Our Leadership Team

Les Kinseth oversees development, construction services, and facilities management, guiding projects from negotiation and planning through execution. He works closely with brand partners, investors, architects, and contractors, and has been instrumental in expanding Kinseth Hospitality’s role as a general contractor on numerous hotel developments.

Raised in the industry, Les is known for his entrepreneurial leadership, strong work ethic, and commitment to long-term growth. He holds a BBS from the University of Iowa and began his hospitality career in 1980.

Bruce Kinseth is deeply involved in operations, finance, sales and marketing, human resources, asset management, franchise relations, and hotel development. He brings extensive experience across limited- and full-service hotels, branded and independent restaurants, acquisitions, and third-party management, and has represented lenders and investors as a court-appointed receiver and private equity administrator.

Known for his collaborative leadership and data-driven approach, Bruce has helped guide Kinseth Hospitality’s growth from a small portfolio to a fully integrated company. He holds a BBS in Business from the University of Iowa and began his hospitality career in 1981.

Linda Skinner leads the interior design team for new developments and renovations. Known for her eye for design and operational expertise, she has guided numerous hotel start-ups, conversions, and full-service operations ranging from select-service to large convention hotels.

A Certified Hotel Administrator, Linda began her career in 1981 and has held leadership roles spanning sales, general management, operations, and community development. Her properties have earned multiple franchise honors, including Holiday Inn Torchbearer and Marriott Diamond Awards.

Gary Kinseth has led numerous property openings and held senior operational roles across a wide range of national and independent brands, including Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Wyndham, and Best Western.

Known for his forward-looking, technology-driven approach, Gary leads strategies that position Kinseth Hospitality for continued growth. He holds a BLS in Business and Communications from the University of Iowa and is a Certified Hotel Administrator.

As a third-generation leader within the organization, Ben Kinseth oversees renovation planning, hotel financing and refinancing, investor relations, and asset analysis, while also supporting portfolio strategy, new development, and acquisitions.

With more than 30 years immersed in the hospitality industry, Ben brings hands-on experience from nearly every operational level, including General Manager and Director of Operations roles. Known for his approachable leadership style, he works closely with owners, investors, and general managers to drive performance and long-term value.

Shana Craven partners closely with General Managers and Directors of Sales to drive operational excellence and guest satisfaction. She also supports corporate sales and marketing strategy through training, mentorship, and hands-on leadership.

Shana has held roles spanning catering sales, general management, and multi-property operations. Known for her people-first approach, she has led the opening of multiple Kinseth hotels, including managing three from launch. She holds a degree in Hospitality Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

With more than 30 years in hospitality, Aaron brings a rare, end-to-end perspective to every project. He oversees site selection, pro formas, budgets, and construction schedules, guiding projects from concept through completion.

Raised in the hotel business, Aaron’s career began on the front lines and evolved through operations, engineering, and asset management before settling into his passion for building and development. He holds a Certificate in Building Engineering from Iowa Western and a degree in Construction Management from the University of Nebraska Omaha.

Andrea Barth oversees the financial strategy and performance across full-, limited-, and select-service hotel portfolios. Based in Coralville, Andrea partners closely with general managers, operations leaders, owners, investors, and lenders to improve efficiency, streamline processes, and strengthen financial results.

With more than 22 years of experience in hospitality finance and family-owned management companies, she brings deep expertise in accounting, systems, and financial planning. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Economics from Luther College.

Dave Craven is the Director of Construction and Renovations at Kinseth Hospitality Companies.
 
Dave works on all types of hotels and restaurants, managing renovations and new construction in several different states. He works closely with the operations team to coordinate renovations. In addition, he also works with owners to relay information about renovations and new construction. In his role, Dave hopes to help properties achieve successful openings and improve guest service scores by keeping buildings and facilities up to date.
 
Dave learned his construction skills from framing and building houses while he was growing up. He went on to undergrad and grad school, where he got a bachelor’s in education and a master’s in education and human performance. After college, he worked as a track coach and teacher at Iowa Western Community College for seven years and then came to Kinseth, where he now has nine years of construction and project management experience.
 
Outside of work Dave enjoys spending his time renovating his home, reading, and spending time with his kids and dogs.

