Latest news with #Hoag
Business Wire
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Travel + Leisure Co. Appoints Erik Hoag as New Chief Financial Officer Amid Strategic Growth and Brand Portfolio Expansion
ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL), a leading leisure travel company, today announced the appointment of Erik Hoag to Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Mr. Hoag joins the company's Executive Committee at a pivotal time of strategic growth and multi-brand expansion, replacing outgoing CFO Mike Hug, who is retiring after 26 years. As the new CFO, Hoag will be responsible for leading the company's global finance organization including accounting and controls, financial planning and analysis, treasury, tax, investor relations, consumer finance, and all operational finance activities. With more than 25 years of financial leadership expertise, Hoag has an exceptional record of scaling businesses and building long-term value creation through strategic financial planning, capital allocation, and mergers and acquisitions. "Erik brings a unique blend of financial acumen, operational discipline, and strategic insight that will be instrumental as we continue to expand our portfolio and enter new markets," said Michael D. Brown, president and CEO of Travel + Leisure Co. "We are thrilled to welcome him to our leadership team during this exciting period of growth." Prior to joining Travel + Leisure Co., Hoag served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Integration Officer of FIS, a leading global provider of technology solutions for banks, corporates and capital market firms. During his nearly two-decade tenure, he played a pivotal role in several significant milestones, including dozens of acquisitions, the sale of the merchant acquiring business of FIS to private equity firm GTCR in 2023, and most recently, a $12 billion business acquisition from Global Payments. Hoag was also member of the Board of Directors of private equity-owned Capco until their sale to Wipro in 2021. He has also held leadership positions in finance at Bank of America, Truist, and HSBC. "I'm excited to join Travel + Leisure Co. at such a dynamic moment in its evolution,' said Hoag. 'The company's vision, momentum, and expanding brand portfolio present an incredible opportunity, and I look forward to partnering with the team to drive continued success.' Since the acquisition of the Travel + Leisure brand in 2021, Travel + Leisure Co. has continued to execute its vision to expand its brand portfolio across the vacation ownership industry and into the broader travel landscape. In addition to operating its existing Club Wyndham, WorldMark by Wyndham, and Margaritaville Vacation Club brands, the company acquired notable brands including Accor Vacation Club (2024) and Sports Illustrated Resorts (2023). The company's multi-brand strategy positions it for continued market leadership and innovation. About Travel + Leisure Co. Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) is a leading leisure travel company, providing more than six million vacations to travelers around the world every year. The company operates a portfolio of vacation ownership, travel club, and lifestyle travel brands designed to meet the needs of the modern leisure traveler, whether they're traversing the globe or staying a little closer to home. With hospitality and responsible tourism at its heart, the company's nearly 19,000 dedicated associates around the globe help the company achieve its mission to put the world on vacation. Learn more at
CNN
26-04-2025
- Sport
- CNN
The best things come to those who wait. Here's why being Mr. Irrelevant in the NFL draft is priceless.
If you're not first, the saying goes, you're last. But in the case of the annual NFL draft, finishing dead last is by no means a bad thing at all. In fact, being selected as the very last guy on Saturday night provides access to a unique club and the most unlikely football fraternity, just as long as you don't mind a seemingly demeaning title: Mr. Irrelevant. Anyone who's been drafted by an NFL team will tell you that it's both an exhilarating and nerve-shredding experience; sitting anxiously by the phone, waiting for it to ring and hoping that you won't be completely overlooked. When wide receiver Ryan Hoag was drafted in 2003, the lunchroom at his liberal arts school in Minnesota was turned into a party scene. His cell phone was connected to the loudspeakers and hundreds of friends and family were in attendance. 'They made a real big deal about it,' he recalled to CNN, 'which was really fun until we're six hours in and my name hasn't been called, and now I feel awful.' In the buildup to the draft, Hoag had seen his name featured on ESPN as one of the players to watch, but as Saturday wore on, he began to lose hope. Hoag says he'd given up 15 picks before the end of the final round, but then the phone rang, and the Oakland Raiders coach Bill Callahan was on the line. 'He said, 'Would you like to be Mr. Irrelevant?' And the whole place just went nuts,' he recalled. 'It was like your team had just won the Super Bowl. Everybody just jumped up and screamed. My visceral response was to hang up the phone and celebrate with all my people.' At some point in the mayhem, Hoag's friend and teammate drew attention to the fact that the number of his selection, 262 out of 262, came with additional benefits. 