Our Staff

Bios of Key Personnel

Doug Fawthrop, Innkeeper and Managing Director
Danny Morton, Resort Manager
Alana Hirtle, Conference Services
Karen Crowell, Front Office Manager
Johnny Fisher, Engineering Supervisor
Sam de Ruyter, Director of Leisure Services
Pam Miles, Executive Housekeeper
Anne Stevens, Director of Sales
Alan Crosby, Executive Chef
Dan Tanner, Sommelier, Food and Beverage Manager

Doug Fawthrop, Innkeeper and Managing Director

With a business background in tourism marketing and product development Doug arrived at White Point in 1975 as General Manager, to work with H.B. Elliot who had been managing White Point Beach Lodge since the early 1930s. At the time the operations was seasonal, catering to the traveling public with 69 rooms and cottages. Over the next three decades, the property expanded to its present capacity of 160 bedrooms; has been a year-round operation for 20 years now and Doug has been working to expand the awareness of this popular Nova Scotia resort regionally, nationally and internationally. He has done this by initiating the ISO-based services programming, and is continuously challenging the property and staff to increase guest programs and services.

Doug has also been responsible for the ongoing operation of White Point Estates, a real estate development adjacent to the resort, providing residents with access to all resort facilities. In 1997 he expanded the brand to add White Point Tours to provide ground transportation and charter services and three years later, added White Point Vacations to attract more travelers to Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada. In his continuing efforts to create new ways to experience the property, the White Point Vacation Club was introduced. It's aim is to provide a "vacation ownership" option to guests. Doug is currently preparing to introduce a fractional ownership program for the Resort and is actively involved in the long term planning and development for each of the companies.

Doug is a hospitality enthusiast. He really believes that guest service is an admirable vocation. He is totally dedicated to White Point and his staff. He is a very active industry volunteer having served with many industry organizations such as first chair of the Nova Scotia Tourism Partnership Council, executive positions with the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia, president of the South Shore Tourism Association and currently chair of the Destination Southwest Nova Association. Doug is very proud to be the Innkeeper of White Point Beach Resort and to be associated with the outstanding team of hospitality professionals that serve the guests of the resort.
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Danny Morton, Resort Manager

Having been involved in his family's various tourism-based businesses since the age of nine, it's safe to say that Danny Morton is a true veteran of the tourism & hospitality industry. After gaining what some would consider a lifetime of experience while working with his family's many businesses, Danny obtained a Hotel Management degree from George Brown College. He followed this up with a Bachelor of Arts, Major in French from Universite Ste. Anne in Clare, Nova Scotia.

After completing his formal education, Danny brought all that he had learned through his education and experiences to Nova Scotia's beautiful South Shore where he volunteered on several committees and even served a term as President of the South Shore Tourism Association.

When Danny arrived at White Point over 20 years ago, it was still an 82-room seasonal operation. He has since had the pleasure of watching it grow into the 160-room, year-round, full-service resort that it is today. As he looks out over the horizon towards all that the future holds for White Point Beach Resort, you can hear the sincere optimism in his voice: "Every day is a new day and every day is a GREAT day."
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Alana Hirtle, Event Services

While growing up, Alana Hirtle had a real passion for the stage. Whether it was singing, dancing or acting, she always dreamed of making it big on Broadway. Today she is very happy to be the one who gets to "set the stage" for meetings, conferences and weddings at White Point Beach Resort.

In her late teens, Alana took on a part-time Front Desk position at a motel in her native Bridgewater and soon realized that she also had a passion for the hospitality industry. Her hard work and enthusiasm soon earned her a position as Front Office Manager and by the age of 25, she was promoted to a position in Administration & Sales. Upon relocating to Halifax several years later, Alana took on a position with the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia in the Standards & Certification Department. She was able to use her status as a Certified Front Desk Agent in this new position as she became one of the first evaluators for the Certification in Nova Scotia.

Eventually, the South Shore called Alana home where she took on her current position as Conference Coordinator at White Point in 1998. In the summer of 2002, she attained her CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) designation making her one of just five CMPs in Atlantic Canada. Alana's love for the industry makes her a pleasure for meeting planners to work with -- and she's not a bad singer either!
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Karen Crowell, Front Office Manager

Karen Crowell graduated from the Cornell Hotel School in New York in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration. Both her very specialized education and her positive attitude helped to launch her a successful career in the hospitality industry soon after her graduation. Karen worked with major hotel companies such as Four Seasons, Hilton and Westin. Her career gave her the opportunity to work all over the continent in major cities such as Philadelphia and Boston before bringing her back to her native Toronto where she spent several years teaching Hospitality Management.

