Management Team
Corporate Management Team
Julie Schlosser
Director of Human Resources
jschlosser@strandhospitality.com
Phone: 843-232-7214“Always treat people with respect regardless of the circumstances”
Julie Schlosser joined Strand in 2018 as the Director of Human Resources where she has already made a mark on the company by implementing new policies and procedures. Julie brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience to Strand, primarily in the hospitality and insurance fields, most recently coming from Blue Cross Blue Shield. She is certified as both a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) by the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) and as a Society of Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
Julie’s kindness and compassion undoubtedly makes her a great HR leader and has also led her life to the Dominican Republic where she spent a summer teaching English. She built her own house in Myrtle Beach where she has resided since 1997 with her husband, Al, and family.
Christy Gliddon
Human Resources
cgliddon@strandhospitality.com
Christy started working in tourism and hospitality to work her way through school and is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill where she majored in Industrial Relations and Economics. Christy has held Human Resources leadership positions in various industries including Textiles, Consumer Products, Pharmaceuticals and Specialty Foam/Insulation. Christy believes that no matter your business specialty, it is imperative to view the business through a variety of lenses and to make the best strategic decisions. She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources through the Human Resources Certification Institute, a Senior Certified Professional through the Society for Human Resources Management, as well as certified to facilitate leadership training through Achieve Global.Christy’s priorities are faith, family, and career and is the mom of two incredible young men, Spencer and Larkin. She is currently the Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Pharr, A Family of Companies, in McAdenville, North Carolina. While she enjoys all aspects of the human resources profession, she is most passionate about organizational development and alignment, equal employment opportunity, and employee relations.
Amanda Bryant
Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing
Phone: 404-481-0792“Dream more than others think practical. Expect more than others think possible. Care more than others think wise.”
Amanda Bryant is a highly accomplished hospitality professional, bringing proven leadership and strategic marketing skills to Strand Hospitality's sales and marketing team. She has spent more than 20 years in the hospitality industry, primarily in all facets of hotel sales and marketing. During this time she developed sales initiatives at independent and branded properties including Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton and Hyatt. Her awards include Top Room Revenue Producing Hotel for Embassy Suites in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Amanda is proudest of her ability to maintain a happy and healthy family as well as her career. She prides herself in being able to combine all the things she loves most, her family, pursuing a leadership role in hospitality that excites her and being able help and mentor others to do the same. Her competitive and adventurous spirit has brought a great value to Strand's management team as the Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing by rolling out new initiatives to sales teams to maximize profitability and achieve revenue goals.
It is no surprise that her competitiveness also shines through in her personal life as she enjoys competitive kickboxing, weightlifting, running races and hiking in her free time. Amanda attended Elgin Community College to obtain her degree in hotel management and she currently resides in Greer, South Carolina with her family.
Michael Perkins
Director of Revenue Management
mperkins@strandhospitality.com
Phone: 843- 267- 7308Michael Perkins brings more than 23 years of hospitality experience to the team, with over 14 years focused on Revenue Management at both the property and corporate levels. Working in primary and secondary markets, he has managed inventories ranging from 75 to 1200 rooms. Focusing on pricing, forecasting, inventory management, channel distribution and demand analysis enables Michael to develop sound strategies that are communicated to key stakeholders.
Michael is a certified Revenue Manager for Marriott, Hilton and Choice Hotels in full and select service brands. As a Materials Science and Engineering student at Georgia Tech, Michael began his hospitality career in Guest Service and Reservations, subsequently transitioning into the Revenue Management field.
Mitch Plitt
Corporate Director of Maintenance and Engineering
Phone: 704-207-8179Mitch brings to Strand his knowledge and experience of over 16 years in hotel maintenance & engineering and 40 years of construction work. He is ACA certified and has a sound understanding of maintenance laws and legal requirements of hotels including life safety and property maintenance. Mitch travels to all Strand properties to ensure setup of a complete property maintenance program, preserving the lifespan of equipment and investments.
Regional Management Team
Jeff Iavarone
Corporate Director of Sales & Marketing
jiavarone@strandhospitality.com
Phone: 504-236-6477"Passiveness is never an option."
For 18 years, Jeff led his team as Vice President of Sales & Marketing, serving major urban city centers, secondary and tertiary markets. He has had a multitude of success driving hotels to top-line dominance through innovative thought leadership, strong knowledge of strategic hotel-driven processes, and a core belief in approaching each hotel with an owner mentality. He brings an EQ leadership style to all his hotel teams and prides himself on being a solid supporter to everyone at the hotel.
Jeff is multi-disciplined in the arena of sales & marketing, including web, digital, public relations, and social platforms. His portfolio oversight has included new openings, conversions, repositioning, and branding. He has worked with all major brands and products ranging from luxury full-service and focus service to extended stay and boutique properties. Jeff is driven by "being in a positive and collaborative environment" like Strand Hospitality, and thrives in hyper-competitive environments where his hotels aim to exceed budget and market benchmarks.
Outside of hotel life, Jeff is a dive enthusiast, amateur surfer (longboard), avid (voracious) reader, writer (repressed) and poet (read only by his wife). A husband and father of two daughters, Jeff and his family live in the Jacksonville Beach, Florida area.
James Alcorn
Regional Director of Operations
Phone: 843-602-9540
“Always take the scenic route”
Having provided extensive service to Strand for over a decade, James's influence is clearly visible. Properties in his region are award winners, including Hilton Lighthouse Awards, Marriott Platinum Circle Award, and multiple Strand awards. James empowers his team with the tools they need to prosper. He leads them to successfully navigate constant change including renovations, workforce challenges, and fluctuating markets.
A graduate of University of Miami of Ohio, James's career began in Food & Beverage Operations. He joined the Strand team as a General Manager and moved into his current position as Regional Director of Operations. James and his family reside in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.
Tom Rost
Regional Director of Operations
Phone: 913-522-8889Tom Rost brings to Strand the knowledge and experience he has been building for nearly 30 years. His hospitality career began while he was in college at the University of Kansas. His work has been focused at hotels in the Midwest, including Minnesota, Montana, and South Dakota, and has extended all over the United States.
Tom has developed key insights in management recruitment and development, brand relations and quality assurance. His experience includes work with Hilton, Marriott, Wyndham, Best Western, and Radisson brands. Properties under Tom's direction have been recipients of the IHG Torchbearer, Hampton Inn & Suites Lighthouse, and Courtyard Platinum Awards.
Before coming to Strand, Tom was the Regional Vice President of Operations for Minnesota-based TPI Hospitality. He and his family now reside in Eastern North Carolina.