Jason Gamel Named New President & CEO
Brings Over Twenty Years of Industry Experience to Timeshare Trade Association
WASHINGTON, April 04, 2019
– The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) announced today that Jason
Gamel will be the new president and CEO, following an extensive national search
lead by executive search firm, Spencer Stuart. In late March, the ARDA executive
committee endorsed Gamel as the successful candidate. Gamel brings more than
twenty years of experience in the hospitality and timeshare industries,
including his current role as senior vice president of legal at Wyndham
Destinations.
“I am incredibly excited that
Jason has been selected as ARDA’s new leader. His rich history in timeshare law,
experience running ARDA’s state government affairs, coupled with his last five
years with Wyndham in a senior leadership role, makes him uniquely qualified to
take on the opportunities and challenges of leading the association. I’ve
personally worked with Jason and know he is a strong leader,” said Howard
Nusbaum, current president & CEO of ARDA.
Gamel will take over the
organization in early May and succeed Nusbaum, who announced late 2018 that he
was retiring after almost twenty years at the helm. He will work alongside
Gamel during the transition.
“I want to thank the search
committee of resort professionals who worked thoughtfully and collaboratively
over the last several months with Spencer Stuart to identify the best candidates,”
said Don Harrill, search committee chair, past ARDA chairman and current ARDA
International Foundation (AIF) chair.
Before joining Wyndham
Destinations, Gamel served as the vice president of government affairs at ARDA
where he oversaw the direction and management of local, state, and regional
legislative and lobbying activities in the United States and throughout the
Caribbean. Prior to ARDA, Gamel was an associate at BakerHostetler, one of the
nation’s largest law firms, in their hospitality practice.
“I feel honored to be able
to serve the industry which has given me so much opportunity over the past
twenty years,” said Gamel. “I look forward to working alongside the board and
the exceptional staff at ARDA to continue the important programs of work
ensuring the stability and growth of the industry.”
Gamel holds a bachelor’s
degree from the University of Michigan, a juris doctorate degree from the
University of Florida – Fredric G. Levin College of Law and is licensed to
practice law in Arizona, California and Florida. He will be relocating to the
Washington, D.C. area with his wife and two children in the coming months.