KITSAP CONFERENCE CENTER ANNOUNCES ARNE BAKKER
AS GENERAL MANAGER AND LAUREN LOMAX AS SALES MANAGER
(Photo caption: Arne Bakker, General Manager and Lauren Lomax, Sales Manager)
Bremerton, Wash. (May XX, 2013) –Kitsap Conference Center is pleased to announce the appointments
of Arne Bakker as general manager and Lauren Lomax as sales manager. Both bring unique backgrounds
and tailored expertise to their positions, with a combined 25 years spent in the hospitality and
marketing industries.
“We strongly believe that Arne and Lauren’s career experiences, demonstrated leadership
capabilities, dedication to the community and innate abilities to motivate their teams will make them
ideal leaders for the Kitsap Conference Center,” said Lenny Zilz, vice president of operations at Columbia
Hospitality. “We are thrilled to welcome them to our team.”
Bakker comes to Kitsap from the Regus Group in Tacoma, where he served as general manager
and was responsible for sales and operations including marketing activities, business development and
fostering client relationships. Lomax recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest from North Carolina as
the sales and event director for The Arbors Events, where she oversaw all sales and event initiatives
from lead generation to day-of event execution.
Bakker brings valuable experience in hotel and conference center management and has spent
much of his career working internationally. A native of The Netherlands, Bakker graduated from the
Personnel Management & Business Organization program at the Hotelschool The Hague, Institute for
Hospitality Management. He also received a degree in International Management from Old Dominion
University in Norfolk, Virginia.
As general manager of Kitsap Conference Center, Bakker will oversee the entire conference
center team and lead initiatives related to strategy of overall operations, and relationships with the
Kitsap community. He currently lives in Manchester, WA with his wife Lynda and enjoys kayaking, hiking
and sailing in his spare time.
Originally from Salisbury, North Carolina, Lomax graduated from University of North Carolina
with a degree in Business Administration. Following graduation she worked for companies including
Eddie Bauer and Harley-Davidson.
As sales manager, Lomax will manage all corporate and sales endeavors--including developing
client relationships, sourcing new business, and event execution. Happily settled into the northwest with
Flash, her seven-year-old Yorkie, Lomax enjoys concerts, camping, traveling, and riding her motorcycle.
About Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside
Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside is a high-tech conference center on the waterfront
of Bremerton, Wash. The conference center is available for professional conferences and retreats,
banquets, weddings and other special events. Kitsap Conference Center can accommodate 10 to 750
guests. The Center, which is a one-hour ferry ride from downtown Seattle, offers views of Sinclair Inlet
and is literally 100 steps from the Seattle-Bremerton ferry terminal. Amenities include complimentary
Wi-Fi service, videoconferencing, teleconferencing and onsite catering. The conference center is owned
by the City of Bremerton and managed and operated by Seattle-based Columbia Hospitality, Inc.
For more information, please call (360) 377-3785 or visit kitsapconferencecenter.com.
About Columbia Hospitality
Columbia Hospitality, Inc. (Columbia), a Seattle‐based hospitality management and consulting firm, was
founded in 1995 by John Oppenheimer. Columbia’s growing portfolio of premier properties, including
the award‐winning boutique hotels of the Columbia Collection, conference centers, and distinctive
venues offer world‐class service in memorable destinations. Columbia creates exceptional experiences
for guests and team members while achieving phenomenal results for owners. The company’s continued
success has led to an international expansion of the consulting division and more than 100 hospitality
projects worldwide. For more information about Columbia and a full list of properties visit
www.columbiahospitality.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Erin Osborne/Chelsea Asplund
GreenRubino
206-447-4747
[email protected] / [email protected]