About Us
Lion Hotel Group is a division of Labovitz Enterprises, a multi-faceted investment firm founded in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1981. We have extensive experience buying, selling, renovating and managing properties. Through its First Properties division, Labovitz Enterprises owns and manages The Holiday Center, Plaza Shopping Center, Center Building, and Missabe Office Building, all located in Duluth.
About Us
Lion Hotel Group is a division of Labovitz Enterprises, a multi-faceted investment firm founded in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1981. We have extensive experience buying, selling, renovating and managing properties. Through its First Properties division, Labovitz Enterprises owns and manages The Holiday Center, Plaza Shopping Center, Center Building, and Missabe Office Building, all located in Duluth.
OFFICERS
MARK LABOVITZ
Mark Labovitz is President and Chief Executive Officer of Labovitz Enterprises, a Duluth based and family owned business that owns and operates hotels and real estate in Duluth, Bloomington, and Minneapolis, Minnesota and Palm Coast, Florida. Mark is responsible for identifying and managing investment and new business opportunities and directing financing and development activities.
Prior to full time responsibilities at Labovitz Enterprises in 2005, through Labovitz Consulting, Mark provided marketing research, database analysis and project management services to clients including RBC Dain Rauscher, Wealth Enhancement Group and Macy’s online. Mark managed the marketing research and database department of RBC Dain Rauscher from 1996 to 2003.
Mark started his career in 1985 as an investment banking analyst in Dain Bosworth’s Public Finance Department. After earning his MBA in 1990 from the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management in Claremont, California, he held positions in the Corporate Development and Strategic Information departments of First Bank System prior to rejoining Dain in 1996.
Mark graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1985 with a degree in Business Administration. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Labovitz School of Business and Economics at UMD and has been a guest lecturer at the school. He is also a member of the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary.
Mark is a Duluth native and resides in Minneapolis with his wife, Jennifer. They have two children, Jackson in Washington DC and Tessa at Skidmore College in NY.
MARK LABOVITZ
Mark Labovitz is President and Chief Executive Officer of Labovitz Enterprises, a Duluth based and family owned business that owns and operates hotels and real estate in Bozeman, Montana; Duluth, Minnesota; Bloomington, Minnesota and Palm Coast, Florida. Mark is responsible for identifying and managing investment and new business opportunities, and directing financing and development activities.
Prior to full time responsibilities at Labovitz Enterprises in 2005, through Labovitz Consulting, Mark provided marketing research, database analysis and project management services to clients including RBC Dain Rauscher, Wealth Enhancement Group and Macy’s online. Mark managed the marketing research and database department of RBC Dain Rauscher from 1996 to 2003.
Mark started his career in 1985 as an investment banking analyst in Dain Bosworth’s Public Finance Department. After earning his MBA in 1990 from the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management in Claremont, California, he held positions in the Corporate Development and Strategic Information departments of First Bank System prior to rejoining Dain in 1996.
Mark is a member of the Advisory Board of the Labovitz School of Business and Economics at UMD and has been a guest lecturer in marketing research courses at the school. He is also a member of the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary.
Mark graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 1985 with a degree in Business Administration.
Mark is a Duluth native and resides in Minneapolis with his wife, Jennifer. They have two children, Jackson in Washington DC and Tessa at Skidmore College in NY.
MARK EMMEL
Mark Emmel is a Partner and Vice President with Labovitz Enterprises, a Duluth, Minnesota headquartered firm with interests in various businesses including Lion Hotel Group and First Properties. As President and Chief Operating Officer of Lion Hotel Group, he is responsible for the management and operation of the Labovitz Hotels, operating as the Lion Hotel Group, and its Duluth, Minnesota corporate office. The hotels include the Hilton Garden Inn in Palm Coast, Florida, the Home2 Suites by Hilton in Bloomington, MN, the Element by Westin in Minneapolis, MN, the Holiday Inn & Suites and Holiday Center Shopping Mall, and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Duluth, Minnesota.
