Leadership

Sohan Sandhu
President

​Sohan began his career in Scotland in 1957 as a bus driver, and in 1965 fulfilled his dream to open a restaurant—a small, 25 seat Indian restaurant in Glasgow, Scotland. Over the course of the next 35 years he further expanded in the hospitality and real estate business, opening and operating numerous restaurants, multi-family housing complexes, and travel agencies in the United Kingdom. In the early 1990’s Sohan recognized an opportunity to invest in hotels in the US, and has since focused on acquiring, renovating and repositioning distressed hotel assets. Sohan’s current role is primarily to assist in the numerous renovation projects that the company has underway at any given time.

Paul Sandhu
Vice President

Paul was born into the hospitality industry, with his parents having opened their second restaurant by the time he was born. Growing up in the restaurant business, Paul had hands-on training, and was exposed to every position in the restaurant trade from dishwasher to restaurant manager. Paul earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting with Honors in Business Finance from the University of Dundee in Scotland.  After moving to the United States and gaining experience in the hotel business, Paul completed his Masters in Hospitality Management from the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston. Paul’s focus has primarily been on operations, contract negotiations, and growing the company through hotel acquisitions and development.

Robert C. Reed, CHA
Vice President

Robert, a 30 year veteran of the hospitality industry, rejoined SMI Hotel Group in June 2014, overseeing the operations and sales functions of all SMI hotels.  Robert has served in management positions in Hilton, Starwood, IHG and Choice branded hotels, and was a Senior Area Manager for InterContinental Hotels Group for 6-1/2 years.  During his time with IHG, Robert was awarded the Hotel Performance Support “Aim Higher” Award, presented to the person who most exemplifies this IHG Winning Way.  A Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Richmond, Robert is Past President of the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies Alumni Association, and Past President of the Virginia Hotel and Lodging Association.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association, and is a member of the IHG Owners Association Revenue Management Committee.

John White, CHAE
Corporate Controller

John has 25 years of experience in Corporate Finance and Accounting with companies in various industries. John has served as Corporate Controller of SMI Hotel Group since October of 2010. John has demonstrated ability to implement “value added” business processes, manage banking relationships and operational cash flow, oversee corporate accounting operations, comply with audit requirements, facilitate system transitions and facilitate banking transitions, and manage financial budgets. John is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a BS Business degree majoring in Finance. He is actively involved in the Central Virginia Chapter of Hospitality Financial Technology Professionals (HFTP), serving on the Board as Secretary. He is also a member of the Richmond chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). John is happily married to his wife Carol of 24 years, and they have 3 adult children. John is an avid “jogger,” and enjoys vacations with his wife and kids.

Rose Yordanova-Katreva
Corporate Director of Human Resources

Rose joined SMI Hotel Group in 2005, rising through the ranks in many different positions in the Food and Beverage, Payroll and Accounting Departments.  She was promoted to the Human Resources role in 2010. In this position, Rose is responsible for overseeing all human resources-related functions for SMI Hotel Group, including the company’s recruiting, training, and personnel retention efforts; wage, benefit and 401K administration; and general liability and worker’s compensation claims.

Rose graduated with a degree in Accounting from D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics in Svishtov, Bulgaria.