Our dedicated team of hotel investment professionals brings over 35 years of experience, strategic insight, and hands-on leadership to every project. Together, we’re committed to delivering exceptional results across every property we manage.
Our operations team plays a central role in hotel leadership, guest experience, and day-to-day management. These individuals ensure that every property operates smoothly, efficiently, and with exceptional service.
President and Hotel Owner
Patrick, President of Northern Hotels Group, seasoned hotel operator since 2011; Michigan realtor, bachelor’s degree.
Principal and Hotel Owner
Hotel Owner and NHG Key Member
NHG Key Member. The man who started it all. He entered the hospitality industry in 1991 and led the way for the rest and is still going to this day.
Hotel Owner and NHG Key Member
NHG key member. Also Principal of the company B.Blinds.
Hotel Owner and NHG Key Member
Kevin J. is a seasoned entrepreneur and commercial real estate leader with 30+ years’ experience.
Director of Sales
Hospitality professional creating memorable travel experiences through genuine service, deep industry knowledge.
Director of Operations
Seasoned hospitality executive with 13+ years of leadership in hotel operations and sales excellence.
Eileen, Hotel Director of Operations with 35+ years in hospitality; expert in leadership, strategy, and guest satisfaction.
Administrative Assistant
Kristy is a Michigan native who studied music education and criminal justice before building a career centered on leadership, service excellence.
Regional Manager
Kari Phillips is the Petoskey Area Regional Manager with Northern Hotels Group. Bringing more than 30 years of hospitality experience to her role.
Regional Manager and Procurement
Felicia Rietz is a seasoned hospitality professional with a degree in Hospitality Management and a career built from the ground up.
George Jappaya
Hotel Owner and NHG Key Member
Hotel Owner and NHG Key Member
Kevin Jappaya
Hotel Owner and NHG Key Member
Kevin J. is a seasoned entrepreneur and commercial real estate leader with 30+ years’ experience.
Patrick Foumia
President
Patrick has built his career on a lifelong passion for hospitality. He began his journey in 2011 at the Beachfront Hotel in Houghton Lake, Michigan, working alongside his father and uncle. In those early years, Patrick immersed himself in every aspect of hotel operations mastering each position, contributing to acquisitions and renovations, and learning the intricacies of hotel management from the ground up.
Today, as President of Northern Hotels Group, Patrick helps oversee and manage a diverse portfolio of properties. Deeply committed to the business, he remains actively involved in day-to-day operations, considering the hotels not just his work, but his life’s calling.
In addition to his hospitality leadership, Patrick is a licensed real estate agent in the state of Michigan and holds a bachelor’s degree. His real estate expertise and education have played a pivotal role in expanding and strengthening the Northern Hotels Group portfolio.
Shawn Jappaya
Principal
Shawn has been immersed in the hospitality industry since the age of 16, beginning his career working for his father’s hotel in Howell, Michigan. There, he gained hands-on experience in every aspect of hotel operations, including housekeeping, maintenance, guest services, and management.
Today, as Principal of Northern Hotels Group, Shawn helps oversee and manage a diverse portfolio of properties. He remains actively involved in the day-to-day operations, ensuring each property runs efficiently and delivers exceptional guest experiences.
In addition to his hospitality career, Shawn is an attorney and the founder of his own law firm, where he specializes in reducing taxes for businesses. This legal expertise, combined with his operational knowledge, gives him a unique perspective and skill set for managing businesses and helping clients achieve their goals.
Shawn also holds a CPA License, further enhancing his ability to navigate both the financial and operational sides of business management.
George Jappaya
George Jappaya began his career in the hospitality industry in 1991 when he acquired his first hotel—an asset he continues to own and operate today. For over three decades, he has consistently delivered exceptional guest experiences while building a disciplined, hands-on investment and operations platform rooted in long-term ownership, service excellence, and consistent execution.
