Our Head Coach: Hotel Equities’ President and CEO Fred Cerrone
Fred Cerrone serves as President and CEO of Hotel Equities. His hospitality career spans a four-decade progression from desk clerk at Boston’s largest hotel, to managing operations for hotels throughout the country, to launching Hotel Equities, his own company, in 1989.
A general manager at age 21 and twice recognized as “General Manager of the Year” by national hotel franchises, Fred has hospitality in his blood. After many years in key positions with top hotels, he founded Hotel Equities and became a Marriott franchise partner. Fred then co-founded Day Hospitality Group (DHG) with Peyton Day. After a successful 10-year run, he purchased the management segment of DHG and re-named the company Hotel Equities.
Fred Cerrone graduated with an AS degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Miami Dade College and earned an MBA at Georgia State University. He holds the prestigious Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) designation through the American Lodging Association. HotelWorld Expo & Conference named him Global Hotelier of the Year 2009, a most prestigious award that honors leaders in the hospitality industry. Chairman of Marriott’s Fairfield Inn Franchise Advisory Board, Fred Cerrone also serves on the Franchise Advisory Board for Marriott’s SpringHill Suites. He is Chairman to the Instep International Board of Directors. He is a member of the Advisory Board for Georgia State University’s Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality and he sits on the board of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. He serves as Chairman of the board of the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Hospitality is a people-centered business and people are Fred Cerrone’s passion. He enjoys seeing Hotel Equities’ associates thrive and considers himself Head Coach of the hospitality team. He served six years in the USMC Reserve. He enjoys all sports (particularly baseball), playing golf, reading, and spending time with his six grandchildren. A member of Dunwoody Baptist Church, he is married to Christine, his high school sweetheart.
Barry Wabler, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Barry Wabler serves as Chief Financial Officer of Hotel Equities. His focus at the hotel development and management company is strategic business growth and development. His responsibilities include interaction with the capital markets and management of the finance, accounting and information technology systems for the firm’s corporate operations and the hotels presently in the firm’s portfolio.
Barry returns to Hotel Equities where he started as Controller in 1999 and became CFO in 2004. Before returning to the company, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Currey & Company, a manufacturer of specialty home furnishings. He successfully led the organization through operational expansion overseas and the development of new sales channels leading to improvements in sourcing, market share and overall company performance. Barry is an active member of Financial Executives Institute, the Georgia Society of CPA’s and Cushman & Wakefield CFO Roundtable. He is CPA certified in Georgia.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Barry is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a B.B.A. and a Masters in Accounting. He and his wife Karen met at UGA and have two daughters. Barry enjoys fitness and running and is a fan of UGA athletics. He and his family are active members of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta.
Greg Smith, Relationship Coach
As a Southern Baptist pastor for sixteen years, Rev. Greg Smith was invited to become Hotel Equities’ Corporate Chaplain in 1998. A graduate of Hardin-Simmons University (B.A. Bible) and Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary, he is completing a Doctorate of Ministry degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Greg regularly visits each property, oversees the Hotel Equities’ 24-hour Prayer Line, hosts weekly Life Lessons Over Lunch, plans and leads mission projects in the community and abroad, conducts Bible studies and weekly devotions, and is available for associates in times of counseling and crisis. As an HE Coach, he works to fulfill the company’s ministry objectives.
Greg is the founder and President of InStep International, an Atlanta-based non-profit organization. He is active in local and international missionary projects, enjoys helping people reach their full potential, and partners with EQUIP in training one million Christian leaders worldwide.
Elizabeth Derby, Vice President of Sales & Marketing
With 25 years in the hotel business, Elizabeth Derby joined Hotel Equities in Atlanta in 1997. Prior experience included sales positions at the The Mills House Hotel in Charleston, the Memphis Marriott, the Lowell Sheraton, and the Charlotte Marriott Executive Park. With a B.S. in Administrative Management from Clemson University, Elizabeth began her career at the Kiawah Island Resort.
Elizabeth manages both sales and marketing for Hotel Equities’ portfolio of hotels. She enjoys antiquing, reading, and spending time with her two children and is an active member of Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church.
