HOTEL MANAGEMENT GROUPS

STEVEN ELLINGSEN FOUNDER & CEO

As Founder and CEO of Somnium Hospitality Group, Steven oversees all aspects of Property Management and Asset Management.

Steven quickly developed a passion for hospitality from his first position at The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company in California 32 years ago. Holding over 15 years of Area and General Management experience, Steven has operated, developed, and repositioned numerous assets, including Hilton Oak Brook Resort and Conference Center, The Conrad in Indianapolis, The Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington DC, Mile North Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, and multiple Club Quarters hotels in Chicago, Illinois. With senior leadership roles at The Houstonian Hotel, Club, and Spa, Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club, and The Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, Steven’s extensive Resort, boutique hotel, and Club experience adds a unique luxury and resort perspective within the Somnium team.

Steven has led many hotel openings and has directly overseen extensive multi-million-dollar renovation projects within his career. Steven is an active executive board member of the IHLA and is a board of director for the City of Westmont. He is a graduate of Emerson College with a B.A. in Communications and Public Speaking as well as the Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute within the acting conservatory program. Steven is known for his competitive spirit, drive, innovation, and entrepreneurial excellence. He leads with confidence and conviction, exhibiting a personal passion for exceptional service and an unwavering focus on results. Steven brings passion and enthusiasm into every detail, encouraging others to dream, grow, and strive to live their best life.

DAN WHITE COO/CFO

Dan has over two decades of experience in Hospitality Management. Dan’s main responsibilities include the oversight and development of all Financial related duties including reporting, compliance and financial performance.

Dan started his Hospitality career in Finance; spending over 15 years as an Area Director where he created and led a regional Finance office responsible for over $50M in annual sales. Dan has spent the last 10 years in operations as an Area General Manager for companies such as Destination Hotels and JDV Hotels; representing brands such as Hilton and Hyatt garnering honors such as being named one of Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces and listed on Conde’ Nast Best Hotels in Chicago. Having served as a financial leader and as a General Manager has given Dan the ability to apply his unique skillset towards increasing the value of ownership assets.

MONICA WODKE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & CULTURE

As Regional Director of People & Culture, Monica has over 25 years of progressive HR leadership experience within upper-upscale and luxury hospitality. A graduate of St. Xavier University, she leads Somnium Hospitality Group’s people strategy across multiple markets, overseeing talent acquisition, culture design, engagement, compliance, and organizational development. Her career includes senior HR leadership roles with globally recognized brands and landmark properties including Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago, Sofitel Hotels, and First Hospitality’s Hiltons at McCormick Place, where she shaped high-performing teams, strengthened service culture, and built people-centric infrastructures that drive operational excellence.

Monica has guided organizations through new-build launches, acquisitions, and transformational growth, bringing a thoughtful, collaborative, and approachable leadership style to every environment she supports. Her blend of high-touch employee experience, modern HR practices, and deep expertise in both union and non-union settings enables her to foster workplaces where teams feel inspired, valued, and empowered to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

ELLEN SWANSON AREA DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

In her role as Area Director of Finance, Ellen Swanson supports properties within the Somnium portfolio and is responsible for finance, accounting and payroll.

Ellen attended the University of Missouri graduating with a degree in Hospitality and Business, before entering the industry. Ellen brings a decade of experience within various departments that provides her with a dynamic understanding of the industry. Ellen’s passion for finance is illustrated through her dedication to her job and her team.

BRIAN BOLF CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF REVENUE MANAGEMENT

Brian is a results-driven Revenue & Profit Optimization Leader with more than two decades of hospitality experience, having held leadership roles with globally recognized brands including Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, Wyndham, Choice, Omni, Hard Rock, and Preferred Hotels, as well as boutique and lifestyle independents. He brings a consistent track record of maximizing profitability, elevating financial performance, and uniting cross-functional teams across both branded and independent properties. His expertise spans system implementation, hotel transitions, data mining, dynamic pricing, analytics integration, commercial strategy, digital and eCommerce marketing, and team development. Brian is equally recognized for his ability to drive RevPAR growth, lead acquisition integrations, and cultivate high-performing revenue teams that consistently deliver strong top-line results. Fueled by a competitive spirit and an innovative mindset, Brian approaches every challenge with the intensity and creativity needed to produce exceptional outcomes.

