2023 Survival Strategies Summit: Speakers

Kelly F. Bagnall
Partner, Holland & Knight, LLP

Kelly Franklin Bagnall is a partner in Holland & Knight’s Dallas office and focuses her practice on hospitality as a member of the firm’s Real Estate Practice group. Ms. Bagnall’s practice centers on matters that impact or relate to operations of hotels and resorts, and includes general business counseling and commercial litigation. She has developed strong client relationships with national hospitality companies and ownership groups, representing management entities, as well as management entities, in a variety of matters, including dispute resolution, event contracts and negotiating a wide range of supplier/vendor agreements.
Kelly received her J.D. degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, where she also did her undergraduate work.

John Cordier
CEO, Epistemix

John is a graduate of the Pitt School of Public Health and Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business where he received his MBA and MHA degrees. As a graduate student, he joined the team at PHDL to investigate opportunities for commercializing the FRED modeling platform. When customers began demanding the solutions the platform provides, he spun Epistemix out of the university and is now leading its transition from lab to market. A native of Erie, PA, he received BS and BA degrees from Pitt while on a collegiate athletic scholarship and pursued a career in professional soccer.

John also founded a nonprofit to improve community health through a platform that addresses local health disparities and is an adjunct professor in health policy and management.

Michael Dominguez
President & CEO, Associated Luxury Hotels International

Michael Dominguez serves as the President & CEO for Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI). ALHI is a Global Sales Organization with a team of nearly 80 professionals located among 26 offices across North America and Europe, ALHI’s serves a membership group of hotels that are Independent Hotels & Independent Brands that are an exclusive luxury collection. Prior to joining ALHI, Michael served in executive sales leadership roles with MGM Resorts, Loews Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, Starwood Hotels and many more.

Michael is actively involved in leadership roles in the Meetings and Events Industry and currently serves as a Past Chairman of the International Board of Directors for MPI.

Michael speaks in the industry often on topics of disruption, the state of the industry, the economy, behavioral lessons. Michael was recognized in M&C Magazines survey of top industry speakers and was an invited speaker at South by Southwest in 2018.

Michael’s other industry leadership involvement includes board positions with:

• US Travel Association (Executive Committee)
• US Travel Association (Executive Committee)
• Meetings Mean Business Coalition (Executive Committee)
• ASAE’s Board of Directors
• FICP’s Influence Committee
• APEX Standards Committee
• GBTA Foundation Board
• HSMAI Foundation Board
• Co-Chair APEX Room Piracy Taskforce

Michael was recently recognized in the industry for numerous honors including induction in the EIC’s Hall of Leaders in 2019; HispanicBusiness.com’s “50 Most Influential Hispanics in the US”; and HSMAI’s 2014 Top Minds in Sales and Marketing.

Anne Gorman
Vice President, Sales & Marketing, streamlinevents

Anne is a meetings industry master. She has spent her career in the industry tackling all facets of the agency side of the business, from on-site operations to strategic planning and sales management. It’s no surprise she ended up in a crucial leadership role, responsible for developing and driving revenue growth strategies. Her solid foundation allows her to speak with confidence as a trusted partner to clients and colleagues alike. Beginning with a thorough understanding of the larger business goals of our clients, Anne leads her team with determination and can be counted on to deliver the strategic leadership that results in extraordinary events every time.

John Klukan
CHA, Market Director of Sales + Marketing, JW Marriott Dallas Arts District

John’s hospitality career has allowed him the opportunity to live coast-to-coast in the United States and to experience a diverse array of cities, people and cultures.

His operations career spans decades as a General Manager and Regional Vice President for Winegardner + Hammons, Inc, John Q Hammons and Marriott International, Inc.

In his current role as Market Director of Sales and Marketing, he has been part of several milestone opportunities and brand launches in the DFW market, including:

• First new build Renaissance Hotel in DFW market managed by Marriott (opened July 2017)
• First historic building conversion to an Autograph luxury hotel in Fort Worth TX (August 2019) The Sinclair Fort Worth managed by Marriott
• First new build opening in decades Dallas Uptown Marriott managed by Marriott (opened in January 2020)
• First new build luxury brand JW Marriott Dallas Arts District managed by Marriott (Opening April 2023)
My operations career spans decades as a General Manager and Regional Vice President for Winegardner + Hammons, Inc, John Q Hammons and Marriott International, Inc.
Among his noteworthy accomplishments:
• Opening hotel of the year 1998 – Marriott DFW South
• General Manager of the year 2008 – Hotel Assn. of North Texas – Luxury/Upper Scale
• General Manager – Sales Leadership Marriott International, Inc. 2008, 2009
• Market Sales Leader – Marriott International, Inc. DFW mark