manager, The Moran
Treasurer
Rosa Tang | General Manager, The Rotary House
Sergeant-At-Arms
John Schafer | Managing Director, Hyatt Regency Houston Downtown
Immediate Past Chair
Jacques D’Rovencourt | General Manager, Hilton Americas-Houston
LODGING DIRECTORS
Director | Bay Area
Alberto Ramos | General Manager, Hilton Houston NASA / Clear Lake
Director | Central Business District
Tom Segesta | General Manager, The Four Seasons
Director | Galleria / Greenway
Marco Foelske | General Manager, Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel
Director | Hobby
Chris Pool | General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Hobby Airport
Director | Medical Center / NRG Park
Sumit Dalwadi | President, Dalwadi Hospitality
Director | North / IAH
Dennis Doherty | General Manager, Houston Marriott Airport Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Director | Northwest / Brookhollow
Nicholas Albers | Regional General Manager, Oldham Goodwin Group
Director | Southwest / Sugar Land
Bill Dalleske | General Manager, Houston Marriott Sugar Land
Director | The Woodlands
Mark Sampsell | General Manager, CityPlace Marriott at Springwoods Village
Director | Westchase, West Park 10, Katy
Jason Grisham | General Manager, Embassy Suites Houston West
Director | Select Service
Hasu D. Patel | Venture Hotel Group / SIMA
Director | At Large
Ajay Patel | President, Pika Hotels
Director | At Large
Faisal Kamal | Regional Vice President of Operations, Aimbridge Hospitality
Director | At Large
Brian Scibberas | General Manager, Westin Houston Downtown
Director | At Large
Rick Gaylean | General Manager, Hilton at the University of Houston
Director | At Large
Chris Miller | Complex General Manager, Hampton Inn / Homewood Suites Houston Downtown
Director | At Large
Nour Laasri | Area General Manager, Marriott Marquis Houton
Director | At Large
Erica Gonzalez | General Manager, Best Western Houston Downtown
ALLIED MEMBERS
Director | Allied
Sam Kandiyoti | President, Fulgore Construction
Director | Allied
Dave Pickus | Director Marketing & Business Development, PWI Construction
Director | Allied
Grace Jacobson | NewGen Advisory, LLC
Director | Allied
Lisa Roth | Principal, Montgomery Roth Architecture & Interior Design
Director | Allied
Garhett Marr | Branch Manager, Houston Versacor Enterprises, LLC
Director | Allied
Jonathan Alonso | Owner, H-Town Power Washing
PERMANENT POSITIONS
Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership
Dr. Dennis Reynolds
Greater Houston Chapter – Texas Restaurant Association
Christina Robbins | Executive Director
Houston Arts Alliance
John Abodeely | Chief Executive Officer
Houston First
Michael Heckman | President & CEO
Houston Hospitality Alliance
Reggie Martin | Interim Executive Director
NRG Park
Rose Harshfield | Director of Sales
Texas Hotel & Lodging Association
Scott Joslove | President & CEO
PAST CHAIRS
Chair 2020-2021
Tom Jamison, | General Manager, Hyatt Regency Houston West
Chair 2019
Charles Watts | General Manager, Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport
Chair 2018
Pete Ells | General Manager, The Westin Houston Memorial City
Chair 2015
John Keeling | Executive Vice President, Valencia Hotel Group
Chair 2005-2006
Louise Upshaw-McClenny | Owner, Achievers Learning Group, Ltd.
Chair 2000-2001
Douglas M. Horn | CEO, DM Horn Consulting
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE HLAGH BYLAWS:

The HLAGH Board of Directors recommends the following changes to the organization’s bylaws to update various organizations names as well as increase the number of Allied Positions on the board.

ARTICLE V – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section II – Composition of the Board

The Board of Directors shall be composed of the officers of the Association (as specified in Article VI, Section I). In addition to these officers, the Board of Directors shall also consist of Twenty-Five (25) elected directors; Seven (7) Permanent Board Members and all past chairpersons who are members in good standing as specified in Article IV, Section I.   Eleven (11) of the Board members will represent each of the Eleven (11) regions and also act as Area Chairpersons for their term as a director. Eight (8) members shall serve at-large. The remaining Directors shall be designated Limited Service Select Service Property Director, five (5) six (6) Allied Member Directors.  Permanent Board Positions are:  Chair, Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau; President, Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Greater Houston Hospitality Tourism Alliance; President or Director, Houston Restaurant Association Greater Houston Chapter – Texas Restaurant Association; Director, City of Houston Convention & Entertainment President, Houston First Corporation; President (or representative), Reliant Park NRG Park; President, Texas Hotel & Lodging Association; Dean, University of Houston Conrad Hilton College Conrad N Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership; and a Representative of the Houston Arts Alliance.  Additional regions with corresponding board representatives may be identified at the discretion of the Board of Directors.