Patrick McShane is the executive vice president and co-founder of InnSight Hotel Management Group. With over 35 years in the hospitality industry, Patrick still loves getting involved in the development of new properties. He currently oversees the operations and results for 12 properties (8 Marriott branded, 3 Intercontinental Hotel Group brands, and 1 Choice Hotels). Prior to InnSight, Patrick worked for American General Hospitality, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Doubletree Hotels and Hyatt Hotels. His community involvements include Past President of the Lane County Lodging Association, and co-chair and Board Member of the Oregon Association of Rowers. While on the OLA Board, McShane wants to help “insure that we have as many of our rooms filled as possible and have a strong work force by educating the public on the benefits that our industry brings to the public and to those working within the industry”.

Ryan Snyder is president of Martin Hospitality, a management company with unique hotels and restaurants on the Oregon Coast. A California native, Snyder grew up working in the hospitality industry in Palm Desert and later Las Vegas. Ryan began working for Steve Martin Management in 1995 as a bartender and assistant restaurant manager for the company's Wayfarer Restaurant and Lounge, where he quickly adopted the company’s philosophy. After serving as marketing director, Ryan became president in 2004. In his role with Martin Hospitality, Ryan says one of his biggest responsibilities is keeping the vision for the company's future alive and moving forward. Ryan is quite involved in community activities and service projects and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Make a Wish Foundation of Oregon, and on the Regional Advisory Board for US Bank. 

Jeff Morton is president of InnCline Management. Under Morton’s direction, InnCline oversees the operations of four Eugene/Springfield hotels, and the River Ranch Steakhouse & Event Center. Jeff has been in the hospitality industry since 1987. He began in the maintenance department with Angus Inn of Eugene, and then became General Manager of Barron’s Motor Inn during his college years at the University of Oregon. After attaining his degree in Finance & Management, Jeff began to manage multiple hotels for a local Eugene family. He currently serves as board of director for two additional groups; the Convention and Visitor Association of Lane County, and Lane County Lodging association. Jeff resides with his family in Eugene.

Chuck Hinman is the general manager for the Best Western Hood River Inn. A 30 year veteran in the hospitality industry and property management, Hinman has managed hotels, restaurants, office buildings and other income producing properties throughout the Pacific Northwest. Presently, Chuck is General Manager of Columbia Room, Inc. and DM Stevenson Ranch who are the owners and operators of the Best Western Hood River Inn, the Marketplace Building, Marina Chevron, Hood River Shell and Marina Mart. Chuck has served on the POVA Board, is a past chair of the Hood River County Visitor’s Council, currently serves on the Providence Hood River Hospital Foundation board and is President Elect of the Hood River Rotary Club. He and his wife Camille reside in White Salmon.

Penny Bennington is co-owner of Bennington Properties, LLC in Sunriver Oregon. She and her husband started their vacation rental and real estate business in December 1998. They currently manage over 177 vacation homes and condos for nightly rentals in Sunriver. Penny was awarded her University of Oregon MBA through the Oregon Executive MBA program in Portland in 1995. In 2008, Bennington Properties earned a seat on the Central Oregon Visitors Association Board as one of the 4 largest lodging tax contributors in Deschutes County, and Penny currently sits in that position. Penny has served as a Board Member for the Sunriver Owners Association for 3 years, and then 2 years on the Board of the newly formed Sunriver Service District. She also sits on the financial committee of Sunriver Christian Fellowship.

Todd Cooley is both General Manager and Brand Service/Corporate Representative for Red Lion Hotels Corporation. Todd has over 22 years of hospitality experience throughout the Pacific Northwest. Todd began his career with Hilton Hotels Corporation following his college days at Pacific Lutheran University and has worked in all facets of the hospitality industry including, development, management, education and ownership of hotel interests. Todd currently serves on the board of Travel Lane County, Lane Community College Advisory Committee and proudly founded Lane County Lodging Association. Todd and his wife Janna and their four children currently live in Eugene. 

Steve has been general manager for the Doubletree Hotel Portland since 2004. His hotel career goes back to 1986, when he started with the Medford Red Lion as a busboy.  He worked his way through the hotel ranks with Red Lion, and the company transition to Doubletree in 1996, spending time in San Jose, Modesto, San Diego and Scottsdale along the way.  The Doubletree Portland strives to be a leader in Sustainable Hospitality, and the hotel has been recognized locally and nationally for their efforts. Steve currently serves as chair for the Travel Portland Board of Directors, and is a board member for both the Oregon Lodging Association and the Tri-County Lodging Association. He is also a board member with the Green Meetings Industry Council.

