Estes will oversee lodging, reservations and food and beverage operations at Grand Teton Lodge Company operations in the park. He also will work with the company's environmental team to ensure the success of all employee-related environmental programs.

Estes previously was the Chicago-based Midwest and mountain region director of operations for the Kimpton Hotel Group. He also has been general manager and partner of The Peery Hotel in Salt Lake City; general manager of The Greenwood Inn in Beaverton, Ore.; and general manager of the Red Lion Hotel in Yakima, Wash. Estes also held a variety of increasingly responsible management posts at Red Lion hotels throughout the West.

Long active in community and industry affairs, Estes has served as executive committee member of the Chicago Greater State Street Association, board member of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau, president of the Beaverton Chamber of Commerce, board chair of the Portland Oregon Visitors Association and president of the Yakima Convention Bureau. He also has taught hospitality industry courses at the Mt. Hood Community College in Mt. Hood, Ore. and the Chemeketta
Community College in Salem, Ore.

A native of Sacramento, Estes received the Certified Hotel Administrator designation in 1992. He has participated in a variety of general and hospitality industry training programs and courses.

"Tim Estes brings expertise in a variety of management areas, and his commitment to teaching the 626 employees he supervises to support our core mission to 'Preserve, Protect and Promote' will be integral to our future success as concessioner in Grand Teton National Park," said Rutter. "We are pleased that he is part of our management team."

Within Grand Teton National Park, Grand Teton Lodge Company manages lodging, restaurants, tours and activities at Jackson Lake Lodge, Jenny Lake Lodge and Colter Bay Village as well as the Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club in Jackson, Wyo., just outside the park.