Tom Baker, Principal - Marketing, Ecommerce, Operations
Barry Caplan, Principal - Sales Management, Operations
Mark Lahood, Principal - Operations, Accounting, Technology
Alan D'Zurilla-Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Revenue Management
Steven Seghers, Vice President of Technology & eDistribution
Lara L. Gentry, Vice President of Human Resources
Cathy Brand, Vice President of Finance

Tom Baker
Managing Principal-CEO
Email: tbaker@accesshospitality.com
Phone: 469-576-1641

Tom Baker is responsible for overseeing marketing strategies and operational support for Access Hotel and Resorts.

Mr. Baker joined The Melrose Hotel Company in 2001 and has been the General Manager for the Westin Great Southern Hotel and the Melrose Hotel in Dallas. During his tenure at the Westin, he successfully raised revenues and quality standards through active leadership of the operation. The Guest Satisfaction Index of the hotel increased considerably contributing to enhanced profitability and employee moral. A score of 95% was achieved on the Starwood Quality Audit and the hotel retained the AAA Four Diamond Award for the three years in a row. Tom also served as the Vice President of Marketing for Melrose and utilized his expertise to drive revenue through Internet, direct mail and print marketing.

Prior to joining the Melrose team, Tom's 19 year career focus has been in sales and marketing and hotel operations. Tom has held various positions throughout the industry including Resident Manager for the Four Diamond Enchantment Resort and Spa, Director of Sales for the historic Hotel Del Coronado and Director of Marketing for the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Baker holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Chapman University.

Barry Caplan
Managing Principal-COO
Email: bcaplan@accesshospitality.com
Phone: 215-275-8438

Barry Caplan brings more than 20 years of hotel sales and operations experience to Access Hotels and Resorts.

Prior to co-founding Access Hotels and Resorts, Mr. Caplan held the position of Senior Vice President of Sales for The Melrose Hotel Company. During this time, he was responsible for overseeing top line revenue generation and sales force management.

In 2001, Mr. Caplan joined The Melrose Hotel Company as the General Manager for The Westin Great Southern Hotel in Columbus, OH. and maintained the property's AAA Four Diamond Rating. Prior to joining The Melrose Hotel Company, Mr. Caplan served as the Director of Operations- Midwest region for several Doubletree Hotels. During this time, he oversaw the $12.5 million conversion of the Royce Hotel to the Doubletree in Detroit and was responsible for overseeing management of the Doubletree, Dayton, and the Doubletree, St. Louis.

In the mid 1980's, Mr. Caplan joined the Hilton Hotel Corporation as Director of National Sales and in 1993, was awarded Hilton's National Sales Person of the Year Award. From 1993-1998, Mr. Caplan was The Director of Operations and Resident Manager at the luxury Washington Court Hotel in Washington, DC.

Mr. Caplan holds a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University.

Mark Lahood
Managing Principal-President
Email: mlahood@accesshospitality.com
Phone: 267-207-8067

Mark is one of three co-founders of Access Hotels and Resorts and specializes in Hotel Operations, Accounting and Renovations.

For the past six years, Mark has been a Principal with The Melrose Hotel Corporation and the Senior Vice President of Operations for the company. He was responsible for defining the brand, acquisitions, repositioning and re-branding of new hotels, all capital improvements, all accounting functions, technology, daily operations and strategic planning.

Mark Lahood began his career in 1982 with Marriott, where he held various positions in accounting. In 1985, Mr. Lahood joined a New England-based hotel company where, over the course of 10 years, he held various management positions.

In 1995, Mr. Lahood joined the Great Southern Hotel in Columbus, OH as general manager. After a $9 million renovation, the hotel was converted to a Westin franchise and achieved an AAA Four Diamond rating. The hotel was then awarded the 1997 Westin Leadership award for quality and the Elite Hotel award for outstanding meetings and conventions. In the spring of 1999, Mr. Lahood was appointed general manager of The Melrose Hotel, Dallas, where he oversaw a multi-million dollar renovation before moving to corporate headquarters of The Melrose Hotel Company in Philadelphia.

Mr. Lahood holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Hospitality at Boston University.

Alan D'Zurilla
Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Revenue Management
Email: alan@accesshospitality.com
Phone: 770.800.9718

Alan brings over 30 years of sales, marketing and revenue management experience with privately operated, chain managed and branded properties across the country.