Jeff Schrader is the Director of New Business Development for Kinseth Hospitality. In his role, he is responsible for securing third-party management contracts for hospitality properties, joint-venture contracts for the development of hotels, and the growth of company-owned and operated properties.

His educational background includes over 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry. From 1977 through 1980, Jeff held numerous hotel training positions with Westin and Aircoa hotels at locations in Chicago and Kansas City. He then pursued hospitality accounting and consulting assignments with Pannell Kerr Forester in Atlanta, completing market/feasibility studies, operational reviews, and economic evaluations for a variety of clubs, hotels, and restaurants. From 1985 through 2002, Jeff held franchise sales and development positions with Holiday Inns, Dunkin’ Donuts, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Prime Hospitality Corporation.

Knowledgeable in many areas he has been responsible for the growth and development of numerous hotel brands including Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Four Points by Sheraton, Sheraton Hotels, and AmeriSuites. He joined Kinseth Hospitality in July of 2002. Jeff has participated in numerous hotel conferences, most recently acting as a panelist at the Midwest Lodging Investors Summit and has also participated as a guest lecturer at Kendall College in Chicago.

He received his BA from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1977, and his MBA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1982.

Chris Stephany oversees vendor contracts and procurement across the portfolio. He partners with hotel GMs and corporate teams to maximize vendor value and control costs.

His educational background includes 20+ years of hospitality experience, beginning his career with Kinseth waiting tables at Bennigan’s in Coralville, Iowa. In his free time, he enjoys family, outdoor activities, and fishing.

Connie Schlichting is Regional Vice President of Operations and Corporate Food & Beverage Director at Kinseth Hospitality, overseeing full-service hotels in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. She partners with General Managers, Directors of Sales, and F&B teams to drive financial performance and operational excellence.

With more than 20 years in hospitality, Connie has experience across Hilton, Marriott, and IHG brands, from opening Bennigan’s locations to managing dual hotel properties and banquet operations. She has earned multiple awards for General Manager and F&B leadership.

Connie holds a BA in Education with a minor in Psychology/Sociology from Washburn University and brings hands-on, detail-driven expertise in hotel operations, food & beverage, and property development.

Will Harrington is a Director of Operations for Kinseth Hospitality Companies, overseeing a variety of hotel properties across multiple brands including IHG, Marriott, Wyndham, and Hilton, throughout the states of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Alabama, Texas, Ohio, Wyoming, and Louisiana. In his role, he works closely with his hotel managers and restaurant managers to provide strong ownership returns. His passion is focusing on guest satisfaction and developing strong leaders who can effectively manage a hotel and its team in order to drive financial performance.

His background includes over 20 years of hotel management experience. Will began his career in hospitality with Bristol Hotel Corporation before joining Grand Heritage Hotels, Starwood Hotels, Hospitality Management Corporation, and Platinum Portfolio. During his career, he and his hotels have received many accolades and awards.

Knowledgeable in many areas throughout his career, he has worked in all aspects of hotel operations and provides hands-on knowledge to his hotel properties. Will has a deep understanding of food and beverage and has also managed franchised restaurants. His experience ranges from small select-service hotels to full-service hotels, conference centers, and beach resorts. In addition to franchised hotels, Will has worked with several independent hotels and restaurants in developing concepts, repositioning, and openings. His strong background in hotel operations, food, and beverage, renovations, as well as sales and marketing makes him a strong asset for Kinseth Hospitality.

Rob Wartella is a Director of Operations for Kinseth Hospitality Companies, overseeing a variety of hotel properties including economy, select service, and extended stay hotels throughout Wisconsin. In his role, he works with on-site General Manager’s to help achieve success in quality, customer service, and financial performance. His passion is working with his properties to achieve a common goal.

His educational background includes over 20 years of hotel management experience. He joined Kinseth Hospitality in 2006 as General Manager for Country Inn & Suites at the Madison West (Middleton) location. Rob has been presented with many awards throughout the years including Teamwork, Quality of Excellence, Perseverance, Leadership, and Select Service General Manager of the Year all presented by Kinseth Hospitality.

Knowledgeable in many areas including the daily operations of a given hotel, sales and hotel renovations, Rob provides practical leadership for his properties. Self-motivating and dependable under all conditions Rob’s expertise is a valuable resource for Kinseth Hospitality Companies.

