Our Services

Management Team

  Richard L. Lafrance, C.E.O.
Second generation, founding family White’s Regional Hospitality Center, established 1955 in Westport, MA.  Developer of multiple Hampton Inn properties; Dover, NH, Westport, MA, Fairhaven, MA, Franklin, MA and the Hampton Inn & Suites, Plymouth, MA. Richard has also developed two Comfort Inn & Suites in Dover, NH and Wilton/Farmington, ME. 
Additionally, he developed the Homewood Suites of Dover, NH and most recently the Fairfield Inn & Suites in New Bedford, MA. He has also developed several free standing properties as well as an off premise catering service with concentration in South Eastern, Massachusetts. As a four generation involved business, Richard delights in mentoring his family members, except of course his mother, who is still a daily presence at White's.

  Jeffrey P. Pineault, C.F.O.
Chief Financial Officer since 1995. As a member of the leadership team, Jeff plays a key role in the overall management and direction of the company. He oversees all aspects of financial management, budgeting and the annual audits with external auditors. Jeff graduated with honors from the University of Rhode Island in 1989, with a B.S.B.A. in Accounting. Before joining Lafrance Hospitality, he spent three years in public accounting and four years as an accounting manager with a large international engineering and construction firm headquartered in the United Kingdom.

  R. Christian Lafrance, Vice President – Restaurant Operations                                                          Third generation of Lafrance family, working through most every position on the restaurant side of the business. B.S.B.A., Marketing, from Spring Hill College. Completion of the University of New Hampshire Family Business Studies in January, 2006. Joined the company full time in 1993 and created Christian's Catering in 1995. Currently oversees all Lafrance Hospitality Food Service operations.

  Timothy D. Burkhardt, C.H.A., V.P., Hotel Operations
Over twenty years of progressive responsibility within all aspects of full service and limited service hotels. He has experience with multiple hotel brands from Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Sheraton and Host Resort and Conference Center. Educational background includes a B.S., Hospitality Management and an M.S., in Managerial Technology – both from Johnson & Wales University. Mr. Burkhardt is responsible for oversights of all the hotel properties as well as the analysis and valuation of new hotel ventures.

  Charles F. Fellows, IV, General Manager – White’s of Westport, Corporate Marketing                   Joined the company in 1994. Has cycled through most every area within the organization. Helped launch both Bittersweet Farm Restaurant & Tavern, and Rachel’s Lakeside, as well as the re-branding of the ala carte restaurant, within White’s of Westport – The Galley Grille. Additionally functions as Director of Security and Marketing. Education includes a B.S.B.A., in Accounting, from Merrimack College. Prior experience includes an accounting position in an unrelated industry.

  Sean R. Lafrance, Director of Facilities
Joined Lafrance Hospitality in 2000. Oversees all properties and their maintenance. Manages development projects from site layout through opening. Initiates and negotiates with outside contractors, when necessary. Education includes a B.S. in Construction Management from Wentworth. Prior work experience includes several years as a field supervisor, estimator and project manager with a marine contractor, Cashman Company, and two general contractors; A.J. Martini, and J.L. Marshall.

  Merideth Milliner, Marketing Manager
Joined the company in 2011. Merideth manages all aspects of the overall marketing function within the company; develops marketing and sales initiatives, develops and shepherds the internet markeing program, assists with collateral production and acts as a liaison with the community. Education includes a B.S. in Marketing and M.B.A. with a focus on market research and social media - both from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.

  Tyler S. Carlson, Director of Information Services
After graduating from Rollins College in 1995, Tyler started his career with the Lafrance Hospitality Company as a Guest Service Representative at both the Westport & Fairhaven Hampton Inns.  He eventually transferred to the Corporate Office where he now oversees the POS System for the Restaurants, the Company Website as well as the production of all Marketing/Menu collateral for the company.

Elizabeth Valois, Revenue Manager
Elizabeth has been with Lafrance Hospitality since 2008, in the capacity of Director of Sales for the Franklin & Westport Hampton Inns and most recently the DOS at the New Bedford Fairfield Inn & Suites.  Education includes a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and an Associates Degree in Entertainment Management from Bay State College.  Elizabeth transitioned into the role of Revenue Manager in December of 2011 and is responsible for maximizing the room revenue on a daily, monthly and annual basis.

  Renee Dufour, Director, Corporate and Employee Relations                                                        Renee joined LHC in 2012. Renee provides a full range of generalist human resource services including organizational design, staffing, compensation, benefits, training and development. Renee promotes positive employee engagement and continues to build upon existing relationships in the corporate sector while cultivating new partnerships. As a dynamic leader in public administration for the last eleven years she has specialized in building and reorganizing departments and teams from ground level to success. She has a B.S. in Physical Education from Bridgewater State College.