Janette Ament-Pierce - Chief Accounting Officer
Janette is the Chief Accounting Officer with more than 10 years experience developing hotels. Janette is an expert in the field of accounting. Her practice focuses on designing initiatives to reduce total cost of project, financially accounting for projects as they relate to budgets and loans, identifying creative ways to protect owner’s risk, and improving outcomes for buying out projects. Her hotel experience includes 6 years in Hotel Accounting and Operations Management, 6 Years in Senior Level Hotel Accounting, and 10+ years in Development Accounting and Risk Management. Janette was named 2008 Responsibility Leader for the Hospitality Industry by Risk and Insurance Magazine.
Steve Sanborn - VP of Finance & Business Development
Steve Sanborn has been a member of the Noble House family since 1987. Steve’s current focus is new business and growth for Noble House through management, ownership and development opportunities. In his current role he draws upon the 20+ years of knowledge accumulated from holding senior finance roles at both the property and corporate level. His most recent post was Corporate Controller. Previous to Noble House, Steve held various hotel related finance positions.
Kevin Falk - Corporate Controller
Kevin started with Noble House in 1992 as an accounts payable clerk, and then as assistant controller for The Portofino Hotel & Marina and Controller for the Shore Resort & Spa before joining the Corporate team in 2007. As Regional Controller, Kevin is responsible for overseeing all accounting, financial reporting and compliance functions for Noble House Hotels & Resorts Florida and Colorado based properties. As Assistant Director of Finance, Kevin is responsible for maintaining the corporate books as well as maintaining all property level corporate reconciliations including debt, insurance, taxes, escrow, and equity balances. Kevin also assists with the acquisitions of new properties. Mr. Falk graduated from New York Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.
Kevin Martin - Director of Information Technology Operations
Kevin Martin has been a member of the Noble House Team since 1996. Kevin served as the IT Manager at the Adolphus Hotel in Texas before joining the Corporate team in 1998. He brings over 30 years of expertise in technology with him, including projects ranging from new acquisitions, renovations, system upgrades and new system implementations; his hands have virtually been in all infrastructures within the company. As Director of IT Operations, he is responsible for overseeing Information Technology at all Noble House properties, and continually works to keep Noble House on top of new technologies available in the hospitality industry to better serve staff and guests. Mr. Martin holds a degree from the Cleveland Institute of Electronics in Electronics Technology.
Jay Robinson - Director of MIS
Jay Robinson started with Noble House in 1992 at the SunBurst Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. He has held positions including Bellman, Banquet setup, Concierge, Restaurant Manager, Reservations Manager, Front Office Manager, Revenue Director, and Regional IT Director for 5 Noble House properties in Florida. Jay moved to the corporate headquarters in 2005, and currently serves as Director of Information Technology being responsible for all aspects of Information Technology support to properties and development projects. Mr. Robinson received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Arizona State University in 1996.
Rudy Sharp, VP and Regional Managing Director
Based out Gateway Canyons Resort, Rudy also oversees Mountain Lodge at Telluride and Bernardus Lodge & Spa. With his strong leadership and luxury experience, this commitment to quality and service has resulted in numerous awards including Conde Nast, Travel+Leisure, and World Luxury Hotels. Prior to this luxury collection, Rudy oversaw Edgewater, LaTorretta, Hotel Deca, and The Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club. Prior to joining Noble House in 2007, Rudy worked for Centex Destination Properties and was Area Manager for the Central division, responsible for three of the waterfront resort communities. His past positions include management with Starwood Hotels, Sunriver Resort and LaCosta Resort.
Matt Trahan - VP and Regional Managing Director
With Noble House since 2001, Matt Trahan has led a dynamic team in South Florida and the Florida Keys. Based in Key West, as Vice President and Regional Managing Director, Matt has the oversight of the Ocean Key Resort and Spa, Little Palm Island Resort and Spa, Dolphin Marina and Cottages as well as the Pelican Grand Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale and the LapLaya Beach and Golf Resort in Naples. A native of South Louisiana and graduate of LSU in Baton Rouge he started his management career in the French Quarter of New Orleans. With over 25 years of hospitality management experience, Matt brings a creative flair to his operations position. Creator of the “Sandbar Sessions” at Little Palm Island, as well as “Allegro!” and several Fantasy Fest events in Key West for the Ocean Key Resort and Spa, he has helped to create “experiences” that guests enjoy about Noble House properties.
