Advisory Board

Jessica Coane recently joined Cobb Travel & Tourism as the Vice President of Group Sales, taking on the role in July.  She is responsible for the strategic direction of the group sales efforts throughout Cobb County including convention, tradeshow, professional and group markets.  Previously Jessica was the Area Director of Sales & Marketing for the Atlanta Marriott Northwest and SpringHill Suites Atlanta Northwest since 2019.  Prior to her time in Cobb County, Jessica was Director of Sales & Marketing at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast, the Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners, and the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center. 

Coane was on the opening team for the Grand Ballroom project at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest as well as the opening of the SpringHill Suites Atlanta Northwest.  The Grand Ballroom was awarded Best of the South Renovation/Addition in 2023.  Coane was awarded Dimension Hospitality Sales Champion of the Year in 2022 as well as the Shining STR Award in 2023 for stellar STR performance. 

Coane is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Hospitality Management.  She began her hospitality career working in front office operations with Walt Disney World Resorts at the Polynesian Resort.  After several years in operations, Coane found her passion in sales and has never looked back.  She resides in downtown Woodstock GA, with her two children.  

Chris Hardman currently serves as the Director of Governmental Affairs & Membership for the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association (GHLA) representing the states lodging industry. In addition to Hardman’s role overseeing membership, he also serves as one of GHLA’s registered lobbyist, having taken the lead on several monumental and historic pieces of legislation benefiting the entire hospitality and tourism industry. Most notably Hardman championed the 2021 passage of House Bill 317, requiring short term rental platforms to collect and remit the hotel motel tax on behalf of their hosts, which has arguably become the greatest economic generator for tourism in Georgia since the creation of the bed tax in the early 70’s. In 2022, Hardman led the effort to secure the passage of Senate Bill 331 “The Protecting Georgia Businesses and Workers Act” which became the first of its kind legislation to pass in the nation and has recently been adopted by ALEC as model legislation. In addition, this year, Hardman helped secure the passage of Senate Bill 127, providing much needed protections for Convention and Visitors Bureaus across the state and is continuing his efforts to shape the rules and regulations under the Department of Community Affairs to add even further to these protections.

Hardman graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors and a BBA in Hospitality Administration from Georgia State University (GSU). Hardman then went on to receive his Master’s in Global Hospitality Management from GSU. Hardman has since been selected into GSU’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2019. Prior to working with GHLA, Hardman was the Research Associate for Georgia Capitol Associates, advocating on behalf of the hospitality and tourism industry, and served four years as the Member Development Executive and a registered lobbyist for the Georgia Restaurant Association, representing one of the largest industries in the state. Through GHLA, Hardman continues to be recognized for his legislative efforts having most recently received the ISHA Awards of Excellence in Governmental Affairs, the GACVB Tourism Champion Award, and STS Shining Example Award. In addition to Hardman’s work with GHLA, he has volunteered his time in many capacities and on several industry boards including the International Society of Hotel Associations, American Hospitality Alliance, Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, The Entertainment Tourism Alliance of Georgia, Kennesaw State University, Roswell CVB, Brookhaven CVB, ATL Airport District, and others.

As the second largest private sector employer, Georgia’s hospitality and tourism industry supports over 500,000 jobs and generates more than $74 Billion in annual economic impact. Hardman has spent his career and will continue to devote his time in creating better environment for hospitality and tourism businesses in Georgia.

Cartarwa Jones joined RLJ in 2007 and is a Senior Vice President in the Investment & Portfolio Analysis group. RLJ Lodging Trust is a publicly traded hotel REIT with 96 properties located in 23 states and the District of Columbia and one unconsolidated hotel. Cartarwa has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining RLJ, Ms. Jones held various positions at the InterContinental Hotels Group as well as PwC, providing market & feasibility, strategic planning, financial, and project planning analysis on numerous projects.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Florida State University, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Economics from the University of South Florida. 

As Chief Investment Officer Mr. Leven is responsible for overall portfolio development strategies which includes all aspects of evaluation, analysis and execution of real estate investment opportunities for Procaccianti Companies.

A principal and senior member of the Investment Committee for more than a decade, Mr. Leven has played a critical leadership role in driving the Firm’s growth having been involved with hundreds of transactions including acquisitions, dispositions, and new hotel developments. His pragmatic approach, superior analytics and entrepreneurial vision have led to the expansion of the Firm’s national platform which now comprises approximately $3.5 Billion in diverse real estate assets currently under management. 

