Company: Creative Lodging Solutions, Lexington, KY
Company Description: Creative Lodging Solutions is a corporate lodging services provider which specializes in long-term and project based stays. Our program provides assistance with lodging expense control, negotiated rates, and consolidated billing.
Nomination Category: Management Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Executive of the Year - Hospitality & Leisure

Nomination Title: Michael Tetterton, Founder/CEO

Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2013 (up to 525 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Creative Lodging Solutions is a lodging services provider that specializes in providing customized lodging programs for corporate clients and focuses on long-term and project based stays. Creative Lodging Solutions provides assistance with lodging expense control, negotiated rates, and consolidated billing. Under the direction and leadership of founder and CEO, Michael Tetterton, Creative Lodging Solutions has grown into a multi-million dollar company and become a strong leader in its field.

In 2013, Creative Lodging Solutions’ sales revenue increased 14% with an employee growth of 27% while net profits increased over 100%. During the previous two years, Tetterton invested over $1 million back into the company to support its high growth which propelled the company to a large increase in net profits in 2013. Creative Lodging Solutions also experienced a 33% increase in customers in 2013 as a direct result of Tetterton’s investment of growing the size of the sales force the previous year.

Creative Lodging Solutions has few competitors in an emerging industry and is expanding its market share and increasing profitability by differentiating itself from those competitors. Creative Lodging Solutions caters to a niche market and provides a service for a need most companies don’t realize they have before meeting with the sales team. Some of Creative Lodging Solutions’ and Tetterton’s biggest obstacles have been reaching new clients and strategically planning and developing the company to keep pace with its rapid growth.

Despite a lagging economy, Tetterton continued to invest in the future growth of the company during 2011 and 2012 by adding employees and new technologies, further developing proprietary software, and increasing the sales staff. Tetterton, realized the potential of investing profits back in the company and capitalized from the unique opportunities the economic conditions provided by offering a win/win solution to clients through business process outsourcing. These actions paid off in 2013 with a 33% increase in customers and an increase of net profits of over 100%.

Creative Lodging Solutions continues to improve in every aspect of the services provided to clients while developing innovative ways to beat the competition. Tetterton anticipates that within three years the company’s sales will exceed the largest competitor in its industry and Creative Lodging Solutions will become the dominate player.

Tetterton believes that serving others is a noble profession and has created a corporate culture of giving back to the community. Creative Lodging Solutions was honored to receive a We CARE Award for community service under Tetterton’s leadership.

Creative Lodging Solutions has been named one of the top private job creators in America in 2012 by Hire Power Awards, named one of the Best Places to Work in Kentucky five years running, and named to the Inc. 5000 List of the most entrepreneurial and fastest growing companies in America the past four years. In 2013, Tetterton was named an Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist by Ernst & Young and the Entrepreneur/Founder of the Year Silver Winner at the Golden Bridge Awards.

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Provide a brief (up to 125 words) biography about the nominee:

Michael Tetterton, is owner, President and CEO of Creative Lodging Solutions (CLS). He founded the company in 2002, drawing from his extensive background in the hotel industry, including Marriott and StudioPlus, while developing CLS. As VP of Operations for StudioPlus, Tetterton helped triple the size of the privately owned company and prepare it for a successful IPO. In 1999, Tetterton started his own hotel brand, Home-Towne Suites, and a hotel management company, Home-Towne Hospitality.

Tetterton’s vision and in-depth knowledge of the hotel industry enabled him to create a company that specializes in corporate lodging— Creative Lodging Solutions. In 2013, Tetterton was named an Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist by Ernst & Young and the Entrepreneur/Founder of the Year Silver Winner at the Golden Bridge Awards.