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Personnel Profile

Whether at the property, company or association level, an environmental program cannot be successful without a leader championing the cause. Green Lodging News is always looking for “green” champions to profile. Who at your organization deserves to be featured? Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Personnel Profile

Home Personnel Profile
Whether at the property, company or association level, an environmental program cannot be successful without a leader championing the cause. Green Lodging News is always looking for “green” champions to profile. Who at your organization deserves to be featured? Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Los Poblanos Names Kim Vollers Director of Hospitality Operations

ALBUQUERQUE—Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm welcomes Kim Vollers as Director of Hospitality Operations. Vollers oversees lodging, guest services, dining operations, events, programming, grounds maintenance and facilities on the 25-acre farm. Vollers has over 25 years of hospitality experience, the majority of which was spent at the Woodstock Inn & Resort in Vermont. At Woodstock, Vollers oversaw guest services, spa and housekeeping, and was involved with dining and farming operations. Woodstock Inn & Resort was built by Laurance and Mary Rockefeller to help preserve Woodstock’s rich hospitality history and maintains a dedication to sustainable farming and environmental stewardship. Vollers...

Cuypers Joins Louis T Collection as Director of Food & Beverage

BANGKOK—Hospitality & building solutions group Louis T Collection is going green on the food front with the help of new Corporate Director of Food & Beverage, Anselm Cuypers. “As we move into a new decade we’re implementing a lot of changes in our F&B departments,” said Cuypers. “Our core focus is on sustainability, developing Louis T’s signature F&B offering, and launching wellness-focused menus across the properties.” In this new role, Cuypers will focus on expanding sustainability initiatives at the restaurants and bars at Louis T Collection’s properties in Thailand, Taiwan, and Australia. Examples of the group’s next steps include forbidding suppliers to...

GSN Planet Announces Thor Holm As President

NANTUCKET, MASS.—GSN Planet (GSN) announced recent board appointments to the Board of Directors who are dedicated to leading the spa and wellness industry in creating long term, regenerative, and life-sustaining practices. Thor Holm, General Manager for Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary, has been appointed Board President following his two-year term as Vice President. Holm will succeed Bonnie Baker, Founder of Satteva Wellness Group, who has just completed her two-year term as Board President. Baker’s passion and dedication to both the planet and wellness has left a lasting impact on the organization during her six-year tenure on the Board of Directors. GSN...

Aqua-Aston’s Theresa van Greunen Successfully Blends Communicator, CSR Roles

Name: Theresa van Greunen Title: Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications Company: Aqua-Aston Hospitality Years in Current Position: Two (with Aqua-Aston since 2015) Primary Responsibilities: “I play a unique role. The company has allowed me to carve out my own initiatives. I often partner with the operations team. I have been able to create new initiatives. Strategy is a big part of my job and keeping my ear to the ground and knowing what we can make positive change around.” Organization’s most significant accomplishment in global corporate responsibility: “Developing the corporate social responsibility program, Advocate with Aqua-Aston, and most notably, the #ForOurReef campaign.” Organization’s most significant...

Bitte Ferngren to Leave Scandic HR/Sustainability Post

STOCKHOLM—Bitte Ferngren, Senior Vice President Human Resources & Sustainability, has decided to explore new opportunities outside of Scandic. Ferngren will continue working in her current position until the end of May. Scandic has initiated the process to find a replacement. Since October 2019, Ferngren has been part of Scandic’s Executive Management Team with responsibility for HR and sustainability initiatives. She is now leaving this role to start a new position at an international company within the finance sector. Ferngren has contributed to Scandic’s ability to make significant changes in its operations in a short period of time, which has been absolutely...

Yalmaz Siddiqui Helps Keep Sustainability the Norm at MGM Resorts International

Name: Yalmaz Siddiqui Title: V.P., Corporate Sustainability Company: MGM Resorts International Years in Current Position: Four Primary Responsibilities: “The main ones are to think about what the company should focus on. What should the company prioritize? To initiate new ideas. To start new things. To integrate the preferable habits and practices so they become normal. Partnering with marketing and social media to communicate.” Organization’s most significant accomplishment in the area of global corporate responsibility: “There are many but our decision to create CityCenter—which was the world’s largest privately funded LEED certified development when it opened in 2009.” Organization’s most significant challenge moving forward in the...

Ellen Mitchell-Kozack Joins LEO A DALY as Chief Sustainability Officer

DALLAS—LEO A DALY, the global planning, architecture, engineering and interiors firm, announced that Ellen Mitchell-Kozack, AIA, LEED BD+C, WELL AP, SEED, has joined the firm as Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer. In this role, she leads LEO A DALY’s strategic initiatives in sustainable design worldwide, including Environmental Social & Governance, alignment with the UN Global Compact and Sustainable Development Goals, carbon footprint assessment and social impact. She is based in the firm’s Dallas design studio. Mitchell-Kozack is a nationally recognized voice in sustainability and public interest design. As Senior Vice President, Director of Sustainability at HKS, she led the firm’s...

Victoria Kruse Named Sustainability Manager for Amilla Fushi, Maldives

BAA ATOLL, MALDIVES—Amilla Fushi, Maldives has appointed Victoria Kruse to the newly created position of Sustainability Manager, underlining a major new focus on sustainability and the environment as the new decade begins. Embodying the resort’s vision of becoming a leader and innovator for sustainable tourism in the Maldives, Kruse is already proving an invaluable asset in driving and developing an ambitious program of eco initiatives throughout 2020. Kruse returned to the Maldives in October 2019 after two and half years at Six Senses Fiji, where she was responsible for running the Wellness Kitchen for the newly launched resort. It was during this tenure...

Ecolab Names Emilio Tenuta Senior Vice President of Sustainability

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc., a global leader in water, food safety and public health technologies and services, recently announced that Emilio Tenuta has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Sustainability. Tenuta leads Ecolab’s global sustainability programs and strategies. His work has helped advance greater understanding of the impacts of global water scarcity and the solutions available for better water management. He continues to lead the development of unique diagnostic and planning tools for broad industry use, such as the Water Risk Monetizer and Smart Water Navigator. Tenuta began his career with the company more than 35 years ago and has...

Dacanay Named Women in Lodging Connect Leader of the Year

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—Dan McGowan, General Manager, Fairmont San Jose announced that Jackie Dacanay, Director of Talent & Culture, has been named California Hotel & Lodging Association’s Women in Lodging Connect Leader of the Year. This award is bestowed upon a female hospitality professional who serves as a leader and role model within the hotel community. This award is not about the amount of experience or the title, but rather how time is spent in the industry. California Hotel & Lodging Association’s (CHLA’s) Stars of the Industry Awards honor the lodging employees and properties that best symbolize the quality service of...