Support Staff

Michael V. Harrell - Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Michael Harrell spearheads the company's growth and profitability. With a strong commitment to the Vista Host vision and mission, he is responsible for the company's long-term growth strategy and dynamic positioning in the hospitality industry. He began his career at the nuts and bolts level of hotel management in 1961. In 1970, he became a partner of Lufkin Properties with five hotels, later merging the company with Servico, Inc., a publicly held hotel development and management company. During his tenure as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Servico, the number of company owned and operated hotels increased from 16 to 33. In 1977, Harrell formed Vista Host to manage five hotels being acquired by Harrell and his investment partners. Harrell is active in the hospitality industry, serving on the Board for the International Association of Holiday Inns (IAHI) from 1981-1988 and as President from 1984-1985, he continues to serve on the IAHI Past Presidents Council and is a member of the Hilton Advisory Board for Hampton Inns. Harrell received a B.S. degree from the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana.

Kathie A. Long - Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Kathie Long is responsible for the coordination of all accounting, budgeting, financial and administrative functions for the company. In addition, she is responsible for negotiating management contracts, refinancing, acquisition and sales of hotels. Her experience before joining Vista Host in 1989, included nine years in public accounting and three years in the hospitality industry as Controller/Treasurer for a publicly held company. Long is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. She is a graduate of Memphis State University with a B.B.A. in Accounting.

Paul Horn - Vice President of Construction
The Vista Host Vice President of Construction is Paul Horn. Paul joined the Vista Host team in April of 1990 and has since traveled extensively across the country overseeing construction projects. These projects include 18 major renovations, 16 hotel brand name conversions, and the opening of 19 new hotels. Paul has extensive knowledge of the standards for nine different hotel brands. Other contributions to the Vista Host team include compiling the Vista Host Architectural Standards. Paul is also available for trouble-shooting problems at any of the Vista Host properties. Paul is home-based from his residence in Pensacola, FL and works from there.

Marc A. Zalaznick - Vice President of Revenue Management
Marc Zalaznick joined Vista Host in 1994 as a Guest Service Manager of an Independent hotel located in Claremont, CA. He also served as Assistant General Manager for Holiday Inn hotels located in Maryland and New Jersey. Marc was promoted to General Manager of the Hampton Inn BWI in 1996. In 2001, Marc assumed the position of Director of Revenue Management. Currently, Marc has oversight for all aspects of Revenue Management for Vista Host hotels and is fully trained and well versed in the operation of all Franchise Reservations and Revenue Maximization programs. Marc graduated from Brockport State University with a BPS in Therapeutic Recreation and a minor in Psychology and attended hospitality classes at Mesa Community College AZ.

Joe Viglietta - Vice President of Operations, and Sales & Marketing
Joe Viglietta joined Vista Host in 1999 as a General Manager. After quickly moving to an Area Manager position, he was promoted to Regional Director where he oversaw the company's east coast hotels stretching from New Hampshire to South Florida. In 2010, he was promoted direct the company's sales and marketing efforts for all properties, in addition to his operations duties. In 2011, Viglietta earned the responsibility for the overall operations and sales and marketing efforts of all Vista Host hotels. During his career with Vista Host, he has created a number of new initiatives aimed at improving service and financial results for the company, as these initiatives include the Manager In Training (MIT) college recruiting program, the property level development of Service Coaches, writing and publishing the company's Manual of Operating Standards, and a number of new reports aimed at driving sales and service levels. Based out of his home office in Indianapolis, Joe is usually on-site at one of the hotels he oversees. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and holds a B.A. in Marketing.

Jesse Phillips - Area Director of Operations
Jesse Phillips is responsible for the success of the Vista Host hotels in the Southeast Region, comprised of our properties in South Florida and Louisiana. He has been working in the hospitality field since 1993 and started his career as a front desk agent at the Sheraton Baltimore North, MD. Vista Host recognized Phillips' accomplishments in the hospitality industry and offered him his first position as General Manager in 2002 at the Hampton Inn, Springfield VA. Throughout his career, he has accumulated experience with many brands including Sheraton, Radisson, Embassy Suites, TownePlace Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and Homewood Suites. In addition to being an active member in the hospitality industry, Phillips has excelled as a Division 1 All-Star rugby player in college and received a B.S. degree in Criminology from Towson University. Based out of Jupiter, FL he leads his team with the adage "take care of your employees and in turn they will take care of your guests".

TJ Angeleno - Area Director of Operations
T.J. joined the Vista Host team in 2001 as an Assistant General Manager in Pittsburgh.  After traveling to assist with hotel openings and acquisitions, T.J. was promoted to General Manager of the Residence Inn, Hilton Head prior to accepting his current role of Area Director of Operations.  T.J. is known for maintaining consistently high service levels at his hotels, leading the Courtyard by Marriott in Fayetteville Arkansas to Hotel of the Year in 2009, and a Diamond Hotel Award winner in 2010, while being recognized as a Marriott Diamond General Manager.  T.J. has also been recognized for his community involvement as the honored recipient of the Walmart Community Champion Award in 2010.  With more than 20 years experience in the hospitality industry, T.J. is well versed in several brands including Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites, Comfort Suites, Ramada Inn and Red Roof Inn.  In addition to his Area Director of Operations role, T.J. also oversees the entire companies Sustainability Efforts.

