January 9, 2012

LaSalle Hotel Properties Announces Election of New Board Member

LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE:LHO) today announced that Jeff Foland has been elected to the Company’s Board of Trustees, effective January 25, 2012. Mr. Foland will also serve on the Company’s Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee as an independent trustee. Read More...

“We are excited to welcome Jeff Foland to our Board of Trustees,” said Michael D. Barnello, President and Chief Executive Officer of LaSalle Hotel Properties. “We are confident that Jeff’s knowledge and experience within the travel industry will serve us in achieving the Company’s strategic objectives.”

Jeff Foland currently serves as Executive Vice President of United Airlines and President of Mileage Plus Holdings, LLC. Jeff is responsible for all aspects of United’s loyalty programs and credit card business as well as media sales and external partnerships related to the loyalty program currency. Prior to his current role, Mr. Foland was responsible for United’s corporate strategy efforts and served as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Sales at United. Before joining United in 2005, Mr. Foland served as a principal at ZS Associates, a global sales and marketing consulting firm. He was responsible for consulting in more than a dozen industries and led large-scale sales and marketing transformation initiatives.

Mr. Foland serves on the executive committee and board of trustees for Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum in Chicago, where he also chairs the marketing committee. He is on the board of directors of the Wings Club in New York, and was previously a board member at the National Business Travel Association and the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and a master’s of business administration from the University of Michigan.

Krauthamer & Associates, a boutique executive search firm that provides recruitment services to a diverse client base in the United States and abroad, assisted the Company’s Board in this search.

LaSalle Hotel Properties is a leading multi-operator real estate investment trust owning 37 upscale full-service hotels, totaling over 9,800 guest rooms in 13 markets in 9 states and the District of Columbia. The Company focuses on owning, redeveloping and repositioning upscale full-service hotels located in urban, resort and convention markets. LaSalle Hotel Properties seeks to grow through strategic relationships with premier lodging companies, including Westin Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Outrigger Lodging Services, Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Benchmark Hospitality, White Lodging Services Corporation, Thompson Hotels, Sandcastle Resorts & Hotels, Davidson Hotel Company, Denihan Hospitality Group, the Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, LLC, Accor, Destination Hotels & Resorts, HEI Hotels & Resorts, JRK Hotel Group, Inc., Viceroy Hotel Group and Highgate Holdings.

November 17, 2011

Hart Budgets Move Forward Board Receives Update on Core Systems Contract

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s (HART) Finance Committee Thursday approved the agency’s proposed operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2013 and has requested that the budgets be transmitted to the mayor and the City Council for their review.Read More...

The committee approved HART’s proposed $22.8 million operating budget along with the $491.5 million capital budget after a public hearing. No general fund monies are being requested from the city. Prior to adopting fiscal year 2013 budgets, the full HART board will conduct another public hearing.

“We’ll be submitting the budgets to both the mayor and the council for their consideration and input,” said HART Finance Committee Chairman Don Horner.

The board of directors also received an update on the core systems contract, including a third‐party review of Ansaldo Honolulu’s bond documents. That review determined the company is in compliance with the payment and performance bonds required to execute the contract.

“The review was conducted on behalf of the City by Kobayashi Sugita & Goda LLP, and followed two months of due diligence and analysis performed by HART and City procurement staff,” said HART Board Chairwoman Carrie Okinaga. “As a result of that diligence, Finmeccanica, parent company of one of the two Ansaldo Honolulu JV partners and part owner of the other, assured HART of its intention to ensure contractual performance.”

Interim Executive Director Toru Hamayasu confirmed that in light of concerns regarding the financial condition of Finmeccanica – which is not a party to the contract but is a guarantor – he will conduct additional due diligence and seek additional assurances from the JV partners regarding contract compliance.

A joint HART Finance and Project Oversight committee meeting has been scheduled for Nov. 25 to provide updated information on the procurement process to ensure the bidder has the technical and financial capacity to meet all of its obligations under the contract.

