Cortez brings 30 years of executive experience in aviation, commercial banking, municipal finance, and real estate development.  A highly respected member of the airport community, Cortez has held senior roles at O’Hare, Midway and Hartsfield-Jackson International airports. He has been responsible for all non-aeronautical revenue including concessions, international cargo, hotel/office, CONRAC, FBO and consolidated distribution.  As a senior officer at the multi-national food & beverage conglomerate SSP America, he procured and developed deals in Houston, Tampa, Cedar Rapids and Winnipeg airports.  In his role at Hyde Park Hospitality, Cortez leads our growing airport practice with a particular focus on the domestic growth of our food & beverage, retail and lounge portfolios.  A Chicago native, he is a graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts and the John Molson School of Business, Airport Executive Leadership Program (AELP). He also holds an International Airport Professional (IAP) designation and is an experienced pilot with multiple ratings.

Lydia Barnes has over 10 years of experience in public accounting with a focus on income tax. She has previously worked for large accounting firms, including RSM US LLP and Plante Moran, with clients predominantly in the hospitality and real estate industries, where she serviced many high-net-worth individuals and multi-generational families. Lydia’s experience in public accounting consisted of working closely with her clients’ CFOs, business owners, and families. By gaining an intimate understanding of their short and long-term financial goals, Lydia was able to better advise them and keep them abreast of all new and upcoming tax legislation.

As our Director of Finance, Lydia oversees the company’s fiscal matters, including all internal financial statements and income tax returns. She also enforces internal procedures and processes to safeguard company assets and ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulatory bodies.

Matt has a plethora of experience in the food industry, including Airport Concessions, QSR, and consulting. Matt joined Hyde Park Hospitality when the company was first founded in 2012 and was responsible for partnering with key clients to support the opening of their operations.  He currently oversees Hyde Park Hospitality’s operations in airports including Dallas / Fort Worth, Denver, Newark, and Los Angeles.  In addition, Matt manages the operational and staffing responsibilities in 13 airport lounges, employing over 200 hourly associates, in 11 different states throughout the country.  Matt earned his BA in Management from the University of Northern Iowa.  After graduation, Matt attended law school at the University of Iowa, before shifting into the hospitality industry. 

Elishea has over a decade of experience in operations and as a Human Resource professional; in Healthcare, Facility Management, and Food Service making, employee engagement and understanding the intricacies of people management are her primary focus.

Elishea uses her expertise to continue seeking the best hospitality professionals and championing her hardworking team while focusing on creating a culture of premier hospitality. She lives through her belief that the best decisions are those made by the people most impacted.

In Elishea’s spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

Civic Activities:

McGaw YMCA Steering Committee, Achievers College Tour Ambassador, and E-Ban/Parent Ambassador.

Sid Higgins has extensive experience in the hospitality and entertainment industries, now specializing in high-end airport lounge operations. Before joining HPH, Sid played a leading role in developing two premium lounge brands in the U.K. and North America, notably the award-winning No.1 Lounges in the U.K. and the Escape Lounges in the USA.

Sid joined MAG USA in 2017 and grew the network of Escape lounges across the U.S. from 3 to 15 over 5 years.

Sid’s background in hospitality was preceded by his management career in the theatre industry, working on many productions in London’s West End, culminating in being appointed Executive Director of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. His passion for hospitality, entertainment, and aviation comes together by joining the vibrant team at Hyde Park Hospitality, focusing on the new U.S. based Sapphire Lounges by The Club.

Angila has 25+ years of experience in community and government relations, marketing, communications, and event planning in the corporate, non-profit, and academic arenas. Currently she is the Director of Community Engagement for Hyde Park Hospitality (HPH), assigned to the Aramark/ Chicago Public Schools (CPS) account. Angila is responsible for the cultivation and implementation of strategic community partnership and serves as government relations liaison with city, county, and state officials.  Angila has the reputation of being a collaborative servant leader and is recognized for her innovative and creative solution skills.  She is a resident of Chicago, IL, serves on the board of Hood 2 Hire, and is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago.

Corey Mitchell has extensive experience and knowledge in hospitality operations, spending 10+ years in hotel operations. Corey currently oversees all lounge operations for our Core Lounge portfolio, consisting of 14 (The CLUB) airport lounges across the United States.
Corey works closely with our client partners and leads a team of more than 500 associates to deliver the promise of The Club brand to each and every one of our guests.

Prior to joining HPH, Corey led all facets of hotels operations at some of the top hotels in Nashville, TN, including multiple managerial level positions with Marriott International.  Additionally, he ran the operations of Sonder INC., a technology forward hospitality company, where he grew the Sonder portfolio from 50 units to 500 units across 17 buildings in downtown Nashville. Corey brings passion, enthusiasm to serve, and a vast hospitality background to Hyde Park Hospitality.

Corey is originally from New Jersey but received a degree in Hospitality from The University of South Carolina, and is currently based in Nashville, TN.

