MHLA Names 2023 Ambassador of the Year; Announces 2023-24 Board of Directors at Annual Meeting

Pictured from left to right: Amy Rohrer, Donnie Sutton, Michael Henningsen

The Maryland Hotel Lodging Association (MHLA) is proud to name its 2023 Ambassador of the Year: Donnie Sutton, General Manager at the BWI Airport Marriott.   The announcement was made during MHLA’s Annual Meeting, held April 20, 2023 at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.  The Ambassador of the Year award recognizes a member who has successfully recruited new members as a Board or Committee Member and contributed to the success of the Association during the past year.

“Donnie Sutton engaged quickly when he joined the MHLA Board just one year ago,” said MHLA Board Chair Michael Henningsen.  “He serves on the Ambassador and Legislative Committees and also hosted MHLA’s inaugural Member Appreciation Breakfast this past January.  I wish to thank Donnie for contributing to the success and growth of MHLA this past year and am pleased to present him with this award.”

MHLA also announced its 2023-24 Board of Directors and Executive Committee Members, after a vote of approval by members during the Annual Meeting.

Five Executive Committee Members will serve an additional one-year term:

• Chair: Michael Henningsen, Executive Vice President of Operations, Plamondon Hospitality Partners
• Vice Chair: Linda Westgate, General Manager, The Hotel at the University of Maryland /Cambria Hotel & Suites at College Park
• Secretary: Beth Brainard, General Manager, Canopy by Hilton Baltimore Harbor Point
• Treasurer: Jim Starke, VP of Hotel Operations, Best Western Plus BWI Airport / Arundel Mills
• Immediate Past Chair: Chuck Chandler, General Manager, Residence Inn Fulton at Maple Lawn
  
  

Four new members have been welcomed to the Board, appointed to serve as directors for the remainder of the current 2022-24 two-year term:

• Len Goodman, General Manager, Courtyard Baltimore Hunt Valley
• Ian Harvey, Residence Inn Baltimore at Johns Hopkins Campus
• Doug Klein, General Manager, Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel
• Sandip Patel, CEO, Crossroads Hospitality
  
  

The following members will continue service as Directors for the 2022-24 two-year term:

• Katarina Burns, General Manager, Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ
• Skip Cerf, General Manager, Sheraton Baltimore North 
• Mark Elman, General Manager, Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront Suites
• Rodney Gooden, General Manger, Westin Annapolis Hotel
• Peter Mangione, General Manager, Turf Valley Resort
• Dan McKeon, Area General Manager, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
• Patrick Miner, General Manager, Courtyard Baltimore Downtown Inner Harbor
• Tracey Pool, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Baltimore
• Ben Seidel, President & CEO, Real Hospitality Group
• Junaid Siddiqi, CEO, Presidential Hotel Advisors
• Donnie Sutton, General Manager, Marriott BWI Airport

Three Allied Directors will continue their service for the 2022-24 two-year term:

• Kathy Konopik, Vice President of Operations, HotelPro
• Blake Nichols, Vice President Distribution Sales, Ecolab
• Chris Rapp, President, Triple Crown Construction
  
  

Two representatives, invited by the Board Chair to serve, will also continue in their service:

• Education Representative: Donnisha Grant, Instructional Specialist, Anne Arundel Community College – Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism Institute
• Maryland Destination Marketing Organization Representative: Amanda Hof, Executive Director, Visit Howard County
  
  

“Congratulations to both new and returning Board Members,” said MHLA President & CEO Amy Rohrer.  “These esteemed leaders serving on the MHLA Board of Directors will help take the Association to new heights in 2023 and I look forward to working with them in the years ahead.”