Jason Moll - Corporate Director of Rooms
Jason’s Noble House career started in 2007, and currently serves as the Corporate Director of Rooms. For 8 years, Jason provided operational leadership to LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort prior to relocating to the Noble House Corporate Office in 2015. Jason provides our properties with expertise across a broad spectrum of experience ranging from hotel operations, development & construction, Condo & HOA programs, and private club management. He also implements all brand standards across the portfolio. Jason actively works with property teams on budgets, forecasts and provides hands on support in many aspects of the hotel operation. Jason lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife Mollie, and two girls Sarah and Leah.
Mark Gervais - Vice President, Regional Managing Director
Mark Gervais was named Vice President, Regional Managing Director for Noble House Hotels & Resorts in October. He was previously the General Manager of the Hotel Viking since May of 2006. Mark led the hotel through an extensive renovation and continued to polish this historic gem of a hotel. Prior to Hotel Viking, Mark held executive positions at impressive industry giants like Starwood, Doubletree, Hyatt and more. Mark is a Past Chairman of the Board for the Rhode Island Hospitality Association and has been an active member since 2007. A native of Worcester, MA, Mark is a graduate of University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Over the last decade, he has resided in Rehoboth, MA with his wife Lisa, son Jackson and daughter Julia. He is a sports enthusiast, volunteering his time as a girl's softball coach and playing competitive hockey year round.
Karen Ranker - VP of Human Resources
A 25-year veteran of the Noble House team, Ranker has steadily climbed the ranks to her current position of vice president of human resources. In this role, she is responsible for setting the tone for the Noble House workplace, working closely with human resource directors at each property. In addition, she helps assure compliance with all local, state and Federal statutes; as well as oversees recruiting, orienting and training; and coordinates on-going development of staff. Ranker and her team also serve as social directors for associate events and activities, ranging from small ice cream socials to holiday parties for hundreds. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Louisiana State University.
Jaz Jeanne - Director of Great People
Jaz began her tenure with Noble House in 2001, after 13 years with Club Corporation on America and a four year venture with the Freeman Group. Originally, Jaz joined as the Corporate Director of Training, but has transitioned into her current role as the Director of Great People. Jaz implements the company’s standard core values throughout the properties and corporate office, performing orientations, various trainings, and ensuring adherence of company policy and expectation. Other key responsibilities include her title as Safety Representative for the company, and the publishing of the internal Quarterly newsletters. Jaz is a New Orleans native, and a diehard Saints fan!
James P. Colee - President of Development
Currently President of Development, James Colee began his career at Noble House Hotels & Resorts as an intern in 1993. Since then, James has worked his way through various development related positions over the years, with responsibilities such as analyzing prospective investments, project management and oversight, co-founding Noble House Purchasing, and managing property insurance claim losses, to name a few. In his current position, he is responsible for formulating and regulating all of the company's capital spending in addition to the oversight of all construction; from initial due diligence to design coordination and permitting through construction to final occupancy and turnover to the hotel operations team. Furthermore, he oversees the purchasing and design operations for Noble House Purchasing. He holds a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of California at Santa Cruz.
John Valis - Vice President of Engineering
A native of Greece, Valis is the vice president of engineering for Noble House Hotels & Resorts. In this capacity, he develops and oversees preventative maintenance systems, and works to protect the value of all Noble House assets and facilities, including all buildings, property, systems and equipment. Additionally, he helps develop energy and water conservation programs, and works closely with energy vendors to select the top providers at the best prices in each community. He has worked in the Noble House engineering department for 15 years, and previously worked in the engineering department of ITT Sheraton for 23 years -- working his way up the ranks from steam boiler operator to chief engineer.
