Bruce White

Mr. White is the founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of White Lodging, a fully integrated developer, owner and manager of premium brand hotels-a recognized industry leader that consistently delivers superior leading brand hotel experiences and premium returns on investment.

Over the past 20 years, the company's managed portfolio has grown to 135 mid-to -large scale hotels in seventeen states. In 2006, Mr. White was the catalyst on a $1.7 billion hotel portfolio sale to RLJ Development, enabling him and his ownership partners to monetize their value in 99 hotels. This milestone transaction included long term management contracts to ensure the stability of the organization and create a platform for dynamic growth. The company currently employs nearly 6,000 associates and with future development projections of $1.5 billion in the next five years, anticipating to grow by an additional 2,000 associates for a total of more than 8,000 associates company-wide.

A passionate hospitality and tourism advocate, Mr. White is an active leader in numerous business and civic organizations. He most recently was named Co-Chair of Basketball for the Chicago 2016 Olympics Sport Advisory Council and appointed to the Board of Directors for Indiana Black Expo, Inc. (IBE). As a charter board member of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, he currently serves on the Policy Committee. He is past charter president of the Courtyard by Marriott Advisory Board; a member of the Residence Inn by Marriott Association Board of Directors; and a charter member of Renaissance Hotels Advisory Board. He is a past member of Young Presidents' Organization and current member of World Presidents' Organization.

Mr. White serves on the Board of Directors of Chicago Big Shoulders, the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry, the Chicago Economic Club, and Merrick Ventures. Additionally, he served on the governing board of the University of Chicago Hospitals, and continues to be an active trustee of the UC Medical Center board.

He is a graduate of Purdue University, the Harvard Graduate School of Business O.P.M. Program and is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration in Hospitality Management from Johnson & Wales.