HP Hotel's Operations Team

Kimberly Rowell, Area Vice President of Operations. Kimberly proudly joined HP Hotels as the Regional Director of Operations responsible for properties located in Georgia and Florida. Kim has an office in the Atlanta area. Kim has experience in hotel operations, sales and development. Kim biggest attribute is her ability to work with owners and operators to manage and develop successful hotels.

Kimberly began her hotel career as a sales manager for a large full service Hilton. Her strengths led to the position as the Director of Sales. She was later promoted to Assistant General Manager. Most notably was the nine years that she spent in a variety of corporate management positions with La Quinta Corporation. As General Manager, her hotel was ranked annually in the top 10 performing properties out of 450 in the company. She earned numerous performance awards and was given opportunities by various La Quinta corporate departments to assist with developing and launching corporate initiatives, training and opening properties. Kimberly was promoted to Regional Director of Operations for the South East in charge of the operations, development, conversion, renovation, and openings of more than 50 franchise hotels in 5 states. This position allowed for her to develop profitable and effective relationships with numerous owners and managers. Kim was then recruited by Ceres Hospitality as a Vice President in charge of the operations of their company owned Hilton Garden Inn, Residence Inn and Fairfield Inn properties as well as assisting with the site acquisition and development of 6 Cambria Suites.

Kimberly was born and raised in Manhattan and has resided in Georgia for 20 years. She is a widowed mother of 2 University of Georgia students, and adores SEC football.

Kimberly's shares HP Hotels philosophies and passion for the business. Her mission is to utilize her diversified experience to help our owners, partners and managers to achieve their goals. [Top]

Jason LaBarge, Area Vice President of Operations. Jason grew up in northwestern Vermont on the Lake Champlain Islands. He was exposed to customer service at an early age when his parents opened and operated an independent Video Rental Business for 22 years. Jason learned early on from his dad that hard work and dedication to excellence paved the way for success. He attended Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vermont where he graduated with a degree in communications. Jason recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Isenberg School of Management with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Jason has been in the hospitality industry for over 16 years. He began his Hospitality Career with Omni Hotels as a Bell Captain for 2 years, then moved on to Hyatt Hotels where he was a Assistant Front Office Manager. He then found his passion with focused service hotels particularly the Hilton Garden Inn Brand where he was AGM and GM of two HGI's in Charlotte, NC and Rock Hill, SC.

Jason resides in the Upstate of South Carolina. When Jason is not spending quality time with his family and friends he enjoys golfing, hiking, and camping. [Top]

Vladimir Pipa, Area Vice President of Operations.  Vladimir Pipa came to the United States from the Czech Republic in 1996.  He came to the United States with an extensive food & Beverage background, having accomplished a degree in Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts.  He served as a Chef in the Czech Republic as well as Scotland.  When arriving in the United States, Vladimir served as Food & Beverage Director at the Hilton and the Sheraton in Charlotte, North Carolina from 1996 to 2001.  His passion for the business and desire to learn and excel in all aspects of the hospitality industry achieved him the promotion in 2001 to the General Manager position at an IHG property.  His strong talents were recognized by HP Hotels, serving as the General Manager at the Hilton Garden Inn in Pineville, North Carolina then as the construction and opening GM at the Embassy Suites Birmingham / Hoover.  He excelled at the Embassy Suites in Birmingham, proving to be a consistent, dedicated General Manager, keeping the Embassy ranked as one of the top Embassy's in the nation during his management.  Vladimir now serves as the Area Vice President of Operations, providing support to the General Managers of HP Hotels in the Southeast and Midwest.

Vladimir is the father of 2 children, ages 10 and 7, with a new baby to arrive this summer.  His passions are playing soccer, golfing and motorcycle riding through the Carolina Mountains.