2026 Commissioner Referendum - Nominees

Reed Kandalaft has been with Four Seasons Hotels since 2008. He started his career as Director of Rooms at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai followed by a promotion to Hotel Manager at Four Season Hotel Damascus before moving back stateside as Hotel Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, which earned a Forbes Five-Star rating three years in a row.

Prior to joining Four Seasons, Reed’s career including both urban hotels and beachfront destinations in Florida, North Carolina and Massachusetts. Reed was drawn to the hotel industry because he likes interacting with people – simple as that. After earning degrees in hospitality management in Florida, he was recruited by an international hotel group and “fell in love”.

Reed holds several hospitality degrees, including an Executive Masters of Science in Hospitality Management from Florida International University and a Masters Certificate in Food Service Management from Cornell University.

Ripton Melhado currently serves as senior vice president of field operations for Hyatt Corporation.

Melhado’s 31-year Hyatt career began in 1990 as a rooms division intern at Hyatt Regency Atlanta. He held several roles within the rooms division before being promoted to director of rooms in 1999. Over the next 14 years, Ripton served as director and senior director of the rooms division for Hyatt Hotels in Louisville, Ky.; Cleveland, Ohio; Denver, Colo.; Houston, Texas and Dallas, Texas. In 2013, Melhado was appointed general manager of Hyatt Regency Wichita and in 2015 to general manager of Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk. In 2017, he was appointed area vice president and supported six Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in Texas. In 2018, he joined Hyatt Corporate Office Team as the vice president of operational strategy for Hyatt Place and Hyatt House – Americas. In January 2021, Ripton was promoted to senior vice president of field operations.

Melhado is the former Co-Chair of Hyatt’s North America Diversity and Inclusion Council and has served as a board member for The Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce, Visit Wichita, The Greater Wichita Sports Commission and board of directors of the San Antonio Tourism Council.

Melhado and wife Trisha are proud parents of daughter Toni and son Samir.

Shuaib Bulhan is a dynamic and results-driven leader, currently serving as Division Vice President for The Hertz Corporation. In this pivotal role, he oversees a vast and complex area of the company’s market share where he drives operational excellence and strategic growth.

Bulhan’s career with Hertz spans over ten years, marked by consistent advancement and a proven ability to deliver exceptional results. His journey began as a Station Manager in San Jose where he laid a solid foundation in frontline operations.

Demonstrating exceptional leadership and a keen understanding of the business, he quickly rose through the ranks. Holding General Manager positions in Seattle, Phoenix, and San Francisco honed his ability to manage large teams, optimize operational efficiency, and drive customer satisfaction in diverse and demanding markets.

His accomplishments on the West Coast led to the expansion of his role as Zone Vice President of Florida Operations, where he successfully navigated the unique challenges of a high-volume and tourism-driven market. This experience broadened Bulhan’s strategic perspective and further solidified his reputation as a versatile and effective leader. Recognizing his valuable contributions to the company, he was asked to return to Northern California as Zone Vice President, and shortly thereafter was elevated to his current role as Division Vice President of Western Operations.Bulhan's leadership is characterized by a commitment to continuous improvement and a passion for operational excellence. He has been recognized with the prestigious Outstanding Leadership Award, a testament to his ability to inspire and motivate teams. Furthermore, he holds a certificate from Wharton School of Business and accreditation from the International Association for Six Sigma Certification, demonstrating his mastery of professional skills and management process development. During his tenure, he has spearheaded numerous large-scale projects for The Hertz Corporation, driving innovation and efficiency across the organization.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Bulhan is deeply passionate about the tourism industry and actively supports industry partners. His love of travel fuels his commitment to enhancing the customer experience and promoting the vibrant tourism landscape of the Western region. When he isn't immersed in the intricacies of Hertz operations, or enjoying his favorite city of San Francisco, he explores the diverse culinary scene of the Bay Area.

John Sheperdson has been with Avis Budget Group for more than 39 years. He started his career as an operations manager at a rental car location in New York City.

Throughout his career, John was often asked to take on additional responsibilities and new challenges. He moved many times throughout the country for roles with increasing responsibility and promoted several times to higher levels within the organization.

As the Vice President for the Northwest Region, John oversees all aspects of Avis Budget Group’s rental car operations in the Northwest. His territory spans over eight states and consists of nearly three million annual transactions managing the logistics for more than 60,000 vehicles. As a collaborative oriented leader, John energizes his more than 1,000 person team to achieve exceptional results day in and day out.

John and his wife, Claire, reside in the San Francisco/Bay area. They have made this their home for more than 20 years. Their two adult children are currently pursuing their professional careers.