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Executive Team

Sheila C. Johnson

"Inspiration will find you in places you never imagined."

— Sheila C. Johnson
Founder & CEO

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Prem Devadas, President, is a 25-year veteran of the hospitality industry. After ten years with The Potomac Hotel Group in Washington, D.C., he left the Regional Director of Operations position to manage the lodging portfolio for CCA Industries whose holdings include The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA, The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, TN and Kiawah Island Resort near Charleston, SC. As Managing Director, he repositioned the Jefferson Hotel and the Hermitage Hotel through extensive renovations, and achieved Mobil Five Star and AAA Five Diamond awards for the respective properties. At Kiawah Island, he directed the development and successful opening in August 2004 of The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, the new 255-room ultra-luxury hotel, which is hailed as one of the world's best.

Dale Pelletier, Chief Financial Officer, is a 40-year veteran of the hospitality industry. Dale oversees the company's financial, accounting, tax, information systems, treasury, planning and reporting activities. His extensive experience with more than 80 hotels includes full-service, limited-service, all-suite, resort and condominium hotels both at the property and corporate levels. Dale also served as Chief Financial Officer for MEI Hotels, a hotel development, ownership, management and investment group. He was responsible for all financial activities for the company's managed and asset managed hotels, construction and development projects and three private equity funds. Prior to MEI, Dale was Chief Financial Officer for the U.S. operations of City Hotels, an international hotel and airline company that has hotels in the U.S. and Europe and is listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange.

Tracey Slavonia oversees revenue development including sales, marketing, communications and revenue optimization for Salamander's growing portfolio. Slavonia has also previously served as chief marketing officer for Enchantment Group based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Prior, she served as the chief marketing officer for Canyon Ranch, overseeing their portfolio in Arizona, Florida, Las Vegas, Massachusetts, Turkey and the At Sea division. Additionally, she served as the vice president of sales and marketing for Miraval Holding for four years with oversight for their assets in New York and Arizona. Tracey, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, earned a bachelor of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona before beginning her hospitality career with Hilton in Phoenix. Earlier in her career, she held leadership positions with PGA National Resort & Spa in Florida; The Wigwam in Arizona; KSL Resorts and St. Regis Monarch Beach in California.

John Speers, Executive Vice President of Operations, oversees day-to-day operations of the company's hotels and resorts. He brings an exceptional background in luxury and Five Star/Five Diamond operations, having previously served as Senior Vice President overseeing properties such as Chatham Bars Inn and the Inn at Perry Cabin, as well as the Managing Director for The Little Nell Hotel, Residences at Little Nell, and The Aspen Mountain Club. Speers has previously served as General Manager of Faena Hotels in Miami Beach, as Resort Manager of Four Seasons Jackson Hole in Teton Village, WY, and as Director of Food and Beverage at Four Season Chicago. He began his career as an Executive Assistant Manager, Director of Food and Beverage at The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach in Florida. Prior to joining Ritz Carlton, he was the General Manager of acclaimed restaurant's in San Francisco and New York City.

Theresa Silo, Chief Human Resources Officer, is directly responsible for the human resources departments throughout the Salamander portfolio. A seasoned and respected industry leader, her experience features leadership roles at some of the country's most decorated properties. Silo spent 14 years at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in two spells, working as both director of human resources and the director of operations at the Kiawah Island Inn. She has also served as the general manager of The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, TN; director of operations at the Waldorf Towers in New York, NY; and front office manager at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA.

Corporate Team Members

  • Chris King

    Chris King

    CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
  • Ty Brassie

    Ty Brassie

    VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING

As Chief Development Officer, Chris King is responsible for creating and implementing new business development strategies aimed at growing Salamander's portfolio through third party managed hotels and resorts in the US, Canada and the Caribbean. He joined Salamander after four years with Brookfield Asset Management in Washington, D.C., where he was Vice President of Real Estate Investments and oversaw $2 billion in hotel transactions. Chris has also served as Vice President of Diamond Rock Hospitality Company and Director of Development Finance at Marriott International. He holds a Masters of Business Administration with a finance concentration from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Ty oversees Salamander's sales, marketing, communications and revenue development, and executes the company's overall revenue strategy working closely with Salamander's CMO. Prior to moving to the corporate team, he was Director of Sales & Marketing at Hammock Beach Resort, and he has also held senior leadership positions at iconic properties and collections, including Evolution Hospitality, Ritz-Carlton, Starwood and KSL Resorts Group.

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  • Christopher Walling

    VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
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  • Matt Owen

    VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
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  • Brian Covington

    VICE PRESIDENT OF REVENUE OPTIMIZATION
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  • David Millar

    VICE PRESIDENT & CORPORATE CONTROLLER
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  • Elizabeth Martin

    VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING
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  • Deb Thomas

    Vice President of Accounting
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  • Jim Busch

    CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
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  • Penny Kriel

    Corporate Director of Spa & Wellness
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  • Michelle Long

    CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF CONTENT MARKETING
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  • Koji Akaboshi

    Corporate Director of Food & Beverage
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  • Tony Cooper

    CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING
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  • Carla Jean-Thomas Carroll

    DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL SALES
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  • Carolyn Allen

    VICE PRESIDENT OF LEISURE SALES
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  • Carly Cox

    Director of Global Leisure Sales
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  • Katy Banagan

    CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING
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  • Tashea Lowery

    CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
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  • Jenny Greenlief

    CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
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  • Helaine Carver

    EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
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  • Britta Williams

    Corporate Senior Marketing Manager
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  • Annie Heffernan

    CORPORATE MARKETING SPECIALIST
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  • Violeta Borgonia

    ACCOUNTANT
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  • Cathy Turner

    CORPORATE SALES & MARKETING SYSTEMS SUPPORT MANAGER
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  • Jason Krizman

    CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF IT
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  • Steven Lewis

    DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL SALES
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  • Da'Mario White-Molina

    HUMAN RESOURCES COORDINATOR
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  • Daniele Ceccato

    CORPORATE LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
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  • Donna Peterson

    Corporate Staff Accountant
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  • Kenneth Cassara

    CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING