Anthony Runnels

About Anthony Runnels

I’m Anthony “Tony” Runnels — a strategist, builder, and mentor with 10+ years leading sales, operations, and transformation projects across hospitality, healthcare, and tech-enabled services. I lead through clarity and systems thinking. Whether navigating ownership transitions, optimizing sales operations, or introducing automation with SQL + Power Automate, I turn complexity into clarity and chaos into repeatable wins. Former Navy Hospital Corpsman. Discipline, speed under pressure, and people-first care are part of my DNA. My CliftonStrengths (Strategic • Achiever • Competition • Individualization • Learner) shape how I lead high-performing teams and nurture partnerships.I bring a full-stack mindset to the business of hospitality and health-tech—blending data, empathy, and operational precision to grow what\'s good. Let’s connect if you\'re building something bold and need a thoughtful, driven operator to scale it.

Experience

1. Supervisor, Travel Partner Sales Support

   Best Western Hotels & Resorts

   Aug 2021 — Present · Phoenix, AZ, US

   Lead escalation and service operations for B2B travel partners and member hotels across global markets. Drive high-impact support, strategic reporting, and automation-led productivity gains.Key Highlights:• Spearheaded automation initiatives using SQL, Excel, and Power Automate—delivering a 20% boost in team productivity within 6 months.• Acted as first point of escalation for complex partner issues, reducing ticket resolution time by 35%.• Developed and facilitated training programs for a multi-disciplinary support team, driving internal promotions and upskilling across operations.• Produced executive-grade reports with advanced Excel (XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, IF logic) and custom SQL queries to support TMC/Consortia sales strategy.• Partnered with senior leadership on data-driven insights to inform business development and hotel performance optimization.

Education

• Arizona State University

  Bachelor of Science - BS