About Us
News & Events
Membership
Buyer's Guide
Government Affairs
Education
Tourism
Featured Links
Invitation to Join — Lodging Owners and Operators
Invitation to Join — Businesses Catering to the Industry
Lodging Member
Benefits
Allied Member
Benefits
WSHL&A’s Retro Group Program
Convention
Visitors' Guide
StayInWashington.com
Site Map
Contact Us
 
 
American Hotel & Lodging Association
 
Revised! Planning and Control for Food and Beverage Operations
Seventh Edition
$96.95.
AH&LA members: $66.95

Save the date!
November 9, 2009

Celebration of Excellence 2009
CHA and MHS Emeritus Award
New York

Visit www.ahlei.org/coe
 
Home » About Us » Board of Directors

WSH&LA Board of Directors


Officers
Chairman
Karl Ruether, CHA, CFBE
General Manager
Best Western Icicle Inn
Leavenworth, WA  98826
(509) 548-7000
Fax: (206) 548-7050
karl@icicleinn.com

Karl brings to the Board over 28 years of experience, nationally and internationally, in the hospitality industry, lending a unique perspective as a leader of Best Western properties regionally, and of a thriving resort area that has had great success with city government. Karl, who serves on the Editorial Review Committee for WSH&LA’s Visitors’ Guide, as well as President of the Leavenworth Lodging Association, and remains dedicated to serving his industry on both state and local levels.

  Karl Ruether

Immediate Past Chairman
Rob Fix
Chief Financial Officer
Port of Bellingham
(360) 220-0395
rob.fix@hotmail.com

Rob has over 17 years experience in the lodging industry having served as controller, director of development, mergers and acquisitions and director of finance. Rob is the CFO for Port of Bellingham, a diverse countywide port operating transportation terminals, marinas, real estate developments, public parks and trails, environmental stewardship programs and economic development services. Rob also serves as Chair of WSH&LA’s Finance Committee, and was an instrumental member of WSH&LA’s Retro Due Diligence Committee.

  Rob Fix

Chairman-Elect
Paul Ishii
General Manager
Mayflower Park Hotel
Seattle, Washington  98101
(206) 623-8700
Fax: (206) 382-6996
pjishii@mayflowerpark.com

Paul has more than 20 years of hospitality experience and a long history of community service, and has been General Manager of the Mayflower Park Hotel since 1998. He serves on WSH&LA’s Political Action Committee, was WSH&LA’s Stars of the Industry Award recipient for General Manager of the Year in 2006, is a past president of the Seattle Hotel Association, and has served on the Washington State Tourism Advisory Board.

  Paul Ishii

Vice Chairman
Todd Thoreson, CHA
Regional Vice President of Hotel Operations
and Area General Manager, Spokane Hotels, Red Lion Hotels Corporation
(509) 777-6340
Fax: (509) 325-7324
todd.thoreson@redlion.com

Todd has over 20 years of lodging industry experience, and has been on numerous boards and hospitality organizations throughout his career. He has advocated both for and against lodging tax initiatives, and also has given presentations to city council and state legislative members promoting the economic benefits derived from investing in the hospitality industry. With his open mindedness, industry perspective, collaborative spirit and board experience, Todd is working diligently to help WSH&LA's Board accomplish the many goals lying ahead for the organization.

  Todd Thoreson

Treasurer
Andy Olsen
Managing Director
The Chambers Group, Inc.
(206) 441-5522
Fax (206) 441-1775
clodging@aol.com

Andy has 34 years of experience in the hotel industry with a combination of consulting, management and university-level teaching. He served for many years on WSH&LA’s Board as an Allied Director, and then as a Lodging Director. Operating four hotels in Western Washington, Andy’s varied background provides him with a relatively unique perspective. His main focus is in the areas of education, the annual convention and legislative issues.

  Andy Olson

Secretary
Cindy Fanning
Vice President of Operations
Silver Cloud Inns & Hotels
(425) 637-9800
Fax (425) 637-1900
cindyf@silvercloud.com

Cindy has more than 20 years of hotel experience, working at both the corporate and property levels. She has served on a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and was a Chamber of Commerce board member. Cindy has tracked WSH&LA’s recent efforts to revise Liquor Control Board laws. She is interested in the legislative process, and in working with teams to improve conditions for the industry. Cindy is passionate about attracting new members, while maintaining current memberships, and working on strategies for future growth of the Association.


Zahoor Ahmed
Vice President of Hotel Operations
R. C. Hedreen Company, Seattle
(206) 624-8909
Fax (206) 625-1543
ahmed@rchco.com
   
     
Back to Top    

Board Members
WSH&LA Board of Directors:

Gerry Adams, CPA, CHAE, Director of Strategic Planning & Business Development, Clothier & Head, P.S., Seattle
Bill Baldwin, President & CEO, Baldwin Resource Group, Bellevue
Christine Cochran, CHA, Director of Operations, Pheasant Hill Inn & Suites, Spokane
Tom Dezutter, General Manager, Doubletree Guest Suites, Seattle
Lisa Fleek, Regional Marketing Director, USA TODAY
Randall Fortier, CPA, General Manager, Inn at Gig Harbor
Paula Helsel, CHA, General Manager, Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat, Leavenworth
Ron Hofilena, General Manager, Bellevue Club Hotel
Howard Jacobs, Chief Operations Officer, Provenance Hotel Group
Tom Keogh, CHA, Regional Service Manager, Best Western International
Gerry Link, CHA, General Manager, Hilton Vancouver Washington
Gary Lukehart, Managing Manager, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott/Yakima Hotel LLC
Gary Mabee, Owner, Inn at Goose Creek, Ellensburg Bret Matteson, Chief Operations Officer, Columbia Hospitality
Sandra Miller, Vice President and General Manager, Governor Hotel, Olympia
Kathy Moore, General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott-Columbia Point, Richland
Alkesh Patel, CHO, President, Best Western Battle Ground Inn & Suites/Trupadi Inc.
Julia Schroeder, Managing Director, Hotel Andra, Seattle
Diana Shukis, Principal Attorney, Cairncross & Hempelmann, PS, Seattle
Freyda Stephens, CHA, General Manager, Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel
Cindee Stinton-Brown, CHA, General Manager, Phoenix Inn Suites, Vancouver
Troy Summerill, CHA, CFBE, General Manager, Shilo Inn Suites Hotel, Ocean Shores
Gary Tachiyama, President, First Western Hotels
Chris Tudor, CHA, Owner, Tudor Inns LLC
Matt Van Der Peet, General Manager, Sheraton Seattle Hotel
Frank Welton, General Manager, Doubletree Hotel and Hilton Hotel and Conference Center, Seattle Airport
Meghan Wiley, General Manager, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Pullman

Back to Top

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Staples Business Advantage


 

Washington State Visitors' Guide

Retro Program


Become a WSH&LA Member Today!

Take Advantage of Member Benefits Now!


Greening Washington's Lodging Industry

Join us for the 2009 WSH&LA Convention, Trade Show & Golf Tournament

October 5, 2009 ~
Golf Tournament, Harbour Pointe
Golf Club, Mukilteo

October 6, 2009 ~ Convention & Trade Show,
Bell Harbor International Conference Center,
Seattle Waterfront


Click here
for more info on
how to be a
Featured Sponsor