Since joining the Firm in 2002, Mr. Leven has also expanded relationships with institutional ownership groups, capital partners and global hospitality brands like Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and InterContinental. Furthermore, through his leadership Rob has helped to position Procaccianti Companies and its affiliates as one of the largest and most respected privately-held real estate investment and management firms in the United States. 

Prior to joining Procaccianti Companies Mr. Leven held a senior position with a leading U.S. hotel brokerage firm and he was also one of the original founders of U.S. Franchise Systems in 1995. 

Mr. Leven is a graduate of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. 

With over 18 years of experience in corporate hospitality, Dwayne joined Valor Hospitality Partners following senior leadership roles with Chesapeake Hospitality, Marriott International and IHG, as well as previously serving as a hospitality consultant at REVPAR International.

As Chief Development Officer, Dwayne leads the execution of Valor’s growth strategy in the Americas by sourcing, structuring, negotiating and executing third-party management contracts and assisting with underwriting acquisition and development opportunities for the company and its capital partners. Additionally, he continues to build and nurture Valor’s strategic relationships with hotel ownership groups, hotel brands, asset managers, hotel brokers and the hotel investment community at large.

In addition to his role at Valor, Dwayne works as a facilitator for eCornell, Cornell University’s online learning platform, instructing classes courses within Cornell's SC Johnson College of Business (including the Nolan School of Hotel Administration) in hotel real estate investments, hotel asset management, hotel brand management and franchise negotiation, hotel owner relations, and commercial real estate. These courses taught form part of the Hotel Real Estate Investments & Asset Management, Hotel Management & Owner Relations, Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate Development, and Real Estate Property Management certificate programs.

Dwayne is currently completing an Executive Master of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University and holds a Master of Business Administration (with Distinction) from Curtin University and a Master of Entrepreneurship from The University of Adelaide. Additionally, he holds bachelor’s degrees in marketing and in leisure sciences and sports management from Edith Cown University. Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Dwayne currently resides in Milton, Georgia. Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time with family, traveling, attending concerts, beach activities, supporting the Liverpool and Hawthorn football clubs and being a foodie. 

Holly Quinlan became the President and CEO of Cobb Travel & Tourism in December 2010. Cobb Travel & Tourism is responsible for marketing Cobb County as a destination, as well as promoting and generating tourism, convention, trade show and sports development activity throughout Cobb County. 

Previously, she was Chief Operating Officer for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. Very active in the community, Quinlan co-chaired the Leadership Cobb 2023 Class and the selection committee for the Tribute to Women by LiveSafe Resources. She also is a member of Kennesaw State University’s Coles College of Business Advisory Board, the One Cumberland Board of Directors and the Marietta Kiwanis Club. 

Quinlan was named a 40 Under 40 by Georgia Trend magazine, 20 Under 40 by Cobb Life magazine and has been given the Up and Comers Award by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. She has also received the LiveSafe Resources Women of Achievement Award. 

She was a Volunteer Probation Officer for Cobb County Superior Court for 13 years. She is a graduate of the Regional Leadership Institute, Leadership Cobb and Honorary Commanders. 

A native of Cobb County (GA), she graduated from the University of Georgia. She is the mother of 15-year-old twin daughters. 

Dina Winder brings 20+ years of experience in hospitality real estate with a demonstrated track record of driving superior results through active asset management and forging strategic partnerships. She is intensely focused on maximizing investor returns with an eye to the guest experience and executing value-add renovation and repositioning plans.

Dina is currently Senior Vice President, Asset Management at Highgate, a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Dina was previously a Principal with Walton Street Capital in Chicago, focused on the asset management of $1+ billion of hotel and resort properties across the US. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Acquisitions at Chartres Lodging Group responsible for sourcing, underwriting, due diligence and financing efforts for off-market and adaptive-reuse acquisition opportunities across the US. Prior to Chartres, Dina was with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, implementing the boutique lifestyle brand’s growth strategy as Senior Director of Acquisitions and Development. Dina began her career as an investment banker at Bear Stearns in the Real Estate, Gaming, Lodging and Leisure Group in New York.

Dina has a BS from Cornell University, an MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and is a Certified Hotel Asset Manager (CHAM) designee. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association as chair of the Industry Relations Committee, is active in AHLA’s ForWard initiatives and champions advancing women within the real estate and hospitality industry. Dina lives in Nashville, TN, and can often be found running the trails around town.