Andrew Pace, Vice President of Development
With an Executive MBA from Mercer University in Atlanta, Andrew Pace earned extensive experience in hospitality management and real estate development when he served as President of Development & Acquisitions for Longhouse Hospitality, owner and operator of the Sun Suites, Crestwood Suites and Jameson Inn hotels. He acquired operation’s experience overseeing 44 hotels as President of Longhouse Hospitality’s Management Company. He also founded SuiteOne Hotels, a chain of seven extended stay hotels.
On the Advisory Board for Georgia State University’s Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality, he also serves as a Governor-appointed member of the Georgia State Board of Architects. A community leader, he enjoys tennis, gardening and travel with his wife and three sons.
Angela Raub, Vice President of Business Development
Angela brings 20 years of business development experience to her position. She joined the HE team in 2010 after serving as Director of Business Development for Brightworth, an Atlanta-based private wealth management firm. Previously she was the Director of Corporate Relations at Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business. Angela she moved to Atlanta in 1999 to work for Towerlink LLC, a start-up telecom company that built cellular towers for metro and secondary mobile networks.
She holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Toledo and an Executive MBA from Georgia State University. Active at Buckhead Church in Atlanta, Angela enjoys running and reading.
Phil Bullard, Facilities Coach
Phil Bullard brings more than 25 years of corporate, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial experience to Hotel Equities. He trained as a manager with K-Mart and opened new stores nationwide. A construction materials purchasing agent for two major corporations, he relocated to Atlanta for Kajima Process Mechanical Division to organize and direct warehouse operations. He subsequently formed his own maintenance consulting practice.
Active in the community, Phil volunteers as a Stephen’s minister at Peachtree Presbyterian Church and serves on the board of Instep International. He attended the University of South Carolina School of Hospitality.
Devoted to his family, he enjoys golf, reading, and playing chess.
Margaret Jones, Public Relations Coach
Margaret Jones has managed Hotel Equities’ public relation’s functions since 1996. With a background in the nonprofit sector, Margaret led accounts and directed staff at an agency before forming her own practice in 1995. Clients have included Marriott International, the Atlanta Omni, Atlanta Hilton, Atlanta Renaissance Hotels, AT&T, the Henssler Equity Fund, and the Fox Law Firm among others. Active in the Public Relations Society of America, she donates services to the Midtown Assistance Center.
An Elder at Shallowford Presbyterian Church, she also chairs the Communication’s Committee. Margaret holds a B.A. in Communications from Penn State University and an M.A. from Columbia University. She enjoys reading and running.
Carlos F. Melgar, Corporate Controller
Carlos Melgar brings more than 10 years in financial analytics in the lodging industry to Hotel Equities. Most recently, he served six years as SVP, Controller and Asset Management for Atlanta-based Premier Hotel Corporation, a full-service management company. Previously the Senior Analyst for Six Continents Hotels supporting Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza and the Mexico Franchise Operations, he first worked two years as a regional Senior Analyst with Choice Hotels International.
Carlos earned a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Arizona. A family man, he is active in the children’s ministry at his church and enjoys golf and running.
Drew Salapka, Director of Revenue Management
Drew Salapka has more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He joined Hotel Equities in 1999 and rose steadily from intern to General Manager to Team Leader. Marriott named him 2007 GM of the Year for the TownePlace Suites brand.
As Revenue Manager, he oversees inventory management for all company hotels, analyzes room demand, evaluates market strengths and weaknesses and monitors key market statistics that impact the hotels’ profitability. He also heads the firm’s E-Commerce effort.
Drew holds a B.S. in Business Management from Clemson University. Active in community service, he serves as Auction Coordinator for Marriott’s Torch Relay for the Children’s Miracle Network.
Nancy Curtin Morris, Training & People Development Coach
A performance management and training professional, Nancy assesses those needs for HE and tailors classes to fit. She brings 24 years of experience with Marriott where she headed the national leadership training programs.
