Ron Franklin is the founder, owner and President of Pinnacle Hotel Management. He joined Marriott International as a sales trainee in 1971. He worked 26 years with Marriott in sales, marketing and operations. He worked 12 years in sales and marketing and eventually held the position of Vice President of Marketing for the Western Hemisphere where he was responsible for all property sales, marketing programs and feasibility for new projects. He was instrumental in the development of the Courtyard and Fairfield Inn brands and Marriott’s acquisition of the Residence Inn company. He crossed over into operations and held General Manager positions at the Miami Biscayne Bay Marriott and the Rancho Las Palmas Resort in California. He was responsible for Marriott’s entry into Latin America as Vice President of Operations for Mexico and Latin America.

In 1997 he joined forces with Dick Vilardo to form Pinnacle Hotel Management with the goal to develop Marriott franchised properties in Florida. With a strong commitment to quality, guests, associates and partners. Pinnacle has grown to include thirty plus hotels geographically dispersed across the United States. They also have expanded their franchise relationships to include Hilton branded hotels. Ron is responsible for the strategic growth and all operations for the hotels in the company.

Ron has a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Georgia.

Steven Fairbanks joined Pinnacle Hotel Management in 2002 and has completed over $1.3 billion of hotel acquisitions, developments and financings for Pinnacle.

Prior to joining Pinnacle, Steven was the Executive Vice President, Lodging and Senior Living Investments, of Crestline Capital, Inc, a position he held since 1998. In this role, Steven acquired and merged several hotel management companies, creating one of the leading franchisees for Marriott International.

Before joining Crestline, Steven was a Senior Vice President, Acquisitions, of Host Marriott, Inc. During his tenure at Host Marriott, Steven completed over $750 million of acquisitions and developments.

Steven graduated with honors from the Wharton Business School.

John Marks joined Pinnacle Hotel Management in 2014 as Vice President of Operations. In January of 2020, John was promoted to President of Pinnacle Hotels and has overall responsibility for the operation of all hotels.

John has a long and accomplished background in the hotel industry. His first job was with Marriott Hotels in various Sales and Marketing positions over a 14-year time period. John joined Interstate Hotels Corp as Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing with responsibility for the development and implementation of all marketing, public relations and advertising programs for 26 hotels in his region. In 1994, he transitioned to operations within the Interstate portfolio. He was the General Manager at the Sheraton Biscayne Bay Hotel in Miami, Florida and at the Don CeSar Hotel “the Pink Palace” in St Petersburg, Forida. While both hotels went through extensive renovations and John was able to lead his team to successfully maintain hotel operations standards and meet budget requirements. Loews Hotels took over the management of “the Don” in 2003. During his tenure as a General Manager, he was recognized with Hotel of the Year twice, Sales Team of the Year three times, General Manager of the Year, Best Food & Beverage and Engineering Departments, as well as leading the company in Associate Opinion Survey and Guest Satisfaction Scores.

John has a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Business Administration from Florida International University.

Felicia Matula joined Pinnacle in 1999 and is the Chief Financial Officer. Felicia is responsible for overseeing the Accounting functions as well as being the Human Resource liaison between Pinnacle and CoAdvantage.

Prior to joining Pinnacle, Felicia started her hospitality career with Marriott International, working her way up the ranks, holding various operation and accounting positions in the Chicagoland area before relocating to South Florida. Her first role within Pinnacle was General Manager at a Residence Inn by Marriott, eventually moving into a Director of Finance role and most recently Chief Financial Officer.

Felicia has a Bachelor of Science Business Administration from Elmhurst College and Master of Accounting from Nova Southeastern University.

Al Baerenklau is a seasoned hospitality executive with decades of leadership experience in hotel development, operations, and management. A graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and a member of Ye Hosts and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies, Al began his career with the Howard Johnson Company, where he served in key roles including General Manager at Walt Disney World, Regional Operations Manager, Corporate Real Estate Director, and Vice President of the Plaza Hotel Division. In 1987, he founded Florida Hospitality Group, building and operating hotels across the Southeast and forging successful partnerships with major brands such as Marriott, Choice, and Holiday Inn. Al was among the first franchisees of Marriott’s Courtyard brand and played a pivotal role in the development of Pinnacle’s first hotel near the University of Central Florida. He later served as President and COO of Motels of America, overseeing 142 properties and leading new developments across multiple hotel tiers. Since 2001, Al has been a key member of the Pinnacle Hotel Management team, continuing his legacy of excellence in the hospitality industry.

Christopher DeCosty is an accomplished hospitality executive with nearly 30 years of experience in hotel operations, revenue management, and strategic leadership. As Vice President of Operations at Pinnacle Hotel Management, he oversees a multi-state portfolio of full-service and extended stay properties, ensuring operational excellence, financial discipline, and strong brand alignment.

Throughout his career, Mr. DeCosty has demonstrated a consistent ability to drive revenue growth, improve profitability, and elevate guest satisfaction. He is known for his hands-on leadership style and commitment to developing high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and exceptional service.

Prior to joining Pinnacle, he served as Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations at Love Hotel Management Company, where he successfully guided a diverse portfolio through significant growth and industry challenges. His leadership was marked by strong staff retention, improved financial performance, and sustained gains in key operational metrics.

Mr. DeCosty is dedicated to building collaborative partnerships with ownership groups, brand partners, and hotel teams, translating strategic goals into measurable results. His deep industry knowledge and focus on continuous improvement have made him a trusted leader in the hospitality industry.

Scott joined Pinnacle Hotel Management as Vice President of Operations in October 2024. Prior to joining Pinnacle, Scott was Managing Director of the 1000 room Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate. Before that, he was General Manager and Managing Director of the Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in Fairhope Alabama for almost 8 years.

Previously, Scott was in Orlando, FL for 16 years. He was the General Manager of the 1200 room Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at Sea World. Before that, Scott worked for Interstate Hotels and Resorts for 19 years in various roles. These include Director of Operations, General Manager and Regional Director of Operations.

In addition to his employment Scott has served on several boards in both Orlando and Alabama to include various Chambers of Commerce, the Baldwin County Economic Development Association, the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, and Skal Orlando.

Scott and his wife Stephanie have two adult daughters, Kayla and Alexandra, who both reside in Orlando as well.

John Bridgers is an accomplished construction and development professional with over 17 years of experience managing hotel renovations, commercial builds, and residential projects. As Director of Construction at Hotel Construction Management LLC, John oversees every phase of project execution—from entitlement and permitting to final inspections and operational turnover—ensuring projects are completed on time, on budget, and to brand standards. Known for his leadership, problem-solving, and team-building skills, he brings deep expertise in construction planning, cost control, and vendor coordination. John’s background also includes extensive project management roles at Triple Crown Construction, with a portfolio ranging from ADA conversions to large-scale hospitality renovations.