Leadership

Senior leadership at Coastal Hotel Group represents over seventy-five years of professional hospitality industry experience, including more than sixty years managing the various brands of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

Yogi Hutsen

President & Chief Executive Officer

A thirty-plus year hospitality professional, Yogi Hutsen provides the overall strategic vision for Coastal Hotel Group. Working directly with hotel owners and general managers, Yogi ensures each hotel operates within company standards to deliver a unique guest experience and optimum profitability.

Before joining Coastal, Yogi was Chief Operating Officer at Noble House. There he created a "culture of excellence" among diverse Four and Five-Star resorts. Yogi also held senior management positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and ITT Sheraton, including Vice President of Operations -Washington and Oregon and General Manager of the Seattle Sheraton and the Sheraton Tucson El Conquistador Resort.

Yogi is a graduate of Indiana University with a degree in Urban and Regional Development.

Ed Schwitzky

Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing

With over twenty-five years in hospitality sales and marketing, Ed Schwitzky's experience provides the basis for formulating and executing precisely targeted, integrated corporate marketing plans and strategies. Ed also works closely with hotel leaders to exceed marketing and sales goals, facilitating alternative solutions as well as providing fresh insights into direct marketing, advertising, eCommerce, and public relations.

During twenty-one years with Westin Hotels & Resorts as marketing director for venerable resorts such as the Arizona Biltmore and The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, Ed developed a reputation for maximizing top-line performance and carefully managing budgets. Additionally, Ed held sales and marketing leadership positions for several independent lodging properties and provided consulting services for resorts throughout the United States and in Europe.

A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, Ed earned a BA in Psychology and an MS in Public and Community Service.

Peter LaFemina

Chief Financial Officer

Peter LaFemina has more than twenty-five years of financial management experience in the hospitality and gaming industries. Utilizing a collaborative approach to planning, operations support, and change management, Peter provides strategic direction and oversees all corporate finance functions.

Prior to joining Coastal, Peter directed a private Las Vegas-based consulting practice concentrating in project finance, development, and analysis for clients throughout the United States, Mexico, and Central America. Peter's previous roles include Chief Financial Officer for a publicly traded gaming and entertainment company, Vice President of Finance for Harrah's Las Vegas Resort & Casino, and Corporate Director of Financial Planning & Analysis for Primadonna Resorts. Peter also spent fifteen years with ITT Sheraton in various senior financial management positions and was twice named Controller of the Year.

Peter received his degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration and passed the Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant examinations.

Coastal's corporate support team has a wealth of experience and a collective record of proven performance.

Janelle Cornett

Corporate Director of Revenue Management

Janelle Cornett spent the past ten years at Hilton Hotels honing her revenue management skills. Now as Corporate Director of Revenue Management at Coastal, Janelle provides strategic direction, training, and support to all properties in the company's portfolio.

Most recently, Janelle was Director of Catering and Group Revenue Management at the Waldorf =Astoria, the first such position in the Hilton organization. As Director of Revenue Management at complexed hotels in Ohio and North Carolina, as well as properties in Florida and Missouri, Janelle has built a reputation based on consistently growing RevPAR.

A native of North Dakota, Janelle studied Communications at North Dakota State University. Janelle is also a graduate of Hilton's Revenue Management University.

Meredith A. Mara

National Director of Sales

In her twelve years in hospitality, Meredith Mara built a solid sales resume. At Coastal, Meredith balances providing direction and support to property Directors of Sales with revenue-generating direct sales initiatives. Most recently, Meredith was Director of Sales & Marketing at the Coast Bellevue Hotel in Seattle, WA.

As a goal-oriented sales professional, Meredith was hands on with direct sales, as well as sales systems and procedures. She also worked closely with the hotel's Revenue Manager to forecast accurately and optimize revenue from all channels. For seven years prior, Meredith held the position of Senior Sales Manager. Additionally during her years with Coast Hotels, Meredith frequently represented the entire portfolio at various trade shows and on sales missions. Meredith's career in hospitality sales began at the Red Lion Bellevue Inn.

Meredith is active in Meeting Planners International and the Professional Conference Management Association. She attended Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington.

Tatiana Beiting

Corporate Controller

Tatiana Beiting has twenty-six years of experience in the hospitality industry, including food and beverage outlet management and cost analysis, Front Office management, and for the last twenty years, accounting management in hotels large and small. Given her ability to relate well with associates at all levels, Tatiana very efficiently and effectively handles the day-to-day general accounting for hotels in the Coastal portfolio.

During her tenure with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Tatiana held assistant controller positions at Westin hotels in Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Seattle. At The Westin Hotel Seattle, Tatiana was promoted to Controller. In the added role of Green Belt for Starwood's Six Sigma initiative, Tatiana served as project leader for several process improvements geared toward revenue enhancement, expense reduction, and/or increased guest satisfaction.

A graduate of Washington State University, Tatiana earned a BA in Hotel and Restaurant Administration. Tatiana also passed the Certified Hospitality Accounting Executive examination.

Suzan Sturholm-Gamba, PHR

Human Resources Professional

From fourteen years in Human Resources management, Suzan Sturholm-Gamba is recognized for her vision, strategic planning, and tactical implementation. In a leadership role at Coastal Hotel Group, Suzan influences overall company direction and provides innovative, cost-effective solutions for complex business problems.

Suzan's professional experience includes retail and wireless communication, with work in both union and non-union environments.