Mitra VanManaging DirectorMitra Van is a Managing Director for Prism Hotels & Resorts; Mitra has been with Prism for over 10 years in a variety of senior roles including Human Resources, Payroll Administration, Compliance, Operations and Business Development.
Mitra started her hospitality career at The Historic Adolphus Hotel in Downtown Dallas, in accounting and continued her 23-year hospitality career specializing in compensation and human resource systems. In addition to overseeing the implementation of a New Human Resources / Payroll Platform involving over 3,000 employees at Prism, she was also previously an executive at McAfee/Intel and managed the Payroll and Benefits Administration for 68,000 employees across the globe.
Mitra is fluent in Farsi, Hindi, and English and graduated from The University of New Delhi, India, with a degree in Accounting and Finance. She currently resides in Dallas, Texas.
Kevin GallagherSenior Vice President of Business DevelopmentKevin is the Senior Vice President of Business Development for Prism Hotels & Resorts, an award winning full service hotel management, investment and advisory services company.
Kevin is involved in all aspects of development opportunities for Prism, including acquisitions, management contracts and joint ventures. Additionally, Kevin has overseen the CMBS Special Servicer and Lender relationships for the past 10 years and is actively involved in the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council and the Mortgage Bankers Association. Prior to his role in Business Development, Kevin served as Prism’s Regional Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Sales.
Kevin’s 24-year hospitality career includes 13 years with Bristol Hotels & Resorts in numerous capacities, including General Manager and Director of Operations in Dallas, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; and Raleigh, North Carolina.
Kevin has a Bachelor of Arts in music from the University of North Texas and toured extensively with the Noodles McGroho Memorial Orchestra after college. He currently resides in Double Oak, Texas with his wife and 2 children.
Allison HandySenior Vice President of Sales & MarketingAllison is Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Prism Hotels & Resorts, an award-winning full-service hotel management, investment and advisory services company.
A member of Prism’s executive committee, Allison provides sales and marketing support for Prism’s portfolio of hotels, and oversees Prism’s marketing, public relations, and new business development efforts.
Before joining Prism in August 2007, Allison spent nearly a decade working for Interstate Hotels & Resorts and MeriStar Hotels & Resorts in various sales capacities, most recently as a Director of Sales and Marketing in San Francisco. During the course of her accomplished career, she has worked closely with such iconic hotel brands as Hilton, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, and Wyndham.
Allison graduated from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in entrepreneurial studies. In addition, Allison studied internationally through the University of Pittsburgh’s Semester at Sea Program, allowing her to gain valuable experience and perspectives while traveling and studying in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia. She currently lives in San Francisco with her husband, twin daughters and son. She enjoys traveling, cooking, the outdoors, and spending time with her family.
John BaileyChief Financial OfficerAs Prism’s CFO, John leads the financial management functions of Prism’s management and investment business, including risk management, legal, and receivership administration. His professional responsibilities also include supporting Prism’s new business development team, serving as court appointed restructuring officer for high profile bankruptcies, and chairing Prism’s investment committee.
Prior to joining Prism, John served as Senior Vice President/Chief Accounting Officer for ClubCorp, Inc. and was responsible for the accounting, financial planning and analysis, and human resources functions for the world’s largest owner/operator of private golf and business clubs. He has also served as Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer for HQ Global Workplaces, Inc., and as Director of Finance and Vice President/Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer for Bristol Hotels & Resorts.
A certified public accountant, John graduated from Texas Tech University, where he earned a degree in accounting. He, his wife Laurie and their youngest daughter currently reside in Coppell, Texas.
Mark Van AmerongenChief Operating OfficerMark Van Amerongen is the Chief Operating Officer for Prism Hotels & Resorts, where he brings more than 25 years of professional hospitality leadership experience to an award-winning full-service hotel management, investment and advisory services company.
Mark began his career in hospitality with Hyatt Hotels and quickly progressed through several flagship full-service hotels. Shortly after, he joined Marriott International, where he held several executive committee and general manager positions for the full-service hotel division throughout the U.S. Mark moved from single property positions to multi-property assignments, including the Regional Director of Operations on the West Coast for Marriott and Renaissance full-service hotels, before heading to Las Vegas as Marriott’s Area General Manager overseeing the Marriott Managed Hotels in that market. Prior to joining Prism, Mark spent eight years as Executive Vice President with Western International in Dallas overseeing the growth of the management company from start-up to more than 45 hotels.
Calling on the skills and lessons learned during a career that has encompassed a variety of hospitality leadership positions across a broad swath of the industry, Mark brings unique insight and foresight to his role as Prism’s Senior Vice President of Operations. The depth and diversity of his highly successful management experience is an asset for a firm that has made a name for itself applying elements of the receivership skill set to a more traditional third-party management role. For Mark, and for Prism, that depth of hands-on operational experience is a fundamental piece of the professional puzzle. As a member of Prism’s executive committee, his ability to help identify and execute quality opportunities is invaluable.
Mark earned his degree in hotel and restaurant management from the State University of New York, and received his CHA designation in 1990.
Steve VanPresident & CEOSteve Van, president and CEO of Prism Hotels & Resorts, founded the Dallas-based company in 1983. Under his leadership, Prism has become an award-winning full-service hotel management, investment and advisory services company.
A prominent speaker and sought-after expert in the hospitality industry, Steve was recognized by Hotel Business Magazine as one of the trade’s “People of 2012.” In the past few years Steve has focused his teams’ efforts on going from Good to Great with the primary focus on operational excellence.
Prism remains one of the most experienced managers of hotels and resorts nationally and has managed brands that include Marriott, Hilton, Doubletree, Sheraton, Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn, Preferred Hotel Group, Radisson, and numerous independents. Since the company was founded, Prism has managed over 300 hotels across the nation.
Steve’s foray into hotels began as an Executive Vice President of Criswell Development Company. While there he developed the Hyatt Regency Austin, Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center and the Hyatt West Houston. His first independent purchase was The Melrose Hotel in Dallas, which his Prism team turned into the first Omni franchise.
Steve currently serves on a number of industry boards including the Hilton Doubletree Hotel Owner’s Advisory Council and served on the Starwood Hotels Owner’s Advisory Council for creation of Aloft Hotels. Steve earned his bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas and also attended The University of Texas Law School and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas. He has served as the Assistant Attorney General of Texas and as a Director of the Texas Turnpike Authority.