TAMPA, Florida—Mainsail Lodging & Development announced the expansion of its executive leadership team with the appointment of Lisa Conner as chief financial officer, alongside four other executives. The recent appointments include Ben Miele as director of accounting; Lori Nelson as paralegal; Bria Jones as corporate recruiter; and Netta Katz as reservation manager. The recent move signals a period of growth for the company.
“We are thrilled to welcome these industry professionals to our corporate team. Their collective expertise will be instrumental in moving Mainsail forward,” said Joe Collier, president and founder of Mainsail Lodging & Development. “I’m confident this strategic investment in leadership will further strengthen our position as a leader in the hospitality industry and deliver unparalleled value to our stakeholders.”
Conner brings experience in financial leadership and accounting roles to Mainsail Lodging & Development. Conner spent more than 10 years working with PwC and KPMG as senior manager of audit and more than 15 years in M&A with private equity, public, and privately held companies. She also has experience in managing financial operations and implementing business process improvements as an advisory consultant with RGP, Steven Douglas, and Tampa Bay CPA Consulting. Conner will oversee Mainsail’s finances, project accounting, and hotel operational accounting, working closely with senior leadership to identify opportunities to grow the company’s core domestic businesses. Conner received her bachelor’s degree in business accounting from Stockton University and is a licensed CPA in Florida and New Jersey.
Joining Conner is director of accounting Miele, bringing more than 30 years of accounting, tax, and audit experience to the team. In his most recent role, Miele served as director of accounting for clients of a large global accounting and consulting firm. As a Florida CPA, Miele’s focus will be on reviewing and analyzing financial information, improving controls, and establishing accounting policies and procedures across all of Mainsail’s properties. Miele received his bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in accounting, from UMass Lowell.
Certified senior paralegal Nelson brings nearly three decades of experience to Mainsail in corporate matters, intellectual property, and complex litigation cases on both the state and federal levels. Nelson joins Mainsail from Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, where she worked as a senior paralegal and most recently a litigation support specialist. She has managed more than 120 in-house litigation cases using Relativity during the last four years. Her expertise is in navigating legal complexities and ensuring compliance across all Mainsail properties. Nelson is a graduate of Youngstown State University and the National Center for Paralegal Training in Atlanta.
With nearly 10 years of experience in human resources, Jones takes on the role of corporate recruiter, joining Mainsail from Cross Creek Ranch and Nielsen Media. Jones is pursuing her master’s degree in human resource management with aspirations to achieve her SHRM certification upon completion. In addition to her academic pursuits, she holds a medical assistant diploma and is a notary public.
Netta Katz has been appointed as reservation manager and will play a role in enhancing the guest experience across Mainsail’s portfolio. Katz began her career with Mainsail back in 2019, helping to open The Karol Hotel, where she worked as director of rooms. In her new role, Katz will help to grow reservation sales and support Mainsail properties at the corporate level.
