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Going Places

Illinois
  • Jimmy Vitale recently emerged from retirement to take over as general manager for the Lexington Hotel Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort in Rockford, a position he previously held for many years. Michael Ellis, one of the owners, bought the property from Vitale two years ago and will step aside as the general manager... Fairmont Hotels & Resorts appointed Clarence McLeod corporate manager of Fairmont Gold. Fairmont Gold is a private, dedicated area for guests within the hotel. Gold Floors have a private check-in and check-out area and offer a residential-style guest room with privileges such as an honor bar and cocktail hour canapes, as well as a complimentary deluxe continental breakfast. Guests also have access to complimentary high-speed Internet and wireless access in their guest rooms, as well as executive boardroom facilities. An experienced hospitality connoisseur, with nearly 20 years of hotel-related experience, McLeod most recently held the position of Fairmont Gold manager at The Fairmont Washington D.C. McLeod, in his new position, will be responsible for managing, developing and executing on service and operational standards for Fairmont Gold, as well as overseeing new openings and transitions. He will be supporting and fully leveraging the recent introduction of Fairmont Gold in locations like Chicago.

Indiana
  • Penn National Gaming named Anthony Rodio general manager of its Argosy Casino Lawrenceburg, in Lawrenceburg. Rodio has over 28 years of gaming industry experience, most recently with Resorts International, serving as regional president and chief operating officer of both the Atlantic City Hilton and Resorts Atlantic City, both in New Jersey. Prior to joining Resorts International, Rodio held several other senior management and finance positions in the Atlantic City market for Harrah’s Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts and Resorts (Merv Griffin Enterprises) Casino.

Michigan
  • Justin J. Presnol was named general manager for the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Detroit’s Harmonie Park. Presnol joined Crestline Hotels & Resorts from HEI Hotels & Resorts, where he was assistant general manager at the Detroit Southfield Marriott. He brings more than 10 years of hospitality industry management experience to his new role, having worked in management at various Residence Inns by Marriott and Courtyard’s by Marriott… Blue Chip Casino Hotel in Michigan City named Deann Patena as its director of sales. Patena will take responsibility for booking large group meetings and conventions for Blue Chip’s new 20,000-square-foot Stardust Event Center, slated to open around the first of the year. Patena was previously senior sales manager at the Radisson Star Plaza in Merrillville, Ind.

Missouri
  • Peggy Krokstrom joined Cedar Creek Conference Center in New Haven as program director of the new Western Team Challenge Course, a team-building course installed this summer. Krokstrom has 20 years of experience as an outdoor educator and 15 years as a classroom teacher. She also leads workshops on coaching and mentoring for Missouri school districts.

Wisconsin
  • Madison-based Great Wolf Resorts, which runs indoor waterpark resorts in locations such as Wisconsin Dells and Traverse City, Mich., promoted Kimberly Schaefer to president and chief operating officer. Schaefer has spent the past 11 years with the company and was instrumental in the growth of the company to nearly 5,000 members at 11 resorts across North America.