Leslie Menichini – VP of Sales and Marketing Convention Hotels

Building on a dream and watching it turn into a reality is something Menichini likes best about her job, and as the leader of the hotel’s pre-opening sales and marketing team, she certainly helped to do just that at Shingle Creek.

Menichini joined the Rosen Hotels & Resorts team in May 2001 to build and lead the pre-opening team for Rosen Shingle Creek, where she was responsible for pre-marketing and sales for the 1,500 room hotel. In addition to opening the hotel in Sept. 2006, Menichini was charged with creating synergistic sales opportunities partnering with directors of sales and marketing including Todd Frappier, Rosen Centre and Victoria Hall, Rosen Plaza.

The hotel’s successful opening led owner Harris Rosen to expand Menichini’s role to include Vice President, Rosen Hotels & Resorts, Convention Properties, in addition to her Rosen Shingle Creek sales and marketing duties. In her new role, Leslie oversees the centralization and synergy efforts of sales and marketing, staff development and revenue management of the Rosen Centre, Rosen Plaza and Rosen Shingle Creek.

From Orlando to Las Vegas, Leslie Anne Menichini has worked in some of the best places that this country’s entertainment capitals have to offer.

In Las Vegas, she was Director of Sales for Bally’s/Paris Las Vegas and also was instrumental in the opening of Paris Las Vegas. Menichini worked as the corporate liaison for Park Place Entertainment’s corporate sales office, concentrating on efforts to synergize the five Las Vegas hotels. Menichini’s Orlando travels have taken her to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel, where she was Assistant Director of Sales. To complete her well-rounded experience, the Madison, WI. native held the position and was the pre and post opening Director of Sales at the Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage, CA.

With such a professional burden to carry it’s probably no wonder that if Menichini could be any animal, it would be an elephant. One reason is that she wants to be big enough to support and carry the load for her family and friends. The other reason is that she wants to remember everything she experiences in life. Menichini is very passionate about family and friends and enjoys being the mother of two nice young men and the wife of a terrific Italian.

Katie Bellas – Director of Sales

The Orange County Convention Center, located just behind Shingle Creek Golf Club, is in the middle of one of the meeting capitals of the world. Katie Bellas is in the middle of selling and arranging those meetings. Bellas is responsible for guiding the conference sales team.

It’s a big territory to cover, but Bellas has a big sales background to match it. The married mother of 16-year-old twin daughters has worked in sales at the prestigious Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami and the Loews Anatole in Dallas. She has also worked in sales at the Saddlebrook Marriott in Saddlebrook, NJ, not far from New York City; and two major Orlando destinations, the Wyndham Palace Resort and Spa and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin.

Bellas’ world reflects her strong sense of curiosity. The native of Fair Lawn, NJ enjoys meeting and learning about associations and companies she might otherwise not interact with. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling to new places.

The Orange County Convention Center, located just behind Shingle Creek Golf Club, is in the middle of one of the meeting capitals of the world. Katie Bellas is in the middle of selling and arranging those meetings. Bellas is responsible for guiding the conference sales team.

Patty Herder – Associate Director of Midwest Sales

Patty is responsible for the major incentive houses and automotive companies, where the amount of function space combined with Rosen Shingle Creek’s numerous amenities are the perfect mix for large corporate groups.

Patty brings more than 28 years of hotel sales experience and relationships built throughout the hospitality industry along with an exceptional knowledge of the Orlando marketplace that will be instrumental in filling Rosen Shingle Creek. Patty’s expertise in opening resorts is especially beneficial with Shingle Creek’s September 9th opening.

Patty was involved in pre-opening sales for four Orlando-area properties including the Orlando Marriott World Center and the three onsite hotels at Universal Florida – Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Royal Palm Resort. Patty spent 14 years at the Marriott World Center as Director of Corporate Sales. More recently, Patty spent the past seven years as Director of Resorts Sales with an emphasis in the incentive and pharmaceutical markets at the three Universal properties.

Patty graduated from Michigan State University in 1977 with a degree in Travel and Tourism Management (HRIM). She then immediately launched her career through the management training program with Hyatt Corporation in Indianapolis, which ultimately led her to Central Florida. She learned the basics during her four years at the Hyatt Orlando in both convention services and sales. Patty then spent over two years as Director of Sales with Image International, a convention planning and service company based in Orlando, which led her to the Orlando Marriott World Center and Universal Florida.