PATRICK HOUSE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

As Regional Director of Sales & Marketing, Patrick brings more than 20 years of hospitality leadership experience across luxury resorts, destination properties, and full-service hotels. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for driving commercial strategy, strengthening market positioning, and developing high-performing sales cultures that deliver meaningful results. Prior to joining Somnium Hospitality Group, Patrick served as Director of Sales & Marketing at Innisbrook Golf Resort, one of Florida’s premier golf and leisure destinations and home of the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship. His career also includes four years with Wischermann Partners at The Westin Jackson, where he advanced from Director of Sales & Marketing to General Manager, leading Central Mississippi’s only AAA Four Diamond hotel. Earlier in his career, Patrick led resort sales at Pearl River Resort, further developing his expertise across group, leisure, resort, and entertainment-driven hospitality. Known for his energy, competitive spirit, and people-first leadership style, Patrick is passionate about building strong teams, creating lasting client relationships, and developing commercial strategies that elevate both the guest experience and bottom-line performance. His experience spans sales leadership, revenue strategy, brand positioning, contract negotiation, and strategic industry partnerships. Patrick is a graduate of Delta State University and brings to Somnium a combination of operational perspective, commercial discipline, and a genuine passion for hospitality.

ANTHONY WALLACE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF REVENUE MANAGEMENT

As Regional Director of Revenue Management, Anthony Wallace oversees hotel revenue management, distribution, and reservations functions in some of the industry's largest markets.

Anthony’s hospitality career began in Franklin, TN, where he first developed his passion of helping others and finding solutions to enhance their experience. Over time, Anthony discovered his interest in analytics and pursued a career in Revenue Management. Anthony has managed revenues for hotels in some of the industry's largest markets – San Diego, Phoenix, Boston, and New York City.

Overall, Anthony's diverse hospitality background includes Operations, Revenue Management, Sales, and Banquets. Anthony also provides strategic planning, marketing, forecasting & budgeting direction for both managed and asset managed hotels. His focus is maximizing results while prioritizing efficiency. A valuable addition to the team, Anthony has immediately showcased why Somnium and our clients are lucky to have him.

JESSICA STANFORD CORPORATE ADMINISTRATOR

Jessica is an experienced corporate administrator with over 13 years of expertise in the hospitality industry, beginning her career in Utah working with multiple Hilton properties in various roles.

Over the years, Jessica has developed a deep understanding of corporate operations, executive support, and organizational management, bridging frontline service experience with high-level administrative execution.

Drawing from a strong foundation in hospitality, Jessica brings exceptional interpersonal skills, operational efficiency, and a service-oriented mindset to corporate administration. She has successfully supported executive leadership, coordinated board activities, and maintained critical corporate records with accuracy and discretion. She excels in dynamic, fast-paced environments and is committed to facilitating smooth communication and streamlined processes across departments. She also continues to bring a people-first approach to every level of organizational support.

JL GRIFFIN AREA IT DIRECTOR

As the Area IT Director, JL Griffin oversees the company's IT operations, ensuring IT security, maintaining infrastructure, and providing crucial support to operations staff.

JL attended the IT/CNS program at ITT Technical Institute, and with 15 years of experience in the IT field, including 12 years dedicated to the hospitality industry in local and national chain restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, and having led an IT consulting firm for 7 years before joining Somnium, he brings a diverse range of knowledge to the position. Known for his adaptability and solution-oriented attitude, JL's passion for knowledge in an ever-evolving technical landscape positions him as a valuable asset to the Somnium team, contributing to the ongoing demands of the organization's technological backbone.