Meet Our Team
Abigail Watkins
Director of Sales & Marketing
With more than 10 years of experience in hospitality and sales, Abigail Watkins is a dynamic, results-driven leader known for turning relationships into lasting business partnerships. As Director of Sales & Marketing at Delta Hotels by Marriott Kalamazoo, she combines strategic sales leadership with a highly personalized, client-focused approach that consistently delivers exceptional results.
Abigail is passionate about building meaningful connections, driving revenue growth, and creating impactful experiences that exceed expectations for clients and guests alike. Her leadership style is rooted in collaboration, creativity, and genuine hospitality, allowing her to cultivate partnerships that extend far beyond a single event or stay.
At the heart of Abigail’s philosophy is the belief that true hospitality and sales leadership are built on authentic relationships; creating experiences that inspire trust, spark joy, and leave a lasting impression.
Lainey Kammeraad
Catering Services Manager
With nearly two decades of hospitality experience, Lainey Kammeraad has built a well-rounded career that spans a variety of roles, from working behind the scenes in culinary operations to coordinating and managing catering services and large-scale events. Her diverse background gives her a unique perspective on event planning and execution, allowing her to create seamless experiences for both clients and guests.
As Catering Services Manager, Lainey oversees meetings and events from the initial planning stages through final execution, working closely with clients and internal departments to ensure every detail is handled with care and professionalism. She is passionate about creating memorable guest experiences, building meaningful relationships, and bringing people together through thoughtfully executed events.
Lainey enjoys the fast-paced, team-oriented environment that hospitality provides and takes pride in helping create moments that guests will remember long after their event has ended.
A.J. Yozzo
Senior Sales Manager
A.J. Yozzo is the Senior Sales & Catering Manager at Delta Marriott Kalamazoo Hotel and Conference Center, where he specializes in building meaningful relationships within the SMERF market, including Social, Military, Education, Religious, and Fraternal organizations. With more than 35 years of hospitality experience spanning Arizona, Florida, and Michigan, A.J. brings an extensive background in resort operations, food and beverage, catering, recreation, and guest experience leadership.
Throughout his career, A.J.’s “Passion for Service” has guided his work at several AAA Four and Five Diamond properties, as well as more than 15 years with Marriott International’s premium and luxury brands, including Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Sheraton Grand, Four Points, Delta Hotels, and W Hotels. A graduate of Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation & Tourism Management and a minor in Psychology, A.J. combines operational expertise with a strong focus on human connection and personalized service.
At the heart of A.J.’s hospitality philosophy is his commitment to creating emotional connections and becoming a true “memory maker” for guests and clients alike. As he often says, “Today’s experiences are tomorrow’s memories.”
Rebekah Mihelich
Sports Sales Manager
Delta Hotels by Marriott Kalamazoo Conference Center
Rebekah Mihelich serves as the Sports Sales Manager at Delta Hotels Kalamazoo Conference Center, where she specializes in coordinating seamless experiences for sports teams, tournaments, and group travel. With more than 15 years of experience in sales, client relations, and customer service, Rebekah is known for her approachable personality, relationship-focused style, and ability to make the planning process feel simple, organized, and stress-free.
She thrives in the fast-paced energy of the hospitality industry and values the opportunity to bring people together through memorable experiences. Whether she is helping a team feel at home during a championship weekend, finding creative solutions for last-minute changes, or simply making a guest’s day easier, Rebekah believes hospitality is rooted in genuine connection. Her goal is always to work hard for her clients, make every detail feel effortless, and ensure each guest feels welcomed from the moment they walk through the doors.
Heather Young
Executive Chef
Chef Heather is our Executive Chef at the Delta Hotel & Conference Center in Kalamazoo, MI. Heather is a “Well Seasoned” Chef with over 30 years of Culinary and Management experience, including 10 years with other large Marriott Properties. Her experience and extensive background working in Hotels, Restaurants, Resorts, Country Clubs, and the sole proprietorship of her own restaurant have helped her grow into the leader she is today.
Heather studied Culinary Arts, Business Management, and Communications at GRCC in Grand Rapids, MI and contracted with the Army National Guard soon after where she managed multiple DFAC (Chow Halls) on Base. She moved on to teaching Food Safety and Sanitation for food in the field. Since her humble start she has worked for multiple 4- and 5-Star resorts in South Carolina, owned a successful restaurant, and has settled into continuing her career in Hotel Management & Hospitality. Heather has a passion for the Culinary Arts and believes that focusing on presentation, quality fresh products, fine details, and personalized connections within the kitchen and front of house are the main components to the guest satisfaction “WOW” factor.
The key ingredients to Chef Heather’s hospitality philosophy are to keep integrity at the forefront of everything she does and to treat both staff and guests like family. In her free time Chef Heather can be found spending time with her wife, creating memories with her Grandson, and is usually somewhere on the water or camping.
“Barbecue may not be the key to World Peace, but it’s a start.”
-Anthony Bourdain
Holly Champadeng
Assistant Executive Chef
Chef Holly is our Assistant Executive Chef at the Delta Hotel and Conference Center in Kalamazoo, MI. Holly has been working in the Hospitality industry for over 30 years, with over 20 of those years in Hotels and Resorts. Many of those years were spent together with Chef Heather at other Marriot Properties. Her extensive knowledge in multifaceted roles of the hospitality industry include purchasing and receiving, Front and Back of the House Management, Event Planning, and Catering execution has made her a valuable asset to the team.
Chef Holly obtained her Associates Degree in Culinary Arts at Northwestern Michigan Collage in her home town of Traverse City, MI. Holly has always had a passion for food and started working in the industry at a young age in fast food, followed by working in family-owned restaurants, and then transitioned into family focused waterpark hotel and resorts. This path led to great adventures traveling to help open new locations across the United States before settling in Kalamazoo, MI. Her passions include creating memorable moments and cultivating great relationships with guests and staff alike.
Holly enjoys the fast paced and ever-changing world of Hospitality life. In her free time, she enjoys creating new recipes with her husband to share with family and friends. She is also the personal chauffer to her very active teenage son.
Made with Love – Chef Holly
Matt Partello
Conference Center General Manager
Matt Partello brings 17 years of experience in banquet operations, beginning his career in event setup, and event technology before advancing into leadership roles in management. This hands-on background gives him a unique perspective on every stage of the event process, from initial planning through execution. Matt enjoys problem solving and is passionate about creating personalized guest experiences, while fostering strong, collaborative teams to ensure every detail is executed seamlessly.