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.

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.

Elijah began his career in audit at Ernst & Young working on complex public company engagements and later joined Citadel during the 2008 financial crisis. He went on to work with The Siegfried Group, advising Fortune 500 companies on IPOs, M&A transactions, and finance transformations. He later served as Senior Finance Director for a $750M medical device company, overseeing accounting, FP&A, AR, and AP.

A licensed CPA, Elijah also founded and exited an IT outsourcing firm during the pandemic. Prior to Hyde Park Hospitality, he worked in consulting sales at Robert Half.  In his current position as Controller at Hyde Park Hospitality, Elijah oversees accounting and financial operations for the company’s growing hospitality portfolio.

Will Sander started his career in income tax compliance at RSM US LLP, specializing in the taxation of small business owners and high net-worth individuals. He especially enjoyed developing advisory relationships with his clients and helping plan for their future financial decisions. Will moved out of public accounting for an Assistant Controller position at an established midwestern manufacturer, but soon realized he was more interested in finding a fast-paced, growing company. Will was excited to find that environment at HPH, and as Assistant Controller he develops and implements enhancements to the Finance department’s systems and processes, creating and enforcing policies and procedures along the way.

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.

Michael Barkley is a seasoned hospitality professional with more than 20 years experience in the Hotel & Property Management Industries.  In his current role with Hyde Park Hospitality, he oversees the operations for 7, The Club – Proprietary Lounge locations throughout the United States.

Previously, Michael has held positions ranging from Director of Food & Beverage to his ascent as an Area Director overseeing GF Hotels & Resorts, West Coast Operations that included select and full-service hotels, resorts and PGA Championship golf courses.  Most recently, Michael held regional roles with Turnkey & Vacasa overseeing their Operations in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West States for 700+ luxury vacation rentals.

Michael is also a recognized and award-winning hospitality operator for Marriott International and Radisson Hotel Group for outstanding product, cross-functional teams, and guest service.

Rebecca has worked in hospitality for over 20 years with extensive experience in hotels and resorts. Starting in a full‐service restaurant and working in all aspects of the business in her earlier years. Moving to General Manager, multi‐site General Manager and then VP of operations for hotels covering 6 brands and multiple states.

Rebecca worked for 6 years as a Senior Regional Director where she covered 3 states and 9 large timeshare resorts for Master Corp. Rebecca has run large accounts with brands such as Bluegreen, Wyndham, Holiday Vacations, and Capital Vacations.

During her career she has enjoyed building teams and developing people in their upward movement as leaders. Working as a trusted partner with clients and guests both internal and external to create a culture that is both fun and results driven.

In her current role at HPH as Regional Manager, Rebecca oversees the East Coast based Core Lounges.

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.

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.

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.

Tracy Green brings more than 15 years of experience supporting exceptional customer and client experiences through strategic training development, operational support, and project leadership. Over the course of her career, she has contributed to large-scale initiatives with industry leaders including The Walt Disney Company, Cerner, and Oracle. During her tenure with Cerner, she supported complex healthcare technology initiatives connected to programs serving the United States Department of Defense, helping deliver training and implementation support for large, distributed teams.

In her current role with Hyde Park Hospitality as LMS Content Development Specialist, Tracy leads the development and management of the organization’s Learning Management System, ensuring training compliance and operational alignment across the global network of Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club. Her work focuses on translating operational standards into scalable learning solutions that empower hospitality teams and support a consistently elevated guest experience.

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.

With over 12 years of experience in Learning and Development, Brittney is a dynamic leader known for creating and implementing impactful training programs that meet the evolving needs of organizations and their employees. Throughout her career, she has successfully launched new Learning Management Systems (LMS), developed customized learning paths, enhanced new employee onboarding processes, and scaled company training initiatives from a local to a global level. Brittney has also led the development of leadership workshops, communication training, and refined existing programs to support business growth and organizational change.

Earlier in her career, Brittney gained foundational leadership experience as a Store Manager at Lush, where she supported global sales training initiatives and developed performance management programs. She also holds several certifications that strengthen her leadership and development expertise, including Situational Leadership from the Center for Leadership Studies.

In her current role with Hyde Park Hospitality as the Training & Development Specialist, Brittney leads the development and management of the organization’s Learning Management System, ensuring training compliance and operational alignment across multiple Core Airport Lounges.

As the HR & Payroll Manager for the Chase Sapphire Lounge line of business, Summer brings over eight years of dynamic experience in the HR field, where she’s honed her expertise across critical areas. Her journey has been fueled by a commitment to creating a workplace where both organizational goals and employee aspirations thrive in harmony.

Summer specializes in employee relations, dealing with maintaining positive relationships, conflict resolution, addressing grievances, and ensuring compliance with labor laws. Summer crafts competitive compensation and benefits packages that not only draw in exceptional talent but also retain them. Fostering positive employee relations is paramount; Summer strives to create a culture of open communication and collaboration.

Summer aims to empower employees to reach their full potential while ensuring HPH practices adhere to compliance standards that safeguard both the company and its workforce. She focuses on performance management strategies that drive engagement and enhance productivity, all while leveraging HR information systems (HRIS) to streamline processes and support data-driven decision-making.

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.