Paul Barham, CEO Harrell Hospitality Group, LLC
Paul Barham was born and raised in the United Kingdom, where he studied at the London School of Accounting and the Financial Training Institute, receiving his Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants degree in 1976, and his Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants degree in 1981.
After graduation and a brief period with an internationally recognized fast food company, Paul was intrigued with the opportunities in the hospitality industry. He selected a position with Jack Tar Hotels and Resorts in the Caribbean, serving first as Property Controller, and shortly thereafter as Regional Controller for the Grand Bahama Hotel, the Jack Tar All Inclusive Village in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and the Montego Beach Hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
In 1982, Paul came to the USA and joined Wyndham Hotels to assume the position of property controller for the opening of the 542 room Wyndham hotel in Dallas. Within a few months, Paul was recognized for his knowledge and professional skills, being promoted to Corporate Controller, ultimately with duties directly supervising accounting functions of fifteen hotels.
He left Wyndham in 1986 to join Savoy Resorts and Management Services, based in Fort Worth, Texas as Vice President of Finance. His responsibilities included all aspects of corporate and financial control for resort properties in the Caribbean and Mexico.
In 1989, Paul and a partner formed Hotel Management Group, the predecessor to Harrell Hospitality Group, LLC.
Barbara Ratcliffe, Vice President Human Resources
Barbara Ratcliffe was born the United Kingdom, and completed her MBA at Oxford Brookes University in Oxford U.K. Barbara began her hospitality experience with Trusthouse Forte in the United Kingdom, with a management trainee program and progressed through the company
holding various position in management and human resources.
After relocating to California, Barbara received her teaching credentials from San Diego State University. She also completed her Human Resource Certificate, U.CS.D.
Barbara then held the general manager position at resort and corporate hotels in Dana Point, La Jolla , Mendocino and Santa Clara, California. Barbara then became, and currently holds, the position of General Manager at the Biltmore Hotel & Suites Hotel in Santa Clara, California. She concurrently holds the position as Vice President of Human Resources for Harrell Hospitality Group, LLC.
Barbara is also very active in the community and is currently the Chairperson for Santa Clara Chamber 2008/09, a board member for the Tourist Improvement District, and a part time lecturer at San Jose State University.
Mark Hamner, Vice President Operations
Mark Hamner served in the Navy before he graduated from East Tennessee State University. Mark has an extensive background in hotel operations and sales, including the Director of Sales and Marketing for the La Coquille Club, Kings Bay Resort and the Birmingham Hilton. Mark has also held the position of general manager at the Kings Bay Resort, South Padre Island Hilton Resort, Dallas Parkway Hilton, and the Wyndham. Mark was a key contributor for the properties he has worked for and his high quality of service and commitment to his properties lead them to great success.
Converting and re branding hotels are a specialty of Mark's. He has been key in the re flagging of many different brands of properties including Wyndham, Crowne Plaza, Hilton, and Radisson properties. Mark's depth of experience in operations and sales, has made him a key partner in ensuring owners go through the re branding experience taking care of the extensive details.
Jonathan Tripp, Vice President Controller
Jonathan graduated from Bucknell University and has completed two years graduate work at Temple University. He brings over thirty-five years of hotel industry experience in management and accounting.
Jonathan's wide spectrum of controller skills for the hospitality industry and hotel management, included three years in the Caribbean resort industry, first as Area Controller and then Corporate Controller for Jamaica with 600 rooms and a $40M annual budget.
He also spent five years as Assistant Controller and Controller with Wyndham Hotel Company. Jonathan was then promoted to Controller of Central Accounting for the Wyndham Garden Hotel brand. He spent six years with Harvey Hotels as a property controller and regional controller. Then Jonathan controlled the Dallas region of 10 hotels (3,600 rooms) with $95M in sales. He has spent the last thirteen years of tenure with Harrell Hospitality Group as Corporate Controller and Vice President Controller.
Jonathan is experienced in the full gamut of hotel accounting including de-centralized and centralized, large group hotels or small transient limited service properties, downtown corporate, airport, leisure, resort or budget roadside.