 |
| Ethel Isaacs Williams |
WEST
PALM BEACH, FL, Aug. 10, 2021—Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT), a lodging
real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests in upscale, extended-stay
hotels and premium-branded, select-service hotels and owns 41 hotels, today
announced the appointment of Ethel Isaacs Williams and David J.
Grissen to the company's board of trustees, effective immediately.
Both
Williams and Grissen will serve as independent directors. These new additions
will further strengthen the leadership expertise, skillsets and diversity
represented on the company’s board of trustees as the company strives to create
value for all stakeholders.
Ms.
Williams recently served from 2017-2020 as senior vice president at Kaufman
Lynn Construction, one of south Florida’s largest construction companies, where
her responsibilities included leading public affairs and community engagement
efforts.
Before
joining Kaufman Lynn, from 2010-2017, she served as regional manager, external
affairs for Florida Power & Light (FPL) and later director, corporate
engagement, diversity and inclusion for NextEra Energy, one of the nation’s
leading clean energy companies and parent company of FPL, where her
responsibilities included managing local external stakeholder relations and
developing corporate strategies and initiatives for employee engagement as well
as diversity and inclusion initiatives, respectively.
In
2004, Williams founded the law firm of Isaacs Williams which was focused on
real estate, probate, land use and government relations.
Prior
to 2004, Williams held roles at other law firms, as well as IBM, Wang
Laboratories and AT&T Wireless.
Williams
received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from George Washington
University and her Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University.
“Ethel
is a dynamic and accomplished executive with a proven track record in business,
law and community involvement for Fortune 500 companies and entrepreneurial
enterprises," said Jeffrey H. Fisher, Chatham’s chief executive
officer.
"She
has demonstrated excellence in leadership abilities, business skills and a
commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as sustainable corporate
initiatives.
"We
are eager to bring Ethel’s vast corporate experience with respect to
stakeholder, environmental, social and governance matters to our Board and know
her contributions will make a great impact on Chatham.”
Grissen
joins Chatham’s board after having recently retired as group president following
a stellar 35-year career at Marriott International, Inc.
He started at Marriott in 1986 and concluded
his esteemed career as Group President where his responsibilities included the
financial management and leadership of the America’s lodging operations,
comprising more than 5,500 hotels and a work force of approximately 160,000
associates.
This
included oversight of owner and franchise relations, sales and marketing,
revenue management, human resources, engineering, rooms operations, food and
beverage, retail, spa, golf, information resources and development.
In
addition to the Americas, Grissen was responsible for Marriott’s Global
Operations organization, RitzCarlton and Edition brands.
Prior
to his latest position, Grissen served as group president, the Americans;
president, Americas; executive vice president of the eastern region; senior
vice president of the mid-atlantic region and senior vice president of finance
and business development.
 |
| David J. (Dave) Grissen |
Grissen currently serves on the board for
Regis Corporation, a publicly-traded company and the largest hair salon chain
in the world where he is a member of the Audit Committee, Technology Committee
and chair of the Nominating and Governance Committees.
He
also serves on the board of Greenwood Racing, a casino, on-line betting and
thoroughbred racing company based in Pennsylvania.
He
holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Michigan State
University and a master’s degree in finance from Loyola University Chicago.
“As
a large Marriott franchisee, I have seen David’s tremendous contributions and
leadership firsthand over the past 25 years, and now that he has retired from
Marriott, we are thrilled to bring to our board his substantial lodging
expertise amassed over three decades,” Fisher commented. “David brings
incredible industry and operational perspective, and that experience will be
instrumental as we strive to maximize our operating results and grow our
investment portfolio to enhance our cash flow and generate meaningful returns
to our shareholders.”
About
Chatham Lodging Trust
Chatham
Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly-traded real estate investment trust
focused primarily on investing in upscale, extended-stay hotels and
premium-branded, select-service hotels. The company owns 41 hotels with 6,169
rooms/suites in 15 states and the District of Columbia.
CONTACT:
CHRIS DALY
PRESIDENT
DG Public Relations, LLC
42806 Oatyer Court
Broadlands, Va. 20148
Main: 703-435-6293
Mobile: 703-864-5553
chris@dalygray.com | www.dalygray.com
chathamlodgingtrust.com.
