Aaron  holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and a Master of Business Administration. He began his career in Las Vegas, managing a real estate portfolio that included hospitality, multi-family, and industrial assets. While there, he contributed to the revitalization of Downtown Las Vegas, helping direct a $350 million fund aimed at redeveloping hotels and attractions. His work included collaborations with companies like Zappos.com and investors such as Todd Kessler.

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Aaron later returned to San Luis Obispo County, where he acquired and repositioned several successful boutique hotels. He focuses on identifying value-add hospitality properties, overseeing renovations and rebranding efforts, and executing strategic sales—an investment model he remains actively engaged in today.

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He currently serves as Vice Chairman of Visit SLO CAL and previously held the role of Chairman for Visit Morro Bay. He is also an active member of NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.

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Maira Arellano is a Director of Sales at Everlygrove, leading sales strategy, business development, and revenue growth across a portfolio of independent and branded hotels on California’s Central Coast. With a multifaceted background in hospitality, her expertise spans hotel sales, revenue strategy, marketing, catering and events, food and beverage, and commercial operations.

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Maira brings extensive full-service hotel operations and resort experience, including a background with Aimbridge Hospitality, where she strengthened her expertise in strategic sales, revenue performance, and market positioning. Her deep knowledge of the Central Coast market allows her to develop business across key segments, including corporate, group, weddings and social events, tour and travel, and leisure.

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At Everlygrove, Maira plays a key role in shaping commercial strategy, identifying new revenue opportunities, strengthening market presence, and building partnerships that support portfolio-wide growth. She works closely with hotel leadership to align sales initiatives with revenue objectives, property positioning, and ownership goals.

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Her leadership approach combines strategic thinking with relationship-driven sales and a strong understanding of hotel operations. Maira believes sustainable growth is built through disciplined sales strategy, meaningful partnerships, and exceptional hospitality—creating long-term value for guests, properties, and ownership.

Karen Cartwright is a seasoned hospitality professional with 16 years of experience leading hotel operations, developing teams, and creating exceptional guest experiences. Her leadership is rooted in accountability, collaboration, and a commitment to building supportive workplace cultures where employees feel empowered and equipped to succeed.

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Throughout her career, Karen has combined hands-on operational expertise with a strong focus on employee development, hospitality culture, and community engagement. Her background and certifications in life and wellness coaching complement her hospitality leadership experience, strengthening her approach to communication, team development, and creating positive workplace environments.

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Karen’s commitment to the hospitality industry extends beyond the properties she has managed. She has been actively involved with the Cambria Tourism Board since 2012, including serving as Marketing Committee Chair, and serves on the Cambria Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as Marketing Chair. Through these roles, she has helped promote the destination, strengthen relationships among local businesses and tourism partners, and contribute to the continued growth of the community.

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A longtime Central Coast resident, Karen is passionate about people, service, and creating meaningful experiences for both guests and employees. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and exploring the Central Coast with a special affinity for animals.

Eric Connolly is a seasoned hospitality professional and the owner-operator of The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar (est. 2015) and Della’s Wood-Fired Kitchen (est. 2021) in Paso Robles, California. With expertise in food and beverage operations and a Certified Sommelier designation, Eric brings a unique blend of refined standards and hands-on experience to every aspect of his businesses.

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Over the course of his career, Eric has worked across a broad spectrum of hospitality roles—from server to restaurateur—including time with the acclaimed Michael Mina Group and at The Restaurant at Justin, one of Paso Robles’ premier fine dining establishments. These experiences helped shape his thoughtful, standards-driven approach to hospitality.

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The Hatch, recognized by the Michelin Guide, has become a cornerstone of Paso Robles’ culinary scene, known for its quality, consistency, and vibrant atmosphere. A longtime resident of Paso Robles, Eric is committed to elevating the local dining landscape and continuing to grow alongside the region as it evolves into a premier culinary and hospitality destination.

Laura English is the Marketing & Media Director at Everlygrove, where she leads brand development, storytelling, and digital strategy for the company and its growing hospitality portfolio. With a degree in Graphic Communication and years of hands-on experience in both design and hospitality, Laura brings a creative, strategic lens to Everlygrove’s visual and digital presence.

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Her background in the hospitality industry informs her current work, where she manages social media, content creation, multi-channel marketing campaigns, brand development, and the production of both print and digital collateral for the company and its properties.

At Everlygrove, Laura’s work is grounded in the belief that good design is good business. She has played a key role in shaping the visual and verbal identity of the Everlygrove brand and its properties, helping position them as standout destinations along California’s Central Coast.

Ashley Lavacot is a seasoned operations and marketing director with over 15 years of experience creating impactful brand strategies and driving growth across diverse markets. As the Marketing Operations Director for a large automotive group, Ashley managed national and local campaigns for over 80 retail locations. Her leadership was instrumental in rebranding multiple stores across four states and achieving growth through creative marketing, community partnerships, and grassroots branding.

Ashley began her career at Nordstrom, where she honed her customer-centric mindset and commitment to brand excellence—principles that continue to define her approach. She has led initiatives in brand design, digital strategy, SEM, social media, and internal communications, significantly reducing employee turnover and boosting brand engagement.

Now based in Atascadero, Ashley thrives at the intersection of data, design, and human connection—values that align with Everlygrove’s hospitality foundation. Outside work, she’s an ocean-loving dog mom, fitness enthusiast, and devoted follower of all things esthetic.

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Christopher is the Regional Hotel Manager at Everlygrove, overseeing operations, performance strategy, and portfolio growth across a collection of independent hotels on California’s Central Coast. With a strong background in hotel management, his expertise spans revenue optimization, guest experience, and team leadership.

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He brings extensive boutique hotel experience and has worked with renowned brands such as Starwood and Four Seasons, where he developed a deep understanding of luxury standards and brand-driven service culture. Christopher’s approach is rooted in hands-on, servant leadership, with a track record of success in general management, financial performance, team development, and property repositioning.

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At Everlygrove, he plays a key role in onboarding new assets, refining operating models, and aligning culture with brand vision. He believes empowered teams and well-run hotels create lasting value—driving both guest satisfaction and ownership returns. His leadership continues to support Everlygrove’s mission to grow standout independent hospitality experiences.

John Simpson is the Director of Revenue Management & Sales at Everlygrove, where he leads strategy across distribution, performance, and group sales. With a background in hotel operations, a degree in Hospitality Management, and certifications across multiple hotel systems and brands, John brings both technical depth and strategic insight to the team.

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John’s strength lies in tailoring strategies for each hotel and market, with a firm belief that even the most abstract data points should be made accessible to both stakeholders and team members. His work has helped build internal reporting tools, streamline operations through automation, and create traction in both transient and group segments.

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At Everlygrove, John plays a vital role in optimizing topline performance and strengthening ownership relationships. Whether onboarding new assets, refining existing strategies, or negotiating key contracts, his leadership continues to drive results and elevate the company’s reputation across California’s Central Coast.

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Fallon Willis is an experienced and versatile HR professional with close to a decade of experience leading and developing teams and implementing successful HR strategy and programs. Her professional experience has touched every corner of HR including Leadership and Development, Recruiting, Compliance, Employee Relations, and Payroll. Throughout her career, Fallon has been lucky enough to support organizations of many different sizes and stages of growth across several industries, including healthcare, nonprofit, agriculture, and hospitality. Fallon has a masters degree in Human Resource Management from Southern New Hampshire University, as well as a SHRM-CP SPHR certification.

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At the heart of Fallon's professional philosophy is a genuine belief in the vital role of the employee experience in organizational success. Fallon enjoys serving as the crucial link between organizations and their workforce.