Rob studied at the University of Wisconsin Stout and earned a BA degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

James Evans is a Director of Operations for Kinseth Hospitality, overseeing a diverse portfolio of hotels within the organization including economy, mid-scale and extended stay hotels in Iowa and Illinois. In his role, he oversees all aspects of hospitality operations for his properties. Each interaction and property visit are committed to improving both top and bottom line revenue while maintaining a focus on quality and guest satisfaction. His passion is developing his teams to embrace all duties of their position, from financial accountability, impeccable quality assurance, sales, and marketing, to positive service culture and community involvement.

His educational background includes over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry working with several brands including Hilton, Marriott, Choice, and Radisson. James has been engaged in limited service, select service and mid-scale brands at every level. Soon after managing his first property, James was promoted to Area Operations Manager overseeing multiple properties receiving accolades, including multiple GM of the Year awards, as well as Quality Assurance and Financial Achievements. Following his success with previous management companies, James joined the Kinseth Hospitality team in 2011 and shifted to a Regional Sales Director. In this role James worked with a multitude of brands developing a strong sales force, positioning each property to outperform their respective competitive set.

In his current position as Regional Operations Manager, James has a strong focus on quality, efficiency, service, and property sales. James takes all of this previous experience and embraces those experiences in his day to day management approach.

David Brown is a Director of Operations for Kinseth Hospitality, overseeing a variety of hotel properties across multiple brands including IHG, Marriott, Hilton, Radisson, and Best Western throughout the states of Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. In his role, he works closely with Hotel General Managers, Restaurant Managers, and Directors of Sales helping them achieve financial success and guest satisfaction performance. His passion is to develop strong property leaders who in return meet and exceed the expectations of their guests, brand leaders and ownership.

His background includes over 21 years of hospitality and hotel management experience. David began his career as Guest Service Representative and Night Auditor and moved his way up the ranks within the business. David has worked 20 of the 21 years in the business for Kinseth Hospitality. During his tenure with Kinseth Hospitality David has won numerous awards and accolades along with the coveted General Manager of the Year award.

David has extensive knowledge in many aspects of the Hotel business with a great knowledge in Revenue Management and a deep background in Food and Beverage as a General Manager of a franchised restaurant. His experience ranges from small select-service hotels to full-service hotels, and conference centers. His strong background in hotel operations, food, and beverage, renovations, as well as sales and marketing make him a strong asset for Kinseth Hospitality.

David has a degree in Business Administration from Baker University.

Elliott Rhoad is a Director of Operations for Kinseth Hospitality, overseeing a diverse portfolio of hotels within the organization including full-service, limited service, and select service hotels in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. 
 
In his role, he works with hotel general managers, property owners, and investors to achieve financial success, enhance their career goals, and drive sales. Elliott’s focus is to assist in the professional growth of team members by helping as many of them as he can get to the next step in their careers to make our business stronger and develop loyal team members.
 
His educational background includes 24 years of experience in the hospitality industry starting out as a night auditor at a Best Western in Charleston, South Carolina. He joined Kinseth in 2018 as a General Manager for Holiday Inn Dubuque and successfully won the 2021 General Manager of The Year award for Kinseth. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business with a minor in Hospitality from the College of Charleston. 
 
In his current position as Director of Operations, Elliott leads his group with a strong grasp of finance, sales, and marketing ideas. He is always willing to try new things to gain positive exposure for his properties. In his free time, he enjoys coaching soccer and keeping up with his two teenagers.

Tammy Fraley is a Director of Operations for Kinseth Hospitality Companies, overseeing a portfolio of select service and extended stay hotels located in Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Colorado. In her role, she works closely with hotel General Managers, Directors of Sales, hotel Owners, and Investors. Her passion is mentoring individuals and supplying the tools to drive revenues, deliver a superior customer experience and create an inclusive culture at their hotels.  She is committed to the success of others and finds true satisfaction in realizing the potential of others by finding opportunities for their career growth.   
 
She began her career in hospitality in 1998, when she started working as a meeting planner securing hotel room blocks. Over the course of the next 10 years, she moved into the roles of Sales Coordinator, Sales Manager, Director of Group Sales, and Director of Sales & Marketing.  In 2009 she switched gears to work in operations as a General Manager which eventually evolved to an Area General Manager bringing her into her role today as a Director of Operations. She has over 24 years of experience in the hospitality industry and began working for Kinseth in 2012.
 
