McClendon Named CEO of SPI Software

SPI Software opened in 2022 by announcing that its highly respected employee of 22 years, Gordon McClendon, has been promoted to the top corporate position of CEO. Serving most recently as Vice President SPI Software, Gordon began his journey with the Miami-based company in 2000 in its Systems Products division.

During the two-plus decades that have followed, McClendon has distinguished himself and SPI Software, generating recognition within the vacation ownership industry as its preferred software developer as well as praise for his leadership. In 2021, the 11th annual Perspective Magazine Awards named him Industry Leader.

Since the company’s formation in 1978, SPI Software has remained the primary supplier of vacation ownership properties by providing world-class software solutions and exceptional customer service. Their survival for 44 years in the hospitality technology market indicates their flexibility to adapt to constant changes, not only in software advancements but in the cultural and personnel requirements customers face today.          

McClendon believes the timeshare industry’s dependency on technology will continue to play a significant role in how they prepare for the future. “Like almost all technology,” says McClendon, “what worked five years ago is nearly obsolete today. If you are unable to adapt or change, you won’t be in business long. Our ability to remain the leader in vacation ownership software – since almost the beginning of the industry itself – has been achieved by maintaining close contacts with our customers and adapting our software to keep pace with the changes that are constantly thrown their way, such as communication challenges we have faced during the global pandemic.”

Shared Michael Del Pino, SPI’s VP of Software Development, “During the height of the pandemic, Gordon oversaw the logistics of establishing each employee with a safe, secure workspace. He assured that each employee had the tools needed to be successful in their role and monitored them with weekly calls to gauge their well-being. In addition to the internal challenges facing SPI, our biggest goal was to be certain that our customers were staying financially stable when little to no room revenue was being generated. To accomplish this, Gordon spearheaded a major project of contacting hundreds of customers and reviewing their accounts. This enabled SPI to work with each customer on software upgrades, training issues, new products, and make long-term plans on how each partnership could be improved. Under his leadership and the various internal departments, SPI was able to create an expedited registration/check-in process, which keeps employees safe by limiting unnecessary contact with guests and improves the overall satisfaction level of owners and guests staying at the property. It was truly an amazing accomplishment, brought about by an unforeseen challenge.”

Gordon McClendon began his career as an actuary and holds a degree in mathematics from Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois. Prior to joining SPI, Gordon ran a major financial derivatives trading firm, with offices from New York to Tokyo, and was a founding board member of the after-hours trading system, Globex. He was in a leadership position at Chicago Mercantile Exchange for many years, having the distinction of being elected to the board by the highest vote total ever. 

To learn more about software solutions created exclusively for the vacation ownership industry, please visit  www.spisoftware.com or contact Gordon McClendon at 954-856-8060 or via email at gordon.mcclendon@spiinc.com.

About SPI Software

SPI Software is the leading software developer of management-oriented systems to the worldwide market of vacation ownership resort developers. Their corporate philosophy of continuous development and innovation has led them to create the most advanced vacation ownership-focused technology in the world. Developed as state-of-the-art business application software, SPI’s technology is available to the industry as an enterprise system or through individual modules which may be deployed via cloud or on-premises.