As a division of The Donohoe Companies, Donohoe Hospitality is rooted in the values of a century old business. We are guided by the principles of service and integrity that have been associated with the Donohoe name since its inception over a century ago. We are proud of our dynamic, experienced and dedicated team that shares our mission and leads the way to continuing excellence and growth.
Thomas Penny is President of Donohoe Hospitality. As the senior leader of Donohoe Hospitality, Thomas guides the operation of a portfolio of 15 business class hotels, which are affiliated with the Marriott, Hilton, Choice and InterContinental Hotels Group. Thomas’ leadership responsibilities for Donohoe Hospitality include strategic planning, overall operational direction, development and acquisition of properties, and long-term financial and capital planning.
Thomas is a career hospitality professional with multi-brand hotel experience and a history of achieving above-average results in the areas of employee satisfaction, guest satisfaction, market share and profitability. Thomas joined The Donohoe Companies in 1996 and he has shared a successful 21+ year career with the company in both a developmental and hands-on operational capacity. Thomas serves on the Board of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and is a past Board Chair and member of the Hotel Association of Washington, DC.
As Executive Vice President of Donohoe Hospitality Services, Leticia provides strategic and operational leadership across a diverse portfolio of branded and independent hotels. She partners closely with ownership and property leadership to drive performance, integrate cross-functional strategy, enhance asset value and long-term profitability. She also leads renovations to ensure each asset is thoughtfully positioned, financially disciplined and operationally strong.
With more than 30 years of hospitality experience, Leticia has held leadership roles spanning operations, sales, revenue management, and digital strategy with major hotel management companies. She has been recognized as one of IHI’s Top 50 Most Influential People in Hospitality, HSMAI’s Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds, the Washington Business Journal’s Top 25 Minority Business Leaders and Georgetown University’s “Hoya Professional 30”.
Leticia earned a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies & Public Policy from the University of Maryland and a Master’s Degree in Hospitality Management from Georgetown University.
As Vice President of Operations, Michael is responsible for the overall portfolio performance. Michael leads the development and execution of strategies that support, strengthen and grow the hotel operations while maintaining brand policies and standards. Michael has over 20 years of experience in the industry, specializing in hotel openings and turnaround properties. Michael began his career working the full suite of positions in full service, select service, and extended stay properties from South Carolina to Arlington, VA. He joined Donohoe Hospitality as a General Manager in 2009 and has been instrumental to opening two new Residence Inn properties.
Michael has demonstrated his ability to drive the DHS Premium through our “Employee through Profit” model, and has been a corporate and brand citizen while inspiring staff members. Throughout his various leadership positions, he has built award-winning teams and mentored associates who have been promoted to various leadership positions. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of South Carolina.
With more than 20 years of progressive experience in hospitality finance and accounting, Nicole brings deep expertise across corporate reporting, asset management support, and internal controls. She spent 14 years with Host Hotels & Resorts, most recently serving as Director of Hotel Reporting & Analysis, where she oversaw financial reporting. Throughout her career, including earlier roles with Marriott International, Nicole has partnered closely with operations and senior leadership to strengthen forecasting, enhance internal controls, and implement process improvements that drive performance and accountability. Beginning a new chapter with Donohoe Hospitality Services, Nicole looks forward to supporting the continued growth of the portfolio, elevating financial discipline across the organization, and serving as a strategic partner to hotel leaders and ownership groups.
Nicole holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Adelphi University and a Master of Science in Real Estate from American University. She also earned a Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management Certificate from Cornell University and is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).
As Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Donohoe Hospitality Services, Jeremy is responsible for leading portfolio-wide sales, revenue, and marketing strategies that drive topline performance and market share growth. He partners closely with property leaders and on-property sales teams to optimize revenue contribution, strengthen brand positioning, and ensure each hotel is competitively positioned within its respective market.
With more than 24 years in hospitality sales and marketing, Jeremy has built his skillset working with independent luxury hotels and multi-brand portfolios. He joined Donohoe in 2013 as a Director of Sales & Marketing and, over the course of his tenure, has led the sales and marketing efforts for IHG, Marriott, and Hyatt branded properties, consistently delivering strong results and developing high-performing teams.
