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Our Team

It's Great to Meet You.

VIP Hospitality Group is led by professionals who believe in extraordinary guest experiences and long-term partnerships.

We have spent years cultivating meaningful relationships with the people we work with, the staff we employ and the guests we serve, so they feel comforted and inspired by us all at once.

Each of our team members plays an integral role in our success, resulting in a positive reputation with the communities we enrich.

Managing Director – John Lee
jlee@viphgroup.com 503.765.5556

John is the founder and Managing Director of VIP Hospitality. As the Managing Director, John oversees the overall operation and growth of VIP. Before starting VIP, he was a Regional Vice President with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). Before IHG, John was a V.P. at Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels.

John received a Masters of Management in Hospitality degree from Cornell University. He also holds a B.S. in Finance and Marketing from the University of Oregon.

 

V.P. of Operations – Rob Lee
rlee@viphgroup.com 503.505.7076

Rob joined VIP as Director of Operations in 2007, overseeing all aspects of hotel operations at VIP. Before VIP, Rob worked as an Area Operations Manager for Lightstone Group/ESA Hotels in Orange County, California. There, Rob oversaw all aspects of operations for hotels in Anaheim, Orange, and Yorba Linda. Rob also worked at the 586-room Marriott Newport Beach from 2000 to 2005.

Rob graduated from the University of Oregon in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

 

V.P. of Operations – Russ Olivier
rolivier@viphgroup.com 360.299.1400

Russ joined VIP as Director of Operations in 2010, overseeing all aspects of operations at VIP. Before joining VIP, Russ was a General Manager of Home Depot stores in California. His people management and leadership skills that he perfected at Home Depot, along with his strong retail background, have been instrumental in taking VIP to the next level.

Before Home Depot, Russ was a senior project manager for IBM Global Services. His passion for Hospitality Industry, however, goes back to his days as a golf caddie at the Salishan Resort & Spa during junior high and high school years.

Russ received a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Oregon.

 

V.P. of Finance – David Lee
dlee@viphgroup.com 503.765.5559

David Lee joined VIP as the Director of Finance in 2011, overseeing all accounting, internal control and financial analysis. Before joining VIP, David was the founder of Compass Financial Solutions.  David also worked at GiFone, Inc., and at Emergent Corporation as the V.P. of Finance.

David, who started his career with Price Waterhouse-Coopers, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley-Haas School of Business in 1992 with a B.S. in Accounting and Finance.

 

Senior Director of Operations – Diana Steinman, CHA
 diana@viphgroup.com  971.226.8171

Diana joined VIP in 2017, initially as the GM of Coho Oceanfront Lodge, and now Senior Director of Operations for the Oregon Coast properties. 

Diana is passionate about training and development. She has a track record of delivering impeccable guest service and connecting our teams to our values. Before VIP, Diana held various leadership positions at Starbucks Coffee Company while completing her degree in Hospitality at DeVry University.

 

Regional Director - Stephen Davis
sdavis@viphgroup.com 503.765.5554

Stephen joined VIP in 2010 and had tenures as the GM of the Inn at Wecoma, Coho Oceanfront Lodge, and finally the Inn at Nye Beach. In 2016, he took a hiatus from the hotel industry, spending 3 years working in Restaurants and Sales. Returning to VIP in 2019, Stephen assumed the position of Revenue Manager, before his promotion as Regional Director.

Outside of his professional life, Stephen enjoys spending time with his children, amateur nature photography, and exploring everything the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

 

Francie Sawyer
francie@viphgroup.com 503.765.5552

Coming soon.

 

P.J. Helit
phelit@viphgroup.com 503.922.6276

P.J. recently Joined VIP Hospitality as the content and operations manager. PJ has over 20 years of Hotel Management experience with serveral branded hotels and property management groups. In addition to hospitality P.J. also has 5 years of professional digital media, graphic design and marketing experience.

 

Director of Facilities - Oregon Coast - Jim Redman
jim@viphgroup.com

Jim recently joined VIP in 2021 as the Director of Facilities – Oregon Coast. Having spent 24 years in the HVAC/R industry and 11 years in large scale resorts as the Director of Engineering, Jim brings a wealth of knowledge to oversee the Facilities and Maintenance programs on the Oregon Coast for VIP Hospitality.

 

Senior Accountant - Jeremy Shaw
jeremy@viphgroup.com 503.765.5552 (ext. 107)

Jeremy Shaw joined VIP as an Accounting Associate in 2018. He graduated from Portland State University with a Bachelor degree in Accounting and Finance. Prior to VIP, he was an audit intern for the CPA firm Schwindt and Co.

 

Accounting Associate - Craig Wilson
cwilson@viphgroup.com 503.765.5552

Craig joined VIP as an Accounting Associate after moving to the Pacific Northwest from the Midwest in 2023. Prior to VIP, he was an accounting associate in the construction industry.

Outside of his professional life, Craig is a sports fan & movie buff who enjoys exploring the region with his wife & has taken up amateur nature photography since moving to the region.

 

Accounting & Administrative Assistant - Misa Ninomiya
misa@viphgroup.com 503.765.5552 (ext. 106)

Misa joined VIP in 2021 as an Accounting & Administrative Assistant. Prior to VIP, Misa has worked in the fields of Hospitality, Human Resources, and Accounting Support.


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