About Us – Virtual Hospitality Group, LLC

Virtual Hospitality Group is comprised of food & beverage industry experts who have a variety of experience in restaurants, bars, QSR’s, recreation and leisure time facilities, large scale special events, private and governmental organizations, employee and student dining, vending, as well as Native American Casinos throughout the country. These seasoned experts work together to create a breadth of experience, with the common thread of hospitality excellence.

Mark W. Healey – Chief Executive Officer

Virtual Hospitality Group, LLC

Mr. Mark Healey has over thirty-five years in the hospitality industry. In 2006, Mark and co-founder Robert J Stephan launched Virtual Hospitality Group, LLC. (VHG). The company serves a broad range of complex food, beverage, and hospitality markets in three ways: (1) as a management services provider; (2) as a design and development services provider; and (3) by providing training and development for client teams.

Mark’s retail and contract experience spans business & industry sites, recreation & leisure venues, as well as working with federal and state agencies. Mark has held senior positions Shula’s Steak Houses, LLLP; Ovations Food Services, LP; and Boston Culinary Group, LLC., leading projects in 28 states and Canada. From 2006 to 2016 VHG provided the alcoholic beverage services for WEFEST in Detroit Lakes MN. WEFEST is the largest and longest running Country Music and Camping Festival in the US with typically attendance for the three days approaching 150,000.

Mark heads up VHG’s effort in Recreation & Leisure time accounts and concentrates much of his efforts working with Native American Casinos and Resorts to maximize their food, beverage, and hotel opportunities.

In 2015 Mark was recruited to Shula’s Steak Houses as Executive Vice President reporting to the CEO. Prior to joining Shula’s, Mark spent 10 years with Ovations Food Services, and 2007 Mark was chosen to develop and launch Ovations first casino food and beverage operation. The Lone Butte Casino, Chandler, Arizona a Native American owned casino opened in November of 2008 and was the first of 4 casinos opening over a 12 month span. In September of 2009, Mark was promoted to Senior Vice President. By July 2011, Ovations expanded to operate hospitality services at a dozen casinos, casino hotels, and resorts. By 2016 Mark has worked on more than two dozen casino development projects or operations.

In addition to casino operations, Mark has significant experience in sports, entertainment, convention and leisure time food and beverage services including: arenas, stadiums, amphitheaters, performing arts centers, winter, summer and 4-season resorts, convention and conference centers, hotels, thoroughbred racetracks, NASCAR and auto tracks, and special events. Since the 1980’s Mark has been a proponent and innovator of brands and branding in non-destination venues, including working with dozens of national, regional and proprietary brands throughout the country. Mark has been a guest lecturer at Boston University, and worked with Harvard University’s business school on a brand marketing project for second year MBA students. Additionally, Mark has been a guest speaker/participant at the International Association of Assembly Manager’s national meetings, the National Association of Blind Merchants, the National Indian Gaming Association annual tradeshows, the Global Gaming Expo, and the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association annual conference and tradeshows.

Prior to Ovations, Mark held the post of ARS Division President of Food Services from 2004 to 2006. ARS is a contract food service, vending and training provider which focused on state and federal contracts in various agencies including the United States Postal Service, the Social Security Administration, and the State Commissions for the Blind in New York, Florida, and Maryland. Prior to his post as Division President Mark was an executive on loan to ARS from 1994 to 2002 while at Boston Culinary Group. Mark spent thirteen years working for Boston Culinary Group in various operational and corporate assignments including General Manager, Regional Manager, Regional Vice President, Vice President of Business Development, and Vice President of Corporate Development.
Mark is responsible for more than one hundred and fifty restaurant or food services openings. Prior to entering into the recreation and leisure time contracting segment of the business, Mark was a Regional Manager for Sbarro Corporation opening 24 locations on the east coast, he also developed a chain of home delivery Chinese food restaurants called Hop Too’s, and worked for Burger King Corporation.
In high school and while attending Southeastern Massachusetts University, Mark gained great experience and a love for the business at several exclusive restaurants and inns in New England and Florida. Mark lives in Boca Raton with his wife and twin daughters and he is an avid golfer in his spare time.

