Trans Inns Company Profile
Trans Inns Management Team
Daniel Vosotas, CHA
President & Chief Executive Officer
e-mail: dan.vosotas@transinns.com
1976 Graduate of Wayne State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) through the Hotel/Motel School at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan
In 1980, Dan began in the hospitality business with his first hotel in Jackson, Michigan, a 111 room Quality Inn. This gave him full exposure to hotel operations, including an emphasis on Food and Beverage. At that time, Choice Hotels International was known as Quality Inn International and the Jackson hotel was the first Quality Inn and only Choice Hotel product in the state of Michigan. Dan was quickly elected to Choice Hotels International Operator's Council, and served as Chairman for ten years. In this capacity, he represented over 100 licensees over an eight state region and a portion of Canada. Dan was instrumental in the development of this organization from 339 properties in 1980 to over 4000 at the present time.
In 1984, Dan incorporated Trans Inns Management with, at that time, a focus on management contracts. Trans Inns Management, Inc. became a top management company with up to eight Quality Inns and Comfort Inns under contract.
Since the early 1990s, Trans Inns Management, Inc. has emphasized ownership of the hotels in which it manages. Dan currently has an ownership interest in most of the hotels under his management and a controlling interest in most.
Currently, Dan holds the following positions: Member of the International Association of Holiday Inns (IAHI); Member of Best Western Franchise Association; Member of Marriott International Franchise Association.
Other notable positions previously held by Dan Vosotas include: Past Vice Chairman of the Reservations Committee at the Choice Hotels International's International Operators Council; past Vice Chairman of the Operations & Standards Committee; past Vice Chairman of the Marketing Committee; Past Chairman of the Operations & Standards Committee of the International Operators Council; Past Treasurer of the Choice Hotels International's International Operators Council; Past Officer and member of the National Board of Choice Hotels International's International Operators Council; Past President of the Jackson Michigan Lodging Association; Past Chairman of Choice Hotels International, Inc., Region 8.
Graduate of Wayne State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree. Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) through the Hotel/Motel School at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.
Twice elected by Choice Hotel franchisees to the position of Chairman of Region 8 of the International Operators Council (IOC) of Choice Hotels International, formerly Quality Inns International, which encompasses a eight (8) state region and a portion of Canada;
Past Vice Chairman of the Reservations Committee at the Choice Hotels International's International Operators Council; past Vice Chairman of the Operations & Standards Committee; past Vice Chairman of the Marketing Committee;
Past Chairman of the Operations & Standards Committee of the International Operators Council;
Past Treasurer of the Choice Hotels International's International Operators Council;
Past Officer and member of the National Board of Choice Hotels International's International Operators Council;
Past President of the Jackson Michigan Lodging Association.
Past Chairman of Choice Hotels International, Inc., Region 8.
Member of the International Association of Holiday Inns (IAHI).
Member of Best Western Franchise Association.
Member of Choice Hotel Franchise Association (IOC).
Member of Marriott International Franchise Association.
James L. Oberliesen, CHA
Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
e-mail: jim.oberliesen@transinns.com
Jim has 15 years of experience in all facets of hotel management, from the departmental level to the executive level. From 1985 - 1988, he performed management positions in the areas of Housekeeping, Front Office, and as Assistant General Manager with both Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn.
From 1988 - 1997, Jim was employed with Marriott International. From 1988 - 1995, he held the role of General Manager for several Marriott Brands, including Fairfield Inn, Courtyard, and Residence Inn. In this capacity, he assumed full financial responsibility for all hotel operations including sales, profit & loss, ADR and occupancy levels. In addition, the General Manager position was responsible for monitoring and insuring compliance with both Marriott Standard Operating Procedures and individual brand standards.
From 1995 - 1997, he performed the role of Lead General Manager. This position was responsible for the supervision of 15 Courtyard & Fairfield Inn by Marriott hotels in the Michigan Area with a combined revenue of over 37.5 million. Responsibilities included monitoring adherence to brand standards, quality assurance, asset management, revenue strategy, profit & loss analyzing, approving yearly operating & capital expenditure budgets. Jim also proactively sought out potential development opportunities to grow brands and played a vital role in the hiring, training, and ongoing coaching of hotel managers.
From 1997 - present, Jim performs the role of Vice President for Trans Inns Management, Inc. This dynamic role within the company allows him to oversee the entire operational concerns of Trans Inns Management, Inc. Duties include strategic planning, setting company goals, supervising the activities of the Trans Inns Management corporate officers, and complete financial and operational responsibility for all properties under management. In addition, he plays a vital role in identifying and analyzing new development opportunities.
