US: Chatham Lodging Trust (CLT), a lodging real estate investment trust (REIT) in the extended stay space, has appointed Ethel Isaacs Williams and David J. Grissen to the company’s board of trustees.
CLT invests in upscale, extended-stay hotels and premium-branded, select-service hotels and owns 41 hotels.
Both Williams and Grissen will serve as independent directors. CLT says: “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.”
Williams recently served from 2017 to 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, she served as regional manager, external affairs for Florida Power & Light (FPL) and later director, corporate engagement, diversity and inclusion for NextEra Energy.
“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. 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,” said Jeffrey H. Fisher, Chatham’s chief executive officer.
Grissen joins Chatham’s board after having recently retired following a 35-year career at Marriott International, Inc. He started at Marriott in 1986 and concluded his 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.
“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,” said Fisher. “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.”