'He's like, 'dude! I think Mr. Irrelevant wins a million dollars and a trip to Hawaii!,'' Hoag said, That wasn't quite true, but he was about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. Hoag said that he didn't know much about Mr. Irrelevant, but he'd at least heard of it. In 1992, when Michigan's guard and center Matt Elliott was drafted as the 336th pick, he had no idea. 'This was truly the last years before the internet,' he joked to CNN. 'I think it was (Washington) coach Joe Gibbs who told me, 'Some people from California are going to call you, it's called Irrelevant Week. It's gonna be fun. Just understand that it's gonna be fun!'' Historically, most players who'd been picked last didn't have much of a career in the NFL, in fact many never even played a game. So, in 1976, the late Paul Salata decided that he wanted to give them something to smile about. He had been a 10th round pick as a receiver in 1951, scoring four NFL touchdowns in a fleeting professional career. But his greatest contribution to the league began when he invited the 487th pick Kelvin Kirk to Newport Beach in California. 'Mr Irrelevant' and 'Irrelevant week' had been born; it's since become one of the most endearing concepts in sports. 'With the exception of maybe the first round,' Hoag posited, 'I don't know that anybody in their right mind would be drafted anywhere other than Mr. Irrelevant. My mom still jokes about it to this day, it was this out of body experience for our family, we were treated like royalty for the entire week.' The event is now run by Salata's daughter, who told CNN that planning for the week begins from backstage as soon as the draft is over. Irrelevant Week takes place in Newport Beach, California, featuring a parade in honor of the draftee, a 'roast and toast' dinner and a golf tournament. The festivities are tailored to each athlete, and they are encouraged to submit a wish list. 'Many players have never seen the ocean before,' Melanie Pong Salata told CNN. 'The player usually wants a surfing lesson, so we have famous surfers teach him while a party is happening on the beach.' There are VIP trips to Disneyland and the Playboy Mansion, players have met celebrities like Will Farrell and Jimmy Kimmel and driven the cars of their dreams. As a single man, Hoag appeared on 'The Bachelorette' reality TV show. 'I just remember sitting up there on one of those big lifeguard chairs on the beach,' quipped the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant Ryan Succop to CNN, 'all these people are celebrating you and bringing you gifts and I'm kind of sitting there going, 'Man, what in the world am I doing?'' At the end of the week, the players leave Newport Beach with more than just fond memories. Stuffed into their luggage is the Lowsman Trophy, a tongue in cheek reference to the Heisman Trophy given to the best NCAA player every season; the player depicted is fumbling the ball. 'Most people would think it's the hollow plastic that you get at a sporting goods store,' explained Hoag. 'Nah, this thing's bronze. It's 10 pounds. This is the real deal my friend, it's hilarious. I love it!' Every Mr. Irrelevant is encouraged to show some humility and to lean into the spirit of the event, but the dubious honor doesn't necessarily signify the end of their professional dreams. The 1994 draftee Marty Moore played alongside Tom Brady in his first Super Bowl victory in 2002. Kicker Succop played alongside Brady in his final Super Bowl triumph for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021, whilst the 262nd pick in 2022, Brock Purdy, played in the Super Bowl for the 49ers just two years later. Youngsters in the school yard might have an idea of what it's like to be picked last – it can be humiliating. But the Mr. Irrelevants say there is no shame, because they are selected ahead of potentially a hundred other college players who aren't selected at all. Just a few hundred players are drafted every year. 'You're more likely to be struck by lightning than drafted in the NFL,' said Hoag. 'That's pretty special.' 'I didn't really care how I got my start,' said Succop, who knew that as a kicker who'd be a late round pick at best. 'It does not matter how or where you get your start, what matters is the way you prepare, and when your opportunity comes, are you ready? Use this opportunity, don't take the irrelevant title as a negative.' Succop says that whenever he played, he always knew if there was a Mr. Irrelevant on the opposing team and they'd be sure to connect before or after the game. Many still attend the events in Newport Beach and have formed lifelong friendships, and they are always rooting for each other. Matt Elliott says he only cares about two picks in every draft these days, the first and the last. Asked to put a value on the experience and benefits of being Mr. Irrelevant, he said it was priceless. What started out as a gentle tease half a century ago has turned into something uniquely wonderful. Crediting the founder Paul Salata, Hoag said, 'He was just like, let's celebrate somebody, and do something nice for somebody, for no reason. Especially in this day and age of dog eat dog, when everything's politicized and negative, you need more of people wanting to lift up others for no other reason. It's nice to have a breath of fresh air.' 'This is the one thing that will never happen to you again and it's only happened to 49 people in the world, so live it up.'
