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Lodging Development
Leadership Team

Meet One Of The Hardest-Working Teams In Hospitality

The Sonesta Franchise & Development Leadership Team is made up of bright minds working hard for you every day.

They’re hotel industry veterans with decades of experience in their field and committed to providing our owners and prospects with the support and knowledge they need.

About us
leadership team

Keith Pierce

Executive Vice President, President of Franchise & Development

Keith Pierce

Executive Vice President, President of Franchise & Development

Keith Pierce is the Executive Vice President and President of Franchise & Development. He leads the franchise and development organization for Sonesta.

Brian Quinn

Chief Development Officer

Brian Quinn

Chief Development Officer

Brian Quinn is the Chief Development Officer and oversees the development effort for the entirety of Sonesta.

Phil Hugh

SVP Lodging Development, Luxury & Lifestyle Brands, and Premium Brands

Phil Hugh

SVP Lodging Development, Luxury & Lifestyle Brands, and Premium Brands

Phil Hugh is Senior Vice President Development, Luxury & Lifestyle Brands, and Premium Brands. He leads the sales team and brand growth through new franchise development for The Royal Sonesta, The James Hotels, MOD, Classico, Sonesta Hotels and Resorts, Sonesta Select, and Sonesta ES Suites.

Jason Yarbrough

SVP, Lodging Development Value Brands

Jason Yarbrough

SVP, Lodging Development Value Brands

Jason Yarbrough is Senior Vice President Development, Select Service Brands. He leads the sales team and brand growth through new franchise development for Sonesta Essential, Sonesta Simply Suites, Red Lion Inns & Suites, Signature Inn, Americas Best Value Inn, and Canadas Best Value Inn.

Marco Roca

Lead, Lodging Development LATAM/Caribbean

Marco Roca

Lead, Lodging Development LATAM/Caribbean

Marco Roca is the Development Lead for Sonesta in South & Central America, Mexico & Caribbean.

Ayesha Rajput Regional Vice President, Franchise Development portrait image

Ayesha Rajput

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Ayesha Rajput Regional Vice President, Franchise Development portrait image

Ayesha Rajput

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Ayesha Rajput oversees Value Brands in the northwestern region of the U.S. and all of Canada. This region includes Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Alaska, and Canada.

Joshua Benson

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Joshua Benson

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Joshua Benson oversees Value Brands in the central region of the U.S. This region includes Utah, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan.

Mike Higgins

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Mike Higgins

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Mike Higgins oversees Luxury and Lifestyle Brands in the western region of the U.S. This region includes Hawaii, California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Rich Edin Regional Vice President, Franchise Development portrait image

Rich Edin

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Rich Edin Regional Vice President, Franchise Development portrait image

Rich Edin

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Rich Edin oversees Luxury and Lifestyle Brands in the northwestern region of the U.S. and western Canada. This region includes Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. His region also includes the western Canadian provinces British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Nunavut.

Connor Murray

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Connor Murray

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Connor Murray oversees Luxury and Lifestyle Brands in the northeastern region of the U.S. and eastern Canada. This region includes Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. His region also includes the eastern Canadian provinces, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec.

Dallas Setser

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Dallas Setser

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Dallas Setser oversees Value Brands the south central region of the U.S. This region includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

Tom Williams​

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Tom Williams​

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Tom Williams oversees Luxury and Lifestyle Brands in the southeastern region of the U.S. This region includes Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Jacob Irvine

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Jacob Irvine

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Jacob Irvine oversees Value Brands in the southeastern region of the U.S. This region includes Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Michael Handy

Michael Handy

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Michael Handy Regional Vice President, Franchise Development portrait image

Michael Handy

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Michael Handy oversees Luxury and Lifestyle Brands in the south central region of the U.S. This region includes Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and New Mexico.

Jason Heard team members page image

Jason Heard

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Jason Heard team members page image

Jason Heard

Regional Vice President, Franchise Development

Jason Heard oversees Value Brands in the northeastern region of the U.S. This region includes Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.

Josh Parant headshot image

Josh Parant

Regional Vice President, Lodging Development

Josh Parant headshot image

Josh Parant

Regional Vice President, Lodging Development

Josh Parant oversees Value Brands in the southwestern region of the U.S. This region includes California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Ashton Blue Lodging Development Manager portrait image

Ashton Blue

Lodging Development Manager

Ashton Blue Lodging Development Manager portrait image

Ashton Blue

Lodging Development Manager

Ashton Blue is the Lodging Development Manager for Luxury and Lifestyle Brands in the U.S.

Miles George Lodging Development Manager portrait image

Miles George

Lodging Development Manager

Miles George Lodging Development Manager portrait image

Miles George

Lodging Development Manager

Miles George is the Lodging Development Manager for Value Brands in the U.S.

Satchel Snow portrait image for franchise.sonesta.com

Satchel Snow

Lodging Development Manager

Satchel Snow portrait image for franchise.sonesta.com

Satchel Snow

Lodging Development Manager

Satchel Snow is the Lodging Development Manager for Value Brands in the U.S.

Ahmer Naushad

Vice President of Analytics/Franchise Administration

Ahmer Naushad

Vice President of Analytics/Franchise Administration

Ahmer Naushad is Vice President of Analytics & Franchise Administration. He oversees analytics and underwriting for single and portfolio deals.

Cindy Kelly

Vice President, Franchise Administration

Cindy Kelly

Vice President, Franchise Administration

Cindy Kelly is Vice President of Franchise Administration.

Taylor Goff

Vice President, Franchise Development & Re-licensing

Taylor Goff

Vice President, Franchise Development & Re-licensing

Taylor Goff is Vice President Franchise Development & Re-licensing. He oversees all areas that include contract renewals, relicenses, and ownership changes across all brands.

Karla Setser, Franchise Development Support Manager at Sonesta, portrait image

Karla Setser

Franchise Development Support Manager

Karla Setser, Franchise Development Support Manager at Sonesta, portrait image

Karla Setser

Franchise Development Support Manager

Karla Setser is the Lodging Development Support Manager. She primarily supports event management and lead generation.

Eric Grant

Franchise Development Support Coordinator

Eric Grant

Franchise Development Support Coordinator

Eric Grant is the Lodging Development Support Coordinator. He supports event management and lead generation.