Meet Our Team

Louis Shapazian brings over 20 years of luxury hospitality experience to his role at Keswick Hall, where he oversees all components of the resort. Before joining Keswick Hall, he spent a decade at the esteemed Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, holding various leadership roles focused on enhancing member, guest and employee experiences. As head of operations at the five-star resort, he also played a key role in managing its exclusive private club.

Earlier in his career, Louis built his expertise with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, gaining valuable experience across both city and resort locations. With an extensive background in luxury hospitality and a commitment to excellence, he brings a strategic, progressive and collaborative approach to leadership at Keswick Hall. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, Louis is dedicated to continuously raising the standard of hospitality and curating unforgettable memories.

Yara Acker serves as the Director of Landscape Management at Keswick Hall and Oakdale Farm, where she brings more than two decades of expertise in horticulture, land stewardship, and design. Raised on a large farm in central Virginia, Yara developed a deep-rooted appreciation for the natural world early in life.

At just 15, she began an apprenticeship as a floral designer at a local garden center, where she cultivated her skills in horticulture, customer service, and retail operations throughout high school. In her early twenties, Yara transitioned into land and farm management for several prominent estates in Albemarle County. During this time, she worked closely with acclaimed landscape architect Charles Stick and interior designer Bunny Williams. Her work in both floral design and landscape management has been featured in Architectural Digest and other leading publications.

Yara joined Keswick Hall in 2008 as a gardener and was quickly recognized for her leadership and vision, earning a promotion to Director of Landscape Management in 2011. In this role, she oversees the design, maintenance, and sustainability of the property’s extensive grounds and gardens, ensuring a world-class guest experience through thoughtful landscape curation.

Outside of her professional life, Yara enjoys exploring the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains on her mountain bike, taking in Charlottesville’s vibrant live music scene, and playing a round of golf.

Gary Bryson, Chief Financial Officer, is a seasoned financial executive with over 30 years of experience in different industries for both public and private companies. Gary oversees the company’s financial, accounting, tax, information systems, treasury and planning. Prior to this Gary also served as the head of Finance for a Family Office which included high end hospitality resorts, investments and real estate. Gary is an avid golfer and enjoys the tremendous golfing experience that Keswick brings to it’s members and guests.

With nearly 20 years of hospitality experience, Reno has developed the ultimate guest journey through high-touch, detailed and personalized experiences.  Reno plays a key role in ensuring that each guest’s stay is seamless, memorable, and reflective of Keswick Hall’s commitment to excellence. His passion for hospitality is evident in his ability to make every guest feel seen, valued, and genuinely cared for.

As the Director of Talent Culture, Kara leads the Talent Support team in creating exceptional experiences for Keswick employees from the beginning of their journey and throughout their careers at Keswick.

She has 20 years of experience working in Human Resources, a BA in Communication from Arizona State University, and a MS in Human Resources Development from Villanova University. Kara started her career in hospitality at the front desk of a golf resort in beautiful Scottsdale, AZ, gained years of experience working in high-end restaurants until she found her calling serving the heart of all organizations - it’s people. Her passion is focusing on programs that improve and cultivate a positive workplace culture, employee empowerment and growth and development in an industry she loves: luxury hospitality.

Kara moved to Virginia with her family in 2014. When she’s not at Keswick, she devotes her time to her teenage triplets, and enjoys traveling, exploring new cultures, and soaking up warm weather.

With over two decades of experience, John has mastered the art of hospitality, transforming guest experiences into unforgettable moments. Hailing from central Pennsylvania, his passion for service was sparked at a young age, fueling a journey that led to leadership roles at prestigious properties like Hershey Entertainment & Resorts and the iconic Sanctuary Hotel on Kiawah Island. Known for his unwavering dedication, visionary leadership, and innate sense of elegance, Hoffman remains a driving force in luxury hospitality, inspiring teams to deliver excellence at every turn.

Spencer brings 20 years of experience to the team, previously serving as the Director of Sales at Pinehurst Resort and The Hermitage Hotel, and most recently as the COO of The Beyond Collection. His career began at Kiawah Island Golf Resort as a caddie before he moved into Group Sales and developed his love of luxury hospitality. Spencer leads the Sales and Marketing teams at Keswick Hall and our sister property, The Hermitage Hotel. He currently lives in North Carolina with his wife and three daughters, and is an avid golfer in any of his free time.

Rob McNamara has built a distinguished career as a golf professional and club manager. A Kentucky native and LSU collegiate standout has had a celebrated golf career winning over 85 tournaments including two Kentucky Opens and one Virginia Open championships, plus competed in two US Opens, including once as 17-year old high school amateur and once as a professional. Rob successfully transitioned from playing to teaching and was recognized as a perennial Top 10 instructor in Virginia for over 20 years including the #1 in Virginia ranking by Golf Digest Magazine from 2001-2004. His many golf accolades were highlighted with his induction in the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame in 2018. He spent 27 years at Farmington Country Club as the Golf Professional where he also owned and operated the Farmington Golf Shop.

Rob joined Keswick Hall in 2021 at the Keswick Club General Manager and Director of Golf. McNamara oversees the acclaimed Full Cry golf course, as well as the club’s premier membership program along with the fitness, tennis and pickleball facilities. His leadership ensures an exceptional experience across Keswick’s world-class golf and racquet sports programs.

Jake is a seasoned hospitality professional with a strong background in luxury travel, operations, and revenue management. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, he earned a B.S. in Recreation Management with a minor in Business from James Madison University. Having been at Keswick Hall for four years, spending the majority of that time as Director of Rooms, Jake oversaw reservations, the front desk, housekeeping, and all guest services, ensuring seamless and personalized experiences. Now, as Director of Luxury Sales and Revenue Management, he leverages his operational expertise to drive strategic growth while maintaining the highest standards of service. Prior to Keswick Hall, Jake was a luxury travel advisor with an independent contractor for Brownell Travel, one of the most prestigious travel hosting agencies in the world, where his agency was recognized as a top revenue producer for Rosewood, Four Seasons, and Montage hotels. His deep understanding of luxury hospitality and elite personal experiences allows him to curate exceptional stays tailored to each guest.