Chairman
Horst Schulze is a legend and a leader in the service world. His vision has helped reshape concepts of customer service throughout the hospitality and service industries.
In 1991, Mr. Schulze was recognized as "corporate hotelier of the world" by HOTELS Magazine. In 1995, he was awarded the Ishikawa Medal for his personal contributions to the quality movement. In 1999, Johnson & Wales University recognized him with an honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree in Hospitality Management.
Mr. Schulze served as vice chairman of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company from 2001-02, after serving as president and COO of The Ritz-Carlton Group, starting in 1988. Under his leadership, the Group was awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in both 1992 and 1999; the first and only hotel company to win even one such award. In addition, Ritz-Carlton was continuously voted “best hotel company in the world” by convention and trade publications.
After joining The Ritz-Carlton as a charter member and VP of Operations in 1983, Mr. Schulze was instrumental in creating the operating and service standards that have become world famous. He was appointed EVP in 1987, and president and COO in 1988. When he left The Ritz-Carlton to form the West Paces Hotel Group, Mr. Schulze was responsible for the $2 billion Ritz-Carlton operations worldwide.
Prior to his service at The Ritz-Carlton, Mr. Schulze spent nine years with Hyatt Hotels Corporation, where he was a hotel GM, regional VP and corporate VP. Before his association with Hyatt, he worked for Hilton Hotels.
Mr. Schulze serves on the boards of Reliance Trust Company, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, The Travel Institute, Georgia Family Council, and The InfiLaw System.
M. Douglas Ivester
M. Douglas Ivester is President of Deer Run Investments, LLC. Mr. Ivester began his career at the
Mr. Ivester was elected chairman of the board and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company on October 23, 1997. In his 20 years with the Company, Mr. Ivester was an architect of significant, successful changes in the Company, from dramatic shifts in its financial policies to the creation of a global “anchor” bottler network. Mr. Ivester retired from The Coca-Cola Company in 2000.
He is also a member of the board of directors of Georgia-Pacific, SunTrust Banks, Inc. Atlanta, SunTrust Bank of Georgia, and S1 Corporation. Mr. Ivester is a managing trustee of the
Born in New Holland, Georgia, Mr. Ivester graduated cum laude with a BBA degree in accounting from the
James H. Wildman
James Wildman is a corporate lawyer, specializing in commercial real estate. He has represented developers in the construction, financing and leasing of office buildings, shopping centers, apartments and hotels for over 30 years. His clients include US and foreign corporations, financial institutions and high net worth individuals.
Before retiring in 2002, Mr. Wildman was the Founding and Managing Partner of the King & Spalding New York office. Under his leadership, the office grew to nearly 150 lawyers.
His extensive experience includes the development, financing and operation of hotels, particularly those in the luxury class. For over a decade after its founding, he was principal outside counsel for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company as it grew to more than 30 hotels.
Mr. Wildman is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. In addition to his service on the Board of The West Paces Hotel Group, LLC, Mr. Wildman is a member of the board of WorldTravel BTI, the third largest travel management company in the US, and Park ‘N Fly, the largest US off-airport parking company. He also serves on the Advisory Council of Hildebrandt International, and is a Trustee of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which awards the Albert Schweitzer Gold Medal for Humanitarianism in conjunction with Johns Hopkins University.
Lynn J. Darby
Lynn Darby retired as a Partner with Ernst & Young after 33 years of service in Atlanta, Knoxville (Tennessee) and Greenville (South Carolina). Prior to joining Ernst & Young, he owned Kreisman’s Mens Shop in Florence (Alabama); he holds a BS in Accounting from the University of North Alabama, and he is a CPA.
Past service has included membership in the American Institute of CPAs, the Georgia Society of CPAs, the University of Tennessee School of Chancellor's Advisory Associates, the Kiwanis Club of Knoxville (Past President), the Salvation Army Board of Advisors, the Boy Scouts of America Advisory Board, the University of Tennessee School of Accounting Advisory Board, the University of Florida Fisher School of Accounting Advisory Board, the Clemson University School of Accounting Advisory Board, and the YMCA of Greenville Board of Directors.
