Josh Zik CPA, CFE

Chief Financial Officer and Acting President & CEO

With over 14 years of experience in finance and auditing, Josh has been instrumental in steering the company’s financial strategies and operations since joining the company in 2019. During his time at the Al J. Schneider Company, he has overseen the financial health of the properties managed by the company, including the Galt House Hotel, Embassy Suites Louisville Downtown, and Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport.

Zik’s journey with the company began with his role as an Internal Auditor from 2019 to 2020, where he established the internal audit function, managed governance and risk assessment processes. In 2020 he was appointed CFO, where he was responsible for all cash management, insurance, banking activities, and long-term financial planning.

Josh holds a CPA and CFE and earned his degrees from Bellarmine University and the University of Kentucky. His extensive experience and strategic vision have been crucial in driving the financial success of the Al J. Schneider Company and its managed properties.

Lance George

Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Lance brings over 20 years of experience within the hospitality industry and deep knowledge of Louisville to the team. In his role Lance oversees all brand marketing as well as sales, event, services and revenue management for The Galt House Hotel, The Embassy Suites and Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport.  Prior to joining AJS Hotels in 2019, Lance held leadership positions at numerous properties including Area Sales Leader at Marriott International, Northern Mid-America and Director of Sales for Marriott Griffin Gate Resort & Spa, where he developed extensive knowledge in sales and new business development.

Mike Swasey

Senior Vice President of Operations
Mike Swasey has nearly 30 years of hotel industry experience. Prior to joining AJS Hotels he served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Crescent Hotels & Resorts overseeing their premier branded and independent resorts and hotels across the state of Florida and Atlanta, Georgia in the upper-upscale full-service and luxury segments. Other previous leadership roles include Chief Operating Officer for Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Milwaukee, WI; Head of Operations and Asset Management for Alena Hospitality, Orlando, FL; Vice President of Asset Management for Inland American Lodging Management, L.L.C. (now Xenia REIT), Orlando, FL; and serving in operations roles for B.F. Saul Company Hospitality Group, Bethesda, Md.; Legacy Hospitality, Inc., Albuquerque, N.M.; InterContinental Hotel Group, Atlanta, Ga. and Sage Hospitality, Denver, Colo.  He has served on the Committee for Dulles (airport), the  American Hotel & Lodging Association Food & Beverage Committee, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County representative, and as a member of HAMA (Hospitality Asset Managers Association)

Orson Oliver

General Counsel
Orson Oliver began his career in 1968 as an attorney with the U. S. Treasury Department in Washington, D.C. In 1975, he joined the Bank of Louisville as general counsel. In 1985, he became president of Bank of Louisville. When Branch Banking and Trust Company acquired the Bank of Louisville in 2003, the Bank of Louisville had assets of $1.6 billion and was the largest locally managed bank in Louisville. Since his retirement from banking in February of 2004, Mr. Oliver has worked as an independent general business consultant for the Al J. Schneider Company. He holds an officer position as General Counsel. Mr. Oliver was a member of the Board of Directors of the Al J. Schneider Company from February 2004 through June of 2016. Mr. Oliver has over thirty-five years of experience in banking and financial consulting.
Orson Oliver - Legel Repressentative

Kenny Franklin

Corporate Director of Facilities & Sustainability
Kenny Franklin began his career in hospitality in March of 1972 as part of the engineering team building the Executive Inn Hotel, the first of the properties built by Al J. Schneider. In 1975, Franklin transferred to Executive West (now the Crowne Plaza Louisville) to open the hotel for business. He was also involved in its expansion in 1980 to increase the number of rooms to 611. In 2001, Franklin was transferred to the Galt House to oversee Engineering. In 2016, he was promoted to Corporate Director of Facilities for AJS Hotels. He currently oversees facilities at the Galt House, Crowne Plaza, Embassy Suites, Waterfront Plaza, and One Riverfront Plaza.
Kenny Franklin

