We have experience.

To every project and every investor, private or institutional, we devote our experience and expertise. Learn more about our executive team.

David Swift President and CEO	David co-founded Swift Hospitality Group with his wife Jan in 2003. He is responsible for leadership of the corporation and acts as a primary contact for relationships with important associates such as developers, lenders, equity partners, corporate franchise partners, and vendors. David negotiates financial arrangements, handles the interface with attorneys for legal transactions, and assists in the identification and due diligence on new development projects. He represents the Midwest region on the Franchise Advisory Committee for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Carlson Hotels Worldwide and is a respected public and corporate speaker. David plays a major role in motivating the rest of the Swift Hospitality Group team as it grows by reinforcing the spirit of hard work and family values with which he and Jan began the company. He is a hands-on leader, collaborating with the senior staff and management in the daily ongoing management of the company.
Jan Swift Corporate Secretary/Treasurer	Jan co-founded Swift Hospitality Group with her husband David in 2003. Like David, she motivates the rest of the Swift Hospitality Group team by reinforcing the spirit of hard work and family values with which she and he began the company, and collaborates with the senior staff and management.
Pam Thrasher Executive Vice President	Pam, who has been with the company since 2005, is integrally involved with all aspects of the operations of the entire Swift Hospitality Group hotel portfolio on a daily basis. Coming from a position in executive management with MetLife, one of the world’s largest insurance firms, she personally ensures the high-quality performance of the company’s hotels throughout the Midwest, challenging the management team to take a critical look at how business is conducted in order to deliver high-quality financial performance. But at the same time, her primary focus in operations management is to keep Swift Hospitality Group's customers and their needs and desires at the forefront of every operational decision. She firmly believes that customer satisfaction results in repeat business, which is critical to continued success. Pam also functions as Human Resource Director for the company.
Brice Swift Vice President, Development	Brice is involved in all new development, new construction, and major renovations of Swift Hospitality Group properties. He has high expectations and standards for all of these projects, resulting in exquisitely maintained and developed properties. On a franchisee level, he has played a key role in Swift Hospitality Group's development of the new Cambria Suites by Choice Hotels. Brice, who has been with the company since 2004, obviously has learned the importance of hard work and family values from David and Jan, but also brings his own strong value system to bear within the corporate culture, including his strong conviction in quality as an organizational cornerstone, with quality being defined first and foremost by the customer.
Matt Jacobs Senior Director of Operations	Matt is responsible for a wide variety of important day-to-day functions, such as working with our hotels to improve operating efficiencies, increase guest satisfaction, reduce expenses, and boost revenues. He has 10 years experience in the hospitality industry, starting as a guest service representative. Matt, who has been with the company since 2004, has been an integral part of opening multiple properties as a General Manager. He consistently generates a fast ramp-up, and all properties have achieved top guest service rankings. Earning his B.S. in Business Management, his expertise is human resources, hotel operations, accounting, and sales.
Ross Vehmeier Director of Operations	Ross is responsible for a variety of day-to-day operations at each hotel with an emphasis in ensuring success throughout the SHG food and beverage outlets. Ross quite literally grew up in restaurants, allowing him to develop his sense of hospitality early on. The son of a restaurateur and retailer, Ross began working in restaurants at the age of 14. His experience working as every hourly position within the restaurant gave him a strong foundation on which to build his management career. After graduating from The University of Wisconsin – Platteville, Ross decided to return to restaurants to learn how to manage them in a city which revolves around entertainment and hospitality. He moved to Las Vegas and quickly became a rising star within the food and beverage department at MGM Mirage. Ross’s position at MGM Mirage has provided him with extensive training and experience in the areas of the P&L, human resources, labor unions, purchasing, and marketing. Ross’s life experiences have instilled hospitality in him, and his "can do" and "must please" the guest attitude is what has taken his career to the level it is today.
Tyrel Fehlhafer Director of Guest Experience and Brand Standards	Ty’s primary responsibility is to provide an exceptional guest experience at each of the Swift Hospitality Group hotels through a variety of methods, such as management of capital improvement projects, analysis of vendor and hotel performance, and analysis of Medallia, a voice of the customer survey program. Ty has 6 years experience in the hospitality industry, having first served 4 years as General Manager for Swift Hospitality Group at the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Elk Grove Village, IL.
Kraig Wheat Corporate Financial Administrator	Kraig started with Swift Hospitality Group in January 2007. Kraig's primary responsibilities are for a variety of financially related functions including accounts payable and receivable, relationships with corporate banking partners, construction development and project accounting, relationships with equity partners, and Swift Hospitality Groups' ongoing work with the corporate CPA’s.
Sara Honchar Executive Administrative Assistant	Sara started with Swift Hospitality Group in February 2011. She has a B.A. in Communication and Media Studies from Northern Illinois University and over five years of experience in customer service. She has a wide variety of job responsibilities that include general bookkeeping, analysis of financial reports, and management of the day-to-day functions in the Swift Hospitality Group corporate office.