Movers and Shakers

Suzanne Painter-Supplee has accepted the position of director of consultant services for Champion Industries. Her qualifications include over 20 years of sales and sales management experience including eight years as a regional manager with Scotsman and 11 years as a Hobart representative in Arizona.

Painter-Supplee’s primary focus will be working with food service consultants, major customers and industry associations throughout the U.S. She will report directly to Rob August, President of Champion.
 
Champion Industries is a division of the Ali Group based in Winston-Salem, NC. Champion manufactures commercial dishwashing equipment.

Choice Hotels Canada has appointed franchising veteran Ian Sharp to the position of franchise development director in Western Canada.

In his role, Sharp will represent all seven Choice Canada brands throughout Alberta and British Columbia, seeking dedicated franchise partners looking to invest in high-quality new build and conversion properties. Sharp has an extensive background in franchising, formerly as vice president of Robin’s Donuts where he spearheaded the company’s growth to over 150 locations across Canada.

Choice Hotels International announced May 1 that its board of directors has appointed Stephen P. Joyce as a director. Joyce now serves as president and chief operating officer of Choice Hotels International. Joyce spent his entire 26-year career at Marriott International, where he most recently served as executive vice president, global development/owner and franchise services. Joyce’s appointment at Choice positions him to succeed Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr., vice chairman and CEO in October 2008. At that point, Choice plans to name Joyce president and CEO, with Ledsinger remaining with the company as vice chairman.

Darlene Small has been appointed senior media advisor with the communications and public relations team at the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), to develop media materials and strategy in the run-up to the 2010 Games. Small, originally from St. John’s, has been living and working on the west coast for several years. Recently she was manager of travel media relations at Tourism Whistler. Small studied journalism at Carleton University and has fourteen years of experience in tourism and healthcare communications.

Simon Pettigrew has been appointed the new general manager of Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver. A native of England, his professional career encompasses over 20 years with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Most recently, he oversaw a $50-million dollar project at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Hawaii. During Simon’s tenure as resort manager, Four Seasons Resort Maui was voted as Condé Nast Traveler’s #1 hotel in the U.S. for 2008. Prior to Maui, Pettigrew had been hotel manager at Four Seasons Hotel New York and Four Seasons Resort Aviara in San Diego.

go2 has hired Megan Williamson for the newly created position of manager, industry human resource development. Megan comes to go2 with seven years of human resources experience, most recently as the HR manager for The Home Depot. Prior to The Home Depot, Megan acquired experience as a human resources generalist for Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP and KPMG LLP. In 2006, she received her Canadian Human Resources Professional designation – the highest level of HR accreditation within Canada.

Robyn Fuchs is the new PR manager, The Americas, for Small Luxury Hotels of the world, replacing Lanny Grossman who will now focus on building a new Spa Program for the brand. Small Luxury Hotels’ Canadian properties include Adara Hotel and Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler; Brentwood Bay Lodge & Spa, Victoria, BC; Hastings House on Saltspring Island, and Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has appointed Thomas E. Clarke, Ph.D to the company’s board of directors. Jeff Cava is executive vice president and chief human resources officer. And Phil McAveety is chief brand officer for the global hotel giant.

Mike Brown is now responsible for selling Ecolab’s cleaning and sanitation products and services to the foodservice, lodging, healthcare and commercial sectors in Canada. He has been named marketing manager of the U.S.-based company’s Institutional Division, Canada. He has moved from Toronto-based trade publisher Kostuch Publications where he was sales and marketing director. Brown was also previously national account manager with Unisource Canada.

Lori Pike is the new director of public relations at Mission Hill Family Estate. In this new role, Pike will be responsible for building and managing Mission Hill Family Estate’s luxury brand image as well as overseeing corporate positioning, media relations and special events at the Okanagan winery. Pike has more than a decade of experience in public relations and marketing communications.

In other Okanagan winery news, senior winemaker Dave Carson has appointed Mason Spink to the position of assistant winemaker for See Ya Later Ranch, located in Okanagan Falls, BC. Reporting directly to Carson, Mason will assume responsibility for managing the winemaking cellar and making all of the wines in the See Ya Later Ranch portfolio. Originally from Victoria, BC, Spink has worked for See Ya Later Ranch since 2006.