The founder of Black Dog Construction and everything Landmark, has over four decades of construction, development and operations experience in NJ, NY, and PA urban markets. Frank established Landmark Developers as a boutique hospitality real estate development company. Its in-house construction firm, BDC, enables the control of all facets of project development, from concept to completion. Once construction and development are completed, Landmark Hospitality, our lifestyle & events company, takes over the project.
As President of Landmark Hospitality, Jeanne’s focus is on operations and instilling company culture, which is based on creating memories for both our team and guests. Believing strongly in the importance of embracing the communities in which Landmark does business, a corporate giving program, “Help Us Give” (HUG) was established in 2001 and is dedicated to helping each of the communities in which Landmark operates. Currently, Jeanne serves on the Executive Foundation Board of Hudson County Community College and the Executive Board of the NJ Restaurant & Hospitality Association. In 2020, Jeanne become a board member of the National Restaurant Association as well as the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce.
Scott Grogan is responsible for all the company’s financial functions including accounting, audit, treasury, corporate finance, and investor relations. His career spans more than 21 years of varied experience in financial management, business leadership, and corporate strategy. Scott’s years of experience began in bank & financing and then moved into hospitality with a restaurant chain which operated across the country with several franchise brands.
With over three decades of experience in multimillion dollar project development and execution, John partnered with Landmark Hospitality /Black Dog Construction Owner Frank Cretella in 2009 and has been supporting BDC as a partner. Active with local universities and Kiwanian since 2002, he has served his community in various capacities, both as a president and maintained a seat on several prestigious board of directors.
Chef Anthony Bucco is a leading industry figure in the vibrant New Jersey restaurant scene, with an illustrious career that spans several decades. In his current role as the Senior Vice President of Culinary Operations at Landmark Hospitality, Chef Bucco oversees Landmark’s widespread portfolio of seven restaurants, and serves as a mentor to numerous budding talents across the company and state.
Throughout his culinary journey, Chef Bucco has received widespread acclaim, including a coveted 4-star rating from the Star-Ledger, as well as the highest rating (Excellent) from The New York Times and AAA’s prestigious Four Diamond Award. Chef Bucco’s leadership in renowned establishments such as Landmark Hospitality’s The Ryland Inn and Felina has left an indelible mark on the New Jersey restaurant landscape. Beyond his professional achievements, Anthony Bucco is known for his philanthropic spirit, supporting various charitable causes including advocating for small-family farmers, improving school lunch programs, combating hunger, and nurturing culinary education.
With a career spanning over two decades in the hospitality industry, John brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. Throughout John’s career, he has been involved with some of the best-in-class restaurants, developers, and hospitality firms, lending his expertise and consulting services to help them succeed. John held senior positions at renowned hotel and hospitality companies such as Marriott, W Hotels, Starr Restaurants, and Jean George. Presently at Landmark, John is the Senior Vice President of Sales, Personalization, and Landmark Club. His primary focus is leading the sales teams and driving top-line revenue across the organization, combining impactful strategies with thoughtful execution to enhance business performance and achieve profitable growth.
Raised and educated in Scotland, Thomas came to the United States in his twenties. With an impressive 30+ years of experience in fine dining, Thomas brings a desire for excellence, passion for service, and love of local ingredients. Throughout his career Thomas’ undying passion for hospitality – and particularly for those who make it work – has been unfaltering. Starting with Landmark as the General Manager of the Ryland Inn in 2014, Thomas quickly grew with the company and is now leading Services and Training for Landmark Hospitality as Senior Vice President. Thomas looks forward to many more years in what is the most exciting and rewarding work environment of his professional career. His management skills show his dedication to the hospitality industry as does his commitment to continually act as a resource to our venue managers and Memorymaker team members.
Jonathan is an operator with vast experience, a background in culinary operations, business, logistics, hospitality and facilities. Jonathan was the General Manager for Landmark Hospitalities flag ship, The Liberty House, for 5 years. His experience as a District Manager with a global company, Bowlmor AMF, and Culinary District Manager for Tiff’s Bar & Grill and Johnny Carinos rounds off his 24 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Jonathan has experience with coordinating and executing events with guest counts in thousands, interaction and coordination with production firms and has been a part of 21 new openings.
A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Christine Ayers, forged her reputation as a culinary artist with support of outstanding mentors in the finest kitchens in Manhattan, including Daniel Boulud at Restaurant Daniel, and in New Jersey from the acclaimed Chef Craig Shelton at the Ryland Inn. When Landmark purchased The Farmhouse in December of 2019, Ayers was the Executive Chef there. Landmark quickly learned of her talents and together they decided Ayer’s would spearhead the culinary division of Hotel du Village and Elkins Estate, two of Landmark’s Pennsylvania locations. In April of 2024, Landmark transitioned Ayers to her current role as Vice President of Purchasing and Culinary Operations. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and a relentless drive to push culinary boundaries, Ayers continues to make her mark on the culinary world. Her talent, passion, and dedication are evident in every dish she creates, leaving a lasting impression on all who have the pleasure of experiencing her exceptional culinary creations. Ayers is a current member of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, the oldest and largest food and wine society in the world, frequently creating tasting menus paired with the world’s best wines for the international gastronomic society.