Upon relocating to Halifax in 1995, Karen became part of the management team that re-opened the beautiful and historic Nova Scotia Hotel. (Today, it is known as The Westin Nova Scotian.) Eager for a change of pace, Karen thought it might be nice to "hang out at the beach for a year" so she accepted a position as Front Office Manager at White Point Beach Resort in 1997 where she attained her Certified Rooms Division Executive designation from the American Hotel and Motel Association. Well, that first year came and went and after many years here at White Point, this big-city girl has discovered that "hanging out at the beach" suits her just fine!
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Johnny Fisher, Engineering Supervisor

Johnny Fisher was born in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. He spent 10 years as a Dock Supervisor, doing carpentry work on his own in his spare time throughout the decade. When Johnny realized how much he loved the carpentry work that had previously been just a hobby, he decided to try and make a full-time career out of it. Upon hearing through the local grapevine that White Point Beach Resort was looking for a carpenter to assist with their upcoming renovations, Johnny headed straight to the resort to apply. His strong work ethic must have shone through as he was hired that same day. After spending eight years with the Engineering Department, Johnny was promoted to Supervisor. This position at White Point enabled him to pursue several management courses as well as First Aid and other safety courses. He is also recognized through the Department of Environment as a Certified Pumps and Water System Installer.

Over the years, Johnny has always been known to be there to lend a helping hand to resort guests and staff members alike. In addition to his regular duties, Johnny is there to help out in all kinds of otherwise troubling situations. From flat tires to furnace troubles, Johnny Fisher is your guy. If he can't fix it himself, he can always find someone who can!
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Sam de Ruyter, Director of Leisure Services

bio and picture coming soon....

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Pam Miles, Executive Housekeeper

As a military wife, Pam Miles and her family had the opportunity to experience life all over the world, from Baden-Baden, Germany to Greenwood, Nova Scotia to Trenton, Ontario and back again. Even with all of these adventures to brag about, Pam is very proud to let everyone know that she was born and grew up in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. While her husband was in the military, she worked for Canex (the military base exchange retail store.) Once her children were grown, she spent many years as an Assistant Housekeeper at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Moncton, New Brunswick. Pam eventually moved on to assume the role of Executive Housekeeper at the Country Inn & Suites, also in Moncton. Then, like so many other South Shore natives, Pam finally returned to the home she knew and loved. In 1995, several months after her return to the area, Pam was thrilled to learn that White Point Beach Resort was in the market for an Executive Housekeeper. She applied and as she says, the rest is history!

Pam has attained her Certified Hospitality Housekeeping Executive (CHHE) designation and is a member of the Canadian Administrator Housekeeper's Association (CAHA). She has enjoyed several team building courses including Training for Supervisors and Managers. In the spring of 2003, she attended the National Conference of the CAHA, "Horizon of Change" in St. John, New Brunswick. She returned to the resort with a wealth of knowledge on workshop topics such as Environmental Friendliness, Workload Measurement and Enhancing Today's Workplace. It must be pointed out that Pam was never a stranger to that last topic. Although very focused on her own department, Pam also plays a large role in enhancing the White Point experience for all staff members. Through her volunteer position as Staff / Community Committee Chairperson, she is always looking for ways to bring the staff together by helping out and celebrating the local community.

Through her positive attitude and strong work ethic, Pam truly lives the motto "It's a GREAT day at White Point" and does all she can to pass this positive outlook onto the rest of the staff.
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Anne Stevens, Director of Sales

Anne Stevens is truly a fan of education. In 1982, she obtained her Business Diploma in Accounting & Business Law at Halifax Business Academy. In 1984, she graduated from Acadia University with a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Sociolgy. Then, in 1985 she took part in a Cours de Civilisation Francaise at La Sorbonne in Paris, France. However, it must be pointed out that Anne's educational experiences extend far beyond the doors of the classroom. Her life experiences may be considered an education in themselves… while attending La Sorbonne in Paris, Anne lived and worked as a Fille Au Pair for a French family. It was an amazing experience for her and one that she treasures to this day. While in Europe, she became very close with the family she lived with and discovered her love of travel as well. When it came time to decide what career path to take, the hospitality industry was a natural choice.

Anne spent 13 years as part of the sales team with Sheraton Hotels and was a part of the re-branding team for the Sheraton Halifax's transition to the Casino Nova Scotia Hotel. In the fall of 2002, Anne brought what she had learned to us here at White Point. She is based out of our Halifax office, however she has a real presence here at White Point.

Despite her commitment to her career and the many professional memberships she is involved with, Anne still finds time to enjoy the great outdoors surrounding her South Shore home with her husband and son. As for her "continuing education", Anne is constantly learning new things in her role as a sales director, as a White Point team member -- and as a mom!
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Dan Tanner, Sommelier, Food and Beverage Services Manager

Dan’s affinity and passion for quality dining experiences resonate throughout White Point. His influence as a Sommelier is reflected in our extensive wine list and through his popular and signature “Off the Vine” tasting experiences. Under his direction, wine pairings have become an integral element within the Seawatch Dining Room, Founder’s Lounge and group dining experiences.

Dan is author of the monthly column “Off the Vine” in White Point Beach Resort’s newsletter and soon to be released Beach Blog.

Building on his training as a graduate from the NSCC Hospitality Program he has become a certified Sommelier. As a volunteer, he remains actively involved at the Board of Directors level with the Canadian Association of Sommeliers and the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia.

Born and raised in nearby World UNESCO site, Lunenburg, Dan continues to call the South Shore home.

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