Team Members

Bryan D. Shaughnessy is managing member of Darien Hospitality Group and responsible for the operations of owned and managed properties. He has operated over 100 hotels, motels and conference centers in his 20-year career in the hotel business. Mr. Shaughnessy is former Chairman of the Internal Operators Council for Howard Johnson International, Inc. (board member from 1998 to date), and former Senior Vice President and Head of Operations for Allstar Inns, a publicly traded hotel company having 73 hotels. Mr. Shaugnessy has also served as the Director of Operations for two conference centers: the Heritage Inn in Southbury, Connecticut, and the Tarrytown House in Tarrytown, New York. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1982. He enjoys playing golf, men’s basketball and men's lacrosse.

David M. Renton has 30 years of experience in the hotel industry. His responsibility as managing member of Darien Hospitality Group is for the investment banking side of the enterprise including acquisition/disposition, joint ventures, management contracts, and financing of hotels. Mr. Renton has owned and operated a number of hotels, in addition to other real estate holdings, and has been directly involved in the financing or sale of over 100 hotel properties totaling in excess of $500 million. Prior to Darien Hospitality Group, Mr. Renton was Vice President of the Hotel Division of Helmsley-Spear, Inc. in New York City, one of the largest real estate firms in the nation. Mr. Renton has a Master of Business Administration degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees from Stanford University. Mr. Renton enjoys sailing, sporting clays and boutique home wine making.

Richard S. Charochak is Regional Director of Operations. Mr. Charochak has spent 17 years in the hotel industry, and had his initial training with Marriott Hotels at the Marriott Marquis in New York City and the five star Marriott Ft. Lauderdale Harbor Beach Resort. He then joined Interstate Hotels where he held executive level positions at three full service Hotels. Mr. Charochak was selected to participate in five takeovers and openings in properties such as Atop of Belevue in Philadelphia and the Nordic Hills Resort in Chicago. Mr. Charochak has been with DHG since 1996. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Management from Purdue University. He enjoys playing softball, racquetball, and swimming.

William K. Rhoads is Regional Director of Sales and Marketing. Mr. Rhoads has 20 years of experience in sales and marketing, 12 of which are in the hotel industry. He began his hotel career at Interstate Hotels at the Harrisburg Marriott Hotel were he held several management positions including Sales Manager and Director of Catering Operations. He was selected to participate on several Task Force teams during takeovers. Mr. Rhoads has been with DHG since 1997. One of the special community activities initiated by Mr. Rhoads was DHG’s participation as Corporate Sponsor of the Spina Bifida Foundation of Harrisburg in 1999, and active involvement for a number of years with this organization that helps so many young people nationwide. He enjoys playing golf, reading, and coaching youth basketball.

Deidre Wickham is Regional Director of Sales and Marketing. Ms. Wickham has 17 years of experience in the hotel industry. She began her career as a Front Office Manager at Lakepoint Resort in Alabama. She has worked in both full service and limited service hotels holding such positions as General Manager, Director of Catering, and Director of Sales & Marketing. She has worked with Cendant properties for the last 10 years. She is a town appointed board member for the Southeastern Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau and has held that seat for the past 4 years. Ms. Wickham joined DHG in 2001.

Maureen Bayne is manager of accounting services. She has been responsible for DHG’s bookkeeping and financial records since 1994, after 15 years in public accounting. Her favorite pastime is boating on Long Island Sound and singing in the church choir.