Mark began his career in the hospitality business in 1990 as a night auditor and has held several other positions including Guest Services Manager, Director of Sales & Marketing, and General Manager.
Mark oversees First Properties commercial property operations at the Duluth Holiday Center Shopping Mall, Plaza Shopping Center, Center Building and Missabe Building.
He is a 1994 graduate of Leadership Duluth, a 10-month program sponsored by the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, and a 2006 graduate of the Blandin Community Leadership Program, a program sponsored by the Blandin Foundation based in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
Mark Emmel currently serves on the National Bank of Commerce Board of Directors.
Mark is a past President of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) Board of Directors, the Waco Hotel Motel Association and the Duluth Steam Cooperation. He is a past Chairman of Visit Duluth, Past Chair of the St. Luke’s Board of Directors and past Chair of the APEX Board of Directors. He has served on the Texas Hotel Motel Association, the Great Lakes Aquarium Board of Directors and is a past member of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and UMD Chancellor’s Advisory Council.
Mark graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Mark Emmel is a native of Sauk Centre, Minnesota. He and his wife, Heather, reside in Duluth and have two children, Benjamin and Elizabeth.
MARK EMMEL
Mark Emmel is a Partner and Vice President with Labovitz Enterprises, a Duluth, Minnesota headquartered firm with interests in various businesses including Lion Hotel Group and First Properties. As President and Chief Operating Officer of Lion Hotel Group, he is responsible for the management and operation of the Labovitz Hotels, operating as the Lion Hotel Group, and its Duluth, Minnesota corporate office. The hotels include the Hilton Garden Inn in Palm Coast, Florida, the Home2 Suites by Hilton in Bloomington, MN, the Element by Westin in Minneapolis, MN, the Holiday Inn & Suites and Holiday Center Shopping Mall, and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Duluth, Minnesota.
Mark began his career in the hospitality business in 1990 as a night auditor and has held several other positions including Guest Services Manager, Director of Sales & Marketing, and General Manager.
Mark oversees First Properties commercial property operations at the Duluth Holiday Center Shopping Mall, Plaza Shopping Center, Center Building and Missabe Building.
He is a 1994 graduate of Leadership Duluth, a 10-month program sponsored by the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, and a 2006 graduate of the Blandin Community Leadership Program, a program sponsored by the Blandin Foundation based in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
Mark Emmel currently serves on the National Bank of Commerce Board of Directors.
Mark is a past President of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) Board of Directors, the Waco Hotel Motel Association and the Duluth Steam Cooperation. He is a past Chairman of Visit Duluth, Past Chair of the St. Luke’s Board of Directors and past Chair of the APEX Board of Directors. He has served on the Texas Hotel Motel Association, the Great Lakes Aquarium Board of Directors and is a past member of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and UMD Chancellor’s Advisory Council.
Mark graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Mark Emmel is a native of Sauk Centre, Minnesota. He and his wife, Heather, reside in Duluth and have two children, Benjamin and Elizabeth.
BRUCE STENDER
Bruce Stender is Vice Chairman and a Principal of Labovitz Enterprises, a Duluth headquartered firm with interests in various businesses including Lion Hotel Group and First Properties. For seven years prior to joining Labovitz Enterprises in 1981, Stender was President of the College of St. Scholastica. He has an earned Ph.D. in Administration from Florida State University, and Masters and A.B. degrees from Marquette University, Milwaukee. He has held administrative and faculty appointments at Marquette University, Boston College, and Maryville College, St. Louis. In the late 1960's, he was the Chief Consultant for a study assessing Florida's independent higher education.
Bruce has been civically active serving on numerous business, health care, and community and statewide boards and committees during the past forty years in Duluth.
He was chosen One of Ten Outstanding Minnesotans in 1978. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree from the College of St. Scholastica in 1981. In 2005, Bruce was named Business Person of the Year by the University of Minnesota, Duluth Labovitz School of Business & Economics.
