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 Executive Management Team Joe Forster, President & COO Joe Forster is a co-founder of Hospitality Performance Network and serves as its President & COO. He has direct oversight for the day-to-day operations of the company and works diligently with industry leaders to increase HPN's effectiveness in the marketplace. Prior to the formation of HPN, he spent twenty years selling and managing various Conference Center properties, spending the last seven years as Executive Vice President of the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. Mr. Forster's responsibilities included both operational and Sales and Marketing oversight for the 404-room, four-star conference resort as well as its Destination Management and Meeting Planning/Travel divisions. Prior to the Plaza, Mr. Forster served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing and management company principal at the Seabrook Island Conference Resort. Prior to Seabrook, Mr. Forster served as Director of Sales and Marketing for Westfields International Conference Center outside Washington DC., and began his career, in 1984, as a National Accounts Manager at the Scottsdale Conference Resort. Joe graduated from the University of Arizona, where he met his wife of 17 years, Gina. They, with their three children, reside in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Bill Kilburg, Chairman & CEO Mr. Kilburg acts as the company's Chairman and CEO with specific responsibilities for the strategic growth of the company. He has a long history of entrepreneurship and involvement in the hotel and meetings industries, having founded Epix Hotels and Resorts and Set Solutions Inc. Epix Hotels is an aggressive entrepreneurial resort turnaround firm which has been involved with 22 hotels and resorts in the last ten years. Set Solutions is an industrial hard set and theming company based in Phoenix. Bill started his career in the hotel industry as a bellman, working his way up to Chief Financial Officer of a resort ownership and management firm. In addition, he spent time as a Hotel Investment Banker, and was formerly the President of the hotel division of Samoth Capital, a publicly traded Canadian mezzanine lender. Responsibilities included 30 hotel assets comprising 5,000 rooms. In that capacity, he was primarily responsible for all the organizations asset acquisition and disposition strategy and execution. Other background includes time spent as the CEO of the opt-in ethical email marketing firm Whitehat Inc. Mr. Kilburg is a certified public accountant and is also recognized as one of the foremost experts in the country on the interpretation of liquidated damage clauses in hotel contracts, having been retained in over 30 cases on the subject.  Steve Scatino, E.V.P. Sales Steve Scatino became a partner at Hospitality Performance Network in 2002. As Executive Vice President of Sales, he is responsible for implementing and monitoring “best practices” throughout the company, conducting ongoing training for sales associates, maintaining brand awareness in the industry and interacting with HPN’s supplier network working with property level sales executives to maintain strong partnerships. He has more than 20 years of industry experience, which includes positions in sales and sales management with several independent conference centers in Scottsdale, Arizona and Washington, D.C. Scatino graduated from Arizona State University and resides in Gilbert, Arizona with his two sons. He is a member of Meeting Professionals International and Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization.  John Murillo, Sr. V.P. Sales Mr. Murillo is the Sr. Vice President of Sales and assists in the training and support of all HPN associates. He is also responsible for maintaining our brand awareness in the marketplace and strengthening our partnerships within the industry. He has over twelve years of industry experience in sales and marketing. He joined HPN after having a very successful career with several major conference center and resort properties in Scottsdale, Arizona and Washington, D.C. John graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1991, with a BA in Business Administration. John resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife Lindy.  Karin Kilburg E.V.P. Operations Ms. Kilburg acts as the firms Executive Vice President of Operations and oversees the full-service division of the firms business. She has over fifteen years of industry experience, primarily in the Operations, Conference Services and Destination Management areas. Previous to her involvement with HPN she was the founder of Set Solutions, Inc the largest Phoenix based industrial hard set and Theming Company. She has a vast amount of experience on the hotel side of the business and has been involved in the execution of literally thousands of successful meetings. Previous positions have included Vice President of Resort Operations/General Manager, Director of Conference Services and Director of Special Events. Karin was an All-Ivy League soccer player, and graduated with honors from Brown University. Originally from Oregon, she now calls Scottsdale home with her husband and three kids. |
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