National & Regional Brand Experience:

Shula’s Great American Steakhouse
Burger King
Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Express
Countryville Bar & Grill – presented by the American Music Awards
Sbarro the Italian Eatery
Domino’s
Pizza Hut
Fat Burger
Famous Famiglia
Quiznos
Subway
Dunkin Donuts
Au Bon Pain
Starbuck’s
Kowloon Express
Panda Express
Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar & Grill
Sonny’s BBQ

Robert J. Stephan – Principle

Virtual Hospitality Group, LLC

Mr. Robert J. Stephan has over thirty years in the hospitality industry. In 2006, Rob and co-founder Mark W. Healey launched Virtual Hospitality Group, LLC. (VHG). The company serves a broad range of complex food, beverage, and hospitality markets in three ways: (1) as a management services provider; (2) as a design and development services provider; and (3) by providing training and development for client teams.

Rob’s retail and contract experience spans business & industry, recreation & leisure venues, as well as working with federal and state agencies. Rob holds a senior positions at Presitge Services, Inc., one of the largest Canteen licensees in the USA.; and worked in Sales and Business Development for Aramatic Refreshment Services, Inc; spending the early part of his career as an owner operator of small clubs while working with Bob and Ron’s Fish Fry. In his career he has lead projects and start ups throughout the East Coast from NY to Florida. From 2006 to 2016 VHG provided the alcoholic beverage services for WEFEST in Detroit Lakes MN. WEFEST is the largest and longest running Country Music and Camping Festival in the US with typically attendance for the three days approaching 150,000.

Rob leads VHG’s efforts in Business & Industry accounts and concentrating on working with Government Agencies to maximize their food, beverage, and retail opportunities.

Mike Doocey – Chief Operating Officer

Virtual Hospitality Group, LLC

Michael has dedicated over 28 years in the food and beverage industry. Michael began his employment in the service industry as a line employee in positions in both the front and the back of the house and later, while attending Penn State University, he began to hold supervisory roles in retail stores.

In 1999, Michael joined contract food service provider, Fine Host, which was later acquired by Aramark. He oversaw a department responsible for food and beverage operations at special events, performing arts theaters, collegiate sports, and professional sports facilities, including an NFL tenant. During this time, he honed his skills in food service, management, organizational management and hospitality.

In 2003, Michael joined Philadelphia based Spectra Food Services & Hospitality and continued to manage leisure and recreation venues including arenas, amphitheaters, convention centers, MLB and MiLB facilities throughout Arizona, California, and Washington.

In 2008, Michael applied his industry knowledge, volume service background, and organizational management skills to assist tribal casinos in the design, development and operation of resort casinos in Arizona. Working with casino industry leaders, he oversaw the kitchen construction and food and beverage development of multiple resort casinos.

Michael continued to direct day-to-day casino bars and restaurants for almost 10 more years before moving into the role of Vice President of Spectra’s Casino Operations Team in 2017. In this capacity, Michael oversaw and supported multiple tribal consulting and management projects notably creating the brand and operations plans over the next four years including the response to the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the delivery of excellent operations, Michael believes that a service company should always focus on the unique needs of each venue, its business requirements, and the guests. As principle and COO of Virtual Hospitality, Michael gives to his clients years of line-level knowledge, contract experience, and casino food and beverage experience to support their goals.

Michael has a degree from Pennsylvania State University and lives with his family in Arizona..

Jeffery Stern – VP of Projects and Training

Virtual Hospitality Group, LLC

Jeffrey Stern has over 30 years of experience and is a dedicated hospitality leader with experience in hotels, gaming and casino operations, and large scale commercial and tribal casino developments.

He has worked as an Executive Chef, Director of Hospitality, Food and Beverage, and Vice President in luxury hotels, tribal and commercial casinos. A progressive thinker who can clearly articulate business priorities and implement innovative strategies that achieve organizational goals and enhance the experience.

He is successful in implementing strategic plans that support the operations’ mission, vision, and values.

He attended the Culinary Institute of American, and Florida International University, receiving degrees in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management.

