John Everett, General Manager
Since 2004, John Everett has been overseeing the general management of the Westin Galleria Dallas, a 432-room luxury hotel, and he is currently charged with ensuring the property's smooth transformation.

John has nearly two decades of experience in resort, corporate and convention hotel management and currently serves on the Greater Dallas Hotel Association board. Prior to taking on the General Manager role at Westin Galleria Dallas, John managed Starwood Hotels & Resorts properties in Denver and Dallas and worked with other prominent hotels and resorts.

John received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioral and Social Sciences from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. He spends his spare time with his wife and two children and has a passion for snow skiing and soccer.

Michael Burton, Director of Operations
Michael brings a wide range of experience in the hotel industry to the Westin Galleria Dallas, where he serves as Director of Operations.

The former Director of Rooms at Sheraton Birmingham Hotel in Alabama, Michael joined Starwood in 2001. Previously, he worked for Bristol Hotels and Resorts and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts in a variety of positions. Michael brings confidence and knowledge to lead the team and elevate The Westin Galleria's service experience as the renovation progresses.

Michael has a degree in culinary arts and has worked as a chef. He earned his bachelor's degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management from Florida International University.

Michael, his wife, Lisa, and their children enjoy spending quality time together, skiing and swimming.

Andréa Sorensen, Director of Sales and Marketing
Since 2000, Andréa Sorensen has been part of the Westin Galleria Dallas leadership team, starting as the director of catering and convention services and currently serving as Director of Sales and Marketing.

She began her hospitality career in the Baltimore area, including director of catering at The Citronelle, under the tutelage of famed French chef, Michel Richard. She joined the Starwood Hotels and Resorts family in 1995 at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport Marriott. There she gained valuable experience in the catering and convention services areas. During her 14-year career Andrea has been recognized numerous times for her leadership abilities and outstanding performance.

Andréa and her husband Ron love the suburbs, where they are busy with their children, Summer and Cooper.

Ian Johnson, Certified Meeting Professional, Director of Catering & Convention Services
Ian joined the Westin Galleria team in September 2005 as the director of catering and convention services and literally brought more than a decade of hotel experience to the table.

Previously, Ian held the same position for the Westin Resort in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Prior to his experience in South Carolina, Ian broadened his hospitality experience with Sheraton hotels in Cape Cod for more than five years in various roles.

Carolyn Senders, Director of Business Travel
Carolyn Senders brings her extensive industry knowledge to the Westin Galleria Dallas where she serves as Director of Business Travel. Carolyn joins Westin from the W Dallas Victory, where she served as Business Travel Sales Manager.

Before joining Starwood in 1998, she worked for various Dallas hotels in sales and front office positions. Carolyn's tenacity and confidence as well as her pre-opening experience in selling to high-end Dallas clients will greatly benefit The Westin Galleria Dallas.

Carolyn has a degree in hospitality management and AAS food service management from Ferris State College in Big Rapids, Mich.

She likes to unwind by spending time with her daughter and husband.

Courtney Fields, Director of Group Sales
Courtney joined the Starwood family as National Sales Manager for Dallas' Le Meridien Hotel in 2000. Her strong track record in contract negotiations and customer-relationship building led her to sales positions at the Westin Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia; Mandarin Oriental hotel, Washington D.C. and W Dallas - Victory before arriving at Westin Galleria Dallas to serve as Director of Group Sales Fields earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston and Masters of Business Administration from Amberton University.

Eric Hinnant, Senior Catering Sales Manager
Next February will mark Eric Hinnant's ten-year anniversary with the Westin Galleria Dallas-he has overseen the details for all major events held at the hotel since 1998, earning him the title "King of Galas" from his coworkers.

Having spent his career in the Dallas hospitality market, Eric is intimately familiar with all that Dallas has to offer, while living in the heart of it all, the Arts District. Before he joined the Westin Galleria Team, Eric was area director of catering at Culinaire International; prior to that, he was the food and beverage manager at the largest convention hotel in Dallas, the Hilton Anatole.

Andrea Wooden, Corporate Catering Sales Manager
Andrea Wooden recently joined Westin Galleria Dallas as Corporate Catering Sales Manager. Using her vast knowledge and experience in the culinary industry, Andrea works to drive revenue, book and supervise events, and to provide a unique experience to all Westin Galleria guests. Previously, Andrea served as Catering Sales Manager for American Property Management Company for clients such as Sheraton Dallas North Hotel, Dallas.

In her spare time, Andrea enjoys spending time on the golf course or in the kitchen as well as hunting.

Tanda East, Group Sales Manager
Tanda East was recently promoted to group sales manager, replacing Cassandra Robinson, who has stayed in the Starwood family, but has moved to the Westin Park Central as Business Travel Sales Manager. Tanda has been with the Westin Galleria Dallas for more than 10 years in diverse roles, most recently as senior convention services manager.

Previously, Tanda's hospitality travel/hospitality experience included stints at SABRE Travel Information Network, Blackwell Productions and the Loews Anatole Hotel.

Tanda, who also is a licensed real estate broker, lives on a ranch in Combine, TX where she and her husband Chuck and six-month-old son, Tobin, raise Longhorns.

Gayla Fussell, Sales Manager
Gayla Fussell serves as sales manager for the Westin Galleria Dallas. She has been part of the Westin Galleria Dallas sales team for the past 13 years, holding various positions throughout her tenure.

Prior to rejoining The Westin Galleria Dallas, Gayla owned and operated her own recruiting company On the Mark, where she recruited hospitality professionals both locally and nationally. After working both sides of the industry, Gayla brings her passion and knowledge for the business back to The Westin Galleria and is enthusiastic about the new look and feel of the hotel.

In her free time, Gayla spends time with her family and friends and recently helped her daughter settle in at Texas Tech for her freshmen year of college. Go Red Raiders!

Patricia Massar, Catering Manager
Patricia Massar has been part of the Starwood family for more than eight years. She previously worked in several positions at the Sheraton Arlington Hotel, including catering sales manager and corporate sales manager.

Patricia is passionate about weddings and actually tied the knot on New Year's Eve last year. She's looking forward to working the local wedding market and is excited about what the hotel has to offer brides (and grooms) now that the hotel has undergone a complete transformation.

Ann Vondenstein, Convention Services Manager
Ann joined the team at Westin Galleria Dallas in August 2008. As Convention Services Manager, she works with clients to detail and plan their events from start to finish. With her limitless creativity, Ann also creates innovative and fun ideas for meetings and special events.

Prior to joining Westin Galleria Dallas, Ann has served as Catering Sales Manager for The W Dallas - Victory and The Westin Stonebriar Resort.

Krishna Oakman, Executive Meeting Specialist
Krishna will serve as a liaison among meeting professionals, catering customers and all operating departments to ensure a high standard of organization and guest service throughout all of the hotel's recently-renovated 40,000 square feet of meeting space. A graduate of Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, Oakman has held internships and externships at Statler Hotel in Ithaca, New York; Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta, Georgia; Hilton Head Health Institute in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; and Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, South Carolina prior to joining Westin Galleria Dallas.