CNN
26-04-2025
- Sport
- CNN
The best things come to those who wait. Here's why being Mr. Irrelevant in the NFL draft is priceless.
If you're not first, the saying goes, you're last. But in the case of the annual NFL draft, finishing dead last is by no means a bad thing at all. In fact, being selected as the very last guy on Saturday night provides access to a unique club and the most unlikely football fraternity, just as long as you don't mind a seemingly demeaning title: Mr. Irrelevant. Anyone who's been drafted by an NFL team will tell you that it's both an exhilarating and nerve-shredding experience; sitting anxiously by the phone, waiting for it to ring and hoping that you won't be completely overlooked. When wide receiver Ryan Hoag was drafted in 2003, the lunchroom at his liberal arts school in Minnesota was turned into a party scene. His cell phone was connected to the loudspeakers and hundreds of friends and family were in attendance. 'They made a real big deal about it,' he recalled to CNN, 'which was really fun until we're six hours in and my name hasn't been called, and now I feel awful.' In the buildup to the draft, Hoag had seen his name featured on ESPN as one of the players to watch, but as Saturday wore on, he began to lose hope. Hoag says he'd given up 15 picks before the end of the final round, but then the phone rang, and the Oakland Raiders coach Bill Callahan was on the line. 'He said, 'Would you like to be Mr. Irrelevant?' And the whole place just went nuts,' he recalled. 'It was like your team had just won the Super Bowl. Everybody just jumped up and screamed. My visceral response was to hang up the phone and celebrate with all my people.' At some point in the mayhem, Hoag's friend and teammate drew attention to the fact that the number of his selection, 262 out of 262, came with additional benefits. 'He's like, 'dude! I think Mr. Irrelevant wins a million dollars and a trip to Hawaii!,'' Hoag said, That wasn't quite true, but he was about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. Hoag said that he didn't know much about Mr. Irrelevant, but he'd at least heard of it. In 1992, when Michigan's guard and center Matt Elliot was drafted as the 336th pick, he had no idea. 'This was truly the last years before the internet,' he joked to CNN. 'I think it was (Washington) coach Joe Gibbs who told me, 'Some people from California are going to call you, it's called Irrelevant Week. It's gonna be fun. Just understand that it's gonna be fun!'' Historically, most players who'd been picked last didn't have much of a career in the NFL, in fact many never even played a game. So, in 1976, the late Paul Salata decided that he wanted to give them something to smile about. He had been a 10th round pick as a receiver in 1951, scoring four NFL touchdowns in a fleeting professional career. But his greatest contribution to the league began when he invited the 487th pick Kelvin Kirk to Newport Beach in California. 'Mr Irrelevant' and 'Irrelevant week' had been born; it's since become one of the most endearing concepts in sports. 'With the exception of maybe the first round,' Hoag posited, 'I don't know that anybody in their right mind would be drafted anywhere other than Mr. Irrelevant. My mom still jokes about it to this day, it was this out of body experience for our family, we were treated like royalty for the entire week.' The event is now run by Salata's daughter, who told CNN that planning for the week begins from backstage as soon as the draft is over. Irrelevant Week takes place in Newport Beach, California, featuring a parade in honor of the draftee, a 'roast and toast' dinner and a golf tournament. The festivities are tailored to each athlete, and they are encouraged to submit a wish list. 'Many players have never seen the ocean before,' Melanie Pong Salata told CNN. 'The player usually wants a surfing lesson, so we have famous surfers teach him while a party is happening on the beach.' There are VIP trips to Disneyland and the Playboy Mansion, players have met celebrities like Will Farrell and Jimmy Kimmel and driven the cars of their dreams. As a single man, Hoag appeared on 'The Bachelorette' reality TV show. 'I just remember sitting up there on one of those big lifeguard chairs on the beach,' quipped the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant Ryan Succop to CNN, 'all these people are celebrating you and bringing you gifts and I'm kind of sitting there going, 'Man, what in the world am I doing?'' At the end of the week, the players leave Newport Beach with more than just fond memories. Stuffed into their luggage is the Lowsman Trophy, a tongue in cheek reference to the Heisman Trophy given to the best NCAA player every season; the player depicted is fumbling the ball. 'Most people would think it's the hollow plastic that you get at a sporting goods store,' explained Hoag. 