ABOUT
LEADERSHIP
Duane Gauthier
Managing Director
As Managing Director, Duane Gauthier oversees all aspects of the company’s hospitality investment activities, development services as well as providing the leadership to the hospitality management teams for the company’s managed assets to include P&L accountability, excellence in guest service, brand relations, revenue generation, strategic direction and overall property performance.
Mr. Gauthier has extensive hospitality experience in a career spanning over 19 years, operating and providing property leadership for full-service and select service hotels for Marriott, Starwood, Hilton and Choice. His experience includes new hotel openings and renovations while working for both regional and national hotel management companies. He has been able to consistently improve financial results while building strong operation teams, leading to a number of honors and awards for the hotels under his leadership.
Mr. Gauthier holds an Associate degree in Business Administration. He serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the Virginia Beach Hotel Association. Additionally, he sits on the Hospitality Advisory Board for Tidewater Community College and Bryant and Stratton College.
Kenneth S. Strickler
President
As President of Commonwealth Commercial, Ken is responsible for the operational and long-term planning for all company functions, including strategy and allocation of resources, as well as heading up the firm’s real estate investment related activities.
Ken joined Commonwealth Commercial in 2005. Since that time, he has continued a varied practice in commercial real estate, including asset management, property management, acquisition, disposition, investment management, and consulting services. Ken began his career in real estate as a property manager. He has extensive real estate experience that parallels his career path beginning as a property manager, through his experience in growing a leading real estate asset management company, managing an acquisitions team that has acquired over $1 billion in real estate assets, and into his current role as President of Commonwealth Commercial. In 2008, Ken helped to found StreamCo, LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Commonwealth Commercial), a commercial real estate asset management firm focused on providing consulting and investment management services to a variety of real estate ownership types, to include institutions and family offices. StreamCo now manages more than 10 million square feet of commercial real estate assets in 11 states.
Ken received his Bachelor of Arts, with majors of Mathematical Economics and Economics and Commerce, from Hampden-Sydney College in 2005. Ken holds a Virginia Real Estate Salesperson License and holds the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation.
Ken is active in his community. Ken is a current Board Member of YPO Virginia, Investment Committee Member of Lingerfelt Commonwealth, and sits on various committees and boards of several other organizations.
Thomas Hatcher
Managing Director
Thomas is the Managing Director of Asset Management. He is responsible for management, oversight and growth of our asset management team as well as playing a key role in the firm’s real estate investment activities.
Thomas has been with Commonwealth Commercial since early 2017. Prior to becoming Managing Director, Thomas was an Asset Manager for several years, performing quarterly valuations on a multitude of office, hospitality, and industrial product in markets all throughout the Southeast, as far west as Kansas City, MO. He has managed 1.8 million square feet in assets and specializes in the markets of Minneapolis, MN, Houston, TX, Jacksonville, FL, Nashville, TN, and Charleston and Greenville, SC; and oversaw the asset management and eventual disposition of two trophy office assets in downtown Greenville, SC, totaling 440,000 RSF. Thomas heads the business development for CCP’s Asset Management team and has been expanding the company into the multi-family industry by establishing ownership and operator relationships in the Virginia region.
Thomas holds a BDin Chemical Engineering from UVA.
Aleksandra Harcum
Chief Financial Officer
Aleksandra is responsible for the financial reports produced for our asset management clients on a monthly and quarterly basis, as well as the year-end financial packages for tax purposes. She is also responsible for property reserve and escrow analysis, budgeting, as well as short- and long-term analysis of the property cash flows. Aleksandra is the point of contact in entity management and lender compliance. She is also responsible for managing closings for all new acquisitions and dispositions.
Prior to joining CCP’s asset management team in 2008, Aleksandra was a financial analyst for a tenant in common sponsor where she was responsible for performance analysis and pro-forma forecasting. Prior to that, she worked in the hospitality sector for a hotel developer transitioning a Holiday Inn into Crowne Plaza.
Aleksandra graduated from the University of Economics in Wroclaw, Poland with a Masters Degree in Economics and a minor in Econometrics. Since joining CCP, she has successfully completed the ARGUS Software Certification (ASC) requirements.
Brett Darlington
Director of Hotel Operations
Brett Darlington is the Director of Hotel Operations and his key responsibilities include operational support to the management teams and each property along with financial reporting to our ownership and investors, monitoring company and brand compliance programs, assisting in revenue management strategies and driving exceptional customer service throughout all of our brands.
Mr. Darlington has 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry including 15 years with Marriott Hotels. He has experience in new hotel openings and renovations and has earned awards and honors for leading hotels to meet their service and revenue potentials. In addition to a strong focus on revenue management and sales and marketing strategies Mr. Darlington has spent much time ensuring hotel operations have the training and tools to meet and exceed guest expectations.
Mr. Darlington has participated in many local organizations throughout his career and has sat on numerous boards and committees. This includes Rotary Clubs, Chairman of the Carolina Beach Marketing Advisory Committee, Board member for the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce, New Hanover Tourism Development Authority and various Hotel and Motel Associations.
Tina Sherrod
Director of Marketing
As Director of Marketing, Tina is responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies and plans including key messaging, storytelling, public relations, media relations and digital communications to elevate CCP’s brand awareness.
Tina brings more than 20 years of marketing experience working in a variety of industries ranging from nonprofit to Fortune 200 companies. Prior to joining Commonwealth Commercial Partners, Tina worked at Capital One in the Brand department developing messaging strategies to elevate Capital One’s external presence as a tech leader. Most notably, she managed co-marketing relationships with Apple and Amazon, which included case studies, targeted media interviews and speaking opportunities. Her marketing work in the nonprofit sector included leading the renaming and rebranding efforts of the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. Before landing in Richmond, Tina spent almost 10 years in New York City, working in publishing at Random House and as an Account Manager at several ad agencies working with such clients as Toyota, Colgate-Palmolive and Kronenbourg. She is an active member in the community serving on the Junior Board of the Children’s Hospital Foundation and Tad’s Kids.
