Choice Announces Franchise Appointments
Promotes Fran Taloricco to VP, Conversion Franchise Sales and Brad LeBlanc to VP, New Construction F
AUGUST 15, 2006. Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH) recently announced the promotion of Fran Taloricco to the position of vice president, franchise sales of conversion brands and Brad LeBlanc to the position of vice president, franchise sales of new construction brands. In these new positions, both Taloricco and LeBlanc will be responsible for overseeing the strategic growth and development efforts for Choice's brands-Taloricco for the Clarion, Quality Inn, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands and LeBlanc for the Cambria Suites, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, MainStay Suites and Suburban Extended Stay brands. Both will report to David Pepper, Choice's senior vice president, franchise growth and performance.
Reporting directly to LeBlanc will be Dan Couture, regional vice president, extended stay brands, David Longnecker, regional vice president, new construction, west coast and Shane Platt, regional vice president, new construction, east coast. Taloricco's direct reports are Jason Cowan, regional vice president, conversion, west coast and Michael Marquez, regional vice president, conversion, east coast.
"Brad's and Fran's leadership skills and in-depth knowledge of franchise sales, hotel development, hotel operations, real estate and financing should enable our franchise sales team to maintain its momentum and accelerate the growth of Choice's franchise system," said David Pepper, senior vice president, franchise growth and performance. "They have been instrumental components of Choice's tremendous growth in franchise sales growth, culminating in a record 639 franchise sales contracts executed in 2005. Their track records of success at Choice make them ideal candidates to serve increased roles in our franchise growth efforts.'
LeBlanc, a graduate of Louisiana College, has more than twenty years' experience in the hospitality industry including assembling and directing corporate franchise sales teams and hotel development. Previously, LeBlanc was vice president of sales for Choice's newest brand, Cambria Suites, for which the company has executed 28 contracts since its introduction in early 2005. He originally joined Choice in 1988, and after a seven-year tenure in which he directed development efforts in the Southeast, he joined the founding team of U.S. Franchise Systems in Atlanta. He rejoined Choice in 2003 and oversaw record development numbers for Choice's Sleep Inn brand.
Taloricco, who holds a bachelor's from Penn State University, has over sixteen years' experience in the hospitality industry. Taloricco joined Choice in 1996 and previously served as regional vice president of franchise sales. Prior to Choice, he served in franchise sales roles at Cendant Corporation and Coakley Williams, Inc. Taloricco has been recognized by Choice as a top performing sales manager in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
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