Jeremy is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program and currently serves as President for HSMAI’s DC Chapter.
As Vice President of Revenue Management at Donohoe Hospitality Services, Neeta leads the development and execution of revenue strategies across the company’s portfolio, driving performance, market share, and profitability. A seasoned hospitality professional with more than 20 years of experience, she brings a well-rounded operational perspective shaped by leadership roles in front office operations, reservations, sales and marketing, and revenue management. Neeta is highly skilled in analyzing market trends, evaluating competitive positioning, and implementing data-driven strategies that consistently outperform expectations. Her diverse background includes experience with boutique, luxury, and major branded hotels.
Neeta began her hospitality career in India before relocating to the United States, where she advanced her career across multiple markets including Hawaii, California, Louisiana, Virginia, and Washington, DC. A defining moment in her journey was navigating the impact of Hurricane Katrina and helping lead hotel operations through recovery and stabilization. Throughout her career, Neeta has successfully implemented innovative revenue strategies that have delivered record-setting performance and strengthened each property’s competitive position within its market.
As an experienced Chef with a reputation of driving impressive results, Malcolm is focused on creating destination restaurants, bars and event spaces that respect margins and continue to challenge and grow our people. Malcolm is actively curating forward-leaning concepts for hotels in the development pipeline, while strengthening relationships and partnerships within the local community.
Following a four-year stint in the Navy, Malcolm quickly transitioned into leadership roles within restaurant and hotel companies. In 2007, Mitchell launched Brain Food, a healthy school lunch program that provided nutritionally sound meals from scratch while holding true to gourmet style. The program’s success led to his involvement in Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign to fight childhood obesity which led to him being a featured chef for the “Party with a Purpose” in the Denver, Colorado Democratic National Convention for President Barack Obama. Mitchell has received multiple culinary awards, including Richmond Magazine Best New Restaurants 2014 & Baltimore Sun 2017 Best New Chef.
Danielle Rice is Vice President of Human Resources at The Donohoe Companies, where she leverages her expertise and leadership to improve the entire employee life cycle across all business units: talent acquisition, engagement, development, performance, separation, company policy, and legal compliance. She has over 25 years of experience positively impacting corporate performance through strategic planning, development, and execution of human resources programs and projects.
Danielle joined Donohoe as Director of Human Resources in 2018 and has been instrumental in formulating Donohoe’s pandemic-related policies and creating the company’s Women’s Leadership Initiative and the Inclusion & Diversity Committee. She is a trusted HR professional who has effectively developed processes and procedures to address critical workforce issues, align HR goals with vital organizational initiatives, and develop policies to address internal and legislative compliance matters. Prior to Donohoe, Danielle served as the Director of Human Resources at Interstate Hotels and as the Manager of Human Resources at Marriott.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Howard University and a Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management from Strayer University. She also holds both the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certifications. Professionally, she is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
As the Assistant Vice President of People and Culture, Rustin has direct oversight of hotel-level human resource functions, including recruiting, recognition, and retention initiatives. Rustin supports the Human Resources team in both associate and community engagement to ensure that our properties reflect a welcoming and inclusive environment. Additionally, he is responsible for digital program and platform integration across the portfolio.
Before joining the human resources team, Rustin served as a General Manager for Donohoe’s Hyatt and Marriott-branded hotels. Prior to Donohoe, his 20 years of hospitality leadership experience included operating independent, full-service, lifestyle, and extended-stay hotels with Marriott.
After graduating with a BBA from Howard University, Rustin gained additional experience in creating and operating media production, social media, and vertical integration businesses. He currently serves as a member of Donohoe’s Volunteer Committee, a Board Member of the Washington DC Workforce Investment Council, a Board Member of the Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association (VRLTA), a Human Resources Committee member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and has served as a Hospitality Professor at the Academy of Hope, an adult charter school in Washington, DC.
Building dynamic teams and producing lasting results have been the cornerstones of Sheri’s hospitality career for more than 27 years. Recognized as a multi-brand expert, she has held leadership positions in five different hotel brands. As Regional Director of Operations, she is responsible for the overall Residence Inn portfolio performance. She manages a hotel, while supporting, strengthening and growing hotel operations in multiple Residence Inn’s in the area.
Sheri graduated from Indiana University with a BA in Forensic Studies and Sociology and a Masters of Public Affairs degree in Labor Relations and Personnel Management. Sheri worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer in Indianapolis before serving a ten-year stint in the US Army, mostly as a Personnel Officer. After leaving active duty, Sheri went to work with Donohoe Hospitality Services, holding a variety of operational positions, before becoming a General Manager.
Sheri served on the Intercontinental Hotels Group General Manager’s Advisory Board, Destination DC Executive Board and is the past Chairman of the Hotel Association of Washington, DC.
As the Area General Manager at Donohoe Hospitality Services, Elif is responsible for overseeing the performance of several hotels, with a focus on driving GOP and profitability, achieving exceptional guest satisfaction, and fostering strong ownership relations. With a career spanning over 20 years, Elif’s journey began with Hilton in Turkey and includes notable brands such as Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Kimpton, and Cambria.
Her achievements have been recognized with awards like Hotel Management Magazine’s “2023 GMs to Watch Award,” Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants “Focus Award” for outstanding GOP results, and multiple honors from The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, including “Leader of the Quarter” and “Leader of the Year.” Elif also serves as a Board member for the American Experience Foundation.”
As Regional Director of Operations for Donohoe Hospitality Services, Dewayne provides operational and financial leadership across a portfolio of branded and independent hotels. He partners with general managers and ownership groups to strengthen performance, elevate the guest experience, and position each asset for long-term value.
Dewayne brings deep luxury hotel experience to the role, having led operations at some of the most recognized properties in Washington, DC, and New York. Most recently, he served as Complex Managing Director of the JW Marriott Reston Station Hotel & Residences, where he led the hotel and its luxury residences through pre-opening and launch. Before that, he was General Manager of Riggs Hotel in Washington, DC, where Travel + Leisure named the property the #1 Hotel in Washington, DC, and it earned a Michelin Key. His career also includes leadership roles at The Watergate Hotel, Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York, Mandarin Oriental Washington, DC, The Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City, and St. Regis hotels in Washington, DC, and New York.
Dewayne is known for building high-performing teams and service-driven cultures, and for his partnership with ownership on budgeting, capital planning, and brand positioning.
As Senior Director, Brand & Creative Strategy, Talia is responsible for growing and improving the portfolios presence on social media, building awareness, comprehension, and affinity for Donohoe Hospitality. Talia is an experienced leader who is passionate about building brands in creative ways and storytelling. With over 15 years in the industry, Talia has experience spanning from but not limited to front office operations, development, events, sales and marketing. She has worked for reputable brands such as Marriott and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. Prior to joining Donohoe Hospitality, Talia worked for the ultra-luxury brand Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) managing the creative process, and implementation of all National Accounts Off-Premise 360 marketing campaigns resulting in brand and portfolio growth.
Talia obtained her Bachelors in Hospitality Management and Executive Masters in Business Administration at Howard University. She is a lifetime member of American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Beta Gamma Sigma National Honors Society. Talia is also a published photographer with work included in The Washingtonian and Smithsonian Institution.
As Corporate Director of Culinary & Concept Design at Donohoe Hospitality Services, Keem leads the development of innovative restaurant, lounge, and rooftop concepts across the company’s portfolio. He partners closely with owners and hotel leadership to create distinctive food and beverage experiences that elevate the guest experience, strengthen each property’s identity and drive local relevance. From concept creation and culinary direction to operational execution and programming, Keem focuses on developing dynamic venues that enhance both guest engagement and overall hotel performance.
Keem is a chef, operator and concept designer with more than a decade of experience leading innovative hospitality concepts across Washington, DC, and beyond. He is the founder of Bronze, Washington, DC’s first Afrofuturistic restaurant, and was recognized as a 2023 James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. With experience spanning independent restaurants and hospitality groups, Keem has led the development of signature concepts creating compelling restaurant, lounge and rooftop experiences that differentiate Donohoe’s portfolio and connect each property to its culinary and cultural narrative.
