Leadership Team
GENUINE Hospitality is led by industry veterans, Rob Willard and Kurt Furlong, both with over 35 years in the hotel industry:
Robert Willard
President, COO & Partner
Hotel operations
35+ years hospitality experience
Former co-owner in CPC & Midas Hospitality
BS, Hospitality Management
In his leadership role, Rob oversees Operations, Human Resources & Accounting and is responsible for assembling and retaining strong management teams at all GENUINE Hospitality properties and supporting the operational efforts throughout them. Co-founder of GENUINE Hospitality, Rob previously served 8-years as President & Partner with Midas Hospitality. Rob began his hospitality career with Winegardner & Hammons in 1989 and worked with Impac Hotels, Lodgian and B.F. Saul Company.
Rob graduated from The Ohio State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management and has been working in the hotel industry for over 30 years. He is known for outstanding performance, high integrity operations and straight-forward management style. His career is marked by relentless dedication to service, profitability and award winning achievement at every level
Kurt Furlong
Chief Revenue Officer & Partner
Revenue generation, revenue management and e-commerce
35+ years hospitality experience
Former co-owner in CPC & Midas Hospitality
BS, Hospitality Management
As co-founder of GENUINE Hospitality, Kurt Furlong’s expertise lies in revenue generation, revenue management, asset management, business planning, negotiation, profit maximization, customer relationship management and e-commerce. Previously, Kurt served as EVP & Partner – Sales & Marketing for Midas Hospitality and Vice President of Revenue for Lodgian, Inc., where he was responsible for revenue generation and revenue strategy for multi-million dollar portfolios of hotels, consisting of varying brands.
A hospitality professional with over 30 years of experience, Kurt has worked in all phases of hotel and restaurant operations. He serves as the 2019 Chair of the IHG Owners Association Board of Directors; he has also chaired the IHG Owners Distribution & One Rewards Loyalty Committees, Hampton by Hilton Advisory Council and The Ohio State University Hospitality Advisory Board of Directors. Kurt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management from The Ohio State University.
Celine Chen
VP of Operations & Partner
Hotel Operations
A decade of hospitality experience
CHIA
MS, Project Management
B.B.A, Finance
As Vice President of Operations at Genuine Hospitality, Celine manages day-to-day property operations across the Northeast. Her role encompasses overseeing relationships among properties, ownership groups, and brands, as well as supervising Human Resources and Accounting functions within the company.
Celine began her hospitality career as a hotel intern and swiftly advanced to a controller position after graduating from Northeastern University. Her career trajectory includes roles as an Assistant General Manager, General Manager, and regional HR and Accounting supporter with Marshall Hotels & Resorts and TPG Hotels & Resorts. Transitioning to asset management, Celine served as Vice President of Operations for a private ownership group, where she was instrumental in launching a portfolio of newly built, branded hotels in the Northeast.
Joining Genuine Hospitality in 2023 as a VP of Operations and Partner, Celine is renowned for her exceptional attention to detail and commitment to quality-driven results. She also holds a Certified Hospitality Investment Analyst (CHIA) certificate, underscoring her expertise in the hospitality industry.
Adam Miller
Regional Director of Operations
20+ years of hotel experience
Hotel Operations & Sales
With over 15 years of General Manager experience with Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Hyatt, and Carlson brands, Adam supports all the hotel General Managers within the Genuine Hospitality portfolio in every aspect including, Sales, Operation, Human Resource, Payroll, Revenue Management, and Accounting.
Prior to being promoted to Genuine Hospitality’s above property hotel support, Adam had great success as General Manager, opening the 99-room Hyatt Place – Chicago / Wicker Park, where his dedication to hotel culture, customer satisfaction, top & bottom-line performance, delivered a successful opening with RGI of 140+% and top 8% in customer satisfaction of all Hyatt Place hotels in North America, all during the hardships of the pandemic.
When Adam is not supporting his hotels, he can be found on the golf course or catching a Chicago White Sox game.