During her career, she has received many awards multiple times, including eight Quality Excellence Awards, seven Teamwork Awards, three Financial Achievement awards, and two Leadership Awards.  She has also been the recipient of a Perseverance Award and Select Service General Manager of the year. She holds an associate degree in marketing, General Manager Certifications for Marriott, Hilton, and IHG, and is also a Marriott Certified Meeting Planner. She enjoys sharing her experience and knowledge with others while gaining the same in return from each of the individuals she works with. In her free time, she enjoys family, crafting, and baking.

Suzy Ridder is a Director of Operations for Kinseth Hospitality, overseeing a majority of extended stay and limited-service properties within the Marriott and Hilton brand family. In her role, she works closely with hotel general managers, owners, investors, and brand teams. She also assists with setting up effective teams and brand systems at new construction properties. 

Suzy’s goal is to develop the skill sets of our general managers to be the best they can be while driving the financial success of the hotel brand in each market. In addition, she pushes her teams to drive guest satisfaction scores to the top 10% of their brands. She enjoys working for a family-owned business that can drive results but also values the importance of individual staff members by believing in them and treating them with respect and trust.

She started her hospitality career while working through college with a boutique hotel company in the San Francisco and surrounding areas.  From there she grew into many different hotel positions including Hotel General Manager.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with an emphasis in Statistics from San Francisco State University. 

She successfully won the Extended Stay General Manager of the Year award for Kinseth in 2021. She was the lead opening manager for multiple Marriott Hotels and assisted in renovations and openings for both Hilton and IHG hotel brands. 

In her spare time, she enjoys visiting with family, walking her dog, and relaxing with friends. 

Dave Davis is a Director of Operations for Kinseth Hospitality, overseeing a diverse portfolio of hotels within the organization including full-service, limited service, and select service hotels in Iowa. 

In his role, he works with hotel general managers and property owners to Improve hotel profitability as well as guest & employee satisfaction. Dave is focused on working closely with a variety of hotels and different hotel staffs. He likes to see managers grow in their positions and profits improve.

His educational background includes 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry starting out as a server at a Holiday Inn restaurant called “Fat Eddies.” He joined Kinseth in 2005 as a General Manager for Radisson Hotel and Hampton Inn. Prior he spent 6 years as a resort GM of Blue Water Resort and Casino, and another 6 years at John Q Hammons and Horizon Hospitality. He has won several awards while working at Kinseth including the 2012 Full General Manager of The Year award, leadership, and financial management awards. He holds CHA, CRDE and CRBE certifications. 

In his free time, he enjoys golf, spectator sports and spending time with family.

Lori Faught is a Director of Operations for Kinseth Hospitality, overseeing a diverse portfolio of hotels within the organization including full-service and limited-service hotels in Iowa and Minnesota.

In her role, she works with hotel general managers and property owners to achieve financial success, and drive sales. Lori enjoys helping properties grow financially, improving guest scores, and employee morale.

Her educational background includes 32 years of experience in the hospitality industry starting out at the front desk at the Holiday Inn for Kinseth in Mason City, Iowa. As a GM she was able to turn a property in probation around to be above average on QA’s for a 58 year old building.

She has won several awards while working at Kinseth including GM of the Year three times. Other awards were received for finance, marketing, aspire awards, and quality awards.

DJ Miller is a Regional Director of Operations for Kinseth Hospitality, overseeing a diverse portfolio of hotels within the organization including full-service, limited service, and extended stay hotels in Omaha, Bellevue and Council Bluffs.

In his role, he works with hotel general managers to help them succeed with Kinseth Hospitality Company and the brand they are working for. DJ’s goal is to have his team achieve financial success, and help his general managers achieve any career goals they might have.
His educational background includes 16 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He started his career in 2008 at the HGI Sioux City Riverfront as an AGM then he moved to Omaha and started working for Kinseth Hospitality Company in 2011. In 2023 he won several awards, including Most Improved Service Scores for all Home2 Suites and the Leadership Award-Extended Stay. He holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.
 
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, hunting and fishing, golfing and watching his kids sports or choir events.