Kellie O’Neal is a dedicated and collaborative food service leader with more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality space.  Today Kellie is the Regional Manager of Contracted Foodservice Accounts for Hyde Park Hospitality.  She is recognized for being a hands-on problem solver who thrives on training and educating others, enabling productivity, and operational excellence.  From 2022 to early 2024 Kellie was the General Manager of the 15,000 square foot 450-seat Guinness Open Gate Brewery located in Chicago’s West Loop.  There she oversaw more than 85 frontline employees that worked in the facility’s restaurant, brewery, retail space and bakery.  From 2019 to 2022 Kellie oversaw a team of 100 unionized employees that managed food and beverage operations at the 850 room Hilton Hotel at O’Hare International Airport.  Her team was responsible for all aspects related to food & beverage for the hotel including: catering/events, room service, restaurant/bar, and Grab N Go concepts.   Kellie received her degree in Organizational Psychology at the Chicago School of Psychology.

Kiran Ahmad’s extensive background spans over 15 years, including seven years in food manufacturing and eight plus years in food-service operations and management. Kiran is currently the Brand Delivery and Strategy Manager for Hyde Park Hospitality, where she oversees the brand delivery and strategic rollout for a portfolio of 21 airport lounges. In her role, Kiran is instrumental in managing our client’s (Airport Dimensions) brand presence and ensuring seamless strategic execution across high-traffic lounge locations. It also entails close collaboration with all stakeholders to deliver exceptional service to guests at “The Club” lounges, enhancing their overall experience through meticulous management and innovative solutions.

Prior to her current role, Kiran served as a Regional Operations Manager, where she was responsible for the comprehensive management of operations across six airport lounges nationwide. Her expertise in operational oversight, coupled with her strategic insight, enabled her to drive efficiency and elevate service standards across multiple locations.

Kiran holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Nutrition, complemented by her credentials as a Registered Dietitian. Her unique blend of engineering and nutrition expertise informs her strategic approach, enabling her to address complex challenges and drive impactful results in the hospitality industry.

Scott Forman is a hospitality management professional with over 25 years’ experience helping both independent and corporate businesses open new operations and revitalize existing concepts. ​

​He has spent the last 4 years working with both domestic and international airlines in opening and operating lounges at many US airports. Scott believes that teamwork and communication are the keys to operational excellence in the hospitality industry. He has opened and managed many award-winning restaurants in both Philadelphia and Washington DC, winning Bib Gourmand from Michelin for his last new concept.  He holds a dual bachelor’s in political science and history, as well as several graduate certifications in business management and innovation/sustainability.

In his Regional Manager role at HPH, Scott will oversee the East Coast based Chase Sapphire by the Club Lounges at the Boston, New York (LaGuardia), New York (JFK), and Washington-Dulles airports.

Susette Eremita brings over thirty years of expertise in orchestrating top-tier hospitality experiences for discerning guests, consistently delivering exceptional service and garnering outstanding customer satisfaction scores. Her tenure at American Airlines, where she oversaw the Admirals Club operations and Elite Services across multiple airports including Orange County, Honolulu, Austin, Houston, San Diego and Los Angeles, underscores her commitment to excellence in customer care and operational excellence.

With a track record of surpassing profit targets, driving revenue growth, and implementing strategic initiatives, Susette is known for her ability to elevate guest experiences while managing budgets effectively. As a dedicated leader, she fosters a culture of personal growth and empowerment among her team, encouraging each member to strive for their best performance and professional development.

In her Regional Manager role at HPH, Susette will oversee the West Coast based Chase Sapphire by the Club Lounges at the Phoenix, San Diego, Las Vegas and Los Angeles airports.

Quavon Norris is an experienced HR Professional with a background in training and development, employee onboarding / engagement, workplace mediation, and conflict management & negotiation. He has completed both his undergraduate degree in Organizational/Business Communication with a minor in Law Enforcement Justice Administration and graduate degree in Communication Studies with a research concentration in communication training & development and conflict management.  Quavon has business acumen to educate, equip, and empower for the purpose of professional development.

In his role at Hyde Park Hospitality, Quavon is one of the dedicated Chase Sapphire by the Club HR leaders that specializes in Employee Engagement, Conflict  Management/Mediation, Workplace Harassment disputes, Workplace Retaliation, and extending additional HR support.  Quavon is a proud native of Chicago, IL and is an alum of Western Illinois University.

Dave oversees 10 corporate account partnerships with Aramark for the Triple B portfolio. Dave started his journey partnering with Aramark in 2014, serving as the Director of Operations for Aramark/Bridgeman in St. Louis, Missouri. He then served for a year as the Director of Operations for Aramark/Bridgeman for the same client nationally.

In 2018, he took the role of managing all Aramark/Bridgeman partnerships. When Triple B Hospitality was created in early 2023, he was appointed as the District Manager responsible for all accounts under the new partnership.

David’s 23-year history in the food services industry has been marked by steadily increasing managerial responsibilities. He began his career as a shift manager for a Steak ‘n Shake, moving up to District Manager of several stores before taking on the job as District Manager of six stores for Bandanas Missouri LLC. From there, he ascended to District Manager for Bridgeman Foods in 2012, where he soon began working with Aramark. Throughout his tenure, he has taken a particular interest in building strong client relationships, maintaining service-level excellence, and focusing on hiring and retaining excellent people in his supervised operations. He also put a strong emphasis on finding and developing new managerial talent. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree, with concentrations in International Business and Economics, from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana.