Gary Hoagland is president of Hoagland Properties, Inc. Gary has an impressive 47 years in the lodging and hospitality industry. Previous stints include general manager for Marriott Hotels & Resorts in New Jersey, Maryland, Texas & Connecticut, general manager for Intercontinental Hotels in Tehran, Iran & Bangkok and Thailand. Currently, Hoagland oversees all operations, finance and development for his management company. With his spare time he delves in community involvements such as Rotary International, Florence Area Chamber of Commerce board, past Mayor of Depoe Bay, board chair of Pacific Communities Hospital District, and president of Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Jim Hughes is president of Northland Furniture Company in Bend. Since 1996, James Hughes has been owner and sole proprietor of an active investment business engaged in buying and building companies. He also serves as president of both Northland Furniture Company (Bend) and Pacific Architectural Wood Products (Portland) and partner of Lodge at Elk Glen in Tillamook County. Additionally, Hughes serves on several boards including Shorebank Pacific, Inc., Package Containers, Inc.; Bergstrom Nutrition, Inc., Genesis Acquisition Company (DBA Northland Furniture), and Pacific Architectural Wood Products, Inc. Hughes was a commissioned officer for the U.S. Military from 1968-1994 (Active Duty 1968 -1972, Reserve Duty 1972 -1994, serving various command positions including Pentagon Service during the Gulf War in 1990. His business career includes executive positions in a number of high technology companies and CEO of several other companies in a number of industries.

Steve Jung is general manager of Embassy Suites Portland Downtown. Steve’s main responsibility includes overseeing all aspects of operations for the downtown hotel. He’s been in the hospitality industry for over 25 years, managing hotels from the Midwest to the West Coast. Jung has been with Hilton for eleven years, working in Chicago and Indianapolis prior to moving to the Northwest. Prior to joining Hilton, he worked for Marriott in the Chicago market. Currently he serves on the Board of Directors for POVA and serves on the Leadership Council for the Starlight Foundation. One of Steve’s goals while serving on the board is to find ways to continue to be proactive in protecting tax dollars to invest in tourism.

Jim Kinney is general manager of Seventh Mountain Resort & Conference Center. Kinney started with the resort in 2005 just as it was emerging from a $20 million renovation. Seventh Mountain is managed by Premier Resorts, the same company that manages The Lodges at Deer Valley in Utah where Kinney served as general manager. Under his direction, the luxury condos at Deer Valley were named one of America’s Top 25 ski resorts for four consecutive years by Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Kinney is responsible for day-to-day operations at the Seventh Mountain Resort, directing a staff of 125 employees. He has also served on the Central Oregon Visitor’s Association board of directors for 3 years. Kinney resides in Bend with his wife and three children.

Chris Otto is the director of sales for Sunriver Resort. Otto joined Sunriver Resort in 2006 after managing the Valley River Inn in Eugene. He oversees group sales for meetings, conventions, weddings, and special events for the popular Central Oregon resort. Prior to serving as general manager of the Inn, Otto spent almost a decade with Red Lion Hotels working in Sacramento, Portland and Springfield. He has been in the lodging industry for over 25 years and has served on the OLA board for the past six years. Otto’s goals for his term on the board include meeting the needs of members by helping position OLA as a leader in local, state and national issues affecting the lodging industry. Otto resides in Bend with his wife and three children.

Vijay is the owner and founder of A-1 Hospitality, which currently owns and operates five hotels from Pendleton to Tri-Cities, developing four more hotels in Oregon - Hermiston, Boardman, The Dalles - and one in Pasco, Washington. A-1's portfolio includes Travelodge, Holiday Inn Express and America's Best Value Inns. In 2003, Patel was named Oregon’s Most Valuable Volunteer by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Vijay was also awarded Oregon Lodging Association’s Innkeeper of the Year in 2007. Patel has served on the board for Pendleton’s Chamber, Past Chairman of the Board for the OLA, and currently serves as a Rotarian, Pendleton Roundup Volunteer, Travel Pendleton Commission, National Holiday Inn Express Committee and Tri-Cities Visitors and Convention Bureau Commission.

Karen Utz is owner and innkeeper of the Black Walnut Inn and Vineyard in Dundee. After a fulfilling career in elementary education for the North Clackamas school district, Utz decided to pursue her interest in owning her own business. She spent one year doing an internship at Portland’s White House, sparking her interest in operating a bed and breakfast on her own. In 2000, Karen, along with her husband and son, purchased vacant property in Dundee and developed it to include a 9-room inn and 12 acre vineyard. The Inn has been in operation since November 2003. The Inn is a member of the Unique Inn Association.

Brett Wilkerson is Vice President of Hotel Operations for North Pacific Management. He began his career at the Red Lion Hotel Jantzen Beach in 1978 and worked his way up through several positions that culminated in the management of sales, marketing and catering for the Jantzen Beach and Columbia River Red Lion Hotels. At this point he was responsible for $45 million in revenue and supervised 30 managers. Wilkerson joined North Pacific Management when he was named General Manager of the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, Washington in 1997. He was later promoted to vice president of operations, responsible for all sales and marketing, facilities and rooms operations. In April of 2008 he was named President of North Pacific Management's new hospitality division.

Click here for a list of past chairs of the Board of Directors.