Compassion Institute is thrilled to welcome Raymond “Rip” Gellein, Jr. to its Board of Directors.  Rip brings a lifetime of business experience combined with deeply-felt commitment to making the world a better place. Most recently, Rip served on the Board of Directors at Mind & Life Institute for 12 years.

From November 2012 until his retirement in December 2015, Gellein served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a publicly traded real estate investment trust (“REIT”) with a portfolio of luxury hotels. From August 2010 to November 2012, he served as Strategic Hotels & Resorts’ non-executive Chairman, and from August 2009 to December 2015, as a director. 

He served as President of the Global Development Group of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. from July 2006 through March 2008, and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a subsidiary of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., a publicly traded hotel and leisure company, from October 1999 to July 2006. Gellein is also Chair Emeritus of the American Resort Development Association and served as Vice Chairman and Treasurer of the Mind and Life Institute. As a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Resort Development Association, he also has extensive knowledge of the legislative and regulatory issues related to the vacation ownership business.

Based on his years of service on the Board of Directors for Mind & Life Institute, Gellein brings to the CI Board leadership experience as well as focused support on the well-being of humanity.