April Mazza - President

April is the Director of Human Resources for HEI Hotels and Resorts / Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Airport Hotel.

Prior to that the Pelican Beach Resort, Hilton Hotels Corporation and the Ramada Plaza Beach Resort for ten years five as Food & Beverage Director.

She has been a member of the HHRABC since it first began in 1998.

Vanessa Vasquez - Vice President

Vanessa is currently the Dir of HR at The Pelican Grand Beach Resort. Her 13 years of HR experience in Broward County includes holding Director and Complex roles at Westin, Sheraton, Luxury Collection and Preferred Hotel brands.

Her experience includes management transitions, insurance costing for condo hotels and independent properties, Six Sigma and overseeing/managing Loss Prevention.

Vanessa grew up in Germany as an Army brat and moved to Florida in 1999. She received her Bachelors in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and most recently became a certified TIPS Trainer. She is excited for a great 2012 in her new role as Vice President.

Madelaine I. Quintero Viteri - Membership Coordinator

Born and raised in Panama City Panama. Madelaine is a graduate of Florida International University/Hotel Management. She has been in the Hotel business for the past 15 years.

Currently, Madelaine is the Human Resources Director for B Ocean Fort Lauderdale. Prior to that, Madelaine was the HR Director of Hyatt Miami Blue and JW Marriott.

Freyda Hyman - Treasurer

Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Freyda is a graduate of Brooklyn College where she met her husband of 37 years. She moved to South Florida shortly after getting married. Freyda has been the Secretary for the South Florida Hospitality Human Resources Association since 1989.

When the Hospitality Human Resources Association of Broward County was being formed, she acted as a consultant and advisor to get the organization started on the right foot. She filled in as Secretary and is now the Treasurer. Freyda is also very active in the International Association of Workforce Professionals, having served locally, as State President, as District Rep. for Florida and Georgia, and on the International Executive Board.

Freyda worked for the State of Florida for 35 years. Many of those years were spent recruiting staff for new hotel properties as they opened, and as liaison with the hospitality industry. Her last assignment was the Supervisor of the Business Services Hub of WorkForce One in Ft. Lauderdale. She is now retired and volunteering at The Humane Society.

Darrelle Johnson - Secretary
Darrelle began her Human Resource profession with Hilton in Seattle, Washington in 2001.

She has worked in various HR positions both in Seattle and South Florida for LXR - Luxury Resorts and Hilton Worldwide. Talent selection and staff development is her passion.

Additionally, hotel openings & conversions, international recruiting, employment branding & identity are her specialities.

Darrelle has been a member of the HHRABC (Hospitality HR Association of Broward County) for three years, has been the membership coordinator and is now the Secretary. She is actively involved in the FIU Hospitality School's Life After College program where she leads workshops for Hospitality Grad students. She is also a Certified Professional in Human Resources, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Psychology and plans to complete her MBA at Nova Southeastern University.