Human Resources

🏩 JoAnn Kintzel appointed CEO of M3, the cloud-based financial software for the hospitality industry, in Lawrenceville, Georgia, on February 27, 2025. She succeeds Allen Read, now Executive Principal. Kintzel, former CEO of Procare Solutions, is expected to drive growth under Blackstone's ownership. Allen Read, a foundational M3 employee, has over 30 years of experience and has held multiple roles, including VP of Operations and President. M3 serves over 9,000 entities and has a 95% customer retention rate.

📣 Carla Shaw appointed as SVP & GM for BCV – A RateGain Company, in Noida on February 25, 2025. With over 20 years of experience in hospitality SaaS and services, Shaw is set to drive business growth, client success, and digital innovation. Previously, Shaw served as VP at Camber Creative, leading growth for clients like Stripe and BigCommerce. RateGain, founded in 2004, serves 3,200+ customers in 100+ countries, and partners with 26 of the Top 30 Hotel Chains and 25 of the Top 30 OTAs.

🍴 Bret Thorn, a dedicated food & beverage journalist, has been shaping industry trends since 1999 with Nation’s Restaurant News. He furthered his expertise, joining Restaurant Hospitality in 2016. Thorn's insights won the Jesse H. Neal Award in 2006 and led to his presidency of IFEC in 2005. His academic pursuits include a magna cum laude history degree from Tufts University, a Cordon Bleu culinary certificate, and studies at Peking and Nanjing Universities. Thorn, a native of Denver, now resides in Brooklyn, NY.

📌 Candice D'Cruz, Vice President of Luxury Brands at Hilton, was interviewed on the Hospitality Daily Podcast. The interview was published on Feb. 15, 2025, discussing career moves within the hospitality industry.

📖 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor, has been with Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999 and Restaurant Hospitality since 2016. Hosts "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" podcast. Wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008), Manager magazine, and Asia Times in Thailand (1992-1997). Magna cum laude from Tufts University (1990), studied French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, and Chinese language/history at Nanjing and Beijing Universities (1988-1989). Won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award, inducted into Disciples d’Escoffier (2014). Lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

🍕 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor, has been with Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999 and joined Restaurant Hospitality in 2016. He wrote for The New York Sun from 2005 to 2008, and was in Thailand as a journalist from around 1994 to 1997. Thorn's podcast "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" features notable foodservice industry interviews. His education includes a history BA from Tufts University (1990), studying Chinese at Peking University (Spring 1989) and Nanjing University (Fall 1988), as well as French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu (1986). He reported for ABC News during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. Thorn received the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Business Journalism Award and was president of the International Foodservice Editorial Council (IFEC) in 2005. Inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014, Thorn resides in Brooklyn, NY. Contact him at [email protected] and follow on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, is renowned for identifying F&B trends. He hosted "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" podcast and wrote "Kitchen Dish" for The New York Sun from 2005-2008. Thorn reported on business and F&B in Thailand between 1992-1997, including for Manager magazine and Asia Times. He earned a BA in History from Tufts University in 1990, studied French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, and was in China during the 1989 Tiananmen Square events. Thorn won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014.