OUR Team
With over thirty years of industry experience, we draw on our experience and passion for the hospitality industry to provide a hands-on management approach.
John Cantele (CEO):
John puts his more than 35 years of experience to work overseeing the third-party management business.
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President, Nationwide Hotel Management Company (2021 to 2022)
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Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, CorePoint Lodging Inc. (2018 to 2019)
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Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, La Quinta Holdings, LLC (2016 to 2018)
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Global Head Select Hotels, Hyatt Hotels Corp. (2014 to 2016)
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Senior Vice President, Hyatt Hotels Corp. (2011 to 2014)
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Senior Vice President, Partner & Co-Founder, LodgeWorks (2000 to 2011)
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Vice President, Operations, Patriot American Hospitality, Inc./Wyndham (1998 to 2000)
Kay Auer (CFO):
Kay applies her more than 30 years of finance, accounting, and hotel development experience.
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Chief Financial Officer, Nationwide Hotel Management Company (2021 to 2022)
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Chief Financial Officer, WaterWalk International LLC (2014 to 2018)
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Board of Directors, WoodSpring Hotels (2014 to 2015)
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Chief Financial Officer, Quality Solutions, Inc. (2012 to 2014)
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Chief Financial Officer, Value Place LLC, rebranded as WoodSpring Hotels (2007 to 2012)
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Vice President, Finance, Gates Enterprises, Inc. (1997 to 2007)
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Early career experience with Ernst & Young (1989 to 1997); clients included Residence Inn and Summerfield Suites
David Emery (COO):
David brings more than 25 years of asset management, financing, and deal structuring experience as the head of the underwriting business.​
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Chief Development Officer, Nationwide Hotel Management Company (2021 to 2022)
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Chief Financial Officer, InterMountain Management, LLC (2012 until forming Lexima in March 2020)
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Led sale of 16-hotel portfolio to Starwood Capital
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Chief Strategy Officer & Director of Finance, InterMountain Management, LLC (2008 to 2012)
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Head of Commercial Real Estate Lending, North Louisiana, Regions Financial (2002 to 2007)
Laurie Nitardy:
VP of Revenue Management and Sales Strategies
Laurie brings a vast expertise in revenue management and sales strategies. As the former Vice President of Revenue Management at Hyatt, she oversaw revenue management for all select service. She also held positions with TravelClick, Marriott, and independent hotels in the revenue management and sales disciplines. Her current role integrates Revenue Management tactics through channel maximization with the local sales team’s efforts to obtain optimal revenue results.
Meghan James:
VP of Operations
Meghan James is a seasoned hotel operations leader with a track record of driving service excellence and continuous improvement within the hospitality industry. Her tenure as General Manager at the Hyatt House in Sandy, Utah, coupled with her strategic oversight of four Hyatt-branded hotels as an Area Manager with LodgeWorks in the Salt Lake City area, underscores her ability to lead and innovate within the hospitality sector.
Jennifer Glendening:
VP of Human Resources
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Jennifer brings strategic oversight to the HR leadership role. Her prior experience includes multiple facets of HR within a wide range of industries and companies. In 2021, Jennifer joined Nationwide Hotel Managment as VP of Human Resources, overseeing HR for over 1,000 employees across the corporate office and 120 hotels.
Stephen Armstrong:
VP of Financial Planning and Analysis
Stephen has over 17 years of hospitality and customer service experience. He served most recently as Senior Vice President of Brand for WaterWalk with a focus on brand growth, positioning and guest experience. His past hospitality experience includes overseeing site selection strategy, financial underwriting, and data analytics.
Taylor Gilbert:
Accounting Manager
Taylor has a strong foundation in multi-entity accounting from her experience with Nationwide. There, she managed the financial accounting for a portfolio of 27 hotels. Taylor is currently overseeing property accounting for all Lexima managed hotels.