Dominic Dragisich
Executive Vice President, Operations and Chief Global Brand Officer
Dominic Dragisich is the Executive Vice President, Operations and Chief Global Brand Officer for Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the largest and most successful lodging franchisors in the world. In this role, he oversees all of Choice’s brand segments, brand development, segment services, corporate development, and global operations organizations.
Mr. Dragisich joined Choice Hotels in 2017 as Chief Financial Officer. During his tenure as CFO, he enhanced and streamlined the company’s budgeting, forecasting and capital allocation processes and led several major initiatives to support the company’s continued growth. Mr. Dragisich established a strategic finance organization within the company and transformed the broader finance organization to help define and support long-term business objectives, including those for Choice’s upscale and extended stay brands. He was also instrumental in the 2022 acquisition of Radisson Hotels Americas.
Prior to joining Choice Hotels, Mr. Dragisich served as Chief Financial Officer at XO Communications, a national provider of advanced telecommunications services. There, he oversaw all aspects of the company’s financial operations, including accounting, financial planning and analysis, revenue assurance, real estate, treasury, billing and credit and collections. He successfully returned the company to top-line growth, increased profitability and played a lead role in the company’s eventual sale to Verizon Communications, Inc. Earlier in his career, Mr. Dragisich held senior finance and operational positions at Marriott International, NII Holdings and Deloitte Consulting.
Mr. Dragisich holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science in finance and accounting from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce.
Patrick Kruse
Vice President, Portfolio Management
Patrick Kruse is Vice President of the Portfolio Management Team for Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world’s largest hotel companies. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the franchisee lifecycle across 6,000 domestic and Caribbean hotels.
The team consists of several divisions; Portfolio Management, Franchisee Relations and Retention Sales. Focus is placed on developing and strengthening business relationships with 13,000 franchisees and 8 industry associations.
Mr. Kruse joined Choice Hotels in 2008 and spent a little over a year on the Brand Standards & Compliance team. He has been with the Portfolio Management team since 2010, serving as Project Manager, Project Director and Senior Director before being promoted to Vice President in 2023.
Prior to joining Choice Hotels, Mr. Kruse operated in various hotel operations roles, including hotel manager for both The Mirage and Treasure Island resorts and casinos in Las Vegas, NV.
Mr. Kruse earned his bachelor’s degree in hotel administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Ryan Minton
Ryan Minton is a Best-Selling Author and Keynote Speaker who brings over 20 years of experience leading world-class hospitality brands. As a former senior vice president with industry giants including Hilton and Marriott, he has consistently driven record revenues, profits, and engagement through operational excellence and team development.
Internationally recognized by Global Gurus as one of the World’s Best Speakers in both Hospitality and Customer Experience categories, Ryan combines strategic vision with practical leadership insights. His expertise in creating exceptional customer and employee experiences has earned him positions on the Forbes Business Council and Newsweek’s expert panel, establishing him as an influential voice in the industry.
A graduate of Miami University, Ryan lives in South Florida with his wife Tressa and their son Charlie.
Patrick Pacious
President and Chief Executive Officer
Patrick Pacious is President and Chief Executive Officer of Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the largest and most successful lodging franchisors in the world, with nearly 7,500 hotels, representing almost 630,000 rooms, in 46 countries and territories as of September 30, 2023.
Mr. Pacious’s nearly 20-year tenure at Choice has been marked by growth, innovation and effectively anticipating and capitalizing on industry trends. Under his leadership, the company successfully placed strategic bets on new hotel segments, revitalized legacy brands, improved business delivery to Choice hotel owners, and advanced a purpose-oriented and inclusive culture for Choice associates.
Mr. Pacious has been with Choice since 2005. Before becoming CEO in 2017, he was the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Pacious began his career in the U.S. Navy, serving as an officer in surface warfare and strategic planning following his graduation from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and Latin American studies. After his military service, he earned a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Mr. Pacious currently serves on the boards of directors of Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV) and the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.
Sagar Pandya
Sagar Pandya is a serial entrepreneur and AI strategist with over 20 years of experience helping business owners embrace emerging technology.
After scaling and selling his IT company, he now leads Spej AI, an advisory firm that helps organizations implement AI in practical, revenue-focused ways. Sagar combines deep technical insight with a results driven approach, making AI both accessible and actionable for leaders across industries. He’s known for his energetic delivery, relatable stories, and real-world examples that cut through the hype and drive positive outcomes.
Judd Wadholm
Senior Vice President and General Manager, Core Brands
Judd Wadholm serves as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Core Brands, for Choice Hotels International, Inc., one of the world’s largest lodging franchisors. In this role, Mr. Wadholm is responsible for the growth and operational performance of Choice’s extensive U.S. portfolio of nine upper midscale, midscale, and economy brands, comprising over 5,500 hotels.
With almost two decades of hospitality experience, Mr. Wadholm brings deep expertise in revenue generation, franchisee relations, and operational efficiency. Before his current role, Mr. Wadholm served as Vice President, Managed Hotels Americas, where he focused on enhancing hotel revenue and profitability while supporting franchisees.
Mr. Wadholm joined Choice in 2022, bringing with him a rich background in strategic leadership across operations, owner relations, and finance roles at Radisson Americas. He holds a Master of Business Administration from St. Cloud State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of North Dakota.
