What would you be doing professionally if you weren’t in your current industry? Teaching baseball. I have two boys who play, and nothing makes me happier than being outside on a warm spring day, fresh-cut grass, screaming, “Turn two!”

What is your favorite book, movie or television show? The Office — sometimes I have to pause the episode because I’m laughing so hard.

What historical figure, dead or alive, would you love to have dinner with? Jimmy Carter. I believe he always attempted to do what he trusted America stood for.

THE BUSINESS

What is your most recent project, and what was the inspiration behind it? We’re working on how to help the youth homeless population. Some people choose to live on the street, but these kids were thrown there. There is too much wealth in the United States to have homeless youth exist.

What is your favorite aspect of the job? The relationships: getting to know your team and guests on a personal level. Sharing stories and a part of your life is how I fell in love with this business.

What’s the biggest business risk you’ve ever taken? Changing the name of a hotel. The locator city was only known locally and travelers, especially international, didn’t know where we were. The renaming focused on a well-known area close by and resulted in an increase in business, especially in the summer.

Who is someone you admire professionally in the travel industry? Stan Kaminski (senior vice president, Azul Hospitality) inspired me to be better at all aspects of my job. His intensity and respect showed me what I could be; I’ll never forget that.

AS A TRAVELER

Tell us about a travel nightmare: I was once stuck on a Philippine Airlines plane in the middle of summer in Manila for more than six hours. They wouldn’t let us leave, and the air-conditioning wasn’t working. After all that time they couldn’t fix the issue, so we had to board a new plane the next day.

Share a comical travel experience: While in Jamaica we were picked up by what we thought was a taxi. The driver was so high we never broke 10 mph all the way to our hotel. At the hotel, we were instructed on what real taxis looked like on the island.

What is your preferred method of travel — planes, trains, automobiles, cruise ships — and why? As long as it is absent of traffic, I love long car rides. Every place has a story, and it’s amazing on the open road. On a drive to Yellowstone, a buffalo walked alongside us!

What has been the best example of customer service you’ve experienced during your travels? At the Gaylord Texan, my room was at the far end of the hall. I passed at least six housekeepers on my way to my meeting. Every one of them stopped and said, “Good morning,” and wished me a great day. Do you know how it feels to be acknowledged that many times in five minutes?