Stefanie Arnaman is the Vice President of Sales, Marketing, E-Commerce, and Revenue for Kinseth Hospitality Companies overseeing Revenue Management, E-Commerce, and Creative Marketing. In her role, she works with her team to maximize hotel revenue through effective inventory and pricing strategies based on future demand forecasts, current trends, and historical data. In addition, she oversees the E-Commerce manager and assists with developing strategies to drive online traffic to our company and portfolio websites. Together they coordinate website design, Search Engine Optimization, and photography for the portfolio. She also oversees the Creative Marketing Specialist by coordinating print media production and digital marketing projects.

With a very successful hands-on approach to managing people, her passion is to develop her teams through successful leadership training and mentoring, to build creative marketing strategies and e-commerce solutions that drive measurable metrics and revenue, and to push each hotel in the Kinseth Hospitality portfolio to reach their goals.

Her educational background includes over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry with over 15 years in revenue management for Kinseth Hospitality Companies. Previous to employment at Kinseth Hospitality Stefanie held many different titles with Larkin Hotel Management Company and Interstate Hotels. She has worked as Human Resources Manager, Front Offices Manager, Sales Manager, and Revenue Manager. In addition, she has experience working with many brands including Hilton, Marriott, Starwood, IHG, Choice, Wyndham, Carlson, Red Lion, and Independent Hotels.

She is a certified Revenue Manager with multiple brands. Her successful experience in hotel operations, revenue, and marketing strategies bring a wealth of knowledge to the Kinseth team.

Janette Steffensmeier is the Director of Revenue Management for Kinseth Hospitality. In her role, she oversees the Revenue team and works closely with our hotel managers and their ownership teams to analyze markets and determine optimal product price points to help each property reach their revenue goals each year. Her passion is coaching both new and seasoned Hotel Managers on understanding revenue systems as well as enforcing proper use of the programs for optimal functionality.

Her educational background includes over 13 years of experience in the hospitality industry working with revenue management systems across many brands including Hilton, Choice, Radisson, Wyndham, Best Western, and Hyatt. She began her career with Kinseth Hospitality in 2008 and has held several positions at the Holiday Inn Express in Coralville, Iowa working her way up to the management team.

Knowledgeable in many areas Janette has been an integral part of Kinseth’s revenue management team working with nearly 50 properties including new builds, brand conversions, independent and receivership hotels. Her attention to detail, hands-on management style, and extensive understanding of each individual market Janette has been able to assist properties in attaining their revenue goals.

She received an accounting degree from Kirkwood in 2011 and joined our corporate revenue team that same year.

Neal Roth is a Revenue Specialist for Kinseth Hospitality, overseeing Select Service and Extended Stay brands. In his role, he works closely with hotel General Managers and Directors of Sales helping them achieve the most competitive results possible in regard to average daily rate and financial performance. While strong financial performance is the ultimate goal, Neal greatly enjoys building and mentoring teams of people that truly want to see each other succeed and rise together.

Neal has 33 years of experience working in the hospitality industry. He began his career with Kinseth Hospitality in the year 2000. He has served as General Manager at a total of 5 different full-service and select-service hotels, including 2 newly built properties, and oversaw a major full-service conversion. 

As a General Manager for KHC, Neal won many financial awards for strong financial performance as well as multiple sales awards. He was named General Manager of the year on more than one occasion. He has won multiple Quality Excellence Awards with different brands.  As an active member in his local community, he has served on the Board of Directors of the Iowa City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau for nearly 20 years. Over the years he remains most proud of the several team members that he has worked with who have stayed with KHC long term and continue to grow in their careers in our amazing industry. 

Neal graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 1995, with a degree in Hospitality Administration. He still enjoys returning to Las Vegas on occasion.

As a Revenue Specialist, Ashley Reuter partners with hotel managers and ownership teams to optimize pricing and drive revenue performance.

With over nine years in hospitality, Ashley began at the front desk and progressed to Front Desk Manager at the West Des Moines Marriott. She earned a Kinseth Teamwork Award in 2022 and holds a degree in Educational Studies, along with One Yield certification.

In her free time, Ashley enjoys traveling, Hawkeye sports, and time with family and friends.

