Meet Joel Carver

Joel Carver is a nationally recognized entrepreneur, executive, and thought leader with more than four decades of success across sales, marketing, human capital strategy, and hospitality operations. As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Carver Companies, he has built a portfolio of brands focused on helping organizations attract, retain, and develop top talent while driving revenue growth, operational excellence, and market expansion.

Prior to founding The Carver Companies, Joel served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for CSM Corporation, where he led enterprise-wide sales strategy, marketing, revenue management, eCommerce development, and public relations across a diverse hospitality portfolio. His leadership helped reposition the company competitively, including the implementation of a share-shifting strategy that measurably improved RevPAR index and sales effectiveness. 

Earlier in his career, Joel held senior leadership roles with some of the world’s most respected hospitality brands, including Westin, Hilton, Omni, Wyndham Hotel Group, InterContinental Hotels Group, and Leading Hotels of the World, earning a reputation as both a strategic visionary and disciplined operator.

Joel’s achievements have been widely recognized. He has been named one of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing, selected as a TITAN 100 Top CEO in Georgia, and honored as a Twin Cities Business Journal Diversity in Business Award recipient. His companies have appeared on the INC. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies, and he has received numerous civic and industry honors, including the Atlanta Pacesetter Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Pearl River Community College, the Shepherd’s Cross from the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, and the Joseph R. Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Under his leadership, Carver milestones include the founding of Carver Hotel Group, the acquisition of Olson Hospitality Services, the launch of Carver World Temps, and most recently CarverGIGS.com.

A sought-after speaker, Joel delivers keynote presentations and executive training on leadership, sales growth, workforce strategy, and organizational culture. He has spoken for organizations including AAHOA, Wyndham Hotel Group, InterContinental Hotels Group, and the National Technical Honors Society. His industry service includes board leadership roles with hospitality and tourism associations and long-standing involvement with national and international trade organizations.

Joel is also the co-author of four books, including The People Effect: Find, Grow and Retain the Best of the Best and Peace Is About to Cease and All Hell’s Gonna Break Loose, works that reflect both his professional expertise and personal journey of resilience and leadership.

Beyond business, Joel is deeply committed to service and philanthropy, with a particular focus on children, education, and community impact. He lives in Georgia with his husband, Van (Dr. Millin, a teaching physician), and their rescue dogs, Beau and Pippa. At the core of his life and work is a simple belief: true leadership is measured not only by results achieved, but by lives strengthened and communities served.