While he has helped shape and guide the next generation within the organization, he remains actively involved in day-to-day operations. His approach reflects an old-school hospitality mindset focused on accountability, guest experience, and operational fundamentals. Today, he continues to work directly on improving property performance and positioning the portfolio for long-term value creation across all assets.
Brandon Foumia
Brandon has been in the hospitality industry for 10 years starting off at the Beachfront Hotel in Houghton Lake Michigan where he worked for his father. He started his hospitality career working all positions in the hotel including housekeeping, laundry, maintenance, and front desk. Today, Brandon is a part owner in 4 Hotels and has a great passion for the industry and continues to want to grow his hospitality portfolio.
In 2018, he also started a blinds manufacturing company, B Blinds located in West Bloomfield, MI. He manufactures blinds for residential, commercial and industrial properties throughout the state of Michigan. His huge success in Michigan has led him to start his expansion to other states and plans to be live in 2 additional states by mid year 2022.
Education: Graduated from Mike Illitch School of Business at Wayne State University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing.
Kevin Jappaya
Kevin Jappaya is a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader with over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and more than 20 years in commercial real estate. While his roots are in hospitality having grown up working alongside his family in hotel operations his primary focus and core business today is commercial real estate.
Kevin is the President and Owner of KJ Commercial, a full-service commercial real estate firm that represents a broad range of clients, including lenders, court-appointed receivers, developers, REITs, and private investors. Known for his deep industry knowledge and strong regional relationships, Kevin has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor and dealmaker in the real estate community.
He is also a partner at Northern Hotels Group (NHG), where he plays an integral role in the company’s strategic direction, including acquisitions, development, and financing. His decades-long experience across all aspects of hospitality operations brings a unique and valuable perspective to NHG’s growing portfolio.
A committed civic leader, Kevin actively contributes to several organizations:
• Vice Chairman, Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce
• Vice Chairman, Chaldean Community Foundation
• Board Member, Mike Ilitch School of Business, Wayne State University
• Past President, Michigan Commercial Board of Realtors (CBOR)
He is also a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designee and has been widely recognized for his leadership and accomplishments in the industry.
Awards & Recognition:
• “30 in Their Thirties” Honoree, DBusiness Magazine
• Emerging Leader Award, Mike Ilitch School of Business
• Michigan CCIM Chapter Award Recipient
• Best of the Best Top Broker, Midwest Real Estate News
• Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame Inductee
• CoStar Power Broker (multiple years)
• Notable Commercial Real Estate Leader, Crain’s Detroit Business
Aimee Williford – NHG Director of Sales
For nearly 30 years, Aimee has had the joy of working in the hospitality industry that never stops teaching her new things daily about people, travel, and connection. She started back in 1995 as a front desk agent and quickly discovered how much she loved hospitality and helping guests feel welcome and cared for. That passion has stayed with her ever since and continues to grow to this day.
Because she loves to travel herself, she understands what matters most when you’re away from home—the small details, the thoughtful touches, and the sense that someone genuinely wants your stay to be special. That’s what she brings into work every day.
She absolutely loves doing sales with her soft spot for group travel and enjoys helping people plan tours that turn into lasting memories. Whether it’s coordinating the logistics or adding those little extras that make a trip unforgettable, she takes pride in making sure everything runs smoothly.
She calls the area of St. Ignace home, where she lives with her husband of 15 years, Mike, and their spoiled (but very loved) dog, Princess her forever fur baby.
Elizabeth Miller – Director of Operations
Beth launched her career as a Travel Consultant before transitioning into Hotel Sales & Marketing. Over the next 13 years, she honed her expertise and advanced into an award-winning General Manager. Today, she serves as a Director of Operations with Northern Hotels Group, continuing to drive excellence across the company’s portfolio.
Over her career, Beth has worked with Choice Hotels, IHG, Hilton and Marriott brands, with expertise spanning Limited and Full- Service property oversight as well as new hotel openings. She also worked closely with IHG’s corporate F&B team to enhance guest offerings and has served on the board of the Bay City, Mount Pleasant and Mecosta County Convention & Visitors Bureaus.
