Who We Are
It’s In Our People | Led by a team of entrepreneurs, hoteliers, developers, and investors, we work seamlessly together to create a hospitality-driven company each contributing specialized talents to achieve a common purpose. To Enrich the Lives of Others.
Executive Leadership
With over 35 years in the hospitality industry, David brings tremendous depth and breadth of hotel experience at all levels, starting out as a busboy at a Holiday Inn to managing the day-to-day operating business for all Midas hotels. Building strong relationships and communicating have always been his strengths.
David serves as Commissioner for Explore St. Louis, which is the destination marketing organization responsible for selling the St. Louis Metro Area as a convention and leisure destination. He serves as Chairman for STL Civic Pride Foundation and supports a number of charitable organizations locally. David met his wife Debbie in the hotel industry. Just like when he met her, she is still his boss. Together they love spending family time with their daughter Carye and grandson Stone and entertaining for family and friends.
J.T. co-founded Midas Hospitality, LLC in 2006 with David Robert. As Managing Partner, he and David work closely together on leading the vision of Midas Enterprises.
Building on the relationships with investors since the inception of Midas, J.T. provides oversight of the Midas Enterprise investment portfolio, servicing the right deals for continued growth. J.T. also fuels this growth by sourcing developments & acquisitions and capitalization of new opportunities that fit in Midas’ strategic plan for Capital, Construction, and Hospitality.
Before co-founding Midas, J.T. served as the CFO for Hospitality Management Associates and served as a Manager in public accounting with Humes & Barrington, PC. He and David come from humble beginnings where they started Midas Hospitality out of J.T.’s home in his basement.
J.T. received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois and is a Certified Public Accountant. J.T. has been a member of YPO St. Louis Chapter since 2012, and the President of the Board for the Marriott Element by Westin brand. He’s served as the Leadership Chair of Zion Lutheran School since 2014, and helped launch and serves on the Board of Directors for Rootberry.
J.T. married Maria, his high school sweetheart, and together, with their three beautiful girls, live in St. Charles, MO. He loves to play golf and cheer on the Blues & Cowboys. J.T. thinks big and loves starting big ideas with good people.
Linda Emmenegger is a 40+ year hotel executive with experience in all aspects of hotel operations, including development and management of ground-up hotel projects and residential mixed-use properties.
As Chief Operating Officer of Midas Hospitality, Linda is responsible for leading company strategies into daily operations to help Midas Hospitality meet its objectives. In collaboration with the executive team, she is instrumental in setting and driving the organization’s vision, operations strategy, development strategy, and hiring levels. Her responsibilities include analyzing internal operations and identifying areas for process enhancement for both the short- and long-term objectives. Linda’s oversight includes the hotel operations, development, and HR teams. She is passionate about the business and even more passionate about the people building a People First culture that ensures team members can thrive and grow.
Before joining Midas, Linda held nearly every management position in the hotel industry leading up to director level regional positions and independent consulting. Linda also spent 5 years in golf club management, and 10 years in ground up multi use and hotel development.
Linda is a graduate of the University of Denver, Daniels College of Business, Hospitality Management in Denver, CO. She serves on the Franchise Advisory Committee for Marriott’s Aloft brand and as Commissioner on CWE Special Business District. Linda has been recognized by Explore St. Louis receiving their Maestro Award for excellence in leadership in hospitality and was featured in the Class of 2022 “Wonder Women” in the St. Louis region for female leadership performance.
Linda is married to Rich, and they happily spend their free time with their grandchildren and their favorite hobby, golf.
Linda Eigelberger brings more than 30 years of hospitality experience in helping hotels and brands grow acumen, culture, talent and revenue strategy.
Linda joined Midas Hospitality in 2018 as the VP Sales, Marketing and Revenue, and was integral in these functions before becoming SVP Operations and Marketing in 2021 and Principal and Chief Commercial Officer in 2023. Linda has oversight of Midas Enterprise’s commercial strategy and business development including Customer Relationship Management for the Hospitality, Capital and Construction companies.
Linda serves on the Board of the St. Louis Area Attractions Association, as a committee member for Greater St. Louis Inc and Explore St. Louis Marketing Committee, as well as the Commercial Committee for IHG’s Owner Association.
Before joining Midas, Linda held multiple executive leadership roles within IHG Hotels & Resorts in Commercial, Sales, Revenue Management and branding spanning the IHG portfolio of hotels including full service, boutique, select service, and extended stay.
