NEIL DIPAOLA, FOUNDER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Favorite adventure: Trail running and backpacking in the Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Neil founded AutoCamp to make it easier for people to connect with each other and the great outdoors. He leads the AutoCamp team with a passion for nature and inspired hospitality with an eye for details, always seeking out new ways to create guest delight. Neil was recognized as one of the 2019 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company, the same year AutoCamp Yosemite appeared on the cover of Time Magazine and was named one of “the World’s Greatest Places.”
Mr. Dipaola’s real estate development ventures have received numerous industry awards for their attention to sustainability and use of contemporary design and architecture, and have been featured in over 100 periodicals including such publications as Dwell, Forbes, Fast Company, Sunset Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal. Dipaola was also awarded California’s highest honor–The Governor’s Economic and Environmental Leadership Award by Governor Jerry Brown and the California Environmental Protection Agency–for his pioneering work to develop net-zero energy buildings in California.
Neil lives in Santa Barbara with his wife, Christina, and their 2-year old, Leonardo and is an avid adventurer, helicopter pilot, nordic skier, trail runner, and surfer.
CHRIS HAYDON, PRESIDENT & CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
Favorite adventure: Surfing in the Mentawai Islands.
Chris is AutoCamp’s President/CIO overseeing development of the property pipeline, capital sourcing and structuring, M&A, strategy, and team oversight. His background includes investing on behalf of hedge funds and private equity funds, investment banking, hospitality, and several entrepreneurial ventures.
Chris is passionate about building inspiring businesses that will have a lasting positive impact on society. He attended the Carroll School of Management at Boston College and earned his MBA from Columbia University.
JULIE SAUNDERS, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
Favorite adventure: Running and racing The Chicago Lakefront Trail.
Julie serves as AutoCamp’s Chief Marketing Officer overseeing marketing, retail, revenue, sales, and reservations. Prior to joining AutoCamp, Julie served as Head of Brand for Ace Hotel Group where she oversaw the brand’s global marketing strategy and Atelier Ace—the brand’s in-house, full-service creative agency. Prior to Ace, Julie played a key role in launching Graduate Hotels in 2014, a wholly-owned and operated boutique hotel brand in the US and UK. As VP of Marketing and subsequently Chief Marketing Officer, Julie was responsible for the brand’s global marketing strategy, creative development, public relations, and training and service culture.
KATIE HARA, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PEOPLE & CULTURE
Favorite adventure: Ziplining in Kauai.
Katie serves as AutoCamp’s Senior Vice President of People & Culture overseeing the hiring and onboarding process and systems, team happiness and culture programs and performance review process. While going to school to pursue nursing, she started working at a local inn and fell in love with hospitality. Before joining AutoCamp, she spent 14 years with Joie de Vivre Hotels working her way up through Operations and People Services. Katie is a sucker for road trips, local dives, and freshly baked bread. She resides in Santa Barbara with her husband, 7-year-old son, and a menagerie of pets.
CHRIS SEWELL, VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
Favorite adventure: Kayaking in Lake Tahoe.
Chris serves as AutoCamp’s Vice President of Operations overseeing day-to-day property operations, food and beverage, openings and transitions, and asset management/CapEx. Prior to joining AutoCamp, Chris spent a decade with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and held senior leadership and executive positions at Exclusive Resorts, InvitedHome, Evolve Vacation Rental, and most recently Lessen, a real estate PropTech start-up. Chris is passionate about conceptualizing new solutions, enhancing performance through data-driven analysis, implementing best practices, and taking teammate development, morale, and engagement to the next level.
