OUR STAFF
TOM DAVIS
Tom is the President of T-A-Davis &
Associates. He founded the company in 1979, after ten years in hotel and restaurant
operations. Tom, along with his
company, has served as a consultant to a wide range of restaurant, hotel, club
and contract foodservice organizations throughout the country. Tom holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Tom is an avid golfer and he and his wife enjoy two adult children.
VICTORIA BASS
Victoria began
her career in the hospitality industry after graduating from
Sullivan University with a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts.
Representing major bakery product manufacturers, Vie de France
and La Francaise and an importer and distributor of pastry
ingredients, she turned her technical skill into an almost 15
year sales career. Working with clients in both foodservice and
retail operations she worked closely with corporate level chefs,
procurement and managers to increase revenue through innovative
product development. Victoria joined T-A-Davis & Associates in
2007 and handles searches for positions in both restaurants and
hotels. In her free time, Victoria enjoys dining out,
photography, art and independent film.
LAURA FOLKL
Ever since
her first memory of the family road trip and the magic of the
motel pool, icemaker and vending machine, Laura knew she wanted
to be part of the hospitality world. She has spent over 10
years in the industry, beginning her career in the front of the
house for several Chicago area restaurants. She moved on to
management roles in sales and operations for a niche travel
wholesaler, where she earned her CMP designation and developed
their incentive travel division. Before joining T-A-Davis &
Associates she represented an upscale resort and spa in Mexico
as the group sales manager for the U.S. and Canada. At
T-A-Davis Laura handles hotel sales & marketing searches
throughout the country. A life long Chicagoland native and
graduate of Northwestern University, Laura enjoys all that the
city has to offer – food, live music, theater, and the
lakefront. She still loves to travel and will always head
straight for the pool, icemaker and vending machine, not
necessarily in that order.
WENDY K. GAWLIK,
CPC
Wendy Gawlik is a Certified
Personnel Consultant and a member of the National
Association of Personnel Services. She has been with T.A.
Davis team since 2005…handling a variety of executive and
management searches for hotels, resorts, and restaurant
companies. Prior to her career in search and placement,
Wendy spent five years training hotel employees for major
brands across the United States and six years
in hotel operations. She graduated from Southern Illinois
University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Communications. Away from the office, Wendy enjoys
volunteering at her local animal shelter, spoiling her
nieces and nephews, and cheering on the Chicago White Sox.
MOIRA O'BRIEN
Prior to joining T-A-Davis
& Associates in 2007, Moira was a key executive with the
Illinois Restaurant Association, functioning as Vice President
of Operations and Director of Membership. She began her
career in hotel management with Marriott Hotels after getting
her degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from Iowa
State University. Moira has been a member of the American
Society of Association Executives (ASAE), the Food Service
Professionals Network (FSPN), and the Hospitality Network
Organization. At T-A-Davis Moira handles searches in both
the hotel and restaurant sectors of the hospitality industry.
In her free time Moira loves to
travel, be on or near a lake or ocean, attempt yoga and try new
restaurants.
PEGGY A. OLSON
Peggy began
her career in hospitality in the Spa Industry with Aveda
Corporation as Spa Director of their corporate showpiece
destination Spa. She continued to open Spas in the Mid-Atlantic
and transitioned to Organizational Development within the resort
industry. Advancing to the Executive Human Resources role, she
has six years of Human Resources Directorship tenure in the
industry, and has successfully recruited hospitality
professionals for more than 11 years. Her Human Resource
experience covers Ski and Golf Resort Properties, Executive
Conference Centers, and Hotels. At T-A Davis and Associates
Peggy handles searches for executives in both the hotel and
restaurant sides of the hospitality industry. Peggy is
originally from Minnesota, attended Luther College and the
University of Minnesota and has 2 adult daughters living in
Minneapolis/St. Paul. She enjoys golfing, swimming and
traveling.
PAUL RIGGLE
Paul spent twenty
years in hospitality, retail and related industries prior to
joining T-A-Davis and Associates in 2004. His range of
experience includes working as a regional marketing manager for
a multi unit retail chain, national projects manager for a golf
course construction contractor, and general manager for a full
service all-inclusive American Plan resort. Paul handles
searches in both the hotel and restaurant fields. Paul is a
graduate of Wittenberg University. He travels extensively and
enjoys his leisure time in the great outdoors by fly fishing,
snow skiing, sailing, and playing golf.
LYNN ROBERTSON
Lynn started her career in the title insurance
industry as a real estate closer for a major title insurance company. She was promoted to vice president of operations and remained with the
company for fifteen years. Lynn
later joined the Westin Hotel Chicago in the role of administrative assistant to
the director of marketing and the director of sales. She also opened the business center for the hotel.
Lynn joined T-A-Davis in 1992 as office manager. She is responsible for the administrative operations, which
includes conducting research for our recruiting team. In her leisure time, Lynn enjoys traveling.
