Our Team
Rebuilding the Future
who we are
We are a world-class team of experts, combining creativity with entrepreneurial insight, sophistication with cultural savvy, along with economic acumen and operation agility. While real estate is the most secure, a close second is investing in leaders whose well-documented professional histories ensure high yields.
Frank & Jeanne Cretella
Founders and CEO
The founders of Black Dog Construction and everything Landmark, have over four decades of construction, development and operations experience in NJ, NY, and PA urban markets. Frank established Landmark Developers 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 Co-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
Chief Financial Officer
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.
John Mazza
President of Black Dog Construction
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.
Thomas McAteer
Chief Operating Officer
Thomas McAteer was promoted to Chief Operating Officer after being Director of Hospitality since April of 2018. Prior to April, Thomas held the position as General Manager for the Ryland Inn for 3 years. In this position,Thomas is charged with working side by side with Jeanne on ensuring Landmark’s culture is constantly reinforced while driving performance and revenue growth. With an impressive 25 years of experience in fine dining, Thomas brings a desire for excellence, passion for service, and love of local ingredients. 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 team members.
Maureen Young
Financial Controller
A highly accomplished dedicated professional with over 25+ years of experience in accounting, financing, and management. Analytical, organized, proactive, “hands on” manager with the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment. Provide training, motivation, and leadership through strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Jonathan Hunterton
Director of Facilities, Purchasing, & Outside Services
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.
Maddy Cretella
Director of Operational Branding
From a very young age she has worked alongside her parents, Frank and Jeanne, dedicated to being hands on in creating life’s most memorable moments for Landmark’s guests and team members. After graduating with a double major in Business Management and Public Relations, Maddy found her niche in hospitality marketing, loving the excitement and creativity of the hospitality industry. As Director of Operational Branding she is responsible for continuing to grow the Landmark brand as a leader in hospitality. Maddy works closely with all of our third party marketing and advertising vendors as well as planning and monitoring the success of house events, holidays and our community involvement programs through H.U.G.
Dania Garcia
Director of Construction (BDC)
With over 20 years in the construction and development industry, Dania has served in several leadership roles overseeing projects from pre-construction phase to final construction completion and turnover. Before joining Black Dog Construction, she has worked on several new ground-up construction projects which include high rise and mid-rise buildings in both New Jersey and New York. Dania holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.
Mav Cubero
Executive Assistant to Frank Cretella
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.
Christina Colon
Project Management (BDC)
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.
Dimitri Aletras
Director of Business Development and Programming
Dimtri Aletras joined Landmark Hospitality Group in July 2022 as Director of Business Development and Programming, where he continues to drive strategic concept development for the brand’s lifestyle division. With 15+ years of experience, Aletras has overseen countless high-net-worth projects across multiple industries including hospitality, tech, luxury and entertainment. He’s worked in varying marketing, operations, talent management and public relations roles across companies like Hakkasan Group, Starwood Hotels and Resorts/W Hotels, Airbnb and Tenth Avenue Media Group. Throughout the years, Aletras has worked on projects with high-profile talent like Dolly Parton, Jennifer Lopez, Tiesto and Calvin Harris and has become known for his marketing, operations, and communication strategies for renowned hospitality groups and restaurants such as Grupo Gitano and Catch Group in New York City, Avenue in Long Branch and Kiki on the River in Miami.
Kristin Annetta
Wedding Branding & Media Manager
Kristin graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. She joined Landmark Hospitality in 2021 as the Wedding Branding and Media Manager, where she is responsible for creating, curating, and publishing content for all of Landmark’s beautiful venues throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She has experience in driving brand growth through social media and digital marketing as well as event marketing and management. She is a creative professional with an eye for detail and a passion for writing and design.
Kelly Bartolome
Event Concierge Manager
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.
Jonathan Kern
Executive Chef, Crave Craft Provisions
Chef Jonathan Kern is a New Jersey native who graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 2008. His passion for food and people has given him a unique perspective of kitchen management as he oversaw 10 restaurants and 56 kiosks around Epcot, where he oversaw an operation with over 1,000 employees producing food for over 150,000 guests a day. Eventually, Chef Jonathan returned to his roots as the Executive Chef of the Standard Cafe in New York City right before the pandemic began. During the pandemic, Jon built his own business, Jon’s Chef’s Table providing fine dining 3-course dinners delivered fresh to client doors at a time when restaurants were closed across Manhattan. Chef Jonathan comes to Landmark Hospitality with his passion, creativity, and experience to help guide the company as Executive Chef of Crave Craft Provisions (CCP). CCP (Landmark’s commissary kitchen) provides high-quality meats, poultry, vegetables and will soon supply seafood to all Landmark Venues.
Jessica Mellen
Landmark Garlic Press Community Specialist
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.
Black Dog Construction
The sole purpose of Black Dog Construction (BDC) is to act as the construction arm of LMD and has no other clients. This technology forward construction company specializes in ground up construction, adaptive reuse, restoration of certified landmark structures and award-winning hospitality entities interiors. As we grow and expend geographically, we will use our BDC resources to act as construction managers to solicit, vet, and manage contractors and subcontractors directly. Our team presently consists of 6 supers, and over 160 artisans.
Crave Craft Provisions
Crave Craft Provisions is the full-service catering & events division of Landmark Hospitality. Crave has built an extensive clientele, working with Fortune 500 companies, major fashion labels, art institutions, technology startups and a multitude of private clients; holding numerous weddings, corporate and social events. Crave produces memorable and cohesive experiences at each event with just the right amount of edge. Our innovative culinary team has developed food programs that can be tailored to each audience. Our extensive portfolio of programs includes a variety of flavors and techniques to energize your experience and offer the unexpected.
Art of Hospitality Workers Alliance
The Mission of the Foundation is to support the needs and dreams of hospitality workers by offering career paths, growth opportunities and propelling career advancement while offering financial support.
We are committed to acting as a safety net to hospitality workers in Hudson and Union Counties and believe that the hospitality industry is one that provides endless opportunities for all. It is an industry which has no bias, and an individual’s achievements are limitless as long as they possess a willingness to learn and have a passion for giving.
