Leadership

Michael Evans became the President of Marcus Hotels & Resorts in January 2020. Marcus Hotels & Resorts has been a leader in the hospitality business for almost 60 years and is part of the NYSE publicly traded Marcus Corporation. The company owns and manages a diverse portfolio of hotels and resorts, including properties branded by the world’s largest hospitality companies such as Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt, as well as a collection of unique independent hotels and resorts. Evans leads all aspects of Marcus Hotels & Resorts.

Prior to joining Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Evans was the Chief Executive Officer of Apex Capital Ventures LLC, a real estate company that he founded in 2017 to focus on the development and acquisition of hotels, resorts, and branded residences in high barrier to entry markets in the U.S.

Evans previously served as Chief Operating Officer for MGM Hospitality, a division of MGM Resorts International that was focused on developing and operating non-gaming Bellagio and MGM hotels in key international gateway cities and prime resort destinations around the world. In his role as COO, Evans was responsible for leading the entire MGM Hospitality team. Evans joined MGM Resorts International in January 2008 as Executive Vice President of Global Development, and was responsible for the implementation of MGM Hospitality’s strategic development plan and leading the Company’s gaming and non-gaming development teams.

Evans is a seasoned executive with global development experience in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. He held several key senior management positions with Marriott International in which he developed hotel brands for the company on a global scale. Before joining Marriott International in 1998, Evans was an attorney in private practice in Miami, Florida.

Evans received his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from the University of Miami School of Law and his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida.

Andrew Flack is a globally experienced, results-oriented commercial leader with over 30 years of hospitality experience across sales, marketing, revenue management, and hotel operations. He is passionate about making every hotel a leader in market share and revenue performance while enabling each commercial team member to reach their full potential.

Andrew joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts in 2020 as Chief Commercial Officer, having most recently served as Vice President Marketing & eCommerce with Hilton Worldwide where he supported more than 5,000 managed and franchised properties. Previous roles with Hilton included Vice President of Product Marketing & Customer Insights and Vice President of Global Brand Marketing. International posts with Hilton included Vice President Sales & Marketing Asia Pacific and Regional Director of Sales, Marketing & Revenue Management in Sydney, Australia.

He has his undergraduate degree in Economics & Accounting from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK, and his MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management in Sydney. He is married with two daughters.

Steve Hilton brings over 30 years of hospitality expertise to his role as Senior Vice President of Operations. In Steve's role, he is responsible for directing and overseeing operations throughout the Marcus Hotels & Resorts portfolio, including developing and implementing new systems, talent development, and community engagement.

Steve joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts in 2016, where he most recently served as Managing Director of the company's Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District Hotel. At this property, he led the team to win many awards and accolades, including "2019 Hotel of the Year" by Marriott International. Prior to joining Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Steve served as General Manager at numerous branded and independent hotels across the country.

Steve received an associate degree in Hotel Management from Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has also been honored with numerous industry awards for his leadership and property success. These awards include Hilton Hotels and Connie Award, Embassy Suites Make a Difference Award, and the Alice S. Marriott Community Service Award.

Jeff Peterson is the Chief Financial Officer for Marcus Hotels & Resorts. Peterson is responsible for overseeing all accounting and finance functions for the division, as well as oversee new deal structures, joint ventures, management agreements, and the implementation of funding investments.

Peterson joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts in 2013 as Vice President of Operations. In 2015, he was promoted to senior director of finance and transaction administration for The Marcus Corporation, overseeing a wide range of financial and strategic initiatives as well as providing support for MCS Capital, the company’s hotel investment affiliate. Prior to joining Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Peterson served more than 17 years with Hyatt Corporation in various real estate, asset management, finance and accounting roles. He also served as chief financial officer of Ticketmaster Resale, a division of Ticketmaster/Live Nation, the second largest company in the online resale ticket industry.

Peterson, a CPA, began his career in public accounting at the international accounting firm, KPMG. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Rajiv Castellino is Chief Technology Officer for Marcus Hotels & Resorts. He is responsible for providing strategic technology direction and support for the hotel division.

