About Us

Mark Zipperer is currently the President & CEO of Pride Hospitality, LLC. Mark founded Pride Hospitality in 1998 to operate the three hotels he developed in Sheboygan and Brown Deer Wisconsin. Pride currently manages a portfolio of hotels representing Hilton, IHG, Choice, AmericInn, and Harbor Winds.

Mark graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stout with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration and began his career with Holiday Inn in 1982 as a Management Trainee at the Holiday Inn South-Milwaukee, WI and the Holiday Inn Lake Shore Drive-Chicago, IL. After graduation he took a management position with the Granada Royale Hometels in Bloomington, MN, St. Paul and the day he opened Austin TX, was the day the company became Embassy Suites. Mark has held executive positions with both Holiday Inn Corporation (IHG) and Marriott Corporation. Prior to leaving IHG he held the position of Director - Franchise services for the central U.S. and Latin America.

Mark has been an active member of the IHG Owner’s Association since 1997. He has served and volunteered in many different roles from his committee seat position on the Holiday Inn Express Brand Committee, The Technology Committee, and his active involvement with the INN-PAC Committee and their annual trip to Washington, DC during the AH&LA Legislative Action Summit. He served six years on the Board of Directors prior to retiring from the Board and is currently the Vice-Chair of the Operations Committee.

Mr. Zipperer has been and continues to be actively involved in his community via Youth Villages, Haiti Medical Mission, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and numerous other charitable organizations. Mark holds a CHA (Certified Hotel Administrator) from the American Hotel & Lodging Association, and is a Certified DDI Instructor, as well as a Certified Holiday Inn and Embassy Suites General Manager. He has served as an Advisory Board Member for the Hotel and Restaurant Program at Grambling State University, Executive Board Member of the University of Wisconsin Stout Foundation, and Board Member of the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality at the University of Memphis, and the Holy Rosary Development and Capital Campaign Committee. Mark is a USA Swimming National Certified Official and officiates swimming throughout the US.

Mark founded Pride Hospitality on the simple principle of “Personal Responsibility In Developing Excellence”. Mark leads and coaches the professional and personal development of each Pride Team Member based on this foundation.

Rod has been working in the hospitality industry for over eighteen years. He has worked in many different positions and for several different hotel chains, including Marriot Fairfield Inn, Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, Baymont Inn and InterContinental's Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites and Holiday Inn Express. Rod was recruited by Pride Hospitality in March 1999. As the Director of Operations for Pride Hospitality, Rod is responsible for all the hotels and their operations and also handles client relations. Rod served on the IHG Owner's Association 4 years including the Candlewood Brand Committee and the IHG Rewards Committee. Rod is involved in organizations that benefit the community such as Habitat for Humanity and Give Kids the World.

Keith has been in the hospitality industry for over eighteen years. He began as a Director of Housekeeping with Lod Cook Hotel on the Louisiana State University campus, after completing his Bachelor's Degree at LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Keith joined Pride Hospitality in 2004 at a full-service Holiday Inn. Prior to that, from 2004 through 2010, he assumed the positions of Director of Housekeeping, maintenance, inside sales, assistant general manager, and general manager. He has four years of experience in the extended stay hotel business. As general manager of a Candlewood Suites in Lafayette, Louisiana he brought this extended stay hotel to seventh in the nation of all Candlewood Suites hotels. In January 2011, he was promoted to Manager of Operations and Training with Pride Hospitality. Keith is a very active member with Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness in his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana. He is also a devoted LSU Tiger Fanatic, Dad, and Grandfather.

Syed joined Pride Hospitality in 2011, and currently holds the position of Director of Operations. He is responsible for analyzing and improving each client's overall hotel operation. He is also responsible for contract review, hotel openings, staffing, marketing, hotel renovations and other support functions.

Syed comes by his expertise having served in various positions within the hotel industry, including General Manager, Purchasing, and Owner Relations. He has nine years of experience in the extended stay hotel business. As a General Manager at Candlewood Suites in Deer Park in Texas, his hotel won the Quality of Excellence Award and won 5 out of 5 winning metrics from IHG.

Syed looks forward to partnering with each client, both working towards a successful hotel ownership and operation.

Josh has spent 20 years in the hospitality industry, with his most recent position before joining Pride Hospitality, as a multi-state leader with the extended stay division of Westmont Hospitality. He is also certified in revenue management and believes in maximizing revenue through strategic pricing, a strong sales focus by all staff members (everybody sells), and providing an exceptional guest experience every single time. At its core, the hotel industry is about the 3 C's: curb appeal; clean, well-maintained rooms; and customer service.

Josh brings a strong operational and training background to the team and believes that hiring the right people, training them to a standard, and holding them accountable to meet that standard are the keys to operational excellence. He is committed to friendly service, providing a quality product, and building strong teams.

Josh actively supports causes such as St. Jude Children's Hospital and Give Kids the World. His hobbies include playing the piano and reading about leadership and motivation.