ABOUT PRIDE HOSPITALITY
The Team of Pride Hospitality
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Mark Zipperer - President
Mark has been an active member of the IAHI since 1997 serving and volunteering in many different roles from his committee seat position on the Holiday Inn Express Brand Committee, The Technology Committee, and his active involvement with the INN-PAC Committee and their annual trip to Washington, DC during the AH&LA Legislative Action Summit.
Mark's relationship with Intercontinental Hotels and the IAHI far precedes the opening of his first IHG hotel. Mark began his career with Holiday Inn in 1973 as a Management Trainee at the Holiday Inn South-Milwaukee, WI and later with the Holiday Inn Lake Shore Drive-Chicago, IL. Since graduating from University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1983 Mark has held executive positions with both Holiday Inn Corporation and Marriott Hotels. Starting in 1987 Mark was a College Relations Representative for Holiday Inn Corporation. In this position he was responsible for coordinating the undergraduate recruiting for four divisions of Holiday Corporation. (Holiday Inn, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, sand Harrah's Hotels and Casinos). In 1998 he began his tenure as the Education Services Consultant with Holiday Inn University where he was responsible for training management teams for smooth opening or conversions to the Holiday Inn System. His responsibilities also included Human Resource consulting for the franchise hotels, and training in the General Manager class at HIU on EEO, labor relations and BI. In 1990 Mark accepted a new position with Holiday Inn Corporation as the Manager, New Hotel Opening Program. He developed this department and was responsible for the team that developed and delivered the New Hotel Opening training program and support service in the America and Caribbean Region. He over saw and ensured the smooth transition for over 200 new and converting hotels entering the Holiday Inn System annually. Mr. Zipperer was promoted to the Director, Franchise Service for Bass Hotels and Resorts (Holiday Inn Brands) in 1993 where he over saw a team of 16 field based and office staff that serviced a region of the Central United States. He recruited, trained, coached and led his team to consult with approximately 425 hotels in the areas of Revenue and Service Management. His team also opened all new hotels. Mark resigned from Bass Hotels and Resorts in 1999 to focus on the development of his company Pride Hospitality, LLC a full service management and development company.
Mr. Zipperer has been and continues to be actively involved in his community via Habitat for Humanity the Grizzly House and numerous other charitable organizations. Mark holds a CHA (Certified Hotel Administrator), CHRE (Certified Human Resource Executive), certifications from the American Hotel & Motel Association as well as a PHR-Professional in Human Resources, Certified DDI Instructor and Certified Holiday Inn General Manager. He has served as an Advisory Board Member for the Hotel and Restaurant Program at Grambling State University, Executive Board Member of University of Wisconsin Stout Foundation, and Board Member Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality at the University of Memphis Program, and the Holy Rosary Development and Capital Campaign Committee. Mark continues to develop himself professional leadership as well through the participation in the IAHI General Electric Leadership Foundation Summit.
Mark founded Pride Hospitality on the simple principal of "Personal Responsibility In Developing Excellence". Mark leads and coaches the professional and personal development of each Pride Team Member based on this foundation. Mark exudes the following principals of Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dependability and Enthusiasm in his daily life as well as through out the Pride Organization.
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 | Rod Rogers - Director of Operations
Rod has been working in the hospitality industry for over fifteen years. He has worked in many different positions and for several different hotel chains, including Marriot Fairfield Inn, Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, Baymont Inn and Intercontinental's Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. Rod was recruited by Pride Hospitality in March 1999. As the Director of Operations for Pride Hospitality, Rod is responsible for all the hotels and their operations and also handles client relations. For the past two years, Rod has served on the IAHI Candlewood Brand Committee. Rod is involved in organizations that benefit the community such as Habitat for Humanity and Give Kids the World.
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Karen Berthelson - Director of Revenue and Marketing
Karen has been in the hospitality industry for over fourteen years, starting as a Front Desk Associate with the Salt Lake City Marriott. Karen progressed through various operational positions including Front Desk Manager and Assistant General Manager for Prime Hospitality in the Chicago area, and Marcus Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She also worked for Starwood Hotels. Karen joined Pride Hospitality in 2002 as the General Manager of the Holiday Inn Express in Brown Deer (Milwaukee), WI. During this time, the hotel received numerous awards, including Quality Excellence from IHG. After three years of growth and development, Karen accepted the corporate position, Director of Revenue and Marketing. Karen also served on the board and as the President of the Mequon Thiensville Chamber of Commerce.
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Kelly Wolter - Corporate Manager of Sales and Training
Kelly has been employed in the Hospitality Industry over nine years, beginning her career as a Front Desk Associate with one of Pride Hospitality's first hotels - the Holiday Inn Express in Brown Deer, Wisconsin. After completing her Bachelors Degree at Concordia University Wisconsin, she accepted the Assistant General Manager at the Brown Deer property. Shortly thereafter, Kelly was promoted to General Manager for Pride Hospitality at the Holiday Inn Express and Harbor Winds hotels in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where she served for the next eight years. In 2008, Kelly was awarded the Pride Hospitality General Manager of the year. In 2009, Kelly successfully managed the completion of a 3 million dollar construction and renovation project at the Holiday Inn Express. This project included the renovation of 63 existing rooms, public areas and meeting space, plus the addition of a 3rd floor to the existing 2-floor property. The Sheboygan properties have been the primary training sites for Pride's Manager-In- Training (MIT) program, where Kelly focused on both recruiting and training of the college graduates that were selected for the program. Kelly has since successfully trained a recruit from The University of Wisconsin-Stout to take her position as the General Manager. This transition has allowed Kelly to join the Pride Corporate office as the Corporate Manager of Operations and Training. During Kelly's years in the Sheboygan community, she was an active member of the Tourism committee and Chamber of Commerce where she continues to volunteer at various festivals and events. In addition to her work in Sheboygan, Kelly has enjoyed working with Pride Hospitality to raise money to support the Give Kids the World charity.
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