Biographies

Fred Cerrone's 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 graduated with an AS degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Miami Dade College and is currently enrolled in the Executive MBA program at Georgia State University.  He holds the prestigious Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) designation through the American Lodging Association.  He is Chairman of Marriott’s Fairfield Inn Franchise Advisory Board and serves on the Franchise Advisory Board for Marriott's SpringHill Suites.  Fred also serves on the Advisory Board for Georgia State University's Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality, sits on the board of the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau and is Board Chairman for InStep Ministries

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. Fred served six years in the USMC Reserve.  He enjoys all sports (particularly baseball), playing golf, reading, and spending time with his six grandchildren.  He is an active member of Dunwoody Baptist Church and is married to Christine, his high school sweetheart.

Alan Bennett earned a BBA in Accounting at Georgia State University.  He has held various accounting and finance positions in the aviation, computer software, and refrigerated warehouse industries where he also gained a wealth of experience in financial and strategic planning. 

Before coming to Hotel Equities, Alan served as Executive Vice President and CFO of DS Medical Supply, a specialty healthcare distributor.  He successfully grew its revenue, increased profit margins, and then sold the company to a national healthcare firm.

An Atlanta native, Alan enjoys golf and water sports. He and his family are active members of Peachtree Corners Baptist Church where he works with the youth.

As a Southern Baptist pastor for sixteen years, Rev. Greg Smith was invited to become Hotel Equites' 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 Equites' 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.

Employed by Marriott International for seven years, Tamara joined Hotel Equities in 1998 in hotel operations before assuming broader responsibilities in human resources and training. With a background in numerous operations, training, and HR-related capacities within the hotel industry, she also had experience as a General Manager.

At Hotel Equities, she heads up the company's corporate university. Tamara is a board member of Marriott's Training Franchise Advisory Council. She holds a B.S. degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Kansas State University.

Active in her church, she enjoys playing tennis and spending time with her husband and two daughters.

Phil 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.

With 25 years in the hotel business, Elizabeth 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.

She manages both sales and marketing for Hotel Equities' portfolio of hotels. Elizabeth enjoys antiquing, reading, and spending time with her two children and is an active member of Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church.

Margaret 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.

Mary Beth brings 20 plus years of extensive sales and hospitality experience to her position with Hotel Equities.  She joined HE in 2004 as a Director of Sales after managing her own marketing consulting firm. Prior experience includes various sales and operations positions with Marriott International and Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing with Hotel Investors Trust, prior to and during the transition to Starwood Lodging Corporation.

Mary Beth earned a B. S. in Hotel Administration from UNLV and studied at Ecole Hoteliere in Lausanne. Active in her community as the mother of two, Mary Beth enjoys running, reading, cooking, and traveling.

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 operations 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.