The Atticus Hotel Family
Meet the team of owners, administration, concierges, and foodies behind the award-winning Atticus Hotel experiences and Mediterranean-inspired Cypress menus.
Erin Stephenson
OwnerErin Stephenson is a McMinnville, Oregon native whose passion for travel is eclipsed only by her love for her hometown. After growing up here, she headed south to the University of Oregon, where she earned degrees in History and English. Her college years were punctuated with international adventures that gave way to extended travels through Europe after she graduated in 2001. She returned home to McMinnville with a dream of opening a small hotel someday — but for the time being, she set her sights on the nonprofit sector.
After serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, Erin was hired as Executive Director of McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity, a role she held for five years before moving on to manage charitable giving programs for a local bank. She loved the nonprofit work, but the hotel dream never quite let go — so in 2010, she launched 3rd Street Flats, a boutique lodging company in downtown McMinnville that has since grown to two locations. Still chasing that long-held dream, she opened the Atticus Hotel in 2018 alongside partners Brian Shea and Ben Perle. A labor of love in every sense, the Atticus Hotel feels like a love song to the community that raised her.
Erin continues to indulge her passion for nonprofit work by volunteering with local organizations around town. She was named Woman of the Year in 2019 and Business Leader of the Year in both 2015 and 2024 by the McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce, and has received the Mayor's Pillar of the Community Award. Erin and her husband, Travis, live in McMinnville with their two sons, two cats, and their lovable Spinone Italiano puppy Lui.
Brian Shea
OwnerBrian Shea grew up in Salem, Oregon — a city boy with a love for the great outdoors. After earning a degree in Graphic Design from Oregon State University, he headed south to Newport Beach, spending several years immersed in California's design culture. A chance meeting with his future wife convinced him he was ready to trade big-city living for the charms of small-town life, so he set his sights northbound once again — marrying a McMinnville native and moving to her hometown.
Back in Oregon, Brian shifted his career from graphic design to real estate, taking on both commercial and residential projects. His knowledge of commercial real estate, sharp design eye, and entrepreneurial drive made him a natural fit at 3rd Street Flats. Since coming on board as a co-owner in January 2011, he's helped grow the company to a second location and, more recently, its newest project: the Atticus Hotel. Today, he leads the commercial real estate holding company — and, of course, still keeps a hand in the design work.
Over the past twenty years, Brian has wholeheartedly embraced life in McMinnville. In his spare time, he plays the role of gentleman woodsman — hunting ducks and geese and tending a sprawling garden. He lives in McMinnville with his wife, Dianne, their son and daughter, and his faithful hunting companion, Remington Bell.
Ben Perle
OwnerBen Perle spent his early years in San Francisco and Paris, nurturing a passion for slow living while soaking up the cultural richness of two of the world's most vibrant cities. Driven by a love of food and hospitality, he earned a degree in Hotel Management, followed by a Master's in Hospitality from Cornell University's Paris campus.
After graduation, a fortuitous introduction while working at Disneyland Paris led Ben to take the reins at a nascent startup called Chateauform — a unique hotel concept built for corporate retreats — where he helped launch its first three locations; the company now has 53 properties worldwide. The Pacific Northwest soon came calling, though, and Ben moved to Bend, Oregon, where he spent years at Sunriver Resort, eventually rising to Director of Resort Operations. Eager to indulge his creative side, he jumped at the chance in 2008 to help create Bend's first luxury hotel, The Oxford, before moving into a regional role with its parent company as Regional VP of Operations, overseeing properties across the western United States. In 2017, Ben joined Erin and Brian as a partner in the Atticus Hotel, bringing his heart for hospitality to McMinnville.
An avid gardener, beekeeper, cook, and entertainer, Ben has fully embraced the Willamette Valley lifestyle, indulging a lifelong passion for wine by getting out into the vines of Oregon wine country himself. A lover of both the valley and the high desert, he splits his time between McMinnville and Bend, where his wife, Maeve, and son, Luka, continue to make their home.
Brandie Hall
General ManagerBrandie is a founding member of the Atticus Hotel family, nestled at its very core. Her warm heart and love for this community come through every day in how she leads her team and runs the day-to-day of the Atticus Hotel. A McMinnville native, Brandie joined the team as Assistant General Manager before the hotel even opened, helping build its operations alongside Ben every step of the way. In 2019, she took the reins and stepped into the role of General Manager, now leading operations across the Atticus Hotel, 3rd Street Flats, and Cypress.
Decades of experience managing retail operations sharpened her eye for detail, her servant's heart, and her gift for leading by example — all of which set the tone for everything the Atticus Hotel does well. Since taking the helm, Brandie has continued to lead an award-winning team. In 2024, the Atticus Hotel was among the first hotels in the world to earn a Michelin Key, and it earned the same honor again in 2025. Under her watch, the Atticus Hotel has also landed a spot on TripAdvisor's Best of the Best Top 25 Hotels in America list in each of three different years.
