OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
VAI Resort has invested in a leadership team with more than 200 years of collective hospitality experience. Coming from leading hotel and casino resorts around the world including Starwood, Marriott, Waldorf Astoria, Sheraton, Aimbridge, Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, Penn Entertainment, AEG Live and others, the VAI Resort team is committed to excellence and service.
GRANT FISHER CEO, PRESIDENT
Grant is the CEO, co-owner, and visionary behind VAI Resort. As a third-generation leader of Fisher Industries, one of the country’s largest heavy civil construction companies, Grant has been working in the family business for more than a decade and leads its foray into luxury hospitality development and operations with VAI Resort in the Fisher family’s home city.
SCOTT HILLIG PRESIDENT OF DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
Scott is the President of Design and Development at VAI Resort. He brings with him over 30 years of experience from a diverse background at all levels of the hospitality industry from A&D, Operations and Food Service. With more than 2,900 new development openings with brands such as Four Seasons, Montage, Fairmont, Marriott, Hilton and Intercontinental, he’s very excited to introduce VAI Resort which he feels will set a new standard in the luxury hospitality sector.
EMILY YOUNG VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
Emily has been an integral part of Fisher Industries since 2005, demonstrating outstanding leadership in the Finance department for the past 18 years. Over the last 2 years, she has seamlessly contributed to both VAI and Fisher, showcasing her dedication and expertise. Emily's extensive background in finance and accounting, particularly in the construction field, makes her a valuable asset to our team.
HOWARD WEISS SVP of Entertainment & Sponsorships
Howard leads the design and programming of VAI’s state-of-the-art performance stage for world class bands, DJ’s, and performers. For the past 20 years Howard has worked for many of the world’s premier entertainment businesses, including MGM Resorts, Penn Entertainment, PURE Management Group, AEG Presents, Caesars Entertainment, Area15 and others.
RIAN KIRKMAN SVP of Marketing
Rian leads the marketing function for VAI Resort. Throughout his career, Rian has held a variety of hospitality marketing leadership positions. During that time, he has led marketing efforts for resorts at Caesars Entertainment and The Venetian; entertainers including Celine Dion, Elton John, Britney Spears, and Shania Twain; and chefs including Nobu, Gordon Ramsay, Thomas Keller, Guy Fieri, and Giada, among others.
BEN YOO Vice President of Hotel Operations
Ben is responsible for all things hotel operations at VAI Resort. His professional trajectory includes executive leadership roles in prestigious Five-Star properties across iconic locations such as Las Vegas, Beverly Hills, and Dallas. Among the renowned establishments he's been associated with are Hotel Bel-Air, Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, Wynn, Encore Las Vegas, and Hotel Swexan.
RYAN LITTMAN VICE PRESIDENT OF FOOD & BEVERAGE
Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge in food and beverage, previously working as the Director of F&B at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. Over Ryan’s 30-year career with Marriott, he has opened two JW Marriott properties in San Antonio and Tucson and supported the food and beverage and culinary operations at hotels in Chicago, Palm Desert, and Dallas.
DIANA HINDI VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
With over 30 years at Marriott International, Diana brings with her a strong background in both Operations and HR. She has led several initiatives to improve employee engagement, retention, and performance. Residing in Arizona for 2 decades, she cherishes family time with her husband and two daughters. A dedicated volunteer and avid traveler, Diana is excited to build a positive work culture at VAI Resort, driven by her passion for caring and connecting with people.
DAN ABEL VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING
Dan is responsible for overseeing and maintaining all physical assets of VAI Resort. Over his 35-year career, Dan has done it all to keep luxury resorts in their best shape to delight guests and care for employees. Dan’s career includes leadership roles with Aimbridge, the world’s largest hotel operator, as well as Waldorf Astoria, Sheraton, DoubleTree, Registry, and others. Dan is a US Army veteran who served domestically and overseas.
CARL SCHAFER VICE PRESIDENT OF IT
Carl brings 25 years of IT experience to VAI. He brings with him a broad background of IT knowledge including server and network infrastructure, enterprise software, programming and database management, and cyber security. For 19 years, Carl has led the Fisher Industries IT team. Over the last 2 years he's developed the VAI Resort IT team while managing Fisher Industries.
LORA PICINI General Counsel
Lora Picini comes to VAI Resort as a respected legal operations leader and business advisor in the hospitality, gaming, and healthcare industries. Throughout her career, she has provided legal counsel and advice, as well as operational support as in-house counsel to several corporations and hospitality properties, including Caesars Entertainment and its casino resort properties across Nevada.