Castellino joins Marcus Hotels & Resorts with nearly 25 years of experience in IT systems administration and strategy. In his new role, he will provide strategic technology direction and support for the company. Prior to joining Marcus Hotels & Resorts, he served as chief information officer for Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. in Madison, Wis., where he oversaw strategic technology direction, information technology management and technology brand standards. His career includes serving as vice president information technology for Interstate Hotels & Resorts and serving as director of IT support services for MeriStar Hospitality Corporation.

Castellino received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Pune in India, an MBA in Marketing from Symbiosis Institute in India and an additional MBA in Management Information Systems from the University of Dallas.

Steve Martin is Chief Human Resources Officer for Marcus Hotels & Resorts. He is responsible for supporting and overseeing operational human resources issues and strategic initiatives for the company’s entire hotel portfolio.

Martin has over 20 years of human resources and hospitality industry experience. He joined The Marcus Corporation in 2000 as Corporate Human Resources Director of the company’s former Baymont Inns & Suites limited-service lodging division. During his career with the company he served as the Director of Human Resources for the Hilton Milwaukee and held several human resources roles for The Marcus Corporation including Director of Benefits and most recently, Assistant Corporate Director of Human Resources. Prior to joining The Marcus Corporation, Martin worked for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotels, and Embassy Suites.

Martin is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation from the HR Certification Institute. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, restaurant, and institution management from Iowa State University.

William H. Reynolds, Jr. has served as senior managing director of MCS Capital LLC, The Marcus Corporation’s hotel investment business, since August 2011. His career includes 25 years of experience in commercial real estate investment, with a specialty in the hotel industry.

Prior to joining the company, William served as managing director and chief investment officer of Thayer Lodging Group, a hotel investment firm. His experience also includes advising Hospitality Capital Partners/USAA Real Estate Company and serving as chief investment officer of MeriStar Hospitality Corporation REIT and vice president for Interstate Hotels and CapStar Hotel Company.

Andrea Foster joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts in 2015. She is responsible for marketing the company’s hotel management expertise and identifying and securing acquisition, joint venture, and third-party management opportunities for the company.

Foster’s career began in hotel operations and management positions for branded and independent properties on the east and west coasts. She then joined PKF Consulting|CBRE Hotels in 2002 in Los Angeles where she was a Vice President responsible for hospitality real estate valuations and feasibility analyses. From 2006 to 2011, she was VP Marketing & Business Development for Miraval. She returned to PKF|CBRE from 2011 to 2015 as Managing Director of the New England Practice, based in Boston.

Foster is a key voice at hotel investment conferences and regular guest speaker at Cornell, Purdue, and Boston University. She is on the Lodging Industry Investment Council, board committee chair of the Cornell Hotel Society and president emeritus of the New England Chapter, advisory board chair of AHLA's ForWard initiative, advisory board member of Castell@College, and co-founder of Boston Lodging Pulse. She was listed in “30 Influential Women in Hospitality” in 2017 by Hotel Management Magazine, and as one of hospitality’s most successful women in Lodging Magazine in 2016.

Carl Dees is Vice President of Operations for Marcus Hotels & Resorts. He is responsible for providing operational support to our Marcus Hotels & Resorts portfolio.

Dees joins Marcus Hotels & Resorts with more than 37 years of industry experience working for leading hotel management companies such as Richfield Hotels, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, and most recently Crescent Hotels & Resorts.

Dees' tenure with Crescent began in 2006 after he joined the company as General Manager of the Livonia Marriott in Livonia, Michigan. In 2008, Dees became General Manager of The Georgian Terrace Hotel, a historic independent property in midtown Atlanta. In 2012, he was promoted to Regional Director of Operations and in 2013 to Vice President of Operations.

Linda Gulrajani is Vice President, Revenue Strategy and Financial Analysis for Marcus Hotels & Resorts. She is responsible for leading the development and implementation of revenue management and distribution activities and strategies for all hotels in the company’s portfolio.

Gulrajani joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts in 2009 as Regional Director of Revenue Strategy. Prior to joining Marcus Hotels & Resorts, she served in a variety of revenue management roles at hospitality companies including TravelCLICK, Walt Disney World, Marriott, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Loews Hotels.