Martin van der Laan

General Manager of the Galt House Hotel
Upon completion of the Hotel School in Europe, he moved to Switzerland and worked as a restaurant manager in a family-owned hotel in the Swiss Alps as his first assignment after college. This was followed by several years working on international cruise ships with Miami, FL as home port. In the late 80’s Martin moved to the New York area and joined the hotel industry in the United States in Princeton, N.J. Over the next more than 35 years, Martin has served in numerous senior hotel leadership roles in both hotels and international luxury cruising. Martin has been a General Manager since 1997 in a variety of locations including Savannah, GA; St. Croix, USVI; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Boca Raton and Orlando, FL; Las Vegas, NV; Scottsdale, AZ; Oklahoma City, OK and Atlanta, GA.  Martin has served with Marriott, Hilton and Westin brands as well as independent hotels in suburban and urban markets, in boutique hotels, convention hotels, Caribbean resorts and on 6-star luxury cruise ships prior to joining the legendary Galt House Hotel as its General Manager and Vice President of Operations in early 2021. Martin has served on industry related boards in almost all destinations, including being a founding member and first Vice President of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association. He currently serves on the Board of the Louisville Hotel Association.

Greg Mann

General Manager of the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport
Greg brings 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry.  He is originally from the Louisville so has a deep knowledge of the surrounding area.  In his role Greg oversees the Restaurants, Bars, Banquets, Event planning and restaurant concept and design for The Galt House Hotel, Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport, and Embassy Suites.  Prior to joining AJS Hotels in 2017, Greg held leadership positions at several properties in South Florida including Director of Food & Beverage at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, Director of Outlets at the Naples Bay Resort and Food & Beverage Manager at The Waldorf Astoria Naples.  Prior to working in hotels Greg started his career  working in country clubs such as the Naples National Golf Club and Naples Grande Golf Club.

Dan Sirrine

General Manager of the Embassy Suites Louisville Downtown
Dan Sirrine brings over three decades of hotel leadership experience. Dan's career spans key positions at Marriott International, such as General Manager of Residence Inn by Marriott hotels, Assistant General Manager at Minneapolis Marriott Southwest, Director of Hotel Operations at Griffin Gate Marriott Resort Spa in Lexington, and Director or Marriott’s Workforce Management program for the Chicago and Minneapolis markets. Prior to joining AJS Hotels in 2023, Dan had spent the last 13 years in Kentucky. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration from Central Michigan University.

Bill Saffran

Director of Commercial Real Estate
Bill started his career working for Group Financial Partners as the Operations Manager overseeing the Starks Building and several other commercial properties in Louisville Kentucky. When BGK Inc. out of Santé Fe, New Mexico bought the Starks Building he was promoted to the position of President of BGK Kentucky.  With BGK Bill was responsible for the management and leasing of a portfolio of over 600,000 sq. ft. of commercial office buildings keeping the operating expenditures within budget while maintaining a high occupancy percentage. In 2009, Bill joined the Al J. Schneider Company as the Operations and Leasing Manager responsible for the management and leasing of over 1 million square feet. In 2012 Bill was promoted to the position of Director of Commercial Real Estate.

Ryan Manning

Corporate Controller

Ryan Manning comes to AJS Hotels with over a decade of experience in accounting. As corporate controller, Ryan directs the day-to-day accounting, treasury management, and payroll.

Ryan has been in both public and private accounting sectors, getting familiar with a variety of industries including manufacturing, defense contracting, construction, healthcare.

Ryan is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor's of science degree in business administration from the University of Louisville.

Natalie Keel

Marketing Manager
Natalie Keel joined the AJS Hotels team after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Louisville. As the companies Marketing Manager, Natalie oversees all Marketing Projects as well as building and maintaining strong, consistent brands through a wide range of online and offline marketing channels for  the Galt House Hotel, Embassy Suites Downtown Louisville, and the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Expo CTR.