Brandie lives in McMinnville with her husband, David, and loves spending time with their amazing children and a few adorable grandbabies.
Trisha Smalley
Assistant General ManagerTrisha Smalley is the Assistant General Manager and heartbeat of the Atticus Hotel. Raised right here in the Willamette Valley, she carries a deep, rooted love for this community into everything she does. Over the past four years, she's become an essential part of daily operations — the ultimate teammate, known for a generosity that holds nothing back. Trisha takes great care of our staff, making sure the whole team feels like family, so that warmth carries straight through to you.
Want to experience McMinnville like a local? Trisha's a serious coffee lover, and you'll often find her fueling up — and grabbing treats for the team — at Alchemist's Jam & Bakery. For dinner, her go-to picks are a Friday night pizza from Honey Pie Pizza with family, or trying out whatever new restaurant has just opened around the valley with her longtime partner. When she's not holding down the fort at the hotel, her world revolves around her family — especially her daughter, Ebony, and her two beloved French Bulldogs, Bo and Drako, who rule the roost at home.
Sydney Collins Taylor
Group Sales CoordinatorSydney Collins-Taylor is the Group Sales Coordinator and resident "Experience Expert" at the Atticus Hotel. A Willamette Valley native who grew up just down the road in Amity, Sydney graduated from the Chemeketa Hospitality program before her career took her to Arizona, where she thrived as an Events Manager — orchestrating major events, including Super Bowl gatherings and bustling holiday markets. Eventually, the valley called her home. Sydney brings a rare blend of logistical precision and pure hospitality magic to every group booking, and channels her passion into making sure each group guest gets the highest level of care imaginable.
When she's off the clock, Sydney's world is packed with family and a serious love for all things Disney. She's the favorite "fun aunt" to her many nieces and nephews, and treasures one-on-one dates with her two young children — usually a sweet treat at Serendipity Ice Cream on Third Street, or an afternoon at Dave's Station, where retro arcade games and a lineup of food trucks make everyone happy, picky eaters included.
Ben Clark
Restaurant Manager & Beverage Director, CypressA Certified Sommelier with more than 26 years in the food, wine, and beverage industries, Ben began his career as an Executive and Pastry Chef on the West Coast — a path that sparked a deep passion for wine and led him into beverage leadership and management. Since then, he's overseen restaurant operations and beverage programs from Denver to the Pacific Northwest, with a focus on curated wine and cocktail lists, team development, and crafting exceptional guest experiences.
In 2025, Ben was named one of three National Finalists in the 1800 Tequila Most Awarded Ranch Water Cocktail Competition. At Cypress, his current favorite pairing is the Turkish Chicken with the Heirloom Tomato Martini.
Ann Austin
ConciergeOriginally from Southern California, Ann has never met a stranger. She made Yamhill County her home thirty-five years ago and has had the privilege of watching McMinnville grow from a sleepy little town into a sought-after destination — all while holding onto the charm of "Cheers" and the innocence of "Mayberry."
One of the greatest blessings in Ann's life is having family close by — her daughter's family even bought the house next door. What she loves most about her work is the freedom to go above and beyond for guests: whether it's a special celebration or an unconventional request, she's encouraged to make memorable experiences happen, which is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
Marisa Materna
ConciergeMarisa loves to call herself a "townie by association." Her family has been in McMinnville since the 1960s, but she spent her own childhood overseas, visiting the valley throughout her life before finally making it her full-time home. After thirty years in LA, she made the move back to the place that always felt like home away from home — and now she gets to show it off for a living.
Her favorite part of working at the Atticus Hotel is sending guests out for the day and watching them come back glowing, ready to declare they'd just had the best day of their trip. An avid hiker and seasoned world traveler, Marisa brings a well-earned sense of adventure to every recommendation she makes — though her heart, and her Dodgers blue, will always belong to LA.
Megan Mayfield
ConciergeBorn and raised in Oregon's Willamette Valley, Megan has a deep appreciation for the region's natural beauty and close-knit communities. An animal lover at heart, she's always happiest spending time with furry friends — and especially loves a cozy, rainy Oregon day with a glass of Chardonnay in hand.
One of Megan's favorite things about working at the Atticus Hotel is its pet-friendly atmosphere, which means meeting wonderful dogs (and their people) on a regular basis. For her, it's the perfect blend of hospitality, community, and four-legged companionship.
Hannah Straus
ConciergeBorn in Sacramento, California, and raised in Oregon, Hannah has built a career in hospitality since the age of sixteen — with experience spanning theme parks, national park resorts, and a stint as a travel agent with AAA. That well-rounded background gives her a natural gift for crafting personalized itineraries and guest experiences designed to create lifelong memories.
At the Atticus Hotel, Hannah's favorite part of the job is connecting with guests — hearing their stories and welcoming them back time and again. When she's not at the hotel, you'll find her exploring new corners of the world or out on an adventure with her dog, Luna.
