Press Release

DURHAM, N.C., August 23, 2023 – The AAA Four Diamond Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, JB Duke Hotel, both located on the campus of Duke University, and the Lodge at Duke Medical Center recently promoted two long-time team members and hired two new executives as part of its ongoing efforts to better serve the Duke and Durham communities.

Daniel Lotz was promoted to the General Manager position of the Washington Duke Inn, Julie Buchanan was appointed Area Director of Human Resources, Diane Tighe was promoted to Area Director of Sales, Catering and Conferences Services, and Shane Driver was appointed as Director of Food and Beverage of the Washington Duke Inn.

Daniel Lotz, General Manager of the Washington Duke Inn, has served in roles of increasing responsibility at the Washington Duke Inn and JB Duke Hotel for more than 20 years. Having honed his hospitality skillset at Ritz Carton before moving to North Carolina, Lotz was appointed Front Office Manager and later promoted to Director of Rooms and Area Director of Operations for the Rooms Division. In 2021, Lotz was named Hotel Manager for the Inn and has since touched all areas of operations management for the hotel.

Julie Buchanan, PHR, SHRM-CP, Area Director of Human Resources, has led human resource departments for multiple organizations and hotel properties, recently completing tenures as Corporate Director of Associate Relations and Risk for Concord Hospitality in Raleigh and as Human Resources Director at the Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel. In her new role, she will lead human resource initiatives across all three Duke-owned hotel properties.

Diane Tighe, Area Director of Sales, Catering and Conferences Services, has served the Durham hospitality community for almost three decades, specializing in catering and event management. Before assuming her new position, she served as Area Director of Catering & Conference Services for 25 years, leveraging her exemplary work ethic and broad industry knowledge and perspective to elevate the property’s company culture and overall guest experience. In her new, expanded role, Tighe will oversee sales, in addition to catering and conference services across all three Duke-owned hotel properties.

Shane Driver, Director of Food and Beverage for the Washington Duke Inn, has an extensive background in hospitality, most recently serving as the Director of Food & Beverage at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Southern California. In this role, he oversaw a large operation of nine restaurants and lounges, as well as 80,000 square feet of meeting space, while maintaining a AAA Four Diamond Rating for the resort. Driver will bring his experience in staff training and coaching, commitment to quality, and exceptional interpersonal skills to enhance the Inn’s dining and catering services.

“We are building a highly qualified, robust management team to keep our properties at the forefront of the constantly evolving hospitality industry,” said Randy Kolls, co-managing partner and managing director of the management company responsible for the trio of properties owned by Duke University. “Diane and Daniel are already integral members of our hospitality family, and their institutional knowledge, dedication to service and deep local connections will help us maintain our strong standing as the premiere travel destination for the Duke community. We are also fortunate to welcome Julie and Shane, who bring decades of experience and fresh perspectives that will be instrumental as we look to evolve as an organization.”