HOWARD WRIGHT

Founder Howard Wright is an entrepreneur and executive with extensive experience in the transportation, tourism, and hospitality industries. He founded SHG in 2002 to help unlock the full potential of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic brands in those sectors. Howard is also a managing partner of the Sheraton Grand Seattle, and serves on the boards of several closely held restaurant and hotel ownership groups. 

Early in his business career, Howard owned Renton Aviation, the leading global volume retailer of Cessna aircraft, and was a co-owner of Mutual Travel LLC, a business travel management advisory service with $300 million in annual gross revenue. 

Howard’s extensive community involvement has centered on two other passions — his hometown of Seattle and Latin America. He is deeply involved in Seattle’s business, arts and education issues. As a board member of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce of Seattle, he represented employers by co-chairing the City of Seattle's Income Inequality Advisory Committee, which crafted the city’s phased-in $15-per-hour minimum wage law in  2013. 

As a member of the Washington State University Board of Governors, Howard helped lead the University’s first $1 billion capital campaign. Mr. Wright also sits on campaigns for PATH and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. He previously served on the boards of the Amigos de las Américas Foundation, the Seattle Symphony Foundation, Intiman Theatre, the U.S. Foundation for Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Vermont Academy, the Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington, and The Children’s Discovery Foundation, which operates The Funhouse Commons on Orcas Island. 

Howard Wright is a graduate of Washington State University and the Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management Program. He lives in Seattle with his wife and son. In his leisure time, he pursues his passion for flight, piloting vintage airplanes to fly-ins up and down the West Coast.

CHAIR AND FOUNDER

THUONG TRAN

As the Chief Aide to the Chairman, Thuong is dedicated to providing seamless support and handling a wide range of responsibilities that directly impact the business operation. Thuong is the behind-the-scenes force that keeps everything around the Chairman’s busy, active schedule running smoothly. With experience living and working across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the US, Thuong brings a unique, well-rounded perspective to her role. She finds fulfillment in assisting others while embracing the diverse opportunities that come with working at SHG.

Thuong’s journey in hospitality began right after college when she founded a business that has since become one of Vietnam's premier destination wedding consultancies. She then refined her expertise as an Executive Assistant at Marina Bay Sands Singapore. There, she supported the CEO and the COO in establishing the operations of 10,000 employees, contributing to the property’s internationally acclaimed success. After completing business schools in Tel Aviv and San Francisco, Thuong joined a tech startup as its second employee, growing with the company until its successful acquisition by a Fortune 500 firm. Afterwards, she pursued her interest in the arts by running her own ceramic studio and selling her work internationally.

Thuong holds a Bachelor’s degree from the National University of Singapore, an MBA from Tel Aviv University, and a Master’s in International Marketing from Hult International Business School.

Outside of work, Thuong enjoys traveling with her family. She also has a love for learning, from mastering the game of Go to keeping up with her streak on Duolingo. A long-term personal project of hers is to author a children's book.

CHIEF AIDE TO THE CHAIRMAN

SCOTT MEIS

As Vice President of Marketing, Scott oversees and supports marketing and communications strategies for SHG’s portfolio companies to maximize growth and efficiency. Scott’s deep background in integrated brand marketing of over 18 years including 10 years of creative agency experience, allows him to guide companies through flexible and strategic high-impact targeted marketing campaigns that bring brand stories to life and maximize engagement.

A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Scott’s marketing career path started supporting various artists at an independent record label out east before he leaped to a Chicago-based boutique marketing and PR agency. His time spent managing campaigns across a variety of consumer, travel, nonprofit and government clients brought him back to Seattle to lead digital and creative teams at Weber Shandwick, a global strategic marketing and communications agency.

Prior to joining SHG, Scott spent 8 years as the VP of Marketing and Product at FRS Clipper where he oversaw and managed all integrated marketing initiatives as well as a product portfolio of 50 hotel, tour and transportation partners across five destinations. His tenure and executive leadership at FRS Clipper was instrumental in transforming the company into a refreshed and impactful travel company in Seattle.

An outdoor adventure enthusiast, foodie, photographer and all-around PNW travel hound, Scott spends the majority of his weekends kicking up dust on high alpine trails and chasing down the best bites across the region.

Vice President, Marketing