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.

Rick Krueger, C.H.A. - Senior Vice President of Operations
Rick Krueger joined Vista Host in 1981 and has served the company in every aspect of hotel operations. Starting as a line level associate in Pensacola, Florida, he worked his way through various middle management and General Management positions before serving as a Regional Director of Operations in the Pittsburgh, PA area where Vista Host operated 9 hotels. With nearly 20 years of multi-unit management, Krueger now operates out of the Houston Support Office.  As Senior Vice President of Operations, he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of both operations and sales across all Vista Host hotels.

Nancy Spoltore - Vice President of Operations
Nancy Spoltore started with Vista Host in 1990 as a General Manager and later as Area Manager in Dallas. As Vice President of Operations, Spoltore, operates out of a regional office in Nashville and she has been responsible for properties which include franchise operations of, Hampton Inns, Hampton Inn & Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Homewood Suites and Comfort Suites. Previous positions included Regional Manager with Security Capital Group in the development, opening and overseeing the operations of eight Homestead Guest Suites. Spoltore has a B. S. degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.

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 - Director 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 - Regional Director of Operations
Joe Viglietta joined Vista Host in 1999 as a General Manager. After quickly moving to an Area Manager position, he was promoted to his current position of Regional Director where he oversees the company’s east coast hotels stretching from New Hampshire to South Florida. Viglietta is responsible for the operations and overall sales efforts of the hotels in this portfolio. In addition to his regional accountabilities, Joe heads the company’s service focus initiative. This involves working with our third party vendors that specialize in delivering exceptional guest service as well as our own industry leading Service Coaches program. 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 Notre Dame University and holds a B.A. in Marketing.

Bob Northup - Regional Director of Operations
Bob Northup joined Vista Host in 1990 as the General Manger of the Hampton Inn Minnetonka (Minneapolis), Minnesota. After serving three years in this position, Bob was promoted to General Manager of the Holiday Inn Muscatine, Iowa where he received the coveted Pinnacle Award recognizing his hotel for superior customer service. In 1997, Bob was once again promoted to General Manger of the Hampton Inn and Suites at the University in Nashville, Tennessee where he earned the Vista Host General Manager of the Year award in 1998 and the Hotel of the Year award in 1999. Prior to joining Vista Host Bob began his hospitality career with Cricket Inns, where he was an Innkeeper and with Days Inns of America where he spent 8 years operating several hotels. Bob has a B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in Economics from the University of Minnesota.

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.

^ top of page