Results Oriented Hotel Management

As owners, we understand your priorities. We understand that financial results are what matters most to owners and investors. We stay focused on raising RevPAR, penetration, and flowing the most to your bottom line while maintaining high guest and brand scores and treating each property as if it were our own.

“Terrapin is extremely nimble and responsive. Their ability to quickly implement new sales strategies while reducing expenses to improve operating margins is extraordinary. And they are able to implement these improvements almost immediately.”

Paul Nussbaum

GOALS & STRATEGY

Roi Return On Investment Analysis Finance Concept

Terrapin Hospitality’s goal is to consistently deliver a high level of service to exceed the expectations of each guest and provide excellent financial results to owners. This is accomplished by identifying and correcting operational inefficiencies, investing in the development of on-property associates, and effectively managing capital improvements to maximize every dollar and provide a high level of return in a variety of markets and economic cycles.

OUR TEAM

executive

Tony Sherman

Chief Executive Officer

Tony Sherman

Tony Sherman Is the founder and CEO of Terrapin Hospitality, a real estate investment firm that specializes in owning and managing hotel properties nationwide.

In 2001 Mr. Sherman formed Terrapin Investments to invest in self-storage and other types of real estate. From 2001 to 2007 he bought and redeveloped 4 facilities in AZ and Texas and exited before the Recession of 2007.

After the events of 9/11 2001, Mr. Sherman saw an opportunity to buy hotels as that asset class was out of favor and prices were favorable. Starting with a Ramada Limited in Tucson in 2003, Terrapin has acquired over 30 hotels nationwide and now owns or manages a portfolio of 80 hotels including Marriott, Hilton, and Holiday Inn Express brands in the in 14 states and coast to coast.

Before forming Terrapin, Tony Sherman was a General Partner at the Pegasus Group in Walnut Creek, CA from 1992 to 1999. While there he acquired and developed over $200,000,000 of self-storage, apartments, and marinas nationwide. Mr. Sherman is still an owner of storage properties in CA and AZ which he co-developed

He graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Economics in 1989. He lives in Colorado with his wife and kids Max and Anderson, 15 and 17. He is a member of YPO and serves on the board of the Innocence Project of Texas.

Tony@terrapinhospitality.com
415-378-3119

Mardi Ketchum

Chief Financial Officer

Mardi Ketchum

Mardi Ketchum serves as Chief Financial Officer for Terrapin Investments and oversees all financial aspects for the company, as well as special projects. Mardi brings an extensive 37 years in the high-end hospitality and development industry to Terrapin with a primary focus on finance and accounting.

Mardi began her career in hospitality with the Aspen Ski Company in the hotel operations division. In her 20 years with the Aspen Ski Company, she fulfilled a key role of overseeing the accounting departments at two of their properties: the 5 Star 5 Diamond Little Nell Hotel at the base of Aspen Mountain and The Snowmass Club, a full-service resort and spa.

Prior to coming to Terrapin, Mardi spent 5 years as both an Accountant and Human Resources Manager for the luxury development company, Timbers Resorts. Her work at Timbers focused on luxury construction development projects at prime locations around the world. Mardi currently lives in Houston Tx, and in her spare time she enjoys spending time with her 7 sons and grandson.

Shawn Kvernen

Chief Operating Officer

Shawn Kvernen

I joined Terrapin Hospitality in September of 2021 as the Senior VP of Business Development and most recently was promoted to C.O.O. in January 2022. Prior to Terrapin, I was the C.O.O. and owner at KPartners Hospitality. During my fifteen-year tenure at KPartners Hospitality, I held multiple roles including General Manager, Area General Manager, Regional VP of Operations, and VP of Operations. During that time, I helped the company grow from 4 managed hotels to 35 managed hotels. Prior to KPartners I worked with Sage Hospitality for ten years at various properties with roles as Food and Beverage Director and General Manager. In my early hospitality career, I worked front-line positions in all areas of hotel operations. I am a graduate of Moorhead State University, where I majored in Criminal Justice. I currently work out of our San Antonio, Texas Office.

