Okaloosa County BOCC — January 5, 2016 — Bruce Craul 112115 — reading text

Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council 2015 Membership Application (Deadline: December 4) Thank you for expressing interest to be considered for appointment to the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council (“Council”). The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners appreciates your willingness to serve your fellow citizens in a volunteer capacity. Please complete this application to the best of your ability and include a resume. Bruce W Craul Name: E-mail: bcraul@emeraldgrande.com 42 Terra Cotta Way, Destin, FL 32541 Home Address: W: 850-424-0610 (Direct Line) Cell: 850-598-9090 Phone Number (W / H / C): Alt. Phone Number (W / H / C): HarborWalk Hospitality dba: HarborWalk Village, Emerald Grande, etc. Place of Employment: Are you a registered voter in Okaloosa County, Florida? ✔ YES ___ NO ___ Voter ID# Do you now serve, or have you ever served, on an Okaloosa County Board or Committee? ✔ YES ___ NO ___ If YES, please list the board(s)/committee(s) and time period(s) served: Product Improvement Committee - Two terms back in the 80's. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ I am interested in serving in the following capacity (CHECK ONE): (Note: At this time, a lodging owner/operator vacancy is being filled) ✔ ___ Owner or Operator of one of the following in Okaloosa County: Motels ___ Hotels ✔ ___ Recreational vehicle parks ___ HarborWalk Village, etc. or other tourist accommodations (please list) _________________________________ ___ Individual involved in the tourist industry who has demonstrated an interest in tourist development, but does not own or operate motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks or other tourist accommodations in Okaloosa County. Please attach a summary of your demonstrated interest in tourist development. Include a statement as to why you are interested in serving on the Council: _________________________________________________________________________________________________ I have been in the hospitality business for 43 years. I have owned and operated my own restaurant(s), managed over 50 hotels in 34 states, was on the TDAC in Pensacola when TDC's were established in the State of Florida. 2012 State Chairman of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Associ- _________________________________________________________________________________________________ ation, representing 10,000 members and 1.2 million employees. We have created Okaloosa County's most popular visitor attraction. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Include a statement about what your membership will add to the Council: _________________________________________________________________________________________________ My vision, purpose and management expertise involves marketing our area. I have done that in this county for 28 years independantly with private sector dollars. My expertise will add a perspective that enhance that of the existing council. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ All information provided will become a matter of public record and will be subject to public disclosure. I certify that the above information is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that a volunteer position provides for no compensation except that as may be provided by Florida Statute. November 21st, 2015 Signature Date Bruce W Craul Printed Name Please return completed application and resume to: Ed Schroeder Tourist Development Director Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 2015 TDC Membership Application Page 2  Bruce W. Craul Chief Operating Officer – HarborWalk Hospitality Destin, FL – 15 years Experience  Manage the day to day operations of the following Legendary Operating Companys; Included today or over the years; HarborWalk Village, HarborWalk Marina, Regatta Bay Golf and Country Club, Rutherfords 465, Legendary Catering, HarborWalk Hospitality including the Emerald Grande, HarborWalk Marketing, Legendary’s IT Department, Maintenance and Property Management Departments.  Responsibilites include bottom line results and return on investments.  President of the HarborWalk Village Master Assocition, Captains Court Owners Association, The Emerald Grande East Homeowners Association, and The Emerald Grande West Homeowners Association. Resort Management Services, Inc. – Destin, FL ‐ 2 Years  Management of The Crystal Beach Club at the Inn at Crystal Beach along with all other commercial spaces located at the Inn.  Design & Technical Services for The Blue Mountain Beach Resort Abbott Resorts, Inc. – Destin – Director of Operations – Destin, FL – 7 Years  Grew the company’s rental units from 1,240 to 2,000 units in less than five years.  Re‐structured the organization by adding a Training Department, Food & Beverage Department, and Group Sales Department.  Opened six new office locations.  Opened two off‐site laundry operations.  Increased Gross Rental Revenue from 20 million per year to 1997 budgeted revenues of over 50 million.  Developed an intern program with Florida State University for recruitment of Hospitality Management graduates.  Managed approximately 60 General Managers and Rental Managers on a daily basis.  Instrumental in the acquisition of TOPS’L Beach and Racquet Resort as an owned entity of Abbott Resorts, Inc.  To an extent, automated daily paperwork and budget to actual performance for weekly tracking.  Decentralized association accounting to property locations. TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Club ‐ Director of Resort Operations 2 Years  Managed on a daily basis all front line personnel for this 55 acre full service beach side resort. Bruce Craul Page 1 11/24/2015  Vista Host, Inc. – 9 Years Houston, Texas Vice President of Operations  Managed between forty and fifty franchise affiliated hotels located throughout the United States including Holiday Inns, Hamptons, Hiltons, Ramadas and a few Independents. Hotels were located in 34 states.  Established a Special Assets Division that positioned financially troubled properties for resale.  Directly managed all Regional Directors and General Managers in the field. Overall financial responsibility for the corporate profit. Vice President Development  Sought new development opportunities for the company, i.e. management contracts of hotels and or equity positions of existing hotels as well as development of new hotels in expanding markets.  Program all space and concepts of new hotels. Worked directly with financial institutions, partners, architects, design firms and contractors.  Completed renovations of existing hotels, totaling over 14 million dollars.  Provided design and technical services for hotel construction projects totaling over 125 million. The Hospitality Group – 2 Years Pensacola, Florida ‐ President Management Contracts:  Gulfside Resorts, Pensacola Beach, Florida ‐ 197 rooms total  Rio Bar, Pensacola, Florida – Designed, developed and operated 3,200 square foot high energy bar.  Jubilee Restaurant and Oyster Bar ‐ Designed, developed, built, restaurant and bar complex, grossing 2.2 million the first year, in 1985 dollars. Holiday Inns, Inc. ‐ 7 Years ‐ Memphis, Tennessee  General Manager ‐ Holiday Inn downtown, Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Food and Beverage Director ‐ World Headquarters Holiday Inn, Memphis, Tennessee.  Food and Beverage Director Holiday Inn Cocoa Beach, the country’s largest Holiday Inn Resort.  Manager Trainee ‐ Holiday Inn Miami International Airport. While completing my last two years in college, I worked in all facets of this hotel from front desk, dishwasher to Assistant Food and Beverage Director.  Holiday Inn Gulf Breeze ‐ Top 20 Hotel Special  Holiday Inn University Mall, Top 50 Achievements  Holiday Inn University Mall, Top 10 (number 2)  Holiday Inn North Modernization Award Bruce Craul Page 2 11/24/2015   Top 3% Food and Beverage Director  Food and Beverage Director of the year  The Image Award, Holiday Inns, Inc.  Florida Restaurant and Lodging Associaton – 2012 Chairman of the Board ‐ Extracurricular serving 10,000 members, over 1.2 million employees in the States largest industry Activities grossing over 62 billion in annual revenues.  President ‐ Two Terms ‐ The Greening of Destin  Vice President ‐ The Greening of Destin  Destin Rotary Club – Past President, Vice President 1 year, Treasurer 1 Year, Secretary 1 year.  Elder – Grace Lutheran Church – 7 years  Small Groups Leader – Destin Worship Center – 1 year  Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast