Valerie Ferguson Denihan, a full-service hotel management and development company that owns and operates boutique hotels in major urban markets in the U.S., has appointed industry leaders Valerie Ferguson and Edward Maynard as vice presidents of operations. Ferguson and Maynard will provide leadership support to Denihan's property operational teams by building out the company's existing infrastructure and leveraging internal and external best practices to optimize the performance of Denihan's portfolio. They report directly to Brooke Denihan Barrett, CEO of Denihan Hospitality. Named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Travel by Travel Agent and one of the Top 100 Women in Corporate America by Ebony, Ferguson has been a prolific leader in hospitality and tourism across the country. She has enjoyed a legendary hospitality career across disciplines - including operations, brand management and sales & marketing - in senior roles for Loews Hotels Corporation, Ritz Carlton and Hyatt Hotels Corporation. She most recently served as vice president, brand management and operations for Loews Hotels Corporation in Atlanta and as regional vice president/managing director over six Loews properties in the Northeast. She is a past chairman of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) where she spearheaded 'Opportunity of a Lifetime,' a campaign organized to promote hospitality careers throughout the United States. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from the University of San Francisco.