Roland Rodriguez - MIS Director
Roland joined Vista Host in 1991 as Computer Services Manager with experience in software development.  As MIS Director, Roland manages the efforts of the MIS department for Vista Host.  The MIS department is responsible for the corporate reporting systems, communication systems and network administration of the Houston support office.  Roland also oversees the general support of computer hardware and software in the back office areas of the Vista Host hotels.

Cindy Matulich - Director of Accounting and Administration
Cindy Matulich is responsible for the day-to day operations of the Support Office as well as the management of property and employee insurance programs and internal and external audits,  She also manages the accounting and administration of properties in development as well as acquisitions and dispositions.  When Matulich joined Vista Host in 2008, she brought with her 30 years of hospitality and financial management experience with luxury hotels, resorts and private clubs, exclusive residential communities and conference centers.  Her experience ranges from property accounting to new project development including technology infrastructure design and implementation.  She is a member of the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals and is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a BBA in Management and an MBA.

Meaghan Wrenn - Director of Service Initiatives
Meaghan began her career with Vista Host in 2005 at the Hampton Inn & Suites Albany Downtown.  She quickly moved into a management role at the property, and she was later promoted to be the General Manager of the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Boca Raton, Florida.  In her current role as Director of Service Initiatives for Vista Host, Meaghan drives and supports our ongoing service efforts in further developing a service culture that includes the consistent delivery of legendary, “WOW!” service, while celebrating our Guests and all of our Associates.  She works with all properties within the Vista Host portfolio on a regular basis.  In addition to her service leadership, Meaghan assists with new hotel openings and other special projects, and serves as Task Force Manager on an as-needed basis. She is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelors of Science degree.

Michael K. Gulotty – Regional Director of Operations
As Regional Director of Operations for Vista Host, Michael brings his breadth of knowledge and experience, along with his energy and passion for collaboration, to each property he is involved with. His goal is to continuously have a positive impact on each property’s capacity to yield both top line and GOP for ownership, while maintaining Vista Host and brand related facility and service standards. Michael leads the training and development initiatives for the company’s management development program. Michael joined Vista Host in 2005 as the opening General Manager of the Hampton Inn & Suites Albany Downtown. He positioned this property as a community leader in both hospitality standards and civic responsibility. Vista Host boasts this Albany property has the only “Women Only” floor sustained (floor dedicated in 2008) and existing of any Franchise hotel in the United States. Michael serves as Chairperson (2010 and 2011, board member since 2006) of the Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau, President (2010-2012) of the Board of the International Center of the Capital Region (affiliate member of NCIV and WACA), and is a board member of the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (chair of Quality of Life Committee). He is also a member of the Corporate Council of the Northeast Chapter of the American Cancer Society.  During his 25 year career in hospitality, he worked in development for 10 years, developing proposals and operating/financial models, for the purpose of (and often) bringing to fruition public/private hospitality related joint ventures. Team building and individual team member development has been the core of his success, in each of Michael’s professional and civic endeavors.     

Nicole Word - Regional Director of Operations, Austin, Texas
Nicole Word serves as the Regional Director of Operations for the Austin, Texas region, overseeing four of our beautiful hotels in the Arboretum and Round Rock markets. Ms. Word joined Vista Host in 2006 as a General Manager and has been working with Hilton Hotels since 2001. She entered the hotel business in the small town of Danville, IL in 1994 and realized shortly thereafter her love for the business. Through her hard work and dedication, she has progressed in her career from a front line associate to managing hotels in Illinois, Indiana, and also in Florida. During her tenure as a hotel General Manager, Ms. Word received several Hilton awards such as the “Wall of Fame” award and the “Circle of Excellence” award. Ms. Word currently resides in Austin, TX and enjoys continuing to work with the Hilton products that Vista Host manages.

Peggy Sue Harrell - Regional Director of Sales
Peggy Sue Harrell has over 15 years experience in the hospitality industry. She served as Director of Sales and Catering at various select service, full service, convention and resort properties in the Midwest and East Coast regions. As Regional Director of Sales for Vista Host, she actively trains and mentors Directors of Sales company-wide, and prides herself on bringing a fresh perspective to sales teams. Peggy Sue leads by example and works to heighten team harmony, increase morale and improve communication within her “floating region”.  Her “visionary leadership style” reflects an environment where sales people are free to innovate, experiment, and take calculated risks, while maintaining a “coaching leadership style” that focuses on developing individuals, showing them how to improve their performance, and helping to connect their goals to the goals of our organization. 

Kaitlyn Reim - Wentworth- Regional Director of Sales, South Florida & Bossier City, LA
Kaitlyn Reim-Wentworth joined Vista Host in 2007 as a Sales Manager for the Hampton Inn Portsmouth, New Hampshire. After only a year, Kaitlyn was promoted to the Director of Sales position for the property. With her enthusiasm for the hospitality industry and proven track record, she was then promoted to the role of Director of Sales at the Hampton Inn Ft. Lauderdale Airport North Cruise Port. Shortly thereafter, Kaitlyn was promoted to the Area Director of Sales role serving our properties in South Florida. She found immediate success in her responsibilities for the Fairfield Inn & Suites Boca Raton and Fairfield Inn & Suites Jupiter, along with overseeing the sales and marketing efforts in Ft. Lauderdale. In December 2010, she was promoted to Regional Director of Sales, a position which allowed her to gain oversight of the sales initiatives for our two properties in Bossier City / Shreveport, Louisiana, in addition to the South Florida market. Kaitlyn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel & Resort Management from Southern New Hampshire University.