Bruce Haase, executive vice president of global brands, marketing, and operations for Choice Hotels International, recently signed on as the newest member of the national board of directors for the organization’s signature cause partner Rebuilding Together, serving as the treasurer and finance committee chair. Haase recently discussed his appointment to the board and Choice’s involvement with the organization with Lodging Editor Len Vermillion.
1. Len Vermillion: Can you explain what Rebuilding Together is and Choice Hotels International’s involvement? Bruce Haase: On September 11, 2009, Choice Hotels launched our “Room to Rebuild” program, a three-year, multimillion dollar partnership between Choice and our signature cause partner Rebuilding Together in which our associates across the country work on revitalization projects in their own backyards. Rebuilding Together is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing critical home repair and modification services to those in need at no cost to homeowners.
2. LV: What can Choice employees bring to the cause? BH: As an organization that franchises over 6,000 hotels worldwide, we have a responsibility to give back to the communities in which our employees, franchisees and guests live, work and travel. Within 65 days of launching the “Room to Rebuild” program last year, Choice associates and franchisees put in nearly 5,000 volunteer hours dedicated to Rebuilding Together projects. The Room to Rebuild program provides rewarding volunteer opportunities for Choice associates around the country, including local rebuilding projects, creating care packages for project houses, and more.
3. LV: On a personal level you’re now involved as a board member, why did you decide it was important to make that commitment? BH: I always look forward to our projects with Rebuilding Together because it makes such a positive changes for those in need, but also because it truly brings people from so many different levels throughout our organization together for a worthy cause outside our office. After watching our partnership with Rebuilding Together grow and seeing how it brought together so many people across the organization—from our franchisees to our corporate associates—it struck a nerve. I realized how important this organization is and how positive this experience is for Choice International. Seeing the significant impact Rebuilding Together has had on so many lives, I’ve become very passionate about the organization’s success.
4. LV: As a board member, how can you help Rebuilding Together reach its goals? BH: I look forward to helping to advance the mission and vision of Rebuilding Together, bringing my operational and financial experience, as well as extensive knowledge and understanding of the organization itself, to the table. I look forward to the many great projects we’ll work on together in the future and can’t wait to start making some positive changes for those in need.