Outside of work, she enjoys lake life, boating, kayaking and time with her family.
Eileen Tussey
Director of Operations
Eileen began her career in hospitality at an early age in the restaurant industry before earning a degree in Police Administration from Eastern Kentucky University. Her enduring passion for serving others ultimately drew her back to hospitality, where she has built a distinguished career spanning more than 35 years.
Throughout her career, Eileen has successfully guided properties through openings, receiverships, brand conversions, national economic challenges, pandemic recovery, and natural disasters. Under her leadership, hotels have earned numerous accolades, including nominations for Hotel of the Year.
As Director of Operations for Northern Hotels Group, Eileen travels between properties, overseeing hotels and ensuring each operates at the highest standard. She provides strategic guidance, supports property leadership teams, and implements operational initiatives that drive guest satisfaction and business performance.
Reflecting on her work, Eileen shares:
“The hospitality field is so much more than waiting tables, cleaning rooms, and checking in guests. We’re creating experiences, contributing to our guests’ enjoyment, and helping them build memories that last a lifetime.”
Kristy Neeme
Kristy is a Michigan native who studied music education and criminal justice before building a career centered on leadership, service excellence, and operational expertise within the hospitality industry.
She began as a housekeeper at the Radisson Kalamazoo, where her strong work ethic and commitment to high standards quickly led her to advance into supervisory leadership roles. Kristy has also served as Guest services and Front desk Operations Supervisor. After returning to Troy in 2013 to support her family, she continued her leadership growth at the Royal Park Hotel and later at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Troy.
Kristy later transitioned into an office administration within the restoration construction industry. where she leveraged her organizational strength, attention to detail and people-centered approach to enhance operational efficiency and support business success.
In her current role as Administrative Assistant, Krisy plays an integral part in supporting the growth and success of a developing hospitality company, bringing professionalism, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities to the team.
Kari Phillips
Petoskey Area Regional Manager
Kari Phillips is the Petoskey Area Regional Manager with Northern Hotels Group. Bringing more than 30 years of hospitality experience to her role. With 18 years of Hilton experience, Kari’s career reflects a deep understanding of hotel operations, leadership, and guest service excellence. She began her journey in the hotel industry as a breakfast attendant and steadily advanced through every level of operations, ultimately serving as a Hotel General Manager—a path that gives her a unique, hands-on perspective as a regional leader.
In addition to her hotel background, Kari has owned and managed restaurants, further strengthening her operational expertise and people-first leadership approach. She is passionate about building strong teams and believes that a supportive, engaged staff is the most critical factor in a hotel’s success. Creating positive workplace cultures and developing future leaders are central to her management philosophy.
A fifth-generation resident of the Petoskey area, Kari has a deep love for the community and all it has to offer. She is dedicated to sharing that passion with hotel guests, ensuring they experience the warmth, charm, and hospitality that define Northern Michigan. Outside of work, Kari enjoys traveling and experiencing hospitality from the guest’s perspective. She has been married to her husband, Mark, for 24 years and is the proud mother of four adult children. Kari is also a proud owner of three dogs and loves spending her free time hiking the area’s beautiful trails with them.
Felicia Rietz
Regional Manager and Procurement
Felicia Rietz is a seasoned hospitality professional with a degree in Hospitality Management and a career built from the ground up. She began her journey in restaurants as a server and bartender, gaining firsthand experience in guest service and operations. Her passion for hospitality led her to hotels, where she worked her way through nearly every position—from front desk to management—developing a deep understanding of the industry at every level.
Today, as Regional Manager – Brand Excellence and Procurement at Northern Hotels Group, Felicia leverages her comprehensive background to ensure exceptional guest experiences and operational efficiency across all properties. She specializes in maintaining brand standards, optimizing procurement strategies, and fostering innovation that drives both quality and sustainability.
Felicia’s hands-on approach and commitment to excellence make her a trusted leader in hospitality.