Board of Directors
Board Chair
Peter MacLaren
Peter grew up in Scotland and graduated from Strathclyde University in Electrical Engineering. He has 35 years of
Secretary
Peter MacLaren
Peter grew up in Scotland and graduated from Strathclyde University in Electrical Engineering. He has 35 years of experience in telecommunications, including 30 years in Canada, the USA and France with Nortel Networks. During his final ten years he held executive roles in wireless communications. In 2006 Peter & his wife Susan bought West Hill House B&B a 9-guest room historic home in Warren, Vermont. It is now one of the top-rated B&Bs in the area and a Select Registry property.
Peter has been an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce and was Board Chair for over two years. Peter also represented the business community on the Mad River Valley Planning District’s Steering Committee for several years. Peter is an active member of the Vermont Lodging Association. A key focus has been helping the VLA and the Vermont Chamber lobby state lawmakers and regulators on the STR issues and tourism marketing.
Peter was recognized as Innkeeper of the Year in 2019 by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.
Email: innkeepers@westhillbb.com
Phone: (802) 560-4685
Website: https://westhillbb.com
Vice Chair & Treasurer
Dan Clark
Owner / Innkeeper - Inn of the Turquoise Bear
Dan acquired the Inn in 2014 after years of participating in PAII as an aspiring innkeeper. He’s held membership since in
Treasurer
Dan Clark
Dan acquired the Inn in 2014 after years of participating in PAII as an aspiring innkeeper. He’s held membership since in PAII, AIHP & ALP and utilized Allied partners to source and value business opportunities prior to ownership and since to improve his business. Dan has improved his Inn’s annual revenue by over 125% since he acquired it and his Inn has garnered press attention from Condé Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, USA Today, Fodor’s, Sunset Magazine and others.
Prior to becoming a business owner and innkeeper Dan was a global executive Human Resources and Organizational Development practitioner for 30 years. He developed business processes for a quickly growing global service organization in areas of organizational communication, management & team effectiveness, large systems change, leadership development, HR, OD, and gained global broad range business experience. In 2009, Dan was awarded the Chief Learning Officer Award from CLO magazine which honors the best organizations for learning and development.
He has presented at numerous business and human resources conferences in areas of business management, service delivery, quality improvement, leadership development and employee engagement and satisfaction. Dan has presented yield management topics at innkeeping conferences for several years.
Dan’s partner David is a Jungian Psychoanalyst in private practice and a professional musician with little interest in the Inn business…which works well for both of them!
Email: innkeeper@turquoisebear.com
Phone: (505) 795-0620
Website: https://www.turquoisebear.com/
Secretary
Donna Olney Kohler
Innkeeper/Owner - The Fig Street Inn
Donna became an owner/innkeeper in 2003 with the purchase of East Bay Bed & Breakfast in Jamestown, RI.
Vice Chair
Donna Olney Kohler
Donna became an owner/innkeeper in 2003 with the purchase of East Bay Bed & Breakfast in Jamestown, RI. After operating for 6 years, she and her husband Greg, were approached to sell their inn, and took that opportunity to purchase an older, vacant home in Cape Charles, VA. They oversaw a 16-month renovation, doing a fair share of work themselves, and opened Fig Street Inn in 2011. Prior to innkeeping, Donna worked in marketing and event management, and as a pastry chef.
Since 2015, she has taken interim innkeeper assignments during the slower season for properties of various sizes around the country. Throughout the years, she has been a member of local, state and national associations, often serving on their Boards. Donna and Greg live at their inn in Virginia with their 2 teenage children.
Email: donna@figstreetinn.com
Website: https://www.figstreetinn.com/
Past Chair
E Scot Fuller-Beatty
Co-Founder - The Bold Collaboration
E Scot Fuller-Beatty is a seasoned educator, high-energy conference speaker, webinar creator, and trusted consultant
Board Chair
E Scot Fuller-Beatty
E Scot Fuller-Beatty is a seasoned educator, high-energy conference speaker, webinar creator, and trusted consultant within the independent lodging industry. Audiences love his practical strategies and how he breaks down hard-to-understand topics, such as yield management, guest communications, Google, getting the most out of your website and booking engine, entrepreneurship, and creating profitable relationships with OTAs into easy-to-understand concepts. He challenges his audiences to leverage their skills and hyper-focus on what matters most in their business.
Board Members
Patrick Campbell
Innkeeper/Owner - The Keystone Inn Bed & Breakfast
Patrick is co-owner of The Keystone Inn along with his two siblings – Christine and Stephen. Patrick comes from an
Cathy Casey
Hospitality Proz
Cathy Casey is the former owner of the Inn on Lake Granbury, a 15-room lakefront property in Granbury, Texas.
James Kuester
James founded Küster Design in 2002, calling upon his background in engineering and hospitality design.
Mitch Pies
Leavitt Recreation & Hospitality Insurance
Mitch Pies was born and raised in Rochester, New York, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and higher education
Patrick Campbell
Innkeeper/Owner - The Keystone Inn Bed & Breakfast
Patrick is co-owner of The Keystone Inn along with his two siblings – Christine and Stephen. Patrick comes from an Information Systems and Program Management background and received his MBA from Johns Hopkins University. He has spent the past decade as Senior Director of Program Management at PayPal. He is a published author and educator, and has shared his business acumen with business leaders around the world. In addition, he mentors executives and leaders-in-training as a way of paying it forward.