Stephany Kruger is a Revenue Specialist for Kinseth Hospitality. In her role, she works closely with hotel managers and their ownership teams for full-service and limited-service hotels across Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, primarily focusing on IHG properties and some Hilton hotels.

She enjoys analyzing local markets to determine optimal pricing strategies that help each property achieve financial success and drive sales. Her passion lies in building relationships with General Managers, Directors of Sales, and staff to support them in reaching their goals.

With over 8 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Stephany began her career as a Front Office Manager. She holds a degree in Hospitality Management, equipping her with the knowledge to excel in her role.

In her free time, she enjoys attending sporting events at Iowa State, cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Cubs, riding my bike and attending RAGBRAI every year.

As a Revenue Specialist, Amber Olson supports Hilton-branded properties through close collaboration with General Managers and Directors of Sales to drive financial performance.

With four years of hospitality experience, Amber brings a hands-on, supportive approach to pricing and revenue strategy. She began her career as a Guest Service Manager at the Iowa City Hilton Garden Inn and was recognized with a Kinseth Teamwork Award in 2022. Known for her collaborative mindset, Amber helps teams build confidence and achieve their budget goals.

Stacy Farmer is the Corporate Director of Sales for Kinseth Hospitality overseeing a portfolio of full-service, select-service and extended stay hotel properties. In her role, she works closely with the hotel director of sales and the entire hotel sales team, along with each brand to ensure the success of each hotel. Her passion is for training and developing sales teams to ensure they reach their highest potential.

Her educational background includes over 22 plus years in the hospitality industry working various hospitality positions including front desk, guest service manager and director of sales. Stacy started working with Kinseth in 2003 while attending the University of Iowa. She graduated with a BA in Communications.

With her knowledge and experience in hotel sales and operations Stacy is committed to unlocking every sales persons fullest potential while working one on one with each team to ensure success. Stacy is certified in Hilton and Radisson Sales, Cvent Meeting & Event Planning, as well as a certified and licensed Corporate Administrator for Delphi FDC and Delphi Standard for entire portfolio.

Miriam Lemke is a Regional Director of Sales for Kinseth Hospitality, overseeing a diverse portfolio of full-service, limited-service, select-service, and extended-stay hotels. In her role, she works closely with hotel General Managers, Directors of Sales, and Assistant General Managers/General Sales Managers to ensure they have the knowledge, support, and tools necessary to succeed in their leadership positions.

With 7 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Miriam began her career after graduating college with an internship at Walt Disney World in Orlando. She then moved to the Quad Cities, where she started as a Sales Admin at a Radisson and quickly advanced to Sales Manager at another Radisson. In 2018, she was recruited as Catering Manager at the Hilton Garden Inn Bettendorf, and in 2020, she was promoted to Director of Sales. Her dedication to excellence earned her the KHC Director of Sales of the Year award in 2021.

Miriam is committed to helping her teams exceed revenue goals, drive higher occupancy rates, secure partnerships with local businesses, and deliver exceptional customer service. She takes pride in building relationships with Directors of Sales and General Managers, and she enjoys mentoring her team to help them grow and develop their skills.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, which she humorously notes she uses daily, along with an Event Manager and Design Certificate. In her free time, Miriam enjoys hanging out with her husband, dogs, and family, cheering on the Hawkeyes, binge-watching TV, and daydreaming about being back at Walt Disney World.

Teresa Blythe is a Regional Director of Sales for Kinseth Hospitality overseeing a portfolio of full-service and limited-service hotels. She works with properties in IL, WI, IA, MO and IN. In her role, she works closely with Directors of Sales and General managers to ensure they have the knowledge, support and tools they need to be able to drive sales for their property and enhance their career goals.

Teresa began her career by enrolling in the Travel & Tourism program at Parkland College, a community college for fun. She started working at the front desk at an independent hotel in Champaign, IL where she was promoted to reservations and then to sales. Teresa moved to St. Louis with friends and started her career with Marriott where she was flexible and was able to relocate to where the next opportunity took her, where she got her promotion to sales. Teresa has moved all over the United States and has worked with different brands, management companies and positions in sales. Teresa has since relocated back to Champaign where her career began and now working with Kinseth Hospitality Companies.

Teresa has a degree in Applied Science for Ornamental Horticulture, a Certificate in Travel & Tourism and has a Director of Sales certificate with Hilton Brand and Marriott Brand. She also was given the DOS sales Excellence Award in 2023.