A seasoned professional, Jimmy comes from an international background, having been born in Cape Town, studied Hotel and Catering Management in London England, and has worked at a 5-star, 5-diamond resort situated on a game reserve in Southern Africa.
He has been involved in the hospitality business with a focus on Hotels and Weddings in New Jersey for over 35 years. Jimmy is a past Chairman of the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association.
With over fifteen years of experience in hospitality, Keri Knowles has garnered acclaim for her visionary approach in crafting spaces that foster meaningful human connections. Renowned for her adept management of complex dynamics, Keri specializes in optimizing venues to facilitate rich social interactions. Her passion lies in curating environments that inspire gatherings and heighten social experiences, viewing elements like function, design, and technology as tools to serve her overarching mission as an experience designer.
Now with Landmark, Keri’s impact extends beyond design as she serves as a catalyst for industry evolution, bridging the gap between traditional norms and modern demands. From overseeing project coordination to ensuring meticulous attention to detail in wide-scale transformations, Keri’s hands-on approach keeps processes on track while maintaining effective communication. Her expertise spans the full lifecycle of social space design and creation, prioritizing inviting ambiance and accessibility in every project. Drawing from a rich heritage in hospitality and academic training in design and collaborative management, Keri brings a unique blend of tradition and innovation to her work.
Jigar is an experienced finance professional responsible for all accounting and financial reporting functions. With over a decade of experience, he began his career as an auditor for a large “Big-4” public accounting firm before transitioning to roles in financial reporting, management, and due diligence across various sectors, including insurance, consulting, and hospitality. Jigar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and an MBA in Professional Accounting from Rutgers University. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New Jersey and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
In addition to being second generation in this family business, Maddy Cretella is the Director of Engagement and Marketing at Landmark Hospitality. Inspired by the industry contributions of her parents, Landmark’s founders, Frank and Jeanne Cretella, Maddy spearheads the company’s success and expansion by continuing the memory-making culture and growth of the Landmark brand.
After completing her college education at Monmouth University with a double major in business management and public relations, Maddy began her career as a wedding cake designer and event stylist. She soon after found her niche in hospitality marketing, embracing the creative nature of the role and the opportunity to work with family. Since starting at Landmark in 2015, Maddy has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of New Jersey two years running, and among the 30 Under 30 Top Rising Stars in Hotel Management. Her work to date has successfully grown Landmark’s reach with real estate acquisitions, e-commerce platforms, non-profit contributions, profitability, curating impactful social, digital, print advertising, and campaigns.
A creative at heart, Maddy is a leader in hospitality and in business, constantly striving to produce magic in occasions across all of Landmark’s properties and to connect people in breathtaking experiences and gatherings.
Mav Cubero has been a part of the hospitality industry for over 15 years. After graduating from the Art Institute of NY and Montclair State, she started her career with Addison Hospitality Group overseeing the office, events, promotions and opening new hotel restaurants and rooftops throughout NYC. Mav transitioned into Real Estate Development at Kushner where she realized her passion for both Real Estate and Hospitality. In October of 2019 she joined Landmark as Executive Assistant to Frank Cretella, where she is able to work in the best of both worlds, Hospitality and Real Estate Development.
With 15 years of project management experience, Christina Colon understands the complexities of the construction industry. Working as a Project Manager on a variety of assignments ranging from ground-up new construction projects to historical renovations. Her ability to manage the sequencing of a project, coupled with strong client relationships, makes her a positive addition to any construction project team. Christina holds a bachelor’s degree in Women and Gender Studies from Rutgers University.
Kristin graduated from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI with a B.S. in Marketing. She joined Landmark Hospitality in 2021 as the Wedding Branding & Media Manager. In 2023, Kristin became the Lifestyle Branding & Media Manager, shifting her focus from Landmark’s wedding venues to Landmark’s restaurants, bars, and hotels. With her graphic design background, she spearheads all digital and print marketing including social media, email campaigns, print advertisements, signage, and more. She works closely with the operational teams to plan and execute house events, menu launches, and holiday promotions, while managing third party websites including Landmark’s online store, all restaurant websites, and OpenTable.
Kelly graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a bachelor in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Her career started in Marriott hotels until she joined Landmark Hospitality as the Event Concierge Manager in June 2021. She is responsible for leading the concierge team who schedules appointments to tour our 13+ wedding venues.
Jessica Mellen is the Landmark Garlic Press Specialist for Landmark Hospitality. After graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from Caldwell University and a Digital Marketing Certificate from Montclair State University, Jessica started her career at Palermo Bakery as social media assistant, then working at Landmark with the marketing department specializing in social media. She now spearheads the company culture aspect of Landmark which includes onboarding hiring experiences, team buildings throughout the company, as well as monitoring and creating content for our internal progressive web application called The Garlic Press, where all things Landmark are curated throughout the application.
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