Linda is married to Michael, and they have two sons. Linda enjoys being the only female in the house, and takes advantage of her guilty pleasure of watching the Hallmark channel whenever sports is not dominating the T.V. She fills her spare time with cooking, gardening, and anything involving adventure with her family. She’s a diehard DUKE fan. Somehow, they always make it to the final game in her bracket! Go figure.
With over 25 years’ experience in commercial real estate and more than 15 years in private equity, David Clayton is known for his authenticity and trustworthiness in managing the role of Managing Director of Institutional Capital at Midas Hospitality. His strategic vision, analytical expertise, and exceptional relationship-building skills are instrumental in driving the growth and success of the organization.
David’s extensive tenure in finance and investment management has equipped him with a deep understanding of the intricacies of the industry. As the Managing Director of Institutional Capital, he plays a pivotal role in crafting investment strategies and relationships that are aligned with Midas Hospitality’s goals and objectives.
David spearheads the equity raising process for all projects and funds, developing and maintaining strategic relationships with institutional entities and high-net-worth individuals pivotal to Midas Hospitality’s success.
David’s career is a testament to his comprehensive knowledge of portfolio and individual investment performance across various cycles.
Prior to joining Midas Hospitality, David held numerous positions in finance and accounting, including Senior Vice President at RGA, Inc., where he honed his skills in managing equity release and private debt and equity platforms, driving significant yield and fee income.
A lifelong native of St. Louis, David is deeply committed to the betterment of the St. Louis region through commercial real estate. His passion for contributing to the local community aligns seamlessly with Midas Hospitality’s mission and values.
Leadership
Sam has been in commercial real estate and development for 25+ years and takes great pride in being part of creating and constructing interesting, sustainable, and productive spaces for future generations to live, work and play.
Sam is responsible for managing all aspects of the development process for complex urban development projects including project feasibility, acquisition, zoning/entitlements, financing, design, permitting, construction, leasing and disposition. He performs hands on management of project-planning, scheduling, budget management and project execution and supervises a highly skilled team of project managers and third-party design & construction professionals.
Prior to joining Midas Development Sam held positions at several highly regarded real estate development companies focusing on large-scale urban developments and historic preservation projects in the multi-family, hospitality, and educational spaces. Sam also founded and operated his own development company, Saratoga Capital, between 2016-2022 where he completed several high-profile projects including the “SCC Urban Campus” part of the Eastern Iowa Community College school district. In addition to the development projects Saratoga Capital created and managed a series of funds which made investments in historic tax credit related projects.
Sam attended University College at Washington University and has served on numerous board committees, including two terms as a board member of the Downtown Davenport Partnership, Davenport, IA, and a member of the Economic Development Strategic Plan task force for University City, MO. Sam’s past work in historic preservation has been recognized with Preserve Missouri Awards.
Sam is married and has two children. He is from a large St. Louis family, whom many also work in real estate and community development. Sam found inspiration for community minded development from his grandfather, Preston Estep, who as a member of Civic Progress won the prestigious St. Louis Award for his civic oriented work on the original Busch Stadium and the Arch.
Steve Nickerson is the new Senior Vice President of Operations for the Central Division at Midas Hospitality. Steve brings over 30 years of leadership experience in the hospitality industry, having held key operational roles with globally recognized brands including Marriott, IHG, Hilton, Starwood, and most recently, Sonesta. His deep understanding of hotel operations, team development, and strategic execution makes him a strong asset to our leadership team.
In his role at Midas, Steve will oversee operational performance across the Central Division, leading Operations VPs Eric and Deb, and partnering closely with Kimberly, SVP of Operations for the Western Division. His previous experience as a Senior Vice President of Operations in the hospitality industry has equipped him with a keen ability to drive results, enhance guest experiences, and lead high-performing teams across diverse markets.
Outside of work, Steve is a devoted family man. He met his wife, Shayne, in the hotel industry, and they’ve been happily married for 23 years. They have two children: Chandler, a 2023 Communications graduate from Arizona State University, and Chase, a Physics major at the University of California – Irvine. Their home is lively with three energetic golden retrievers—Kona, Ace, and Malibu. Steve and his family enjoy traveling, camping, and outdoor adventures. He also has a passion for golf and loves cooking and entertaining for friends and family.
Deb Benhoff brings more than 35 years of hospitality experience in helping hotels and their teams achieve high end results.