In addition to his membership the Board of The West Paces Hotel Group, LLC, he is currently a member of the University of North Alabama President's Cabinet, the Georgian Bancorporation Board of Directors (Chairman/Audit Committee), the SBC Systems Advisory Board, the Atlanta Athletic Club, and the Hammock Dunes Club.
Oliver C. (Tuffy) Murray, Jr.
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Tuffy Murray is a frequent tax speaker and published author. He is a current and past director of several privately-owned corporations and organizations; the former partner in charge of the Tax Department of Hansell & Post (now Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue), Atlanta; and former Southeast Regional Director of Taxes; and partner in charge of the Atlanta Tax Department of Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young), Atlanta.
In addition, Mr. Murray owned Murray Law Offices and was a member of Florida Bar Association for 18 years. He successfully tried cases before the US Tax Court, all Georgia courts, the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, and the 5th and 11th US Circuit Courts of Appeal.
A CPA for 37 years, Mr. Murray is founder and past president of the Atlanta Tax Forum; Founder, past trustee, and past president of the Georgia Federal Tax Conference; Former member board of advisors for the LL.M. Graduate Tax Program at Emory University School of Law; Former chairman and vice chairman for the Friends of Zoo Atlanta; and a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Georgia; the Florida Bar, the Atlanta Estate Planning Council, the Lawyers Club of Atlanta, and the American Institute of CPAs.
He earned the BSBA in accounting from the University of Florida and the JD cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law, where Mr. Murray then served as an instructor.
Robert A. Warman
Mr. Warman was a charter member of The Ritz-Carlton, having previously served as EVP, Real Estate with responsibility for overseeing worldwide expansion; VP, Rooms Operations; and GM of The Ritz-Carlton hotels in Buckhead (Atlanta), Cleveland and Pentagon City.
Prior to joining Ritz-Carlton, Mr. Warman worked for Hyatt Hotels. He holds a degree in Economics from DePaul University, Chicago.
Philip V. Keb
Philip Keb served for eight years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, where he negotiated and closed 24 hotel transactions with a total property value of more than $2.5 billion. He also spearheaded the addition of The Residences, The Ritz-Carlton managed condominiums, into the company’s brand portfolio.
Under Keb’s leadership, Ritz-Carlton returned to the critical markets of New York and Washington D.C, transforming its portfolio of hotels to meet the company’s luxury standards, and diversifying its resort portfolio with ski resorts and golf destinations.
Prior to his work in development, Mr. Keb served as Vice President, Engineering for The Ritz-Carlton, where he was part of the corporate leadership team that directed the operational efforts to win the 1992 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Mr. Keb began his hospitality career with Hyatt Hotels, and is a graduate of The Georgia Institute of Technology. He serves on the recreational council of the Urban Land Institute.
Mahdi Haider
Mahdi Haider is the Chairman and MD of Zumorrodah Leasing & Financing Company which was incorporated in 2006 in the state of Kuwait. The company offers a wide variety of investment related services with a vision to become a regional premier Islamic leasing and financing company by providing innovative products and services.
Mr. Haider is also Vice Chairman of First Fuel Marketing Company (Oula) which is the first and only fuel marketing company in Kuwait. Previous to that position, Mr. Haider was the Chairman and MD of Pearl of Kuwait Real Estate Company that is taking a lead position in not only the Kuwaiti real estate market but also internationally in Europe and the US.
In addition to those mentioned positions, Mr. Haider is the CEO of Zumorrodah Holding Co. established in 1960 and presently has assets in excess of $3 billion.
His great experience in various sectors of the economy including finance, real estate and telecommunications has led him to serve in the boards of prominent institutions such as Gulf Bank, one of the top rated banks in the Middle East with an “A” rating from (Capital Intelligence) and “A2” rating from (Moody's).
He earned his MBA from the University of Miami, USA in 1994 and his B.S in Management Information System from the University of South Florida, USA in 1993.