Sean Mullen - President Acquisitions
A seasoned conference speaker, Sean Mullen, President, Acquisitions at Noble House Hotels & Resorts, provides ongoing support and continuation for the brand’s rapid growth. Mullen, who now focuses solely on strategically expanding the company’s portfolio, previously acted as chief sales and marketing officer at Noble House, overseeing strategic sales support and direction in all market segments. Sean began his career with Noble House in 2002 at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples, Fla., as the director of sales and marketing. He attended Lafayette College in Easton, Penn., and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics/business. He currently resides in Seattle with his wife and four daughters.
Scott Colee – Chief Creative Officer
As Creative Director of Noble House, Scott leads the overall concepts and positioning for the hotels and restaurants, including architectural and interior design, communication design, and interactive design that directly deliver business results. As such, Scott works with business leaders across several departments, overseeing the core brand and service standards for the company. As part of the Development team, Scott manages the core programming philosophies, which include layout and design. As part of the Marketing team, Scott co-founded and leads the company’s internal ad agency, a team made up of art directors, graphic designers, copywriters, photographers and web developers. The agency is responsible for governing the company’s creative assets, and developing all media, web, electronic and print, for the properties. The Retail department falls under his responsibility as well, where he initiates and provides strategic direction to the operating team, and drives profitability. Mr. Colee earned a Bachelor of Science in business from Skidmore College in New York.
Darrell Stark – Vice President of Revenue and Distribution
Darrell Stark, vice president of revenue and distribution at Noble House Hotels & Resorts,
leads a solutions-driven approach to revenue growth
with over 20 years of hospitality industry experience.
Stark oversees pricing strategies, channel distribution,
systems implementations, positioning and inventory along
with the necessary processes associated with demand, revenue,
inventory, forecasting and opportunity analysis. He is a
seasoned management and operations industry executive,
with experience in commercial luxury properties for
prominent South Florida properties such as Boca Raton
Resort and Club, The Breakers, The Waldorf Astoria
Naples and Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six . Stark attended
Lynn Universityin Boca Raton, Fla., and graduated with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management.
Elizabeth Grillos - Vice President of Marketing
Elizabeth joined Noble House in 2013 and was quickly promoted to Vice President, Marketing in June 2014 due to her strong success in Southern California. Her keen creative and strategic mind will enable her to assist the properties to exceed their marketing and revenue goals. Through Noble House’s exclusive in house creative department, Elizabeth will ensure all creative is on brand reflecting the best each property has to offer our guests. An expert in social marketing and public relations, Noble House will continue to lead the industry in these areas. She started her sales career in 1987 and holds expertise in determining company business goals, developing innovative marketing strategies that meet both short and long-range goals. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from San Jose State University in Public Relations and a minor in Communications.
Scot Hamilton – Vice President of Sales
As Vice President of Sales, Hamilton oversees and directs the strategic sales activities for the group, catering and corporate preferred sales teams. He has over thirty years as a seasoned hotel sales professional with much of his tenure focusing on resorts and independent hotels. His creative approach to problem solving and years of establishing sales processes have been an asset to Noble House. He is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology.
Liz Johnson - Director of Travel Industry Sales
Having been with Noble House for eleven years, Liz started her tenure at Paradise Point Resort & Spa, and was quickly sought after by LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort for her assistance with their opening efforts in 2001. Liz is now responsible for handling Domestic and International Wholesale accounts for the entire Noble House collection. Attending International Trade Shows and continuing training at top account reservation centers, both domestic and overseas, is what aids Liz with her success in the oversight of contracting and positioning the Noble House Collection with our Worldwide (namely European) partners.
Michelle Sehulster- Director of Travel Industry Sales
Michelle has been a part of the Noble House family for over 12 years, first based at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort and 3 time chairman club winner, and since 2009 in the role of Director of Travel Industry Sales. In her current role, Michelle covers the East Coast of the U.S. for the entire Noble House Collection and her primary focus in on the luxury travel agent market. Michelle is responsible for maintaining key partnerships, such as American Express FH&R, The Hotel Collection, Virtuoso and Signature Travel Network. Michelle is a graduate of Newcomb College of Tulane University and is based in New Orleans, LA.