Gulrajani was elected to serve on the HSMAI Revenue Management Advisory Board for 2014 and 2015. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Linda Price Topp, the Vice President of Sales, oversees sales efforts for the 18 properties within Marcus’ portfolio as well as managing the company’s Milwaukee market sales team. Price Topp joined Marcus Hotels and Resorts in 1993 in a sales role at Grand Geneva Resort and Spa and over her 24 years with the company has served in a variety of positions including Director of Sales and Marketing at the Pfister Hotel and Market Director of Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Strategy for the Milwaukee market where she was responsible for Marcus’ three downtown Milwaukee properties.

Price Topp has extensive hospitality experience including sales roles at La Costa Resort & Spa and Sugar Bay Plantation Resort in St. Thomas, USVI, and further industry experience through engagements in the Travel Management Industry with American Express and Summit Performance Group. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Kevin Gallagher joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts in January 2004 as Resort Manager and then promoted to General Manager of the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa where he was involved in several large capital projects, including the building of the Grand Entry and the Grand Geneva Conference Center. In July 2007 Gallagher was promoted to Operations Project Manager, responsible for supporting all construction and renovation projects throughout the Marcus Hotels portfolio. Through Gallagher's leadership from 2007 – 2011, more than 55 projects have been completed. The Grand Geneva Resort & Spa underwent a $15 million renovation, including guestrooms, pool, and lobby in 2010. More recently, Gallagher oversaw the completion of an $11.5 million multi-phase renovation of the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, including guestrooms, lobby area, public spaces, fitness center, and more. This renovation assisted in the Hilton Milwaukee receiving the AAA four-diamond rating for the first time in the hotel's history. Prior to his tenure at Marcus, Gallagher held various General Manager positions for Adam's Mark Hotels and Resorts. During this time with Adam's Mark Hotels Gallagher was involved in multiple renovations and new build projects including the building of the 1,850 room Adam's Mark Dallas.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Gallagher has a passion for hospitality management and creating memorable guest experiences. The achievement of an exceptional guest experience through outstanding service and thoughtful design has been Gallagher's mission.

Gallagher and his wife enjoy cheering for their two sons and daughter in various sporting activities, including basketball, skating, and soccer. Golf is also a passion when work and family do not take priority.

Will Geissel joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts in September 2012 to direct the centralized procurement function for our division. Geissel brings with him a thorough knowledge and passion for the hospitality industry. His oversight includes standardizing and measuring company-wide F&B, and Contract Services program.

Geissel has years of property, corporate, and group purchasing experience. He was the Director of Purchasing at The Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale and the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Boca Raton. He was also a Regional Director of Purchasing in multiple regions and Director of Procurement Services for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, as well as Director of Sales for BuyEfficient. Geissel's purchasing style focuses on transparency, collaboration, and measurement/metrics. His mentor within the industry taught him that ”Data is Power.”

Geissel attended Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA for Business Management where he also played basketball.

Geissel and his wife Audrey currently reside in the Milwaukee area. Both of their children Cole & Lauren attend the University of Iowa. Geissel's outside interests include biking with his wife, playing golf, spending time with his children, and attending Hawkeye football games (tailgating).

Mark McDonald is Senior Director of Event Management, Operations and Sales for Marcus Hotels & Resorts. He is responsible for leading event teams for the company’s entire portfolio across the U.S. Mark has been with Marcus Hotels & Resorts for more than 20 years.

McDonald has held various positions within Marcus Hotels & Resorts, including the roles of Director of Banquet Operations at The Pfister Hotel and Director of Event Management at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center. Mark most recently served as the Regional Director of Event Management for the Milwaukee.

Matthew Peschke joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts in December of 2019 as Corporate Director of Marketing to oversee the activities and tactics for the portfolio. Prior to joining Marcus Hotels & Resorts, he served in a variety of marketing and brand roles for several major hospitality companies, such as Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

In these positions, Matthew executed on-property marketing efforts through strategic planning and activations. He also opened numerous W Hotels across North America and worked on the rebranding of W Hotels Worldwide. Matthew brings a vast knowledge of independent hospitality brand experience with his work for Lore Group and Doyle Collection.