Joining Midas Hospitality in 2017, Deb has served as VP of Operations with oversight of Midas Hospitality’s managed and owned hotel portfolio. Deb’s responsibilities include leading all aspects of her portfolio of full service, boutique, select service and extended stay brands, serving as a valuable resource for not only Area General Managers and on property GMs, but also for the Regional Maintenance, Sales and Revenue Management teams charged with providing dedicated support for the hotels.
Deb began her career in hospitality while in college, working with full-service hotels in food and beverage. After graduating with a BS in Hotel and Restaurant from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, Deb accepted a General Manager role with Drury Hotels. Deb’s roles, both at Midas and prior to joining Midas, include General Manager, Regional Manager, Regional VP of Operations, and now VP of Operations. These roles have helped her gain exposure to many brands within Marriott, Hilton, and IHG.
Deb has served as a volunteer and board member for the Sacramento Women’s Shelter during her time in Sacramento and has also served as a Rotary member for over 2 years. Deb has remained active in local parish life including leading multiple retreats. Deb and her husband John met in the hotel industry and with their sons and friends, love spending time in the great outdoors.
Albert has extensive experience and passion in leadership, providing next level service to all guests in his care for more than 20 years.
Albert has served in numerous disciplines within the food and beverage industry, combining both his analytical mindset with a creative component allowing him to truly serve in a role that uses all five senses. As Corporate Director of Food and Beverage, Albert oversees the development and operations of Midas Hospitality’s fast-growing food and beverage division including all restaurants and bars.
Joining Midas Hospitality in 2022, Albert began his career in his family’s restaurant, igniting his passion for food and beverage. Albert has worked in various segments of the industry including luxury hotels, resorts, fine dining, restaurants, quick service restaurants, bars, nightclubs, as well as concerts and events. He brings a multi-faceted view on food and beverage as he has performed in multiple disciplines of the industry throughout his career including financial, development, operations, management, and task force roles.
Albert received his MBA from Northwestern University and has also taught at the college level. He has earned Forbes Travel’s 5-star Award and AAA 5 Diamond awards, both awarded for ultimate luxury, outstanding service, amazing facilities, and cuisine. His experience makes him an exceptional fit for Midas Hospitality’s wide range of concepts including rooftop lounges, signature restaurants, bars in addition to all currently operating hotel branded food and beverage outlets and the Midas Hospitality pipeline highlighting upscale hotels including Kimpton by IHG and Canopy by Hilton.
Albert is originally from Miami and is married to Allison. Albert loves traveling and dining at all kinds of venues. He loves the experience and the opportunity to bring the latest trends and flavors to life in our restaurants and bars.
Kristen Klocke joins Midas as our new Vice President of Human Resources, bringing with her over 25 years of experience in the HR field. Most recently, she worked at a large food manufacturing firm and brings a broad range of expertise in human resources, including training, benefits administration, and organizational development.
In her role at Midas, Kristen will lead HR efforts across our multiple locations. Her diverse experience and strong leadership have been instrumental in assessing, developing, and implementing HR practices and procedures at all levels. She is passionate about building strong teams, supporting employee growth, and fostering a positive workplace culture.
Outside of work, Kristen is a self-proclaimed handywoman—if something’s broken, she’ll do her best to fix it. She also enjoys beach vacations, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Kristen has two married daughters, Ashleigh and Katelynn, and is a proud grandma to Ellie (6) and Easton (4).
With nearly a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, Kathy Prainito serves as the In-House Counsel to Midas Enterprise.
Kathy provides advice and counsel to all Midas affiliates including Midas Hospitality, Midas Capital, and Midas Construction – with a particular focus on hotel development and review and renewal of hotel licenses, permits, and contract renewals. What Kathy really loves about her role is assisting the Midas-managed and owned hotels with their operation.
Before joining Midas Hospitality in 2016, Kathy served as an attorney with O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. coordinating the purchase of real property for development of O’Reilly Auto Parts stores, helping to achieve a company milestone of one billion in sales during her tenure.
Kathy received a JD degree from St. Louis University School of Law and a BA in Accounting from Loras College. Kathy and her husband enjoy long drives in their convertible and spending downtime with their son and their energetic husky mix.
History
J.T Norville and David Robert started Midas Hospitality with a Humble and Hard-Working Foundation
Leadership
It’s in Our People
The Midas Hospitality Family Foundation
We Make It Happen. We Just Care.