Name: Pat Maher Title: Senior Vice President, Engineering and Program Management Company: Marriott International Number of years with company: 22 Work experience prior to current position: “I was an electrical engineer involved in the designing of all types of buildings.” Primary responsibilities: “I am responsible for both the leadership and strategy development of the Lodging Engineering Department and Program Management Organization.” What he likes most about his work: “I enjoy working for a company like Marriott that is so committed to facilities and asset management.” BETHESDA, MD.—Overseeing engineering and resource management programs at almost 3,000 hotels cannot be...

Name: Kit Cassingham Title: Consultant and Founder of Environmentally Friendly Hotels Company: Sage Blossom Consulting, Ridgway, Colo. Number of years with company: 18 Year company founded: 1989 Work experience prior to current position: “I was in the hospitality industry as a B&B innkeeper.” Primary responsibilities: “I am primarily a B&B consultant. I conduct seminars, including online seminars. I teach environmental innkeeping.” What she likes most about her work: “I like to see people realize they can make a difference. I enjoy seeing successes and people changing their ways.” RIDGWAY, COLO.—Kit Cassingham knows a thing or two about what...

SAN FRANCISCO—Marriott International Inc. announced it has joined forces with Clean Up the World, a leading global environmental organization with 35 million volunteers in 120 countries. The company launched the new partnership in San Francisco at its global conference during a Save the Bay cleanup effort involving more than 50 Marriott general managers. “We have a long standing commitment to the environment, and Clean Up the World is another great way for us to expand our green efforts at the community level,” says J.W. Marriott, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Marriott International. “It is a perfect fit with...

Name: John HueyTitle: Director of StewardshipCompany: Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts Inc., Buffalo, N.Y.Number of years with company: 15Year company founded: 1915Work experience prior to current position: “I was a risk manager for a group of companies—mainly in the timber industry.”Primary responsibilities: “My primary responsibility is to travel around the country and make sure our environmental management system is effectively administered.”What he likes most about his job: “I get to go to great places in order to do good things to improve environmental performance.” MODESTO, CALIF.—John Huey has a job that many of us would easily give up a...

Name: Wen-I ChangTitle: Founder and PresidentCompany: Atman Hospitality Group, Inc., South San Francisco SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO—Wen-I Chang, founder and president of Atman Hospitality Group, Inc., based here in South San Francisco, is a lodging industry groundbreaker. He is not only talking about building green hotels, he is doing it. In fact, his first environmental property—the 133-room Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa in American Canyon, Calif.—opened in October. Chang also is developing the 133-room Atman Hotel in Anderson, Calif., a 141-room Merced Center Hotel in Merced, Calif., and a property in Mt. Shasta, Calif. Each of Atman Hospitality Group’s properties will...

Name: Dan Gilligan Title: Vice President of Utilities and Administrative Service Company: Accor North America, Carrollton, Texas Number of years with Accor: 16 Primary responsibilities: Gilligan oversees all utility/energy programs at Accor North America’s corporate offices and its more than 1,200 corporate owned and franchised properties. Environmental goal I would most like Accor NA to reach in 2007: “I would like to see our properties accomplish as many of the 65 tasks listed in our Environmental Charter as possible.” Biggest challenge I face each day as Vice President of Utilities and Administrative Service: “Trying to constantly make progress with...

Name: Patricia Griffin Title: President and Founder Company: Green Hotels Assn., Houston Year organization was founded: 1993 Prior experience: Before launching the Green Hotels Assn., Griffin worked as a business librarian and in various administrative positions. She also worked for a Howard Johnson hotel in the back office and at a Hilton property at the front desk. Primary responsibility: “My main responsibility is running the association and developing new ways to build the business.” What makes the Green Hotels Assn. unique: “We are one of a kind. There is no other association quite like ours. We are a trade...

Name: Julie A. Klein Title: Director of Environmental Health & Safety Company: Grand Teton Lodge Company Number of years with company: Almost four years. Prior experience: Prior to joining Grand Teton Lodge Company, Klein was the recycling program administrator for the City and County of Denver. Her career also includes positions with the Colorado Center for Environmental Management, Waste Management of Colorado, Winter Park Resort and several other companies. Primary responsibility: “My primary responsibility is to lead our charge to support progressive environmental management and to help our company set a leadership example for all hospitality entities.” What makes...

Name: Lisa Benson Title: Assistant Professor, Hospitality Management School: Green Mountain College, Poultney, Vt.Number of years with Green Mountain College: Less than one year. Prior experience: Previously taught in the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management in the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. Primary responsibilities: Teaching hospitality management courses and marketing the program. What makes Green Mountain College unique: Every single class that students take has the environment as the focus. Biggest challenge ahead: To grow the hospitality management program and to let industry leaders know that our students have all the tools to...

Name: Chris Lane Title: Senior Director of Environmental Affairs Company: Xanterra Parks & Resorts Number of Years with Xanterra: Six Primary responsibilities: “Development and oversight of Xanterra’s environmental management systems—in the areas of compliance and sustainability. I also oversee a team of managers and directors. They implement the programs I develop.” What keeps me motivated: “Knowing that Xanterra is reducing its impact on the planet. Knowing that we are reducing greenhouse gases, increasing recycling and pursuing renewable energy. When I see that happening, it’s what gets me going in the morning.” My company’s most significant accomplishment so far: “It...