New Leaders Take Helm At Hotel Brokers International

KANSAS CITY, MO— The naming of Greer Lee, vice-president of Scoggin – Blue & Associates LLC as the 43rd president of Hotel Brokers International (HBI)— replacing Tony DeGeorge— topped off the installation of new officers and directors at the organization’s 2002 Annual Meeting in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Additionally, Ronald R. McCord, president of Milmark Hotel Motel Investments, Milwaukee, WI, was selected as vice president/president-elect, and HBI members were also introduced to the association’s new executive director, Brian Van Norman, a former association manager with the American Academy of Family Physicians. Other executive changes included the selection of Dick Lopez, to serve as HBI secretary, and Brandt Niehaus, to fill the post of treasurer. Lopez is president of Lodging Property Brokers in Napa, CA, while Niehaus is president of Huff Niehaus & Associates, Louisville, KY. Moving into position on HBI’s new board of directors are: • Tony DeGeorge, president of Greene Canfield DeGeorge Ltd., Clearwater, FL; • Heather Hamilton, president of Spectrum Hotel Group, Austin, TX; • Patrick (J.P.) Ford, president of National Hotel Realty Advisors, Portsmouth, NH: • Fred Ferrarini, president of ProCom Lodging Brokers, Paso Robles, CA; • Charles Fritsch V, president, Motel Broker Associates, Glenwood, MD; • Teague Hunter, vice president of Hunter Realty Associates, Atlanta, GA; and • R. Kurt Mockenhaupt, associate, Donohoe Real Estate Services, Washington, DC. In his inaugural address, incoming president Lee said his vision for HBI was to maintain the organization’s position as a dominant force in both the U.S. and international brokerage markets. Among other things, he maintained this would include an increase in marketing and public relations funding this year. Lee urged brokers, associates and affiliate members to become involved in HBI in the coming year and encouraged brokers to support their sales staff in attending HBI educational meetings. Rounding out proceedings at HBI’s yearly gathering was the paying of homage to Robert Kralicek, the association’s long-time evp, who announced his retirement in 2001. He was recognized for his 21 years of service to the association.