Since joining Trans Inns Management, Inc. Jim has significantly reduced management turnover, increased hotel profitability, initiated both monthly and quarterly property visits, began a management training program, set up incentive programs and performance-based management incentives, supervised four million in hotel renovations in adherence to brand standards, and was instrumental in streamlining and decentralizing the company's accounting, payroll, and human resource operations.
Jim Graduated from Michigan State University School of Hotel Management & Business Administration.
Michael J. Damitio
Vice President - Acquisitions & Development
e-mail: mike.damitio@transinns.com
As Vice President of Acquisitions and Development for Trans Inns Management, Inc, Mike is responsible for all aspects of company portfolio growth including asset and market strategy, opportunity sourcing, financial modeling, contract negotiations, due diligence procedures, and debt and equity sourcing. Under his guidance, the company has acquired over $100 million of premium select service hotel real estate, to date.
Prior to Trans Inns Management, Mike was the Director of Hospitality Investments at Pomeroy Investment Corporation in Bloomfield Hills, MI where he was responsible for the acquisition, disposition, and asset management of the company’s hospitality portfolio. Pomeroy Investment Corporation is a diversified real estate investment group with over $600 million of real estate holdings throughout twelve states. Pomeroy’s corporate resume consists of numerous office developments, industrial buildings, R&D space, multi-family dwellings, retail, senior care facilities, as well as hotels including the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, MI.
Previous to Pomeroy Investment Corporation, Mr. Damitio was the Director of Development at Strategic Hotel Capital in Chicago, IL where he was responsible for all underwriting functions and property analysis as it related to acquisitions and dispositions. Mike’s primary responsibilities included sourcing and underwriting potential acquisitions, conducting property due diligence and market studies, preparation of acquisition or disposition materials for investment committee approval and disposition analyses. In his tenure at SHC, Mike was directly involved in the acquisition of over thirty hotels totaling over three billion dollars of real estate located throughout the world as well as the disposition of four assets. He was formerly an Investment Analyst at Geller & Co. where he conducted analytical studies for various hospitality transactions. Prior to Geller & Co., Mike spent six months interning with HVS International in Mineola, NY, which is an appraisal firm specializing in the hospitality industry. Mike also worked in hotel operations for a franchisee of Holiday Inns and Comfort Inns.
Mike is a graduate of Michigan State University’s School of Hospitality Business. He has also guest lectured at Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, various industry conferences and seminars, and for the Chicago Real Estate Council. In addition, Mike has recently assisted in the development of a hospitality financial management textbook as a contributing author for a publication in use at several universities across the country.
Maureen Nulty, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
e-mail: maureen.nulty@transinns.com
Graduate of University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
Maureen earned her B.B.A. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Maureen joined tax department in the public accounting firm of Ernst and Young in Detroit, where she worked until 1995. While at Ernst, she served as the National Office Resident of Ernst & Young in their New York headquarters from 1984 to 1985, instructed many national educational programs and seminars, including “Understanding and Implementing FASB Statement 109, Accounting for Income Taxes”. She additionally served as the Director of Tax Education for E&Y.
In 1995, she began with Cendrowski Selecky PC, specializing in tax and business consulting.
Maureen’s primary business experience is in the areas of corporate tax, transactions and structure planning, consolidations, valuations and consultation in connection with closely-held corporations; S corporations; and individuals. She has served clients in the telecommunications, manufacturing, transportation, and construction industries.
Maureen is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Valuation Analyst. She is a member in the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. She authored State Laws and Taxes, Starting & Operating a Business in Michigan, Oasis Press, 1994.
Maureen’s involvement at Trans Inns Management includes a quarterly financial audit program and financial standard operating procedures for the hotel managers. Reporting systems include various daily, weekly and monthly reporting mechanisms, which assist the hotel managers as well as the corporate managers in monitoring the financial progress and detect trends of the hotel operation. The technology in place at Trans Inns Management allow its managers to connect to the Trans Inns computer system via the Internet and Citrix Metaframe operating system to use the Great Plains accounts payable and financial reporting, ADP payroll and timekeeping system, intranet informational database and many other hotel management tools. Cash management, construction reporting, operational reporting and analysis, financial consultant to the hotel managers and business planning are aspects of Maureen’s role at Trans Inns Management.