Juan E. Zayas – Senior Programs Manager

Virtual Hospitality Group, LLC

Juan Zayas takes care of all VHG’s website, IT, and software programming. He pursued his degree in Management Information Systems at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL. Juan keeps the company current on social media and software trends and maintains our web presence and LMS platform. (LITMOS).

Business Channel Partners

Accounting, Business and Financial Services

Michael V. Berardi – CEO, Owner

Berardi & Associates, LLC

Berardi & Associates LLC is a full-service Tax Planning and Preparation and Business financial Services firm based in Norwood Massachusetts. The Berardi & Associates team provide all the accounting, payroll, banking, and financial service for VHG. Michael serves on the VHG advisory board and (on an as needed basis) with the VHG special events team, including 10 years at WE Fest, the largest country music festival in the United States. Michael also serves as a financial representative for Bay Financial Associates of Waltham MA. Bay Financial Associates is licensed to provide financial services through LPL Financial. Michael began his accounting career as an auditor With Honeywell after graduating in Accounting from University of Massachusetts, North Dartmouth. For more information about Berardi & Associates visit mvbtaxes.com.

Marketing & Public Relations

Kristen Thompson – President & Chief Marketer

Thompson Marketing Partners, LLC

Thompson Marketing Partners provides a full range of marketing services to clients in the hospitality industry, including working closely with VHG. Kristen has spent the vast majority of her 16-year marketing career in the foodservice/hospitality industry. She began her foodservice career with Spectra Food Services and Hospitality, where she spent 11 years marketing catering and concession services at large public assembly venues throughout North America. Kristen led the food service marketing for Spectra’s more than 140 client venues including convention centers, arenas, stadiums, festivals, fairgrounds, zoos, museums and casinos.

In 2016 Kristen further honed her consumer marketing skills by joining a national restaurant group as Vice President of Marketing. In this role, Kristen was responsible for branding, programming/content development, digital marketing, eCommerce, social media and loyalty for the restaurant group’s 25 locations, encompassing 5 different concepts. Concepts range from fine dining to fast casual.

Today, Kristen works with clients in the hospitality industry to provide food & beverage marketing services. She creates and implements marketing strategies that help to achieve their business goals. This includes development of the overall marketing strategy, process development, execution and results analysis. Her specialties encompass website development, search engine optimization (SEO), social media, email marketing, online reputation management, content creation, marketing collateral development, design/branding and proposal development.

Kristen earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Florida State University and resides in St. Petersburg Florida with her husband, Scott, and two rescue dogs. To learn more about Thompson Marketing Partners, visit thompsonmarketingpartners.com.

Strategic Development Worldwide

Don Zillioux, Ph.D – CEO and Chief Scientist

Strategic Development Worldwide (SDW)

For over 30 years, Strategic Development Worldwide (SDW Companies) has workedwith a variety of businesses, schools, Native American Tribal organizations and nonprofit groups to help them become more effective, more focused and more successful. VHG is proud to collaborate with SDW to provide these services to its clients.

SDW works with clients, large and small, to promote organizational excellence, and improve efficiency at all levels. The company has expertise in management science and advocates for the potential of every person in an organization. They provide solutions with a focused, proven approach, built around clients’ needs.

Each of their solution groups supports the others with specific competencies, profound experience, proven assessments and training designed to work together. Organizational intervention strategies, assessments, analytics and workshops are interwoven to complement and strengthen clients’ organizations. Find out more at sdwnet.com.

Casino Marketing and Training Specialist

Todd Strusz – Owner & CEO

ROI Solutions, Inc.

Todd is recognized as an industry leader and as one of the most innovative thinkers in the casino marketing world. As a former Vice President of Marketing with Grand Casino Hinckley and Mille Lacs, and former Director of Marketing at Treasure Island and Lake of the Torches casinos, Todd has more than 25 years of experience in gaming. Todd’s results-oriented approach to marketing shapes the company’s reasoned, strategic and data-driven philosophy. An expert in all areas of casino marketing and operations, he specializes in strategic and long-range planning constantly focused on maximizing clients performance. VHG is proud to partner with Todd, and ROI solutions to extend these skills and services to our clients. To learn more about ROI Solutions, visit roisolutionsinc.com.