Sheree graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University with a degree in liberal arts. Post graduation, she opted to pursue a career in healthcare when she became the Manager of Patient Transportation and Call Center. She oversaw a team of 6 Center Representatives and over 100 employees in various positions in healthcare.

In 2018, Sheree started with Aramark Facilities, leading teams in training, coaching, and mentoring. In October 2021, Sheree joined Aramark’s partner Hyde Park Hospitality as Senior Custodial Manager of the South District. In 5 months, she was promoted to District Manager, solely responsible for a team of 21 managers and oversight of the custodial program at 200 schools. Sheree’s constant goal is the Pursuit of Excellence through leading the management team and implementing processes to improve standards at every school location.

Bruce Hutcheon is a seasoned hospitality manager with extensive experience in the day-to-day operation of hotels, restaurants, and banquet venues in a range of metropolitan, suburban, and airport markets.  A former Executive Chef, his culinary resume includes roles at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago, The Royal Orleans, and The Park Plaza Boston.  As a General Manager, Bruce led hotels in the greater Chicago market as well as in Wisconsin, Arizona, Minnesota, and Indiana.

In his current role, Bruce manages a staff of 100 unionized HPH employees that oversee the food and beverage operations at the Chicago Hilton O’Hare Airport Hotel.  This 863-room property features an a la carte restaurant, sports bar, a grab and go outlet, room service, and extensive banquet facilities catering to the corporate market.

Vanessa Rodriguez worked at Meta as an Operation Manager for over 4 years and has experience in the Hospitality world for over 20 years. She has always been focused on customer service and satisfaction, building teams and culture, and maintaining outstanding relationships with clients. Originally from Venezuela, Vanessa fell in love with Chicago when she came over as an exchange student during high school.

She is fluent in both English and Spanish. Vanessa is a hardworking individual with a strong desire to learn and grow, regardless of the field.

Mandy Norman studied graphic design and marketing at the University of Central Missouri and began her career in merchandising and store design. She won various design awards with Guess Jeans and Urban Outfitters, where she managed their design departments.

Her love of building relationships and helping others led her into the field of learning and development. She began working as a Sales Trainer for Pandora Jewelry. After just two years, she grew to manage learning and development leaders in 18 different countries, including the United States, Latin America, and Canada. She transitioned from sales to technology training to round out her portfolio, including working with companies such as Navex Global and Oracle. She was responsible for managing federal contracts at Oracle and collaborated with military officials to oversee training programs for medical staff. She was eventually awarded a “Civilian Pin”, on two separate occasions, due to her rigorous work ethic and overall success level in training.

As Training Manager, she oversees the development, project planning and training execution at our Chase Sapphire Lounges across the country.

David is a passionate, skilled operator with 12+ years of multifaceted food & beverage and hospitality management experience.  David currently oversees and provides operational and staffing support to 4 Airport Lounge locations across the country.  He is responsible for hiring and supervising over 75 employees between all 4 locations.  He works seamlessly with our client partner to provide excellent service to guests who visit the “The Club” lounges. David specializes in the oversight, coaching, and development of both union and non-union workforces along with salaried and hourly staff in front of house and back of house settings.  He received an A.S in Culinary Arts and B.S. in Hospitality Management from Kendall College. 

Sheree’ holds the position of HR/Payroll Manager at Hyde Park Hospitality, bringing to the role her extensive experience of over 12 years in Human Resources. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management with a focus on HR and went on to acquire a Masters of Business Administration.

She embarked on her journey with Hyde Park Hospitality in 2019, initially serving as the Payroll Manager for the Airport Dimensions Core Lounge division. In this role, she meticulously managed and processed payroll for approximately 300 employees. As the company experienced growth, Sheree’ seamlessly embraced additional responsibilities and now oversees HR support and payroll management for various sectors within the company including K-12 Aramark Food, Aramark Custodial, K-12 Open Kitchens, Meta Business Dining, and the core Management team.

Beyond her pivotal role at Hyde Park Hospitality, Sheree’ additionally manages the payroll for Triple B Hospitality, a burgeoning entity with 102 employees. Her profound understanding of Human Resources and Payroll Management and her dedication to operational excellence significantly contribute to the seamless functioning of the diverse sectors within the organization, making her an invaluable asset to both Hyde Park and Triple B Hospitality.

Kevin Sotto has almost 10 years of quick-serve restaurant and retail operations in the airport environment. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management in the Philippines and earned his diploma in October 2012.

After accepting a position with Hyde Park Hospitality in 2016, Kevin started as an Assistant Manager for their World Bean Coffee locations in Terminal C at Newark International Airport. Within one year of accepting the position, Kevin was promoted to Operations Manager, directly responsible for overseeing more than 40 employees in the World Bean portfolio. In his first year as Operations Manager, Kevin increased sales by over 7% compared to the previous year, along with a significant drop in employee turnover. Today, Kevin is the General Manager at our joint venture, O’Hare Ventures II LLC. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of our six food and beverage concepts at Chicago O’Hare Airport, where he manages close to 70 employees.