Nancy earned a B.S. in Economics from Providence College and a M.S. in Adult Education from Georgia State University. She holds numerous professional certifications including Myers Briggs Type Indicator, Stephen Covey Master Trainer, Gallup Strengths Assessment, DISC and the Hogan Assessment. A University of Phoenix Online Faculty member, Nancy is the past president of Atlanta’s Human Resources Leadership Forum.
An avid tennis player and golfer, she participates in fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network.
Caroline Warren, Director of Human Resources
Caroline provides HR support and serves as a consultant for a variety of employment, benefits, compliance and disciplinary issues for all company associates. She serves as the HR point of contact for Adams Keegan at Hotel Equities.
Before assuming her current position, she held human resources internships with Nestle Purina and with Southern Progress Corporation, a national publisher headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. A member of SHRM Atlanta, Caroline is also certified as a trainer for the ServSafe Food Safety Management program.
Caroline holds a B.S. in Business Administration in HR Management from Auburn University. Active in her church, she is also a member of the Junior League of Atlanta.
Sal Capriola, Operations Coach
Joining Hotel Equities in 1995, Sal Capriola progressed to General Manager, then also served as a Team Leader and a Financial Analyst for the company. Marriott named him the 2007 General Manager of the Year for the Fairfield Inn brand. His hotel was the 2007 Marriott Training Hotel of the Year.
With more than 13 years experience in training and operations, Sal has responsibility for developing and conducting Hotel Equities’ University classes and conducting Operations Audit (OA) inspections of all hotels. He provides operational leadership and support in the field.
An active community volunteer, Sal coaches his son’s Little League baseball team and enjoys his daughter’s dance activities.
Deanna LoRusso, Operations Coach
Deanna joined Hotel Equities in 2009 and served as a Bench General Manager and then General Manager of the Fairfield Inn & Suites-Buckhead before her promotion to Operations Coach where she provides
operational leadership and support in the field. With more than 17 years of industry experience, Deanna’s background includes leadership positions at hotels in Las Vegas, Mississippi and Atlanta. She spent nine years working for InterContinental Hotels Group in several positions including Brand Manager for Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts – Americas Region.
Active in her community, Deanna volunteers at her church and serves as team manager for her son’s youth soccer team.
Jeff Shockley, Director of Financial Analysis & Owner Relations
Jeff began his hospitality career more than 16 years ago as a sales coordinator for Courtyard by Marriott. At Hotel Equities since 1995, he has held leadership positions including General Manager and Team Leader. Marriott named him GM of the Year for the Fairfield Inn brand in both 1997 and 2006.
In his position, Jeff will create financial reviews as needed and serve as a liaison between the company and the owners of hotels in the HE portfolio.
Jeff holds a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Georgia. Married with two children, he enjoys golf, tennis and coaching Little League baseball.
Maurice (Moe) V. Barkley, CHA, Director of Food and Beverage
With more than 30 years of hospitality experience, Moe Barkley has served as a Food & Beverage Director nationwide for some of the best-known hotel brands. He spent 12 years with Hotel Equities, including time as a General Manager. In 1989, he achieved the Certified Hotel Administrator (C.H.A.) status. From1999 through mid-2009, he worked as a Food & Beverage Director for the following Atlanta-area hotels: the Georgian Terrace Hotel, the Doubletree Guest Suites, and the Doubletree Hotel. He re-joined HE in 2009 as Bench Manager and GM for The Lodge at Simpsonwood, a 170-room retreat and conference center.
He enjoys following horse racing and playing golf.
Barry Stewart, Director of Condominium Hotel Services
With more than 30 years of hospitality industry experience, Barry Stewart started his career with Atlanta-based Southern Host Hotels. As Vice President and a turnaround specialist, he supervised the takeover of 30 distressed hotels and also managed the firm’s portfolio. He served as Senior Vice President of the Camberley Hotel Company and founded Davis-Stewart Hospitality, Inc. Other credits include the operation of Atlanta’s Georgian Terrace Hotel and the hospitality consulting contract for the Georgia Aquarium.
A Certified Hotel Accounting Executive and past lecturer at Georgia State University’s Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality, Barry holds a B.S. in Accounting from Georgia State University.
