Overland Park, Kan. – Nov. 14, 2012 – Signaling a positive outlook for 2013 and beyond, True North Hotel Group President Lew Wiens today underscored his company’s continued strength in hotel development and management by announcing three vice president-level additions – Dave Mashburn, Jerry Culkin and Joe Novak – to the company’s leadership team.

Dave Mashburn, who recently joined True North Hotel Group as vice president of development, is leading the company’s efforts to double its hotel portfolio over the next several years via third-party management contracts and acquisitions. Mashburn, who most recently served as vice president of development for John Q Hammons, brings 30 years of experience in the development, design, construction, and management of hotel, resort and conference centers across the United States. He has been active in several professional organizations including ULI (Urban Land Institute), ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers), IFMA (International Facility Management Association) and has been a licensed real estate agent in the State of Missouri.

Jerry Culkin, C.H.A., has been promoted from a regional position to vice president of operations for True North Hotel Group. His equal balance of full- and limited-service hotels, combined with his expertise in opening new properties and developing people, form a strong foundation for his new role. Culkin’s road to True North Hotel Group, which recruited him in 1999, came through Marriott management experiences, during which Culkin led his hotels to Community Service, President's Cup, Gold and Platinum Awards.

Joe Novak has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for True North Hotel Group. Novak, who joined the company in 2009 after serving for several years as vice president of sales for the Overland Park Convention and Visitors Bureau, is responsible for providing strategic sales direction to True North's portfolio of hotels and serving as the key sales liaison with owners and brand partners. Novak’s hospitality industry background includes 13 years with Marriott International, during which time he received several sales honors including Sales Leader of the Year, Sales Team of the Year and Best Event Management Team of the Year.

“Staying keenly focused on our people, our guests and our hotels’ performance is what’s kept us consistently strong for more than 30 years,” said Wiens, “and it’s a great place to be as we plot our future growth strategies.”

About True North Group
True North Hotel Group (www.truenorthhotels.com), headquartered in Overland Park and owned by True North Family Trust and Richard Merkel, is a hotel management and development company with 20 hotels currently open and five more under construction or in the pipeline. True North’s portfolio includes extended stay and select-service hotels within the Marriott, Hilton, Westin and Holiday Inn brands.