Lavina Watkins

Chief Human Resources Officer

Lavina Watkins

Lavina Watkins has over 25 years of experience in the Human Resource and Payroll industry. She has worked for startup, fast-growing, and fortune 500 companies. Lavina has achieved her MBA, is SPHR and ACE certified. Throughout Lavina’s career, she has developed cost and time-saving policies and procedures. She has designed employee recognition programs to increase morale and employee retention.

Upon relocating from Pennsylvania to Arizona in 2010, she accepted a position with Xerox. While there Lavina designed and implemented policies that allowed the payroll team to be error-free and was nominated and accepted for training in the Achieving Competitive Excellence “ACE” program. Upon completion, she became a committee member. Under her direction, the Executive Payroll and Benefits Department went from Bronze to Silver and then ultimately to Gold status.

Lavina believes in process development and improvement through knowledge and communication, if an individual knows what is expected of them, they will exceed those expectations. She believes that all team members want to do a great job and as leaders we have a responsibility to give them the correct tools.

sales

operations

business development

sales

Sarah Garcia

Chief Sales Officer

Sarah Garcia

Sarah Garcia is a long-term hospitality professional with over 20 years’ experience in sales, marketing, eCommerce, and revenue management. Garcia oversees the company’s sales, revenue management and eCommerce departments. She works directly with the on-property teams as well as Executive Leadership to drive top-line revenues and increase NOI while building infrastructure, processes, procedures, and culture for immediate and future growth of the organization. Sarah develops and maintains company-wide relationships and accounts while identifying and hiring top talent with the drive for success.

Prior to joining Terrapin, Sarah was Corporate Vice President, Sales, and Marketing for Aimbridge Hospitality, previously Interstate Hotels & Resorts where she oversaw 4 direct reports and 100 hotels. She also served as Vice President, Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Management for Shamin Hotels and held a regional position with Noble Investment Group. Sarah obtained a BA in Business Management from Argosy University, located in Atlanta, Georgia.

operations

Alex Cerda

Senior Vice President, Operations

Alex Cerda

Alex J. Cerda is the Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, responsible for the operational oversight of the existing hotel portfolio. He works directly with the on-property teams as well as executive leaders to drive top-line revenues, increase profit margins and drive service excellence by developing and executing strategies that support the overall goals of the properties.

Alex has 27 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has held key positions as General Manager and Assistant General Manager with several leading hospitality management companies throughout the United States. During his tenure as General Manager, Alex won numerous awards including General Manager of the Year, Top Expense Control Performer, General Manager with highest IBFC percentage and various awards for Most Improved Extended Stay.

Alex has been with Terrapin Hospitality for 15 years and has held the positions of GM, VP of Hotel Operations and Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations. He has been instrumental in the growth of Terrapin Hospitality increasing the number of hotels from a portfolio of 7 hotels to currently over +75 hotels.

business development

Jack Nash

New Business Development

Jack Nash

As the New Business Development Director for Terrapin Hospitality, Jack Nash’s past and future clients will benefit from all the knowledge and experience he has developed throughout his hospitality career.

Mr. Nash has lived in Colorado since a young age and was raised within his family’s hospitality enterprises, starting his career as a front desk agent at a family-owned hotel. Jack continued to work in hotel operations for several years at both full and limited-service properties. Ultimately, Mr. Nash led him to pursue a career as a Hospitality Consultant. Additionally, Jack has also consulted for family office clients, as well as institutional, private, and investment groups. Mr. Nash’s strong industry reputation has allowed him to forge deep relationships with all the franchise companies and with owners seeking to source new and existing hotel investment opportunities.

about us

Results Oriented Hotel Management

GOALS & STRATEGY

OUR TEAM

executive

sales

operations

business development

sales

operations

business development