�The RHA Board is very pleased to announce the appointment of Brooks Chase� stated Steven Birdwell, Chairman of the RHA Board.  �His knowledge and experience in the resort insurance marketplace will greatly benefit the membership of RHA� he said.  �The Board would also like to recognize the nearly seventeen years of leadership by Jean Van Tol.  The RHA membership has grown to over 100 select resort properties under Jean�s direction, and the insurance programs designed by her have provided tremendous coverage benefits to the RHA members.�

Chase, a twenty-five-year veteran of the insurance industry, began his career as an underwriter with the Home Insurance Company of Short Hills, New Jersey and Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to joining the RHA, Chase developed and managed the ResortGuard Insurance Program.  For much of his career at Willis Programs, and its predecessor, Kendall Insurance Incorporated, he was involved in the Willis Ski Resort Program where he served as Vice President. Chase has also served as Vice President-Program Manager of RecycleGuard.

Chase holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Connecticut, Storrs. A native of Simsbury, Connecticut, he presently resides in Eliot, Maine and is married to the former Nancy Schlichter also of Simsbury. The Chase�s have two daughters Abby, a freshman at the University of Miami, (FL) and Carlyn a high school senior. Chase has been actively involved in his community with the Foundation for Seacoast Health and the Greater Pistcataqua Charitable Foundation�s Rehabilitation Center fund.

The Resort Hotel Association, headquartered in Williamsburg, Virginia, is a not-for-profit, member-managed association that provides insurance products to independent resorts, luxury and historic hotels, and destination spas. Since its founding in 1987 the association has grown to 104 properties throughout the United States. The 2004 Resort Hotel Association Annual Conference will be held July 10-14, at the Kona Village Resort, Ka�upulehu-Kona, Hawaii.