Patrick has used the last three years focused on the business/financial aspects of the Inn, implementing methods and financial reporting that provide actionable insights for the Inn. He looks forward to sharing his stories and listening to others' adventures in this role.
Patrick has a passion for live theater and music; and is also a self-taught pianist.
Cathy Casey
Owner - Hospitality Proz
Cathy Casey is the former owner of the Inn on Lake Granbury, a 15-room lakefront property in Granbury, Texas. She and her husband, Jim, built the Inn as a lodging, and wedding and retreat venue, operating it for almost 20 years. A native of Texas, Cathy holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Texas Tech University and a Master's Degree in Education from Texas Christian University. Previous to the Inn, Cathy worked as the Director of Advancement Services at TCU, Georgetown University in DC, and Santa Clara University in California. Her university work career spanned over 20 years. She also had a consulting company, primarily advising Jesuit universities across the country. Currently, she and Jim have a consulting business providing advisory services to independent lodging properties, including B&Bs, Inns, and boutique hotels. She loves to travel, spend time with family and friends, and has a special fondness for her rescue dog, Lucy.
James Kuester
James founded Küster Design in 2002, calling upon his background in engineering and hospitality design. With a strong emphasis on interior branding, green design, and ergonomic design, the goal behind each Küster Design project is to grow the clients’ business. By seeking to understand and shape emotions, James and his team work closely with clients to design the experience and create interior spaces that attract guests and keep them coming back. As a LEED® Green Associate, James is experienced in applying design principles that reduce his clients’ energy costs and carbon footprint without incurring increased construction and remodeling costs.
Mitch Pies
Leavitt Recreation & Hospitality Insurance
Mitch Pies was born and raised in Rochester, New York, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and higher education administration at Bowling Green State University. Mitch’s experience in higher education included serving as a resident advisor and admissions counselor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Dean of Admissions at the University of Dubuque, and Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management at St. Louis University.
After a 17-year career in higher education Mitch decided to pursue his dream of entrepreneurship and opened the Mitchell J. Pies Agency in 1998. Mitch enjoys working with hospitality owners that own and operate unique and independent properties.
Mitch resides in Sitka, Alaska with his wife Gloria. In addition to spending time with his daughters and grandchildren Mitch enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, and pickleball.
Wynn Salisch
Principal - Casablanca Payments
Wynn J. Salisch, CHS, is the Founder and Principal of Casablanca Payments, a division of Casablanca Ventures LLC, and has
Billy Scruggs
Innkeeper/Owner - The Fife and Drum Inn
Owner of the Fife and Drum Inn. Born in Williamsburg VA, he has spent his life in the historic city. In his “previous
Board Chair
Wynn Salisch
Wynn J. Salisch, CHS, is a 50-year hospitality industry veteran and Principal of the payment processing and cybersecurity firm Casablanca Ventures LLC, based in New York City.
He’s built, opened and directed everything from a six-room bed & breakfast inn to the 200-room five-star Montauk Yacht Club & Inn grand resort hotel-spa-marine inn-executive conference center in the Hamptons on Long Island where he hosted actress and philanthropist Elizabeth Taylor, New York State Governor Hugh Carey, and cosmetics industry leader Estee Lauder amongst other notables. He’s also led hundreds of food & beverage operations around the world and was Executive Director of the historic West Side Tennis Club and its famed 16,000-seat Forest Hills Stadium (“America’s Wimbledon”), in addition to a long career in the entertainment industry on-stage, backstage, and as an executive.
Wynn is a graduate of The School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University and has been honored with a number of professional designations, appointments, and awards over the years including the U.S. Navy’s Meritorious Unit Commendation (Civilian) for Outstanding Service and the Electronic Transactions Association’s Certified Payments Professional designation for knowledge, professionalism, ethics, and excellence in the payments profession (earned by less than 1% of the entire payments industry). He’s also lectured internationally for the U.S. State Department on foodservice sanitation, and on credit card processing and cybersecurity for hospitality industry trade associations nationwide.
A Partner on the Electronic Crimes Task Force of the United States Secret Service, he’s also a member of the National Cybersecurity Alliance, Northeast Acquirers Association, Association of Lodging Professionals, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (Vice President, New York Chapter), and numerous state and regional hospitality and travel industry associations, plus a Life Member of the Cornell Hotel Society. He is also on the boards and/or benefit committee of a number of arts, education, and community organizations. Further details are available upon request.
Board Chair
Billy Scruggs
Innkeeper/Owner - The Fife and Drum Inn
Owner of the Fife and Drum Inn. Born in Williamsburg VA, he has spent his life in the historic city. In his “previous life” he owned and operated a full-service Texaco gas station for 25 years. He and his wife, Sharon, redeveloped family property in 1999 and opened the 9 room Inn the following year.
They have both opened, developed, operated, and sold several businesses in the area during the last 30 years. He has served on many community and business boards, including election to the Williamsburg city council and as president of the local lodging association. Billy currently serves on the ALP Finance Committee