Gayla Failor is a Regional Director of Sales at Kinseth Hospitality, she has 18 years of experience in hotel management. Gayla oversees a diverse portfolio of properties that include full-service, extended stay, and select-service brands. In her role, she works with many top-tier hotel brands, including Marriott, IHG, Hilton, and Hyatt, where she works closely with hotel General Managers and teams to drive sales excellence, enhance guest satisfaction, and achieve revenue growth.

With certifications from Marriott and IHG, Gayla has a proven history of leading high-performing teams and implementing strategies that deliver measurable success. Her leadership style emphasizes creating environments where individuals are empowered to exceed expectations and reach their full potential.

In addition to her hospitality expertise, Gayla has spent over a decade as a successful Real Estate Agent, guiding clients through the intricacies of property transactions and showcasing her versatility and commitment to outstanding results.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Gayla finds joy in spending time with her two dogs, Finley and Wilson.

Denise Stejskal is the E-Commerce Web Manager for Kinseth Hospitality. In her role, she focuses on monitoring the online presence of all our properties across all Internet channels, including branded and non-branded websites, local listings, meta sites, and third-party OTA sites. She works closely with our revenue managers to develop meta channel and OTA travel ad campaign strategies for our hotels.

In addition, she assists, in coordinating professional photo shoots for our hotel products, and creates and designs websites for F&B or independent hotel outlets as needed. Denise also manages Google ads, provides SEO audits for branded and non-branded hotel and restaurant websites, and writes SEO-friendly copy. She monitors the online reputation of our assets and assists properties in connecting to their sites, reviewing disputes, and responding.

Denise loves brainstorming creative ideas and enjoys taking a deep dive to find digital marketing and advertising opportunities that have the potential to generate new business and increase revenue.  She enjoys teaching and watching fellow employees learn new things. She is highly organized and a big believer in utilizing the tools at hand to improve productivity, training, and communication within the organization. 

Denise joined Kinseth Hospitality in 2011. She graduated from Clarke University in Dubuque, IA with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish in 2003. She is also Marriott Plus Certified. She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling to new destinations.

As Marketing Manager, Sarah Olberding develops on-brand marketing, sales materials, and visual assets designed to engage target audiences and support property performance.

Since joining Kinseth in 2018, Sarah has combined strategic thinking with strong design execution, building trusted partnerships across the organization. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Clarke University and brings a collaborative, detail-driven approach to every project.

Matthew Robinson serves as the Corporate Food & Beverage (F&B) Director for Kinseth Hospitality Companies (KHC), bringing more than a decade of multifaceted experience in hospitality, culinary leadership, and hotel operations. Known for his dynamic leadership style and commitment to elevating guest experiences, Robinson has built a career defined by excellence in both food and beverage and hotel management.

Robinson joined KHC in 2014 as the Chef at the Green Mill in Wichita, Kansas. His culinary talent and dedication quickly propelled him into the role of Food & Beverage Manager the following year. After two years at the property level, he advanced to a Travel Manager position with a focus on F&B, marking the start of his broader leadership path with the company. For the next six years, Robinson served as a Traveling General Manager across multiple hotel brands, where he oversaw operations, guided teams, and ensured consistent service quality across diverse markets.

In 2021, Robinson became the General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott in Houma, Louisiana. There, he continued strengthening operational excellence while fostering a collaborative and guest-focused culture. His combined background in culinary arts and hotel leadership allows him to bring a holistic approach to his role, making him a versatile and effective leader within the organization.

Before joining KHC, Robinson spent 14 years with Marriott International, developing deep expertise in high-volume food service environments and refining his culinary and managerial skills. His entrepreneurial experience—running his own establishment—further broadened his perspective on hospitality operations.

Robinson holds a degree in Culinary Arts and remains passionate about driving innovation, quality, and consistency within food and beverage programs. As Corporate F&B Director, he is dedicated to supporting Kinseth’s growth and ensuring that its F&B offerings continue to set the standard for excellence across its hotels and restaurants.

With his extensive experience and clear vision, Robinson plays a key role in strengthening Kinseth’s food and beverage division and enhancing the guest experience throughout the company’s portfolio.