Bruce is a former member of Allete’s Board of Directors, a diversified utility company and Northern Minnesota's largest shareholder owned NYSE Company. He served as Allete’s Board Chairman and then as Lead Director. Stender served as Trustee of the C.K. Blandin Foundation and Trust, a $400 million charitable foundation and served as its Chair for four years. He was a member of the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee, and the Labovitz School of Business Advisory Committee at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He served as a founding Board Member of APEX (Area Partnership for Economic Expansion). Stender has also served as the interim Sandbulte Professor of Business and Ethics at the College of St. Scholastica.
Bruce grew up in Cumberland, Wisconsin and White Bear Lake, Minnesota. He and his wife, Kaye Lee, have four adult children and five grandchildren. He has combined many years of experience in business and education with particular emphasis on organizational development, management, and corporate and non-profit board governance.
BRUCE STENDER
Bruce Stender is Vice Chairman and a Principal of Labovitz Enterprises, a Duluth headquartered firm with interests in various businesses including Lion Hotel Group and First Properties. For seven years prior to joining Labovitz Enterprises in 1981, Stender was President of the College of St. Scholastica. He has an earned Ph.D. in Administration from Florida State University, and Masters and A.B. degrees from Marquette University, Milwaukee. He has held administrative and faculty appointments at Marquette University, Boston College, and Maryville College, St. Louis. In the late 1960's, he was the Chief Consultant for a study assessing Florida's independent higher education.
Bruce has been civically active serving on numerous business, health care, and community and statewide boards and committees during the past forty years in Duluth.
He was chosen One of Ten Outstanding Minnesotans in 1978. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree from the College of St. Scholastica in 1981. In 2005, Bruce was named Business Person of the Year by the University of Minnesota, Duluth Labovitz School of Business & Economics.
Bruce is a former member of Allete’s Board of Directors, a diversified utility company and Northern Minnesota's largest shareholder owned NYSE Company. He served as Allete’s Board Chairman and then as Lead Director. Stender served as Trustee of the C.K. Blandin Foundation and Trust, a $400 million charitable foundation and served as its Chair for four years. He was a member of the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee, and the Labovitz School of Business Advisory Committee at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He served as a founding Board Member of APEX (Area Partnership for Economic Expansion). Stender has also served as the interim Sandbulte Professor of Business and Ethics at the College of St. Scholastica.
Bruce grew up in Cumberland, Wisconsin and White Bear Lake, Minnesota. He and his wife, Kaye Lee, have four adult children and five grandchildren. He has combined many years of experience in business and education with particular emphasis on organizational development, management, and corporate and non-profit board governance.
“Nothing happens except for the initiative of a single individual”
– JOEL LABOVITZ
“Nothing happens except for the initiative of a single individual”
TEAM
TIM BOUVINE
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERRACHEL EASTMAN
INVESTMENT ACCOUNTANT/ANALYSTLIZ ERICKSON
PAYROLL/401K ADMINISTRATORAMY FOLDESI
DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCESANGEL GOTELAERE
PROPERTY MANAGERNANCY KLOSTER
ACCOUNTS PAYABLERACHEL STREIT
CONTROLLERKRISTIN WILLIAMS
ACCOUNTANTTIM BOUVINE
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERRACHEL EASTMAN
INVESTMENT ACCOUNTANT/ANALYSTLIZ ERICKSON
PAYROLL / 401K ADMINISTRATORAMY FOLDESI
DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCESANGEL GOTELAERE
PROPERTY MANAGERKRISTIN WILLIAMS
ACCOUNTANTNANCY KLOSTER
ACCOUNTS PAYABLERACHEL STREIT
CONTROLLEROur Team Provides
The Lion Hotel Group corporate team has more than 100 years of combined hotel management experience in these areas:
Our Team Provides
The Lion Hotel Group corporate team has more than 100 years of combined hotel management experience in these areas: