Hotel Management TeamGregory S. Marcus, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Marcus Corporation
Gregory Marcus currently serves as a of Chairman of the Board for the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He also serves on the campaign committees of UPAF and United Way of Milwaukee and is a trustee of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Marcus was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He received a B.A. degree in accounting from Indiana University in 1986 and a J.D. degree from Boston University School of Law in 1989. J. David Merritt, Senior Vice President of Development
Prior to joining Marcus Hotels, Merritt served as Sr. Vice President of Development for Lane Hospitality, a Chicago based hotel owner and operator. His prior hotel industry experience includes senior positions with Interstate Hotels Corporation, FFC Hospitality, Westmont Hospitality and Laventhol & Horwath. Merritt received a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University School of Administration. Chris Anderson, Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Brand Development
Anderson brings over 15 years of hospitality and sales leadership with Marriott International where he gained experience from integrated involvement in the sales process with large resorts, downtown, pre-opening and large convention hotels. Chris has received numerous awards throughout his tenure and has chaired and co-chaired many industry-related boards, committees and panels. Chris has a belief that hotels do not sell products, but rather experiences through exceptional service and strong, lasting relationships with their customers. Anderson is a graduate from the University of Missouri where he holds a degree in Political Science with minors in Economics and Marketing. Gary Gentile, Senior Vice President of Operations
With over 40 years of hospitality expertise, Gentile's career has included various management roles in both hotel and restaurant operations. His most recent position was at the iconic destination resort, Eden Roc Beach Resort and Spa in Miami Beach. Under Gary's leadership, the resort went through a $220 million dollar renovation and was repositioned for success. Prior to this assignment, Gary spent 12 years in the Atlanta Market as an Area General Manager of several Marriott Hotels in addition to being the General Manager of the 1675 room Marriott Marquis. While with Marriott, Gentile was honored twice with Marriott Leadership Excellence Awards for his outstanding leadership skills from among over 200 full-service general managers. Passionate about community service, Gary is committed to a vibrant, thriving, diverse community where family values are honored and family members can work and play. He has served on numerous boards which support local business growth and has played an active role in fundraising efforts for Children's Miracle Network and United Way. Originally from California, Gary graduated with honors from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. Peter Engel, Chief Technology Officer
A 30-year veteran of the information technology industry, Peter comes from both a consulting and technology operations background. Most recently, Peter was President of Aperias Management Services, a consulting firm specializing in information technology and strategic management consulting services. Peter has over 8 years of travel and leisure industry experience including serving as Chief Operating Officer for Trisept Solutions, and Senior Vice President at The Mark Travel Corporation, managing customer support, software development and technology operations for leading travel distribution companies.
Prior to joining the travel industry, Peter gained broad technology experience at Tandem Computers (now Hewlett Packard), providing hardware, software and IT consulting services for retail, insurance, telecommunications and travel related companies. Steve Magnuson, Vice President of Operations
With over 30 years of experience as a hotel leader, Steve currently oversees all of the operations at our Milwaukee properties, including The Pfister - our flagship hotel, Hilton Milwaukee City Center, and the InterContinental Milwaukee. As Vice President of Operations, he is a member of Marcus Hotels & Resorts senior leadership team. A University of Wisconsin-Stout graduate, he holds a Bachelor of Science Degree, with a major in Hotel & Restaurant Management, and a minor in Business Administration and Accounting. He also holds the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) designation from the American Hotel & Motel Association. Through Steve's leadership, the Hilton Milwaukee and the Pfister Hotel hold AAA Four Diamond Awards. Steve sits on various boards within the hospitality and tourism industry. Magnuson joined Marcus Hotels and Resorts in July 1994 as General Manager of Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, and was promoted to Vice President and Managing Director of Grand Geneva Resort and Spa in June of 1998. His has also held regional responsibilities for other properties in the Marcus portfolio. Prior to joining Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Magnuson spent 15 Years with Renaissance Hotels & Resorts, holding numerous management positions, including Assistant General Manager at Renaissance Orlando Resort at Sea World. Scott Shoenberger, Vice President of Operations
Prior to joining Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Shoenberger was employed by various hotels and hospitality companies around the country including The Irvine Company, Noble House & Resorts, RockResorts and Dusit Hotels & Resorts. His management positions have included Vice President of Operations, General Manager and Director of Food & Beverage. At his most recent position of Managing Director for LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort he was also involved with such renowned properties as Little Palm Island on Little Torch Key. Scott has achieved much success throughout his tenure in the industry. He was appointed to and serves on various boards and has received numerous awards from the hospitality companies for his work at their hotels. A University of Denver graduate, Shoenberger holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, with a major in Hotel and Resort Management and a dual minor in Finance and History. Keith Halfmann, Vice President of Operations