Jamie Cox – Associate Director of Sales

Soccer mom Jamie Cox, like the game she cares about, knows how to achieve a goal. In the business arena Cox, who was an Incentive Specialist at the Rosen Centre for four years, enjoys closing a sale and winning the business.

On the soccer field, Cox and her husband, who have one child, would develop a quality soccer complex in Southwest Orlando if a major winning lottery ticket ever came her way. The Cleveland native clearly is very comfortable with the multitude of features living in Orlando has to offer, including parks, golf and restaurants.

She also likes Northern Florida, where Amelia Island is her favorite vacation spot. Cox relaxes with fishing, bike riding and reading a good book. If Jamie could be an animal, she would choose the great white heron because they’re graceful and beautiful and live by the ocean, a favorite respite location for Jamie.

Douglas Thomas – Associate Director of Sales

Douglas Keith Thomas has hospitality written all over his career as he has worked in that side of the industry for nearly a decade. Before joining the Shingle Creek team, Doug sold all of the Orlando hotels with the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau. He likes closing the sale and being part of a team.

The married father of twin boys is a man full of love – Brotherly Love, that is. Philadelphia is his favorite city, not only because he was born there but also because he likes it for its history, sports and quality of food. In fact, the city may have figured into his choice of being any animal. Doug’s answer: a ( Philadelphia?) eagle.

At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Doug has undoubtedly savored a cheese steak or two. Yet he also enjoys exercise and spends part of his free time lifting weights, as well as doing small construction projects and, as he says, “teaching anything to anyone.”

John Pate – National Sales Manager

With more than 25 years experience in the hotel and hospitality industry, and 16 of those years spent as a National Sales Manager for award-winning convention properties such as the former Buena Vista Palace Resort & Spa, The Peabody Orlando and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Pate brings a wealth of sales and guest service experience to his role at Rosen Hotels & Resorts.

Jonathan Misiewicz – National Sales Manager

Lisa Burrows – Sr. Conference Center Sales Manager

Additionally, Lisa Burrows recently joined the Rosen Shingle Creek family as a Conference Center Sales Manager for Southeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. Burrows’ previous positions were in marketing for the Wildhorse Saloon, Gaylord Entertainment Sales and as an Assistant Restaurant Manager for The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando and Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center.

Jane Ellen Sanders – Conference Center Sales Manager

Jane Ellen Sanders (Jill) is the Northeast National Sales Manager for Rosen Hotels & Resorts. This position covers Northeast U.S. and Canada and the following vertical markets: Pharmaceutical and Insurance.

Before joining Rosen Hotels & Resorts, Jill worked for Rosenbluth Travel for 5 years and then Maritz/McGettigan Travel Company for 15 years. She worked on-site within a large Pharmaceutical company for the last 6 years, in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Jill has traveled to Australia, Europe and all over the U.S.

This position fits Jill well as she loves to travel and the story of owner Harris Rosen’s success and his desire to give back is something she’s proud to tell to new and current clients. “It’s amazing how many people want to hear more about his great projects for the future”.

Lauren Olson – Conference Center Sales Manager

Celeste Frucht – Sales Manager

Celeste Frucht has been promoted to Sales Manager in the Mid-Atlantic after joining Rosen Shingle Creek’s convention services management team in July 2006. Prior to working at Rosen Shingle Creek, Frucht spent four years in convention services management at Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort. She has also worked for the Hyatt Regency San Antonio, where she held various management positions. Frucht was very instrumental in the opening of Rosen Shingle Creek and guided our wonderful customers through the operations of conventions.

Dawn McClure – Sales Manager

Eliana Alvarado – Sales Manager

Tania McCall – Leisure Travel Industry Sales Manager

Tania McCall joined Rosen Shingle Creek this month with 17 years of sales experience in the hospitality industry, where she was consistently promoted and rewarded for her sales achievements. Most recently, she spent four years as a Regional Director of Sales & Reservations for Sky Hotels, where she was responsible for generating more than $19 million in domestic and international business. Prior to joining Sky Hotels, Tania served as Director of Travel Industry Sales, then Director of Sales for Ocean Waters Management. She also worked for the Holiday Inn Florida Collection as Sales Manager before being promoted to Regional Director of Travel Industry Sales. Tania began her career as a Customer Service & Sales Representative for Virgin Holidays and was then promoted to Reservations & Group Manager. She attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.

Gina Ovinnio – National Sales Manager