Mary Mouthaan
Director of Operations
e-mail: mary.mouthaan@transinns.com
Mary Kolozsvary has over 20 years of experience in all facets of hotel management, ranging from department head to General Manager. From 1992-2002 she held the position of General Manager at several Marriott and Holiday Inn brands including Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, and Staybridge Suites. Her responsibilities in this role included sales generation, profit & loss maintenance, average daily rate and occupancy level monitoring, and maintaining brand standards. As a General Manager, she managed the construction of two new hotels - a Fairfield Inn and a TownePlace Suites. She was also responsible for developing and training managers and supervisors.
From 2002-2004, Mary served in the role of Area Director for Trans Inns Management. With this responsibility, she oversaw yearly operating and capital budgeting, as well as maintaining adherence of brand standards. She was present at all Quality Assurance inspections and also performed monthly property visits to ensure that Trans Inns Management standards of performance were being maintained. While in her role as Area Director, both Guest Service scores and Quality Assurance scores increased significantly. Mary also oversaw the successful opening of a Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn Select hotel. Mary continued to play a vital role in the development of new management team members through continuous training and mentoring.
Currently, Mary performs in the capacity of the Director of Operations for Trans Inns Management. In this role, she is responsible for the daily operations of our hotels and acts as a liaison between the hotels, corporate office, and hotel ownership entities. Mary’s primary area of focus is on improving the hotel’s performance in guest service, associate satisfaction, revenue, and profit. She also plays a vital role with all phases of new hotel acquisitions by assisting with information requests and property visitations.
Mary is a graduate of Wayne State University, with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting
T. Bo Schmitz, CHA
Regional Manager
e-mail: bo.schmitz@transinns.com
Prior to joining Trans Inns Management, Bo worked for several different hotel management companies & brands, including: Radisson, Red Roof Inn, Holiday Inn, Doubletree & Crowne Plaza. Between 1995 & 2001, Bo gained experience in all areas of hotel operations, including: Guest Services, Food & Beverage, Housekeeping, Revenue Management, Renovation Management & new hotel openings.
Since joining Trans Inns Management in 2001, Bo has excelled as General Manager at both the Courtyard by Marriott & the Holiday Inn Select in Grand Rapids, MI. In 2005, Intercontinental Hotels Group awarded their highest honor, the Torchbearer Award, to Bo & his team for service excellence at the Holiday Inn Select.
As Regional Manager with Trans Inns Management, Bo oversees the daily operations of several hotels & serves as liaison between the properties and corporate office.
Since moving into his current role, Bo continues to improve the overall operations of his hotels, focusing on driving revenue & profit through delivering excellent service & engaging associate involvement.
Bo is a graduate of Michigan State University School of Hospitality Business.
Crystal Lohn
Director of Human Resources
e-mail: crystal.lohn@transinns.com
Crystal has over 15 years of experience pertaining to human resources and hotel operations. In 1990, she joined Marriott International working at a Courtyard hotel, where she was involved in various sales and operational positions for three years. In 1994, Crystal was promoted to the Assistant General Manager role and was transferred to a nearby Fairfield Inn by Marriott. At the Fairfield Inn, she was responsible for all hotel operations including associates’ hiring and discipline, corporate rate negotiations and group sales. In 1995, Crystal chose a lateral position to further her hotel experience by joining the Residence Inn by Marriott brand.
In 1997, Crystal redirected her focus to the Human Resource field and accepted the position of Human Resource Manager of a large dental management company in Michigan. She was solely responsible for all facets of associate relations including recruitment and hiring of corporate and dental office personnel, discipline and terminations, implementing policies and procedures relating to human resources, customer service training, contract negotiation with dentists and specialists, and all human resource reporting.
Crystal joined Trans Inns Management in 2001 as the Director of Human Resources. She provides company wide support for over 600 associates through all human resource activities such as legal compliance and labor laws, definition of company policies and procedures, administration of appropriate disciplinary action and corrective steps, reviews and promotions. Additional responsibilities under the Director of Human Resources include benefit administration and payroll, associate appreciation and incentive programs, management and internship recruitment, workmen’s compensation, safety and accident prevention and human resource reporting.
Crystal is dedicated to creating and conducting training classes to improve associate skill levels, developing and mentoring our associates. Such classes include customer service training, resolving conflict in the workplace, harassment workshops, associate discipline and terminations, and several legal compliance classes.
Crystal has a Bachelor of Arts from Oakland University.