In other meeting matters, the board approved the recruitment plan and position description for the permanent HART executive director/CEO position. The City selected Krauthamer & Associates Inc. as its search firm for the position. "The search will be international in scope, but our position description makes clear that HART is looking for someone who will embrace the uniqueness of our culture and environment,” said Human Resources Committee Chairman Keslie Hui. “The anticipated cost of our search will be slightly over $152,000, and this will cover all advertising and consultant time.”

The firm, which recently assisted the Bay Area Rapid Transit (“BART”) board of directors in its successful search for its general manager, will assist the HART board of directors in sourcing and identifying qualified applicants for the position. The board plans to hire a permanent executive director during the first quarter of 2012.

For more information on HART and the Honolulu rail transit project, see our website at www.HonoluluTransit.org.

August 8, 2011

Governor Cuomo Announces MTA Search Advisory Committee

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the creation of an MTA Search Advisory Committee that will assist in recommending and evaluating candidates for the next chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.Read More...

"This committee will help conduct a national and international search to find and recommend the most talented candidates for the next chairman of the MTA," Governor Cuomo said. "I am committed to appointing a new chairman who will put straphangers first and who will continue to reform the MTA by reducing costs and waste, while improving efficiency and service."

The advisory committee is comprised of leading public transportation experts and management professionals in the public and private sectors. An executive search and recruitment firm, Krauthamer & Associates, has been engaged to assist in the process. The Governor's appointment of an MTA chairman is subject to Senate confirmation.

Mortimer Downey, former Deputy Secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation, said, "This committee will assist with a comprehensive review and evaluation process of top-tier professionals to be considered for next chairman of the MTA. With tight budget pressures and hard decisions ahead, the new chairman must ensure the MTA provides quality service while meeting tough fiscal demands. Governor Cuomo's strong commitment to the MTA is reflected in this committee's membership of experienced civic leaders and public transportation experts."

Gene Russianoff, Senior Attorney of the NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign, said, "The next chairman and CEO of the MTA will shape transportation policies in the New York metropolitan region for millions of daily riders, and I congratulate the Governor for putting together a great panel to seek the best possible candidates."

Robert Yaro, President of the Regional Plan Association, said, "Governor Cuomo has charged this committee with assisting in the selection of a new chairman for the MTA and over the next months we will help evaluate and review top public transportation professionals from across the nation. I commend the Governor for assembling this committee to assist with finding a new chairman, and I look forward to continuing to work together to revitalize our state's public transportation system."

April 27, 2011

American Public Transportation Association Selects Krauthamer & Associates to Conduct Search for President & CEO

Krauthamer & Associates (K&A), a DC-area based executive search firm, has been selected by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) to lead the recruiting efforts for a new President and CEO. APTA retained K&A to replace William W. Millar who announced his retirement after 15 years with the organization. Millar will retire effective October 31, 2011.Read More...

James LaRusch, Chief Counsel and Vice President-Corporate Affairs for APTA said, "Bill has dedicated his career of nearly 40 years to improve public transportation, and we are indebted to him for his leadership and service. We wish Bill the best of luck in his retirement, and look forward to finding a successor who can follow his lead in expanding APTA's reach and effectiveness."

K&A will begin the nationwide search for his replacement immediately, focusing on candidates with extensive leadership experience in the public transportation and related industries.

"We have begun the search process to find a pool of well qualified candidates," said Gary Krauthamer, founding partner of K&A. "Bill is an internationally known and well respected industry advocate and a well-known expert in the field of public transportation and transportation policy. Together with APTA, we will work to find an executive who can continue his dedication to the advancement of public transportation."

With over 500 completed executive positions in the area of transportation, Krauthamer will lead the search with colleagues Todd Dorfman and Gregg Moser.

"We feel privileged to have been selected to secure leadership talent for APTA, and we look forward to identifying those industry professionals who are passionate about APTA's mission," said Krauthamer.