'Nah, this thing's bronze. It's 10 pounds. This is the real deal my friend, it's hilarious. I love it!' Every Mr. Irrelevant is encouraged to show some humility and to lean into the spirit of the event, but the dubious honor doesn't necessarily signify the end of their professional dreams. The 1994 draftee Marty Moore played alongside Tom Brady in his first Super Bowl victory in 2002. Kicker Succop played alongside Brady in his final Super Bowl triumph for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021, whilst the 262nd pick in 2022, Brock Purdy, played in the Super Bowl for the 49ers just two years later. Youngsters in the school yard might have an idea of what it's like to be picked last – it can be humiliating. But the Mr. Irrelevants say there is no shame, because they are selected ahead of potentially a hundred other college players who aren't selected at all. Just a few hundred players are drafted every year. 'You're more likely to be struck by lightning than drafted in the NFL,' said Hoag. 'That's pretty special.' 'I didn't really care how I got my start,' said Succop, who knew that as a kicker who'd be a late round pick at best. 'It does not matter how or where you get your start, what matters is the way you prepare, and when your opportunity comes, are you ready? Use this opportunity, don't take the irrelevant title as a negative.' Succop says that whenever he played, he always knew if there was a Mr. Irrelevant on the opposing team and they'd be sure to connect before or after the game. Many still attend the events in Newport Beach and have formed lifelong friendships, and they are always rooting for each other. Matt Elliot says he only cares about two picks in every draft these days, the first and the last. Asked to put a value on the experience and benefits of being Mr. Irrelevant, he said it was priceless. What started out as a gentle tease half a century ago has turned into something uniquely wonderful. Crediting the founder Paul Salata, Hoag said, 'He was just like, let's celebrate somebody, and do something nice for somebody, for no reason. Especially in this day and age of dog eat dog, when everything's politicized and negative, you need more of people wanting to lift up others for no other reason. It's nice to have a breath of fresh air.' 'This is the one thing that will never happen to you again and it's only happened to 49 people in the world, so live it up.'
Los Angeles Times
25-04-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
AI fetal tracing technology funded by Hoag Innovators contracts C-section rate
Dr. Lisa Karamardian made the pitch for funding to the Hoag Innovators in October 2023. In a 'Shark Tank' style of meeting, Karamardian sought to convince donors to provide money for PeriGen artificial intelligence technology, an automated early warning system for obstetrics. Karamardian, Hoag's Jeffrey M. Carlton Endowed Chair in Women's Health in honor of Dr. Anne M. Kent, received nearly $300,000 in funding that night. Eight months later, in July, the PeriWatch Vigilance software was out of the box and ready to be used for patients at Hoag in both Newport Beach and Irvine. There were a record 8,387 babies born at Hoag last year, the second-highest volume in the state. PeriWatch helped Hoag improve outcomes for hundreds of mothers and babies, although Karamardian admitted there was skepticism from nurses about the software at first. PeriWatch Vigilance helps guide care and decision-making more collaboratively, rather than subjectively, said Tiffany Stewart, Hoag's executive director of maternal child health. Stewart explained how the software's real-time analysis during labor guides physicians. 'If you and I and Dr. Karamardian were all standing together, we could look at a color [the software] shoots [across a computer screen],' Stewart said. 'We would know how we're doing, related to if we can continue the labor or if we need to make the decision that this baby needs to be delivered sooner.' That real-word application is key to Hoag Innovators, which meets biannually and held its spring meeting on April 16 at The Cove at UC Irvine. Robert Brunswick, a Newport Beach resident who founded Hoag Innovators with his wife Kitty in 2017, said that it has raised more than $28 million since its inception and is aiming for $50 million by 2028. The group now has 151 members, each of whom contribute at least $250,000. At last week's meeting, two pitches received their full amount of requested funding, $500,000 each. Dr. Alison Wu, medical director of Hoag's OB/GYN hospitalist program, was funded for an obstetric and perinatal simulation lab. Dr. January Lopez, the medical director of breast imaging at the Sue J. Gross Comprehensive Breast Center, was funded for the Koning Vera Breast CT, a high-resolution 3D breast imaging system. 'Dr. Wu's simulation center is going to train all of the doctors in my department, and my nursing staff,' Karamardian said. 'It's just helping us to keep getting to the next level.' Brunswick told the Hoag Innovators that he was proud of what they had built together, but most impressive to him was the new faces that were showing interest. 