Prior to joining Access Hotels and Resorts, Alan directed all sales, marketing and revenue generation activities for the 2,200 acre Double JJ Ranch & Golf Resort in western Michigan, which encompassed facilities that included a condo/hotel, vacation home ownership, timeshare and traditional resort accomodations. While at the Double JJ he was responsible for launching the successful opening of the resort's 60,000 square foot indoor waterpark and entertainment center, while marketing ongoing seasonal activities that included their unique "western" equestrian program, an Arthur Hills designed championship golf course, outdoor winter activities and all entertainment venues.

Alan has held similar positions for luxury resorts as The Registry Naples,Wyndham SeaWorld and The Fontainebleau, Miami Beach, Florida; The Esmeralda, Indian Wells (Palm Springs),California and The Hamilton Princess, Bermuda. His hotel experience includes properties in the Chicago area, where he also held the position as President of the 25 member hotel InterContinental Hotel Group's Holiday Inn Hotel Marketing Association. Alan also has over 10 years of having worked for Hilton Hotels Corporation, including directing the sales effort for the world famous Waldorf Astoria on Park Avenue in New York city.

Alan is originally from Middletown, New Jersey and earned his bachelor's degree from Michigan State University's business school of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management. Alan resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife Amanda and their son Aaron.

Steven Seghers
Vice President of Technology & eDistribution

For nearly fifteen years, Steven Seghers has been a leader in providing technology, Internet and electronic distribution solutions in the hospitality and real estate industries. Mr. Seghers has worked for all the major US. hotel brands, and fully understands the importance of applying integrated solutions to drive rate, maximize occupancy and improve overall distribution for hotels. In particular, Mr. Seghers uses a fusion marketing model to tactically improve both on-and-offline marketing, sales and operational challenges. His strategies have also been instrumental in helping hoteliers maximize their own Internet distribution.

Mr. Seghers is an active member in the hotel industry, and has been an industry expert speaker and consultant for several notable hospitality groups, including HSMAI, Destination Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental, Orbitz.com, The Hotel Group and the Las Vegas School of Hospitality.

Lara Gentry
Vice President of Human Resources
Email: lgentry@accesshospitality.com
Phone: 469-576-6583

Lara Gentry is responsible for hiring, training and development of all associates. Ms. Gentry is a 20-year veteran of the luxury hospitality environment with extensive operational and human resources experience.

A professional with a proven track record, Ms. Gentry joined The Melrose Hotel, Dallas team in 2002 and has been instrumental in enhancing our efforts to carry our culture and standards consistently from property to property. Ms. Gentry created and facilitates all company-wide training programs for staff at all levels and recently completed and implemented the Human Resources Policy and Procedure Manual.

From 1986 - 2002 Ms. Gentry held numerous management positions with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, which included hotel openings and over 7 years in Rooms Division Operations. Ms. Gentry was on the opening team of The Four Seasons Resort, Nevis where after four years, the team succeeded in creating the first Five Diamond rated property in the Caribbean. Ms. Gentry moved into Human Resources from Rooms Operations in 1997 at The Four Seasons Resort and Club in Irving, TX.

Lara Gentry is a Dallas native and attended the University of Texas. She is actively involved in both The Society of Human Resources Management and The Dallas Hospitality Human Resources Association. Lara also regularly volunteers at the Texas Scottish Right Hospital for Children. Lara lives north of the Dallas area with her husband, Don and their two children, Alex and Amanda.

Cathy Brand
Vice President of Finance
Email: cbrand@accesshospitality.com
Phone: 215-300-2398

Cathy Brand brings over 22 years of accounting experience to Access Hotels and Resorts. Ms. Brand will be responsible for all aspects of the accounting and finance functions for Access Hotels and Resorts.

Cathy joins us from GF Management where she was the Corporate Controller responsible for overseeing the financial activities for 35 Hotels. Prior to joining GF Management, Cathy was the Corporate Director of Accounting and Financial Reporting for The Melrose Hotel Corporation where she created an implemented internal audit guidelines and procedures. Cathy spent ten years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts working at both Westins and Sheratons. She was involved with four hotel openings and spent eight years in various hotel controller positions. She was involved in numerous special projects and was a member of the task force committee for newly acquired hotels. Prior to her hotel career, Cathy spent 5 years in public accounting where she performed financial and internal control audits. She is a Connecticut native who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Economics from Oneonta State University.