Matt was born and raised in Mason City, Iowa. He attended the University of Iowa for undergraduate studies as a double major in Accounting and Finance. Upon graduating the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business in 2008, he began his career in public accounting at McGladrey and Pullen, LLP in Iowa City, Iowa. In 2009, he acquired his Certified Public Account (CPA) license.
Currently, Matt resides in Mason City with his wife, Kari, also a Mason City native, and their three small children. In his spare time, Matt enjoys fishing, running, coaching, and spending time with family.
Mark was born and raised in Rock Island, Illinois. He attended University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, majoring in Recreation Management, with the desire to someday manage a ski resort. After college, he worked at Big Sky Resort in Montana and skied every chance he could. However, he soon realized that vacationing at a ski resort is much different than living at one, and abandoned the life of a ski bum.
He moved back home to find a position in sales open at Stoney Creek – Moline. After working in sales and operations, he found his true passion in revenue management, leading with a servant attitude, and driving results. He’s doing what he’s always wanted to do, working in hospitality, just not on a mountain! He resides in Des Moines, IA, with his wife, Cynthia, and son, Maverick. He enjoys running, golfing, cycling, and watching all Chicago sports. He still finds time to hit the slopes, occasionally.
Travis was born in small town Iowa and had a passion for sports while growing up. Being a four-sport athlete in high school, Travis was always pushing the envelope to see how far he could go. His passion for sports led him to play football at a small college, where he dove head first into his passion for hospitality.
Hotels has always been Travis’ passion, and he has never looked back since the early days of a high school internship of following around a general manager at a small hotel. His work ethic has pushed him to continued growth to be able to work all over the United States, from food and beverage, to general management, to acquisitions. Travis has a passion for outdoors and living an active lifestyle. His favorite passions are running, hiking, and cycling. Travis resides in Des Moines, IA, with his wife, Katie, and boy/girl twins, that also enjoy the outdoors!
Having grown up in the family hardware business, genuine hospitality and a business mindset run deep in her Midwest roots. Working in the service industry while attending Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, she quickly realized that hospitality was a fulfilling and rewarding field. After graduating with a B.A. in business management she continued her career in Galena, Illinois, which she would later call home for her and her family. An opportunity arose for a general manager position at Stoney Creek in Galena and she knew it was the moment that she had been waiting for. Katie’s enthusiastic drive for change and servant leadership were quickly noticed by leadership, and after three years in her current role, she accepted a promotion to join the corporate team. Her innovative approach and leadership are often noted by those she serves. Katie and her husband, Matt, live with their three kids in Galena.
Jeff’s journey into the world of hospitality began in the bustling kitchen of his childhood home in Oak Park, IL. With a spoon in one hand and a dream in the other, he transformed after-school hours into culinary adventures, prepping for the family dinner. This early dance with hospitality taught Jeff the art of creating warm welcomes that made every guest feel cherished. From scrubbing pots in a local eatery to orchestrating the grand symphony of hotels, Jeff’s career has been a whirlwind tour through the vibrant realms of restaurants, camps, and conference centers.
Then came 2020, a year that spun a new chapter when Jeff leaped at the chance to steer Stoney Creek Hospitality as its chief operating officer. Disguised as a secret shopper, he engaged with staff, explored the nooks and crannies of various properties, only to find his heart echoing the founder’s vision of crafting an exceptionally personal home-away-from-home. Now, Jeff pours his passion for hospitality into providing vision for Embergrove’s growth, empowering his team, and ensuring that every guest’s stay is nothing short of exceptional.