As Corporate Director of Food & Beverage Operations at Donohoe Hospitality Services, Sonat Ozkaynak oversees the execution and performance of restaurant, lounge, and rooftop operations across the company’s portfolio. He partners closely with property teams to elevate service standards, optimize operational efficiency, and enhance the overall guest experience. With a strong focus on consistency, quality, and team development, Sonat ensures each outlet delivers a high level of execution while aligning with the brand and positioning of each asset.
Sonat’s hospitality journey began at Çırağan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul, where he gained early exposure to five-star luxury operations while completing his formal education in hospitality management in Cyprus. Having lived and worked across Germany, Turkey, Cyprus, and the United States, he brings a global perspective on service, leadership, and guest experience. Over the past decade, Sonat has held progressive leadership roles with The Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons, as well as Santa Monica Proper, managing complex food and beverage operations. Most recently, he returned to Washington, DC to serve as General Manager of a Rooftop Bar & Lounge, where he played a key role in guiding the concept from development through a successful launch.
A seasoned hospitality finance professional, Nolet brings nearly 30 years of progressive experience in financial reporting, corporate accounting, and multi-property asset management to Donohoe Hospitality. He spent 13 years with Windsor Capital Group’s Hotel Division, advancing from Regional Accounting Manager to Regional Controller, where he oversaw financial reporting across multiple properties and played an instrumental role in property acquisitions and dispositions. Nolet went on to serve as Vice President and Corporate Controller for both Lighthouse Lodging Group and Positive Investments, Inc., where he managed hotel financial reporting for a portfolio with an estimated asset value of $245 million, oversaw capital projects, established operational policies and procedures, and led the hiring and development of hotel Controllers. Most recently, he served as Area Director of Finance for Windsor Hospitality, where he managed accounting personnel, prepared financial statements, and worked closely with hotel executive teams to monitor performance and control operational expenses. Throughout his career, Nolet has partnered with ownership groups, senior leadership, and property teams to strengthen financial controls, support acquisitions and dispositions, and drive accountability across complex, multi-property portfolios.
Nolet attended San Beda University and is a recipient of the university’s 2020 Outstanding Overseas Alumni Award in the field of Management and Accounting. He is also a CTEC Registered Tax Preparer.
A detail-oriented finance and accounting professional, Pete brings 30 years of experience in financial reporting, budgeting, and operational analysis to Donohoe Hospitality. He spent nearly 30 years with Marriott International, most recently serving as Senior Accounting Manager, where he led a 20-member team overseeing cluster service accounting, reporting, and controls. Throughout his career at Marriott, Pete partnered closely with operations and senior leadership to strengthen forecasting, implement Revenue Recognition standards (ASC 606), and develop financial tools and processes that drove efficiency and accountability. Joining Donohoe Hospitality in 2022, Pete looks forward to supporting the continued growth of the portfolio and serving as a trusted financial resource for hotel leaders and ownership groups.
Pete holds a Master’s degree in Hotel/Motel Administration and Management from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wheeling University.
In his capacity as Corporate Director of Information & Technology, Fekade is responsible for procurement, installation, maintenance and support of computer networks and information systems for all Donohoe Hospitality managed properties. With over 30 years in the hotel industry, Fekade began his career in a full-service hotel working in various restaurant positions, including Assistant Restaurant Manager of a $6M food service operation.
Fekade utilized his organizational talents in managing multiple hotel capital improvement projects totaling $5M and in 2001, as Director of Information and Technology, he oversaw all technology systems for a full-service hotel with over $30M in annual revenues. Fekade also worked in corporate positions that included technology helpdesk oversight, website design and maintenance, and procurement of corporate and property-level technology and communications systems. Fekade holds a BS in Mathematics from the University of Maryland and is trained in Microsoft operating and Novell Network Systems as well as Hilton, Marriott and IHG property level IT systems.