Executive Team at The Resort Collection | Resorts Condos Hotels and Vacation Rentals in Panama City Beach Florida

Mike Stange, COO

Prior to joining The Resort Collection in 2009, Stange represented Intrawest, a Vancouver-based resort management company, as Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort’s president and chief operating officer, and was part of the Intrawest executive management team. Stange, a graduate of Florida State University’s Dedman School of Hospitality, gained 30 years experience holding executive level positions throughout his career. Stange began his hospitality career with Marco Beach Ocean Resort on Marco Island, Florida. He spent 11 years in leadership with Renaissance Hotels, which included management positions with Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club and with Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel.

Keith Wilt, CFO

Keith Wilt joined the Resort Collection in 2008, bringing more than 30 years of experience to the management company. Prior to joining The Resort Collection, Wilt was vice president, CFO and asset manager for the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Florida. Originally from Apalachicola, he has returned to his roots of Northwest Florida with his wife Josie and three children. Keith is a graduate of Florida State University.

John Ward, VP of Activities

John Ward joined the Resort Collection with an extensive background as a PGA professional. Ward brings a wealth of diverse experience in successfully directing golf operations. Prior to joining The Resort Collection, Ward was the general manager at Burnt Pine Golf Club at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort. In that position he supervised all of the golf, as well as the food and beverage operations for a corporately owned club with over 400 members. During his tenure there he successfully increased revenue and member tournament participation, redesigned the tee time policy, restructured the golf staff, developed a new training policy, and implemented a new orientation program for Sandestin Resort employees. In addition to his vast work experience, Ward has also participated in two PGA teaching and coaching summits, and served on the PGA membership committee.

Heem Chee, VP of Food & Beverage

Prior to joining The Resort Collection, Chee served as vice president of food and beverage, and resort executive chef for the 2,400-acre Sandestin® Golf and Beach Resort where he oversaw all aspects of food services. In his position as vice president of food and beverage, he directed a management staff of fifteen while overseeing a total seasonal staff of more than 300 throughout the resort’s banquets, restaurants, and clubs. Chee’s culinary expertise has been harnessed through his more than three decades of industry experience working for top hospitality brands in the U.S., Canada, and the Bahamas.

Stacey Aronson, VP of Lodging

Aronson comes to The Resort Collection from Olympic Valley, California where she was the general manager for The Village at Squaw Valley, a 290-room hotel-condominium located in a four-season mountain resort. While Aronson oversaw all aspects of rental and property management for The Village, she improved employee satisfaction by 31 percent across all departments, and guest satisfaction by 15 percent, which increased the number of repeat guests. Prior to her work in California, Aronson worked for Intrawest as general manager of the Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach, Florida. Aronson is a graduate of Florida State University.

Tom Sparks, VP of Association Operations

Tom Sparks has a 17-year history with the Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort, having served most recently as General Manager. Sparks is a long-standing member of the area’s hospitality industry. In 1981, he relocated from Fort Payne, Alabama to Panama City Beach where he and his family owned and operated a beach hotel property. He became active in the Bay County Hospitality Association (which later became The Greater Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce), serving as President and on its Board of Directors. Sparks was a founding director of The Greater Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce and has served as President of that organization as well. Along with other area hospitality leaders, he was instrumental in creating the present-day Tourist Development Council.

Paul Wohlford, VP of Sales & Marketing

Paul Wolhford has been with the Resort Collection since 2007. Prior to joining the company Wohlford was the Vice President Sales & Marketing for the Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort in Sandestin, Florida. Before relocating to Florida, Wohlford spend nine years at the Renaissance Esmeralda in Palm Springs, CA; Hyatt in Hilton Head, SC; Park Hyatt in San Francisco, CA and Hyatt in Knoxville, TN in various sales and marketing roles. Currently Wohlford is the incoming chairman for the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce and maintains an active presence in the community. Wohlford is a native of Tennessee and graduate of the University of Tennessee.

Judy Johnson, VP of Human Resources

Judy Johnson has been with the Resort Collection since 1998. Hired as the director of human resources, she was promoted to VP of Human Resources in 2010. Prior to joining the company Johnson was employed by the John H. Harland Company in Atlanta, GA as the Benefits and Employee Relations Specialist, she worked for the National Data Corporation also in Atlanta, GA as the Benefits Manager and relocated to Florida in 1995 to work for the Marriott’s Bay Point Resort in Panama City Beach as Human Resources Manager. Johnson is a graduate of West Georgia College in Carrollton GA.

Ric Holt, VP of Real Estate and Commercial Leasing

Ric Holt has been a full-time licensed real estate agent for over 28 years. He is the VP of Real Estate and Commercial Leasing for the Resort Collection and he also serves as the managing broker for the Edgewater Beach Realty. Experienced in property management, leasing, residential and commercial sales, he has also been the broker/owner of a national real estate franchise for over 12 years. Holt has been a real estate instructor for over 10 years. On both the state and national levels he has trained agents in such subjects as real estate negotiations, marketing, and market trends.