After 20 years of knowing one another and at the height of their individual careers, Charlie Palmer and Christopher Hunsberger began exploring building a new kind of hospitality company. One which leads with food and beverage as a core part of the experience - celebrating the very best of the region. A company that builds hotels that truly connect, engage and serve their local communities. A company that embraces and develops the next generation of great chefs, hoteliers, artists and hospitality professionals. Makr Hospitality was born.
Charlie
Palmer
Co-founder &
Chief Executive makr
Since the beginning of his celebrated career, master chef, restaurateur and hotel entrepreneur Charlie Palmer has received critical acclaim for his signature progressive American cooking and unparalleled hospitality.
Over the years, Palmer combined his creative cooking spirit and flair for business to open dozens of notable restaurants across the country, including Manhattan Flagship Aureole. Charlie’s celebrated cuisine, authentic hospitality and award-winning beverage service are anchored in premier hotels including: Hotel Healdsburg, Archer Hotels, The Knickerbocker, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, MGM Resorts International and Grand Sierra Resort and Casino.
With the launch of Makr Hospitality, Palmer continues to be recognized as one of the most distinctive and influential figures in hospitality today.
Christopher
Hunsberger
co-founder &
Chief Operations makr
Operationally, Makr Hospitality is led by one of the industries most seasoned executives. Christopher Hunsberger brings with him 35 years of luxury hotel operations and management at Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts. Christopher served in multiple international capacities from General Manager to President of Hotel Operations – Americas to leading the Innovation Practice as Vice President of Innovation and finishing off his service as global Executive Vice President of Human Resources.
His service-forward approach to the guest experience and operations makes Makr Hospitality properties one-of-a-kind lifestyle and luxury destinations.
“We believe deeply that the “right” people are our greatest asset.”
Ed
Skapinok
Chief marketing Officer
A hospitality veteran since 1988, Ed Skapinok is recognized among owner and investment groups, global hotel brands, third party management companies, and independent properties for his accomplishments as a sales, marketing, and revenue leader.
Prior to joining Makr, Skapinok worked as Senior Vice President for Aqua-Aston Hospitality where he led the sales, marketing, revenue, and reservations teams for an international portfolio of leisure hotels, resorts, and vacation rental properties. Prior to joining Aqua-Aston, Skapinok spent over six years as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Hostmark Hospitality Group in Schaumburg, Illinois. While there, he established new standards for pricing, improved the success of promotional efforts, and engaged top talent for the company’s diverse multi-brand portfolio of 50 full- and select-service hotels, resorts, restaurants, and spas. Previously, Skapinok worked for eight years as Vice President of National Sales for boutique hotel operator Larkspur Hotels & Restaurants, and he held senior sales and marketing positions for Sheraton Hotels and InterContinental Hotels Group.
Richard
Femenella
Chief Financial Officer
Richard Femenella has 40 years of restaurant and hotel experience and has also served as the Senior Vice President of Operations for the Charlie Palmer Group for the past 21 years. Beginning his career with a culinary degree he went on to acquire a business degree from Bernard M. Baruch College and passed the CPA exam in 1995.
Femenella’s hospitality operational skills combined with his managerial financial skills renders him uniquely qualified as an executive member of the Makr team.
Richard is also a member of the Forbes Financial Council and was named Restaurateur of the Year by the Nevada Restaurant Association in 2017.
“We value people with high energy, who possess that ability to energize others. People who are smart, creative, and have a point of view. ”
Chad
Hostetler
VP of Strategy & Guest Experience
For more than two decades Chad Hostetler has served as innovator, strategist, idea guy, solver, implementer, collaborator and partner in excellence to some of the most successful organizations and brands in the world.
Chad is an innovator at his core and is energized by infusing new thinking from other industries into hospitality His work always begins with the end: What do we want to accomplish? What do we want people say as they walk out the door? What’s our future story of success? Then he designs every thoughtful detail and experience along the path to that result.
Natalie Vozila Gianetti
FINANCE DIRECTOR
Natalie Vozila has been in the hospitality industry for over 18 years. Her experience has spanned single unit and multi unit properties with responsibilities for day-to-day financial and accounting practices as well as providing precise and accurate monthly financial statements. Currently , Natalie serves as Controller for the Charlie Palmer Group. Her experience includes accounting positions in the major hospitality markets of New York, Miami and Las Vegas.
Charles
Pouchot
Operations DIRECTOR
Charles Pouchot was educated at the Formation Hoteliere CFTH in Chambery, France where he pursued a degree in hospitality that was followed up by further certification from the Lycee Hotelier in Nice. Famed Chef Daniel Boulud recruited Charles to work for the Dinex Group. He moved to New York City where he spent ten years of his career rising through the ranks to the position of Assistant Director of Operations. Charles joined the Charlie Palmer Group in 2008 to oversee flagship Aureole’s relocation to the Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park.
“We are highly dedicated to developing exceptional talent and innovation in our associates.”