Professional People, Quality Leadership
The leadership behind the success of Southern Hospitality, Inc. can be attributed to the experience level and professional backgrounds of the company management team. With over 70 years of first-hand lodging experience, their professionalism, diversified experience, entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence have produced an accomplished track record and an outstanding industry reputation. The management team for Southern Hospitality is comprised of the following industry professionals:
Robert Slater
Robert (Bob) Slater, CHA, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Hospitality, Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mr. Slater was employed for six years as a Tax Manager in the Houston office of the then “Big Eight” accounting firm of Price Waterhouse & Company before moving to Oklahoma City in 1977 to join GM Hospitality, Inc. He served as the firm’s President and COO for approximately nine years. In 1986, he formed Southern Hospitality, Inc., and today the company owns and operates lodging properties in several states.
Mr. Slater is well known in the lodging, travel and tourism industry. In 1996 he was elected as an officer of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) and served as its national chairman in the year 2000. Prior to being elected as an officer of AH&LA, he served as an elected board member and chairman of several committees within the Association. Presently he serves on the AH&LA Board of Directors representing multi-unit operators and also serves on the Audit & Certification Committee. At the 1996 AH&LA Annual Convention, he won the prestigious Lawson A. Odde Award. He has served as Past President of the Oklahoma Hotel and Lodging Association and in 1986 he founded and chaired the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association. He has also been twice named Oklahoma’s Outstanding Tourism Supporter by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.
Mr. Slater serves on the Advisory Board of the Oklahoma State University School of Hotel & Restaurant Administration, has been inducted in the school’s Hall of Fame and has been made an honorary alumnus of the school. He has been a guest speaker at numerous hotel and restaurant schools around the country. Additionally he has been made an Honorary Faculty Member at Michigan State University, recognized as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Johnson & Wales University, recognized as a Distinguished Guest Professor at Purdue University and was the Barron Hilton Chair Distinguished Lecturer at the University of Houston.
Mr. Slater serves as a Trustee of The Don W. Reynolds Foundation, a national philanthropic organization headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada and one of the 50 largest private foundations in the United States. He has also serves on the Board of Adjustments for the city of Nichols Hills, Oklahoma and has served as an outside director for Loves Country Stores and Travel Stops, Inc. in Oklahoma City.
Mr. Slater served in the United States Army as an infantry first lieutenant with a tour of duty in the Republic of Viet Nam and was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with “V”. He attended the University of Arkansas and graduated from Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas with a Bachelors of Business Administration. He has earned the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) accreditation and attained the Counselor of Real Estate (CRE) designation with membership in the American Society of Real Estate Counselors.
James T Wheeler is Vice President of Operations for Southern Hospitality, Inc. He is responsible for the supervision of the management operations of all of our hotels. He joined the company in 1999 after a 10-year career with Red Lion Hotels. At Red Lion, he held senior level management positions that included Regional Director of Operations, Regional Controller and General Manager. Prior to that, he held management positions at Marriott and Sheraton hotels. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of Washington State University.
Steve Ludwig is Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing for Southern Hospitality, Inc. He is responsible for the supervision of the sales and marketing efforts of all of our hotels. He joined the company in 1998 after a 10-year career with Red Lion Hotels. At Red Lion, he held senior level management positions that included Regional Director of Sales and Marketing and General Manager. Prior to that, he spent 7 years with Marriott Hotels in sales management. He is a graduate of West Virginia University.
Tami VanMeter is the Corporate Controller for Southern Hospitality, Inc. She is responsible for all hotel accounting and human resource functions at all of our hotels and at the home office, including financial reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, taxes, benefit administration and treasury. She joined the company in 1997 after a 10-year career as a partner with the F.D.Thompson and Co. PLC accounting firm in Oklahoma City. Prior to that, she held accounting management positions with Hilton Hotels. She is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Hospitality Accounting Executive and a graduate of Oklahoma State University.