Erik Ruud

Erik has been named the General Manager of the Washington Mutual Leadership Center at Cedarbrook in Sea-Tac, Washington. Erik will oversee the day-to-day operation of Cedarbrook including guest services, food and beverage, and catering and sales. Formerly, Erik was the General Manager of Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle. Prior to joining Bell Harbor, he was Director of Rooms Division with Hotel Sofitel San Francisco, where he led the room division team. Other positions held include Director of Front Office Operations of the Fairmont Hotel San Francisco, Estate Manager to the American Ambassador to Russia, Front Office Manager of the Moscow Aerostar Hotel, and Assistant Manager for Westin Hotels and Resorts.

Kathryn Jobs Gerke
        
Kathryn has been named the Director of Operations of Seattle based, Bell Harbor International Conference Center and the World Trade Center Seattle.  Kathryn will oversee the operations of Bell Harbor and WTCSE, including catering, sales, conference and guest services. For the previous two years Kathryn was the Director of Sales & Conference Services at Bell Harbor and the World Trade Center Seattle. Prior to joining the Columbia Hospitality team, Kathryn was the Director of Sales at the Westin Seattle.

Laura McCloud Mathers
        
Laura has been named Director of the World Trade Center Seattle. Laura will oversee the daily operations of WTCSE including corporate sponsorship, guest services, and catering and sales. Prior to joining Columbia Hospitality, Laura was involved in fundraising for various non-profit organizations in the Seattle area and was Membership Director of the Seattle based Columbia Tower Club for nearly 13 years.

Linda Hersey

Linda has been named as the new innkeeper at Friday Harbor House located in Friday Harbor, Washington. Linda will oversee the daily operations of the inn including, guest services, group sales and weddings and the inn�s staff.  Prior to joining Columbia Hospitality, Linda was the catering and conference sales manager for Rosario Resort & Spa for three years and the front desk and marina office manager for Roche Harbor Village.

Columbia Hospitality, Inc. is headquartered in Seattle and was formed in 1995 after company leaders consulted with the Port of Seattle for two years on a waterfront conference center project - Bell Harbor International Conference Center. Columbia Hospitality currently manages a property portfolio that includes Bell Harbor International Conference Center, the World Trade Center Seattle, Aljoya Conference Center at Laurelhurst, The Inn at Langley, Friday Harbor House, and The Resort at Deer Harbor. CHI is also the project manager and will be the operator of the Washington Mutual Leadership Center at Cedarbrook, a corporate meeting and training center in SeaTac, Washington. Cedarbrook is planned to open late December 2002.