Irene Gung
Irene Gung
General Manager
Irene Gung has served as General Manager of the Garden Villas since its opening in 2006. She graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Management. During her studies, she served as President of the Residence Montag Hall Association, Team Recruitment Leader for Relay for Life, VP of Education for the Organization of Chinese Americans Atlanta Chapter and President of the Chinese Student Association. She began her career at the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation in Atlanta, GA and was instrumental in reviewing over 100,000 scholarship applications and organizing events for the foundation. Afterwards, she returned to her hometown of Valdosta, GA and obtained her Master in Business Administration from Valdosta State University while building the Garden Villas. Currently, she is a proud member of the Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce and MetroOne Valdosta.
Lynn Ballano
Lynn Ballano
Assistant General Manager/Accounting Controller
Lyn Ballano has worked for East & West, Inc.(parent company), as Accounting Controller for more than six years. She manages Garden Villas finances and other phases of accounting. A native of the Philippines, she has an extensive and high profile experience in different fields of accounting with various prestigious companies including but not limited to retail, merchandising, customs and brokerage, shipping and cargo, and before she came to this country in a communication company. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy from her native alma mater Saint Mary’s University Philippines.
In this country which she calls her home now, she and her husband are members of the St. John’s Church Choir. She is a natural borne risk taker and believes in the saying “If others can why can’t I.” She enjoys gardening and photography as hobbies, once in a while gone for fishing. She enjoys working with the company as well because this is her first and current job. She has set-up the accounting system for the parent and sister companies. She is glad and eager to undertake and is open to learn more fields of accounting like realty, property management, restaurant and hospitality which is the Garden Villas. She is a member of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce. She is proud to have contributed one vision for the company, “Luxury of a hotel with the comforts of home.” In addition, she said working at the Garden Villas is like working at home and yet away from former home. The feeling of belongingness, special treatment, and the spirit of a family-oriented environment are few of which she wanted to impart to all the guests.
The Garden Villas 