Mainsail Lodging & Development Announces New CFO and Other Key Appointments to Corporate Team

Posted: February 2, 2024

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TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 02, 2024) – Mainsail Lodging & Development announced today the strategic expansion of its executive leadership team with the appointment of Lisa Conner as Chief Financial Officer, alongside four other executives in pivotal roles. The recent appointments include Ben Miele as Director of Accounting; Lori Nelson as Paralegal; Bria Jones as Corporate Recruiter; and Netta Katz as Reservation Manager. The recent move signals a strong period of growth for the company and a continued commitment to fostering excellence among its dynamic leadership.

“We are thrilled to welcome these industry professionals to our corporate team. Their collective expertise will be instrumental in moving Mainsail forward,” said Joe Collier, President and Founder of Mainsail Lodging & Development. “I’m confident this strategic investment in leadership will further strengthen our position as a leader in the hospitality industry and deliver unparalleled value to our stakeholders.”

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New CFO Lisa Conner brings a wealth of experience in financial leadership and accounting roles to Mainsail Lodging & Development. Conner spent more than 10 years working with the Big Four global accounting firms PwC and KPMG as Senior Manager of Audit and more than 15 years in M&A with private equity, public and privately held companies. She also has a proven track record of success in managing financial operations and implementing business process improvements as an Advisory Consultant with RGP, Steven Douglas and Tampa Bay CPA Consulting. Conner will oversee Mainsail’s finances, project accounting and hotel operational accounting, working closely with senior leadership to identify opportunities to grow the company’s core domestic businesses. Conner received her bachelor’s degree in business accounting from Stockton University and is a licensed CPA in Florida and New Jersey.

Joining Conner is Director of Accounting Ben Miele, bringing more than 30 years of accounting, tax, and audit experience to the team. In his most recent role, Miele served as Director of Accounting for clients of a large global accounting and consulting firm. A Florida CPA, Miele’s focus will be on reviewing and analyzing financial information, improving controls, and establishing accounting policies and procedures across all of Mainsail’s properties. Miele received his bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in accounting, from UMass Lowell.

Certified Senior Paralegal Lori Nelson brings nearly three decades of experience to Mainsail, specializing in corporate matters, intellectual property, and complex litigation cases on both the state and federal level.  Nelson joins Mainsail from Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, where she worked as a Senior Paralegal and most recently a Litigation Support Specialist.  She is one of an elite handful who have managed more than 120 in-house litigation cases using Relativity during the last four years. Her expertise will be instrumental in navigating legal complexities and ensuring compliance across all Mainsail properties. Nelson is a graduate of Youngstown State University and the National Center for Paralegal Training in Atlanta.

With nearly 10 years of experience in Human Resources, Bria Jones takes on the role of Corporate Recruiter, joining Mainsail from Cross Creek Ranch and Nielsen Media. Jones’s passion for full-cycle recruitment and the ongoing pursuit of higher education in Human Resource Management aligns with Mainsail’s commitment to building a talented and dedicated team. Jones is presently pursuing her master’s degree in human resource management with aspirations to achieve her SHRM certification upon completion. In addition to her academic pursuits, she holds a Medical Assistant diploma and is a Notary Public.

Netta Katz has been appointed as Reservation Manager and will play a crucial role in managing reservations and enhancing the guest experience across Mainsail’s extensive portfolio. Katz began her career with Mainsail back in 2019, helping to open The Karol Hotel, where she worked as Director of Rooms. In her new role, Katz will help to grow reservation sales and support Mainsail properties at the corporate level.

Mainsail Lodging & Development, founded by President Joe Collier, has a reputation for finding unique lodging opportunities with purpose and applying passion and expertise to each project. The company’s portfolio includes five full-service Marriott Autograph Collection properties, including the boutique, food-focused Epicurean Hotel in Tampa, Florida; Epicurean Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia; Waterline Villas & Marina on Anna Maria Island, Florida; the historic Fenway Hotel in Dunedin, Florida; and the riverfront Luminary Hotel & Co. in downtown Fort Myers, Florida. Mainsail’s portfolio also includes two Marriott Tribute Portfolio properties: Hotel Forty Five in Macon, Georgia, and the newly-opened Trilith Guesthouse, in Fayetteville, Georgia. For more information on Mainsail Lodging & Development visit MainsailHotels.com.

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About Mainsail Lodging & Development LLC

Mainsail Lodging & Development is an award-winning, Tampa, Florida-based company specializing in hotel, furnished housing, and resort property management and development, marketing and sales. An established company with a dynamic entrepreneurial spirit, Mainsail prides itself in finding unique lodging opportunities with a purpose and applying its passion and expertise to each project. Founded by President Joe Collier with a combination of daring vision and dogged determination, Mainsail has built an impressive portfolio of top-branded properties throughout the southeastern United States and Caribbean. Each Mainsail property inspires guests with a distinct character and meticulously crafted, sophisticated style, from a private island resort, and urban culinary showplaces, to waterfront marvels, boutique southern hotels, and a historic jazz era icon. Stay Sojo, Mainsail’s newest brand, provides short-term furnished living options across the country, while Mainsail Vacation Rentals manages a collection of private vacation homes in Florida and the Caribbean. To ensure long-term success and profitability, Mainsail relies on the dedication of its high-performing associates, a growing group of enterprising investors, and a commitment to giving back, every step of the way. MainsailHotels.com