Record Number Of Timeshare Practitioners Awarded Registered Resort Professional Designation, ARDA’s Highest Recognition For Professional Development

A record-setting 67 experienced timeshare practitioners were honored in 2005 by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) after earning the professional designations Associate Resort Professional (ARP) and Registered Resort Professional (RRP). Sponsored by the ARDA International Foundation’s education programming, the program promotes professional awareness, enhances workplace performance and fosters self-esteem among professionals of the vacation ownership industry. There are now a total of 470 industry professionals honored with the RRP and ARP designations.

Earlier this month, the following 21 professionals were awarded the Registered Resort Professional (RRP) designation: Kit Armour, James S. Badia, Jan Barrow, Terry Braband, Daniel Davis, Scott W. Dravis, Karey M. Finch, Kevin L. Giles, Gordon S. Gurnik, Tanya Hensley- O'Neal, William G. Johnson, Robert A. Kobek, Peter John Mitchell, Virginia Hornkol Polinski, David L. Pontius, John K. Reyelt, Michael G. Scofield, Julie Renee Smith, Thorp S. Thomas, Toby A. Weas, and Stanley R. Whittington.

The RRP designation is given to those industry leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to high ethical and professional standards through long-term participation in educational and industry-related activities. Prerequisites include active ARDA Advantage membership, a minimum of five years of full-time industry employment, and a total of 10 education credits. Candidates must also pass the ARDA Qualification Test (AQT), which examines a person’s knowledge of the industry, including the ARDA Code of Standards & Ethics and the laws affecting the industry. Credits for the RRP program are earned through participation in educational and industry-related activities, professional tenure in the vacation ownership industry, the receipt of industry awards, formal education and certification by accredited institutions of higher learning, participation in industry workshops, seminars and self-study courses, and by writing articles for Developments, the industry magazine published by ARDA.

The following 11 professionals received the Associate Resort Professional (ARP) designation: Nusrat Andersen, Tara A. Bergeron, Edward A. Carraro, Bryan D. Coy, Jeremy S. Grogg, John E. Livingston, Jay M. Lloyd, Giancarlo J. Novo, Benjamin Pierce, Cheryl Shipe, and Lorie A. Trauscht. A step in the process towards earning RRP designation, the ARP designation recognizes accomplishments by individuals with at least two years industry experience.

“Participation in educational programs of the ARDA International Foundation indicates that a company and its team of vacation ownership professionals strive for the highest standard of industry knowledge, ethics and professionalism,” said ARDA President Howard Nusbaum. “Each year, as more of our talented professionals earn the RRP designation, the expectations and standards of excellence within the industry are raised that much higher, translating to improved quality and innovation in the products, services, and experiences we offer vacation owners.”

The ARDA International Foundation (AIF) conducts research and develops education programming for the timeshare industry. The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) is the Washington D.C.-based professional association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries. Established in 1969, ARDA today has nearly 1,000 members ranging from privately held firms to publicly traded companies and international corporations with interests in timeshare resorts, community development, fractional ownership and resort communities. The membership also includes timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, and owners through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC).