Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association
692 North High Street - Suite 212
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Tel: 614.461.6462 | Fax: 614.224.4714
Toll-free: 800.589.6462
Email: info@ohla.org
Matthew L. MacLaren, Esq.
Executive Director
matt@ohla.org
As Executive Director of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association, MacLaren is responsible for providing strategic direction, management and oversight of all departments of the OH&LA. MacLaren aims to exceed strategic planning priorities established by OH&LA board members in the areas of governance, financial management, government affairs, communications, event planning, and membership development. He has been with the OH&LA since 2004.
Prior to his position with OH&LA, MacLaren worked as Communications Director for the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants where he assisted in the production of the Council Concepts Magazine, worked as Executive Director of the Ohio Automatic Merchandising Association, and served as a lobbyist on several taxation issues.
A native of Akron, MacLaren is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he studied political science and business, and a graduate of Capital University Law School. MacLaren earned his Juris Doctor degree in December 2005 and received his license to practice law in Ohio in May 2006. His background includes experience in government affairs, communications, and association management.
He is married to Jacqueline Ferris MacLaren and together they have a daughter Lucy Elizabeth MacLaren.
Kelly
Jones
Director of Membership Development
kelly@ohla.org
 As
As Director of Membership Development for the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association, Kelly is responsible for membership recruitment, membership retention, managing membership information, and event planning.
Kelly Jones-Swenson is a 12-year veteran of the hospitality industry. Kelly comes to OH&LA from Experience Columbus (the Greater Columbus CVB), where she has spent the past two years as Membership Services Manager. Prior to that, she spent four years as Director, Tourism Services & Marketing for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce in Montgomery, Alabama.
In addition to her travel & tourism background, Kelly also has served 10 years in the Ohio Army National Guard. In the National Guard she served as an instructor for the State Military Academy. Kelly resides in Blacklick with her husband Gary and their two sons Noah & Connor.
Michael T.
Evans
Director of Government Affairs and Communications
michael@ohla.org
Michael T. Evans serves as the Director of Government Affairs and Communication. She manages numerous legislative programs, prepares and offers testimony, drafts amendments to legislation, initiates grassroots campaigns, and assists in PAC strategy development. In addition, she is the Editor of OhioLodging magazine and oversees the production of the OH&LA monthly e-newsletter.
Evans’ government affairs experience stems from state legislative campaigns, lobbying in the executive, state and local braches, and trade association management. As a result, she brings with her a vast knowledge of both issue and candidate campaign strategy.
Along with her numerous years of trade association expertise, Evans brings with her a working knowledge of the Ohio Legislature, a direct result of time spent as Senior Legislative Aide for the Ohio House of Representatives Health Chairman. She has participated in numerous targeted State Legislative grassroots and grasstops campaigns on issues that face a wide array of clients, ranging from increasing rate reimbursements to the development of the Governor’s Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives.
Evans is a graduate of Ohio University with a B.A. in Communication, minor in Political Science. She earned her M.B.A from Ashland University with a specialization in Project Management. She is a certified paralegal.
Cindy Sams
Office and Events Coordinator
Cindy@ohla.org
 As the Office and Events Coordinator, Cindy R. Sams manages office operations and schedules the association’s events throughout the year. She plans the Lodging Council meetings for OH&LA's 6 local lodging councils and Board meetings. In addition, she coordinates the OH&LA Annual Conference & Gala, including several cities’ specific Stars of the Industry awards luncheons. She also oversees the Education & Training Fund Scholarship Program.
Sams’ background in the travel and tourism industry, before joining the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association in September of 2005, includes two years working at the Ohio Travel Association to assist in the planning and execution of Heartland Travel Showcase and eight years managing staff and volunteers at the Santa Maria attraction in downtown Columbus.
Embracing her love of art, she serves as a committee chair on the Columbus Arts Festival Steering Committee-GCAC, planning the annual arts festival in June.
Sams also is the owner of Canvased Floors, creating custom canvas floorcloths, etc.
Sams is a graduate of The Ohio State University, B.S. in Consumer and Textile Sciences. She lives with her husband Greg in Canal Winchester. Together they have a son, Chris, who is a graduate of Ohio University and a daughter, Erin, graduate of Hiram College and graduate student at Miami University of Ohio.
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