“When the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association decided to begin a new chapter in the Shenandoah Valley in 2019, we were seeking a dynamic hospitality leader to partner with. A person that was equally passionate about tourism, representing the interests of our industry and advancing educational opportunities for the Shenandoah Valley hospitality community. We are honored to have Paul Cooper, CEO of Retro Hospitality, serve as our first President of this very important chapter.”
- Eric Terry - Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association (VRLTA), President
Paul Cooper
Principal, Chief Executive Officer
VRLTA - Shenandoah Chapter, Chairman (2019-Present)
VRLTA - Board of Directors (2020)
VRLTAF - Chairman (2023 - Present)
Paul’s roots are grounded in hotel operations – a 25+ year hospitality career that began as a resort bellman during his college years working to fund his education. Early roles working with hotel icons Kemmons Wilson and Mike Levin strengthened his passion for hospitality. Paul later served as the head of Development at Coakley and Williams. He began consulting for independent boutique hotels domestically and internationally, helping owners operate and grow their hotel portfolios through acquisitions, franchising, securing management contracts, CMBS loan workouts. In 2011, Paul founded Retro Hospitality - a hospitality consulting and management firm specializing in historic, boutique, and adaptive reuse projects.
Russ Savrann
In-House Legal Counsel
Russ works with hotel, restaurant and national association clients on strategic planning, transactions, franchising and operational manners, including mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate organization, management agreements, franchise, beverage licensing, intellectual property, sales, marketing construction, sustainable practices and procurement. Russ has worked with national and international developers and hospitality companies on global transactions including mixed-use resort projects throughout the United States.
Dan Stevens
Chief Financial Officer
Dan has been involved with the hotel and restaurant hospitality industry for over 40 years. He has worked for large and small companies - including Marriott and Coakley & Williams - where he served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer overseeing hotels and restaurants with combined annual revenues of $70MM. In 2011, Dan began providing accounting and financial reporting services for Retro Hospitality. He also manages all insurance plans, and human resources support for the company. Dan is very active with the Maryland Restaurant Association and has served as the Chairman of the Board. Since 2007 he has also been an Adjunct Professor for the University of Maryland, teaching several accounting courses each year.
Bree Brostko
Chief Operating Officer & Head of Brand Strategy
Bree oversees operations, brand development, and owner relations for Retro Hospitality. Bree served as our Chief Marketing Officer for four years, elevating the marketing, communications, and brand strategy for Retro Hospitality and our portfolio of hospitality assets. Bree has 20 years of experience working on marketing and PR initiatives with boutique hospitality properties across the US with her firm, Go West Communications, the Resort Hotel Association, and Kindred Resorts & Hotels. She studied hospitality marketing at Cornell's Hotel School and holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Columbia University. In 2016 she was named one of HSMAI's Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Optimization.
Katie Campbell
Vice President of Marketing & Head of Partnerships
Katie elevates Retro Hospitality with her skills in destination marketing, partnerships, event planning and management, and sales. After two years as Retro's Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Katie recently shifted into a marketing and partnerships role, offering laser focus to our portfolio's marketing initiatives and strategic in-market partnerships. Before joining Retro, she worked with Visit Staunton, where she was instrumental in building the sales program, focusing on the group tour and meetings market. Katie also played a crucial role in developing regional tourism initiatives: Explore SAW and the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail. She earned a B.A. in Communication Studies, which led to her television and programming work with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Katie holds a master's degree in Public Administration and Policy from Virginia Tech. She has spent the last 18 years assisting public and nonprofit organizations raise awareness and build audiences through strategy and collaboration.
Eric Stephenson
Vice President of Human Resources
Eric began his 30+ year career in the hospitality industry with Landmark Land Co. and Oak Tree Hotels as Director of Human Resources. He later transferred to Kiawah Island Resort as Director of HR, overseeing all of the resort and golf HR operations. Over the years, Eric has worked with Registry Resort and Lansdowne Resort and was promoted to Corporate HR with Benchmark Hospitality. After years of owning his own hospitality management consulting company focused on the private club segment, Eric now joins Retro Hospitality as VP of Human Resources.
Sarah Campbell
Project Manager, Opening and Onboarding
Sarah graduated in 2020 from Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Sarah joined Retro as their first Corporate Intern in 2019 and began her full-time role as Director of Special Projects after graduation. In this role, she worked across Retro's portfolio with clients and team members, helping them highlight the locality via social media and partner engagement. Sarah builds strong collaboration between Retro and clients, ensuring seamless operations, executing creative marketing campaigns, and she diversified into corporate projects with the accounting and human resources teams. As Retro Hospitality is quickly scaling, Sarah recently transitioned into Project Manager, Opening & Onboarding, a role designed to align with stakeholders and manage each property's critical paths as they come to market in 2024 and 2025.
Heather Kern
Corporate Administrative Assistant
Heather started her career in the hospitality & restaurant business at Choice Hotels Comfort Inn & Suites in 2003 in Front Desk, Auditor, and Management roles. She is nationally certified by the Professional Bartending School DC, where she has also taught. Heather is committed to industry workforce development and served as the school's Job Placement Director, securing jobs for graduates at bars, events, clubs & restaurants across DC, MD, & VA. She most recently worked at the Natural Bridge Historic Hotel & Conference Center as a Front Desk Supervisor and later as Accounting & Human Resources Manager. Heather joined the Retro team in January of 2024.