Tina received her BA in Communications from Hollins University
Jacki Himmel
Director of Human Resources
As Director of Human Resources, Jacki oversees all benefits, systems, federal and state labor law compliance and employee relations for CLM personnel at the corporate level. Jacki has been at Commonwealth for five years, and has assisted in hotel transitions to the Commonwealth Lodging Management brand and platform.
Practice areas include:
- Employment Law
- Employment Relations
- Performance Standards
- Benefits Negotiation, Selection & Administration
- HR Systems & Processes
Jacki has over 20 years of Human Resources experience in a wide variety of industries to include legal, insurance, manufacturing and commercial real estate. She has a passion for enhancing the employee experience while maximizing the financial impact of Human Resources functions.
Jacki has a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology as well as both PHR and SPHR certifications. She holds active memberships with SHRM and Richmond SHRM.
Brooke Bicksler
Corporate Director of Revenue & Sales Strategy
Brooke Bicksler joins the company as the Corporate Director of Revenue Management, providing purposeful direction to future growth opportunities. She is focused on creating profitability throughout the portfolio by collaborating top line sales, marketing and revenue strategies to create bottom line growth.
Since stepping into the revenue management field in 2007, Ms. Bicksler has lead strategy at the hotel level, and also within both regional and corporate director capacities in primary, secondary and tertiary markets across multiple brands for both limited and full service properties. Prior to pursuing a career in revenue management, she served on the operations and sales team within the hotel industry. Ms. Bicksler holds a BS in Hospitality & Tourism Management from Virginia Tech.
Claire Larkin
Corporate Director of Human Resources
Claire Larkin has over 30 years in the hospitality industry working for well-known brands such as Hilton, leading operations, finance, risk management and human resources. During her career she led teams through management changes, ownership changes, system changes, you name it, she has been involved! Claire has been recognized in her profession with community awards including the Hospitality Leader of the Year from the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association. Relationship building is among Claire’s top strengths, and she is passionate about connecting the right people to the right role. As a natural mentor and coach, Claire has a direct and compassionate approach, and her success has been evidenced throughout her career by the people she has helped to grow in their career goals along the way.
Holly Tropeano
Corporate Accounting Manager
Holly joined Commonwealth Lodging Management in March of 2021 and her focus is on the day-to-day accounting for the CLM portfolio, as well as cash management and financial reporting. Her previous experience includes roles in operations for PHR and the Aspen Skiing Company before transitioning her focus to accounting. Holly brings over 20 years of experience to Commonwealth Lodging Management having held accounting roles with Crestline Hotels and Resorts, and accounting leadership roles with Coastal Hospitality, and Harmony Hospitality.
Maddison Kunkel
Corporate Human Resources Generalist
Maddison Kunkel is the Corporate Human Resources Generalist for Commonwealth Lodging. She is responsible for recruiting, benefits administration, and training. Maddison started her career with CLM in 2018 and has previously worked at both the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, as well as the Delta by Marriott Virginia Beach Bayfront Suites. Maddison brings multiples years of experience in front office, food and beverage, and most recently served as the Human Resources Assistant at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.
Maggie Fennell
Executive Administrator
Maggie is the Executive Administrator for Commonwealth Lodging, she oversees payroll, conducts property controls audits, training, and assisting with hotel transitions. Maggie has worked in the hospitality industry for 25 plus years and has experience with multiple brands including IHG, Starwood, Marriott, and Hilton. Prior to her current role as Executive Administrator, she worked in many different management roles within the hospitality field to include accounting, front office, revenue, and recreation.
Edward C. Denton
Chief Development Officer
Corporate Responsibilities
Ed Denton has rejoined Commonwealth Commercial Partners as Chief Development Officer, responsible for identifying and executing strategic investments and procuring third-party management contracts, with a particular focus in the hospitality sector. He also continues to provide investment sales/consulting services for select clients.
Experience
Ed has over 20 years’ experience in hospitality and investment real estate, including management, brokerage, financing, and asset management for over $1 billion worth of investment properties from Maryland to Florida. In 2009, Ed founded a hotel management company which was acquired by Commonwealth Commercial in 2012 and continues to operate as Commonwealth Lodging, a wholly owned subsidiary. Following the merger, he served on the firm’s leadership team for several years before taking a hiatus. In the interim, he operated Denton Realty Company, an independent brokerage and consulting firm, for almost six years. In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Ed has held leadership positions at privately held firms with investments in hotels, apartments, retail, self-storage, office, and industrial properties. Ed started his career at Marriott International where he completed its renowned management training program and held various positions in Fairfax, Richmond, and Bethesda.
Education
Ed graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. He holds real estate broker licenses in the Commonwealth of Virginia and State of North Carolina.
Accomplishments
Throughout his career Ed has served on multiple professional and civic boards and as an adjunct faculty member at Tidewater Community College. He is currently on the board of directors for Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate and Virginia Beach Vision.
Commonwealth Lodging Management
Pavilion Center 1
2101 Parks Ave, Suite 402
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(757) 333-7176
(757) 299-2976
E-mail Us
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LATEST NEWS
November 8, 2022
Commonwealth Commercial Partners Elevates Focus on Lodging with new Head of Business Development
November 2, 2022
Commonwealth Lodging Management Hires New Director of Human Resources