Randy Rushakoff
Regional Vice President
Hotel Operations
35+ years hospitality experience
BS Business Administration
Randy Rushakoff joined Genuine Hospitality in 2024. Previous to joining Genuine Hospitality he led teams for Midas Hospitality opening the companies first dual branded Marriott, leading to opportunities as Area GM, Senior Area GM, and Vice President of Operations. He is a 35 year veteran of the hotel industry, with a history of building great teams and driving the guest experience. He has earned 16 Marriott awards for guest service including the prestigious Diamond General Manager of the year award. His passion is for creating an award winning culture on property that delivers consistency, reduces turnover, and exceeds expectations of team members, guests, and ownership.
Randy has been successful in operating hotels in suburban, airport, and city center markets in the full service, select service, and extended stay segments. Randy has served as the President of the Charlotte Area Hotel Association & Advisory Board Member Academy of Hospitality Tourism Olympic Community of schools. Randy holds a bachelor of science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Holly Binder
Regional Director of Operations
Hotel operations
12+ years of experience
BA Hospitality Management and Business Administration
With over 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Holly Binder brings a deep, hands-on knowledge of hotel operations to her role as Regional Director of Operations. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management and Business Administration and has built her career from the ground up, beginning as a front desk agent and advancing to General Manager before stepping into regional leadership.
Prior to her current position, Holly served as Regional Task Force Manager for the company, where she provided critical operational support across multiple properties, ensuring consistency, team alignment, and performance during times of transition.
Holly has successfully led both established properties and pre-opening hotel projects, consistently driving operational excellence, team development, and guest satisfaction. Known for her strong leadership and results-driven approach, she now oversees a portfolio of hotels, guiding each to achieve optimal performance, service quality, and a strong culture of hospitality.
John D’Aguanno
Regional Director of Sales & Marketing
20+ Years of Hospitality Experience
Hotel Sales & Marketing
Revenue Generation
John D’Aguanno serves as Regional Director of Sales & Marketing for Genuine Hospitality, where he oversees sales strategy, revenue generation, and team development across the company’s portfolio. With more than 20 years of hospitality experience, John brings extensive above-property and property-level leadership expertise across globally recognized brands including Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Hyatt.
Prior to joining Genuine Hospitality, John served as Regional Director of Sales & Marketing with Stonebridge, overseeing a 20-hotel portfolio throughout New York City and the outer boroughs, generating more than $340 million in rooms revenue and $5 million in food and beverage revenue. He also held above-property sales and marketing leadership positions with Blue Sky Hospitality, supporting a portfolio of up to 30 hotels across 15 states. Earlier in his career, John successfully led both full-service and select-service hotels as a Director of Sales with extensive experience in catering, banquet sales, and market segmentation strategy.
John is recognized for his ability to build and mentor high-performing sales teams while driving market share, revenue growth, and long-term client relationships. His leadership approach focuses on collaboration, accountability, professional development, and creating a culture where associates feel genuinely supported and empowered to succeed.
Known for his relationship-driven leadership style and strategic mindset, John continues to strengthen brand partnerships, develop innovative sales strategies, and deliver measurable results throughout the Genuine Hospitality portfolio.
Cristina Garcia
Regional Director of Sales | Revenue Generation | Sales Support | Client Relations
20+ years of Hospitality Expertise
With over 20 years in the hospitality industry, Cristina Garcia brings deep expertise and a proven track record to her role as Regional Director of Sales at Genuine Hospitality Group, joining the team in 2025. Specializing in revenue growth and driving results for a diverse portfolio of hotel brands, Cristina is passionate about delivering exceptional customer service and fostering strong leadership within her teams.
Cristina’s career includes pivotal roles such as Opening Director of Sales, Area Director of Sales, and Corporate Director of Sales Support. In these positions, she played a key role in developing and executing strategic initiatives that boosted brand visibility, increased customer satisfaction, and expanded market share. Her extensive experience in hospitality has honed her ability to cultivate lasting relationships with clients, optimize sales processes, and guide teams to achieve their objectives.
Driven by her love for the industry and a passion for helping others succeed, Cristina continues to inspire teams, lead by example, and deliver measurable outcomes that positively impact business results, hotel performance, and owner profitability.