Halfmann oversees the day-to-day operational responsibilities for several hotels in the Marcus Hotels & Resorts portfolio including the Hilton Madison, Wis.; Sheraton Madison, Wis.; Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel, St. Louis, Mo.; Hilton Garden Inn, Houston, Texas; Bloomington Hilton, Bloomington, Minn.; Crowne Plaza – Northstar, Minneapolis, Minn. and the Westin Columbus, Columbus, Ohio. Halfmann is responsible for managing revenues, sales, financial performance, guest satisfaction and operational excellence for each hotel, as well as managing product and service quality standards for a variety of hotel brands. He also remains involved with the operation of the Mason Street Grill restaurant located in the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wis., which he successfully opened in 2006. Halfmann has been with Marcus Hotels & Resorts for 12 years and has previously had a key role in developing the company’s food and beverage operations. He served as director of food and beverage at the Pfister Hotel where he concepted and opened Celia, a four-star restaurant, and Blu, a nationally-recognized cocktail lounge. Halfmann served as assistant general manager of the Hilton Milwaukee, where he concepted and opened the Milwaukee ChopHouse – one of the city’s top rated steakhouses. He also served as director of operations at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wis., where he implemented strategic revenue and profit contingencies and successfully re-concepted the restaurants, spa, ski chalet, retail areas and public space. More recently, he served as general manager of the Pfister Hotel, where he led a $20 million renovation of the hotel, including guest rooms, lobby areas, the WELL Spa and the Mason Street Grill. Prior to joining Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Halfmann worked at the Copper Mountain Resort, an Intrawest Resort in Copper Mountain, Colo. where he served on the repositioning and branding team after Intrawest purchased the resort from its previous owner. He also worked at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in several food and beverage roles. In addition to his work at Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Halfmann serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Feed My Sheep and sits on the Waukesha County Technical College Student Advisory Board. He is also a member of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association (WRA) and is involved with the United Performing Arts Fund Emerging Leaders organization. In his free time, he enjoys endurance training, triathlons and in 2010 successfully completed the Ford Ironman Wisconsin in Madison, Wis. Kent Duncan, Vice President, Sales and Revenue Strategy
Kent brings over 19 years of hotel experience from Marriott International, including department leadership positions in Conference Services, Sales, and Revenue Management. Most recently, Kent was Director of Market Strategy for Marriott International overseeing revenue management for several Hotels' in the Atlanta area representing the J.W. Marriott, Marquis, Renaissance, Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard and Residence Inn brands. In addition to his leadership experience, Kent has gained valuable knowledge through his time spent in all various types of properties including major convention, luxury, resort, downtown, and suburban hotels. Christine Beuchert, Senior Director, Marketing and Ecommerce Strategy
Prior to joining Marcus, she held a number of marketing positions at Mark Travel Corporation, beginning as an Associate Manager and rising to Senior Marketing Manager for Funjet Vacations, overseeing operations and marketing of the southern U.S. markets.
Beuchert received a B.S. degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1991. She later earned an M.S. degree in Management, with an eBusiness concentration, from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Peggy Williams-Smith, Senior Director, Catering and Event Operations
Williams-Smith served in the roles of general manager for Brynwood Country Club in 2006 and senior assistant manager/director of catering for The Pfister Hotel in 2003. She joined the company in 1997 as director of catering for the Hilton Milwaukee City Center. Williams-Smith is on the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association, TEMPO Milwaukee and United Cerebral Palsy of Southeastern Wisconsin. She also volunteers her time with Junior Achievement, United Way, Best Buddies and the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF). Williams-Smith graduated with a bachelor's degree in mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Brian Burton, Senior Director, Sales & Revenue Strategy
Burton joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts in 2008 where he was active in strategically identifying procedural and process improvements in the company's revenue sources. He was also instrumental in increasing the performance index to the highest levels in company history and developed and launched the first centralized reporting system. Prior to joining the company, Burton held various sales positions at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, the Renaissance Chicago North Shore, New York Marriott Downtown Hotels and the New York Marriott East Side where he began his career in 1994. Burton also served as a business advisor for the American Hotel Register from 1999 to 2001. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. Theresa ‘Tari’ Plautz Blazei, Senior Director of Hotel Accounting
Tari received a BS in Accounting from Marquette University, an MBA from the University of Wisconsin, and is a licensed CPA in the state of Wisconsin. Tari has served as a board member for St. Joan Antida High School and currently serves as board member and treasurer for My Money Helpline Coalition in Milwaukee, which promotes financial literacy among low income adults in the greater Milwaukee area. In her free time, Tari loves spending time with her husband and son, riding sport bikes, traveling anywhere and all things Apple. Jeannette Grayson, Divisional Director of Human Resources
Jeannette brings over 13 years of Human Resources and Organizational Development experience from health care and non-profit industries, such as Aurora Health Care, The Blood Center of Wisconsin, and Goodwill Industries of Southeastern WI. Grayson received her undergraduate degree of Industrial/Organizational Psychology from UW Parkside and her Master's degree in Human Resources from Marquette University. A certified facilitator for Franklin Covey and Achieveglobal, Jeannette also holds a Certificate in Training from UW Milwaukee. Jim Gwinn, Corporate Director of Procurement
Gwinn has over 20 years experience in developing and managing both purchasing offices and in house distribution. Jim's knowledge encompasses all aspects of hospitality procurement. In his most recent position with Ocean properties, the nation's largest independently owned hotel company, he was responsible for purchasing all products for their private resorts and brand properties, including Marriott, Starwood and Hilton hotels. Recently Jim, his wife and three children ages, 3, 4, and 9 have relocated from New Hampshire to the greater Milwaukee area. Together they enjoy swimming, fishing, golfing, music, skiing and sports. Jim graduated with a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Florida where he also played football; he remains an avid Gators supporter. Kevin Gallagher, Operations Project Manager
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Kevin has a passion for hospitality management, and creating memorable guest experiences. The achievement of an exceptional guest experience through outstanding service and thoughtful design has been Kevin's mission. Kevin and his wife enjoy cheering for their two sons and daughter in various sporting activities, including basketball, skating and soccer. Golf is also a passion, when work and family do not take priority. |
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