Julie Chavarria – Director of Travel Industry Sales
Specializing in leisure sales since 2001, Julie Chavarria handles the travel industry sales efforts for all of Noble House Hotels & Resorts, managing and maintaining close relationships with major travel agencies on the west coast. Julie ensures impactful exposure of the Noble House collection, while attending multiple trade shows and client offices representing the brand as the corporate liaison. She also handles all consortia bids and consortia marketing efforts for the collection. Julie is a graduate of University of California, San Diego, CA, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with Minor in Literature.
Thomas Haas - VP of Food and Beverage
As vice president of food and beverage for Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Haas is responsible for the development, personnel management and financial operations for all Noble House food and beverage venues across the United States. Before joining Noble House in July 2000, he was the managing director of the Fireman Hospitality Group, one of the largest independent restaurant groups in New York City. He has extensive experience in the hospitality and food and beverage industries, and held executive level positions at properties ranging from The Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills to The Breaker’s Hotel in Palm Beach. A native of Germany, he began his career with a four-year apprenticeship at Brenner's Park Hotel in Baden-Baden, one of Europe's top luxury hotels. Fluent in English, German and French, Haas graduated from the University of Villingen in Germany and from Cornell University in New York with degrees in Hospitality Management.
Adam Votaw, Corporate Chef
Adam Votaw proves to be a part of an exclusive union of true culinary artists. Votaw recently returned to the US from a corporate role with Rydges Hotels, where he developed multiple restaurant brands and concepts throughout Australia and New Zealand. He now rejoins Noble House as part of a handpicked team driven by Thomas Haas, Vice President of Food & Beverage, which continues development of their independent restaurant concepts, coast to coast. Votaw was the Executive Chef of Riviera Resort in Palm Springs, California, La Playa Resort & Spa in Naples, Florida, and Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, in the Florida Keys, all owned and operated by Noble House. In 2000 and 2004 he was a James Beard House participant.
Chris Schaefer, Corporate Director of Restaurants
A dynamic leader and mentor, Chris Schaefer has been promoted to Corporate Director of Restaurants for Noble House Hotels & Resorts. He is now responsible for the oversight of all food and beverage operations of Noble House’s 18-boutique hotel portfolio. Prior to his promotion, Schaefer acted as Food & Beverage Director at Riviera Palm Springs, a former Noble House property. He received a degree of the highest honors at the California School of Culinary Arts in the Le Cordon Bleu Program
Hermann Schäfer, Corporate West Coast Chef
A native of Austria, Chef Hermann Schäfer began his formal training in hotel and restaurant management in Vienna. After graduating in Culinary Arts and Hotel Management, he spent the next five years working in three of the most luxurious hotels with Michelin star restaurants in Switzerland, serving as Chef de Party, Executive Sous Chef and Executive Chef. In 1994, Chef Schäfer moved to the United States, and his journey with Hilton began. Ever since, Chef Schäfer has been continuously recognized as one of the best chefs in Southern California. Now based out of the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa, Chef Schäfer holds the title of Noble House's Corporate West Coast Chef.
Dan Pierotti - VP of Spa Development and Operations
Pierotti is vice president of spa development and operations for Noble House Hotels & Resorts, and joined the company in 1999. He has 20 years of spa experience, leadership and results that exceed industry standards and expectations. His extensive spa management experience – and unique vision of creating a serene yet exotic oasis of tranquility within each property – has provided Noble House with a leading edge in the spa industry. Pierotti has developed 13 spas for Noble House, masterminding each from concept to completion – including architectural/interior design, functionality, equipment, experiences, staffing, training, product development, standards and protocols, profitability and the impact the spas will have on the overall well-being of the guests. Pierotti is certified and licensed in many modalities of massage therapy and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.