'It's not write a check, go home and not think about it again,' he said. 'It's engage, educate, connect.' The PeriGen technology has helped Hoag cut its cesarean section rate from almost 29% to between 24 and 25%, Stewart said. That might not sound like a lot, but considering the volume of babies that Hoag delivers, it is considered significant. 'We want to promote vaginal birth and prevent the first C-section from happening,' Stewart said. 'Some patients have to have a C-section depending on their diagnosis, but we work as a team to prevent that first C-section. PeriGen has helped ensure that we're giving our patients the best chance to labor longer and safer, by utilizing this technology.' Michelle Wood of Newport Beach is one patient who has benefited from the technology. Wood had a scheduled labor induction at Hoag Newport Beach last September, for the delivery of her baby boy with her OB/GYN, Dr. Vinita Speir. 'The nurse was trying to get me comfortable to where I could rest a little bit.' she said. 'Then, excuse my language, but all hell broke loose.' The doctor came running back into the room, and nurses surrounded her bed. Wood later found out that PeriWatch Vigilance had detected that her blood pressure was tanking into the 80s, making her son's heart rate go very low. 'I had what they later identified was an amniotic fluid embolism,' Wood said. 'Technology picked up that I needed to be delivered immediately.' She was taken to the operating room, where an emergency C-section was performed. Wood's blood still wasn't clotting, and it took nine hours for her to be stabilized and meet her newborn son. Ethan is now 7 ½ months old and a healthy baby. Karamardian knows that the PeriGen technology has helped the Wood family and many others, and she has the Hoag Innovators to thank. 'When you start to trust the technology and figure out how to use it to its best capabilities to augment what we were already doing and already know, I think that's when you really start to see a lot of changes,' said Karamardian, who lives in Newport Beach. She said the Innovators remind her of the way medicine used to be 30 years ago, when there wasn't as much managed care and control. 'Now I'm looking for the next new shiny toy that we can make use of,' she added with a laugh. Hoag Innovators will hold its next meeting on Oct. 16 at Newport Beach Country Club.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged with sexually assaulting student in University of Delaware dorm room
A Pennsylvania man has been charged with raping and assaulting an undergraduate in her University of Delaware dorm room earlier this year. After months of investigation, Cezanne S. Hoag surrendered to law enforcement on April 17. The 22-year-old from Lititz was not affiliated with UD, according to the university, and now faces seven charges, including four felonies. The university said the woman did know her attacker when the incident occurred about three months ago. On Jan. 25, the student told police she met Hoag on a dating app called Hinge, and the two made plans to meet at her dorm within the University Courtyard Apartments. Around 7 p.m., court documents show, the assault began to unfold. Sometime after he arrived, Hoag 'grabbed her buttocks aggressively" and began to sexually assault her. Court records describe Hoag as having repeated non-consensual intercourse and grabbing her by the neck to flip her body, at least twice. The student told police she sobbed due to pain and froze in fear, leaving her unable to speak during the assault. UD police cameras show Hoag exited the building in line with the student's timeline given to police, according to court records. Investigation: Hundreds of Delaware teachers found to be working on expired licenses in public schools Documents don't explain how this student got away, but she reached Christiana Hospital's emergency room in Stanton, where a nurse notified university police. Exams showed the student had bruising on her neck and other parts of her body. UD police issued an alert about the reported sexual assault around 3 a.m. on Jan. 25, in compliance with federal law. On April 18, in consultation with the Delaware Department of Justice's Special Victims Unit, police charged Hoag with two counts of second-degree rape, two counts of third-degree rape, two counts of unlawful sexual contact and one count of third-degree assault. He was released after posting $81,500 bail and banned from UD property. A university spokesman said the university takes all claims of sexual assault seriously, and it "has made all support resources available to the victim, and we can confirm that there is no active campus safety risk" at this point. UD also offered resources from student counseling, to student advocacy and support and more. Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@ Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@ or (231) 622-2191. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Pennsylvania man charged with sexually assaulting UD student in dorm
