EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF REAL ESTATE AND FINANCE, AND CO-FOUNDER
During her 14-year career, Kären Siwek has managed finances and operations and helped build value for some of the world's most prestigious organizations. Siwek earned her degree from Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ and moved on to Phoenix, AZ where she served as an Audit Manager for Arthur Andersen for six years. She then moved on to work with the London-based WPP Group, one of the world's leading communications services groups. For nearly a decade, Siwek worked as a CFO for various WPP Group subsidiary organizations including The Winona Group and Research International in Phoenix, and ultimately Center Partners, Inc. based in Fort Collins, Colorado. In 2003, Siwek became a Managing Partner for Center Partners in addition to sustaining her role as CFO. In late 2003, Siwek left Center Partners and joined her two partner colleagues to launch their current project, Private Escapes, where she serves as the company's Executive Vice President of Real Estate and Finance and is charged with real estate site selection and acquisition, interior design of properties, and is responsible for all HR, risk management and finance related activities.
Aside from her inherent love of travel, Siwek exercises adrenaline through tennis, soccer, golf, running, biking and scuba diving. She lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, with her son Jake.
PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER
Entrepreneur Richard Keith adds Private Escapes Destination Clubs to a growing portfolio of successful start-up companies he has launched over the past 15 years. Keith started AppleOne Employment Services of Colorado, recognized in 1991 by Inc. Magazine as one of the 500 fastest growing companies. In just five years, Keith sold the company to Corestaff Services and co-founded a second start-up company, Center Partners, Inc., a call center business. In 1999, Center Partners sold to the London-based WPP Group.
After the acquisition of Center Partners, Keith approached Rob McGrath, founder of Private Retreats Destination Club. He accepted a position as Private Retreat’s Chief Operating Officer and subsequently developed a concept for an affordable private destination club, improving upon the Private Retreats model by owning, not leasing, homes in the portfolio and thus strengthening the security of members’ deposits. In 2003 Keith and his team launched another revolutionary product in the destination travel club industry, Private Escapes Platinum LLC, the first and only luxury Destination Club to offer its members a return on investment.
Keith was recognized as the Rocky Mountain Region Entrepreneur of the Year in Northern Colorado in 1992 for his work with AppleOne and was awarded the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Services Category in 2002 for his work with Center Partners. He was also one of three finalists for the National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Keith resides in Fort Collins, Colorado, and is an avid golfer, cyclist, scuba diver and traveler.
Entrepreneur Richard Keith adds Private Escapes Destination Clubs to a growing portfolio of successful start-up companies he has launched over the past 15 years. Keith started AppleOne Employment Services of Colorado, recognized in 1991 by Inc. Magazine as one of the 500 fastest growing companies. In just five years, Keith sold the company to Corestaff Services and co-founded a second start-up company, Center Partners, Inc., a call center business. In 1999, Center Partners sold to the London-based WPP Group.
After the acquisition of Center Partners, Keith approached Rob McGrath, founder of Private Retreats Destination Club. He accepted a position as Private Retreat’s Chief Operating Officer and subsequently developed a concept for an affordable private destination club, improving upon the Private Retreats model by owning, not leasing, homes in the portfolio and thus strengthening the security of members’ deposits. In 2003 Keith and his team launched another revolutionary product in the destination travel club industry, Private Escapes Platinum LLC, the first and only luxury Destination Club to offer its members a return on investment.
Keith was recognized as the Rocky Mountain Region Entrepreneur of the Year in Northern Colorado in 1992 for his work with AppleOne and was awarded the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Services Category in 2002 for his work with Center Partners. He was also one of three finalists for the National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Keith resides in Fort Collins, Colorado, and is an avid golfer, cyclist, scuba diver and traveler.
EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, AND CO-FOUNDER
As Executive Vice President of Operations and Co-Founder of Private Escapes, Powers is responsible for all facets of member services ensuring all escapes are memorable and hassle-free. His 19-year professional career includes seven years in executive management and consulting in the areas of quality and operations.
Prior to Private Escapes, Powers served as vice president of corporate planning and development for Center Partners, Inc., where he oversaw the quality function and facilitated improvements in the firm's management system. Before Center Partners, he was a co-founder and vice president of operations for Sorcia, Inc., a firm that provided strategic sourcing of marketing services for Fortune 1000 clients through internet tools and professional services.
Powers began his career at Hewlett-Packard where he served a 12-year tenure.
Powers is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and an Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. He is an award-winning trainer and has published articles in AMA Marketing News and Call Center Solutions magazine. He has spoken at the Rocky Mountain Quality Conference, the American Society for Quality, Colorado State University, and the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
An avid cyclist, Powers makes his home in Fort Collins, Colorado, with his wife Laura and son Nicholas.
As Executive Vice President of Operations and Co-Founder of Private Escapes, Powers is responsible for all facets of member services ensuring all escapes are memorable and hassle-free. His 19-year professional career includes seven years in executive management and consulting in the areas of quality and operations.
Prior to Private Escapes, Powers served as vice president of corporate planning and development for Center Partners, Inc., where he oversaw the quality function and facilitated improvements in the firm's management system. Before Center Partners, he was a co-founder and vice president of operations for Sorcia, Inc., a firm that provided strategic sourcing of marketing services for Fortune 1000 clients through internet tools and professional services.
Powers began his career at Hewlett-Packard where he served a 12-year tenure.
Powers is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and an Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. He is an award-winning trainer and has published articles in AMA Marketing News and Call Center Solutions magazine. He has spoken at the Rocky Mountain Quality Conference, the American Society for Quality, Colorado State University, and the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
An avid cyclist, Powers makes his home in Fort Collins, Colorado, with his wife Laura and son Nicholas.
© 2007 Private Escapes Destination Clubs. "Private Escapes,"
"Private Escapes Premiere," "Private Escapes Platinum," "Private Escapes Pinnacle," and their associated logos, are trademarks or registered trademarks
of Private Escapes, LLC, Private Escapes Platinum, LLC, Private Escapes Pinnacle, LLC. All rights reserved.