Our Team

Meet the Team

At Elevate Renovations + Development, our team is your team. Our experienced industry professionals bring collaboration, communication and creativity to every project, ensuring your project is aligned with your priorities.

Suzanne Saunders

Suzanne Saunders

chief elevation officer
Jamison Conrey

Jamison Conrey

Engineering Evolution Elevator
Chad Thompson

Chad Thompson

Hotel Lifecycle Leader

Richard Jones

Smooth Operator

Morgan Morris

Metrics Maven

Matt Woodruff

Brand Liaison Leader

Heidi Nielsen

Pipeline Architect

Bill Gentile

F+B Experience Curator

At Elevate Renovations + Development, our team is your team. Our experienced industry professionals bring collaboration, communication and creativity to every project, ensuring your project is aligned with your priorities.

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Suzanne Saunders

SVP, Design + Construction

Suzanne Saunders is an accomplished leader in the design and construction industry with over 20 years of experience. As SVP, she oversees all phases of project development, from design to execution, ensuring top-tier quality and innovation. Suzanne is known for her expertise in project management and her ability to deliver creative, cost-effective solutions that meet client needs while driving efficiency.

Jamison Conrey

VP, Engineering, Capital Projects and Risk Management

Jamison brings decades of construction and project management experience to the hospitality industry, working directly with hotels on complex engineering issues and managing capital plans. He collaborates with vendors nationwide to optimize service agreements and maximize value for hotel owners. Additionally, Jamison partners with construction and risk management teams to enhance safety programs and innovative solutions across portfolios. His commitment to energy efficiency has driven him to establish best practices in partnership with top industry consultants.

Chad Thompson

regional director of engineering

Chad Thompson is the Regional Director of Engineering, bringing a wealth of experience in hotel operations and engineering. Specializing in preventative maintenance and asset management, Chad ensures that every property in his portfolio operates at peak efficiency and remains in top condition. His expertise in maintaining both day-to-day functions and long-term asset value helps safeguard the investments of hotel owners while delivering consistently high-quality experiences for guests.

Richard Jones

Smooth Operator

Richard leads HVMG’s Revenue, Operations, and Design & Construction teams. Their mission is to ensure that every hotel and every project benefits from HVMG’s talent, resources, and expertise, delivering premium performance that creates value for owners. Rich started his career with Marriott International and his first general manager assignment was in 1997 with IMPAC Hotel Group, Robert Cole’s first hotel company. Prior to joining HVMG in 2013, he held a variety of leadership roles in hotel operations, asset management, and development with respected organizations such as Portman Holdings, Noble Investment Group, and Hardin Capital. Richard studied economics at Louisiana State University, is a member of the Hospitality Asset Management Association, and has served as a board member of Central Atlanta Progress.

Morgan Morris

Design & Construction Project Analyst

Morgan Morris is a Design & Construction Project Analyst, and she leverages her strong analytical and project management skills to ensure successful project execution. With previous experience as a Project Planning Analyst at The Home Depot and a Project Manager at INNERFACE Architectural Signage, Inc., Morgan has developed a keen ability to analyze project requirements, streamline processes, and manage timelines effectively. Her adaptability and organizational development expertise make her a valuable asset in coordinating diverse teams and driving projects from concept to completion.

Matt Woodruff

Brand Liaison Leader

Matt has specialized in hotel operations and guest experience for three decades. Matt focuses on providing analytical guest research, leadership, inspiration and “Celebration” to all HVMG hotels in the realm of guest and brand excellence. He partners with franchise representatives of major brands to ensure all of HVMG’s hotels provide an excellent guest experience, which will ensure high guest satisfaction scores, brand and property loyalty and a significant ROI.

Heidi Nielsen

Pipeline Architect

Heidi Nielsen is a seasoned professional in the hospitality industry with a strong background in hotel development, market analysis, and asset management. Prior to her current position, Heidi was the VP of Asset Management and Investments at Meyer Jabara Hotels and the Managing Director at HVS’s Charleston office. Her career began with hands-on hotel experience as a Club Concierge at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Heidi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Hospitality and Tourism from the College of Charleston. She is an active College of Charleston alumni as a regular guest speaker and project resource. Heidi is a mentor for The Goldie Initiative and a panelist for ForWard Thinking, an AHLA Foundation Project that brings hospitality women professionals to speak at college classes.

Bill Gentile

F+B Experience Curator

Bill’s most recent role was for Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts Group (IHG) as a Manager of Culinary Development & Innovation. At IHG, he worked on hotel brand performance, culinary and menu development, and beverage innovation. Before this, he worked as an area general manager for Sodexo, where he had additional contract food service experiences at Aramark, Guckenheimer, and Compass Group. Bill and his wife Ruby have been married for over 18 years and have three children- Brihanna and twin boys Billy and Chris. Born and raised in Southern New Hampshire, he is a Boston area native graduating from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI. He has been a Certified Executive Chef with the American Culinary Federation since 2009. Bill is a fan of New England sports, enjoying all the Boston teams. He likes sports, restaurants, beaches, and concerts in his spare time.