Rockbridge Named Corporate Caring Honoree

Leading Hospitality Investment Firm Recognized for Commitment to Giving Back

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. June 23, 2015

Columbus, OH, June 22, 2015 - Rockbridge, a leading hotel investment firm, won the 2015 Corporate Caring Award by Columbus Business First in its hometown of Columbus, OH. Out of a record 138 applicants and 66 finalists, Rockbridge was presented with the Health Award for the Small Business category. Even as a small company— 71 full-time employees—Rockbridge makes substantial and consistent contributions to its community through its support of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Ohio and Pelotonia, the nation's largest cycling event supporting cancer research.

The Corporate Caring Award judges focused on Rockbridge's involvement with Pelotonia. Jim Merkel, President and CEO of Rockbridge, was inspired after he heard Dr. Michael Caligiuri—Director, OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center & CEO, James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute—boil the issue of cancer research down to one thing: funding. Pelotonia donates 100% of rider fundraising directly to cancer research and Merkel was determined to make the Rockbridge team a leader in the fight to end cancer.

“In order to make a real difference, we knew we had to think big,” noted Merkel. “We wanted to inspire and mobilize the industry, bring our relationships together and create an event like no other. And Rock the Road was formed.” Rock the Road brings together hospitality and investment industry leaders for a day full of dynamic and engaging speakers, encouraging attendees to gear up and ride the following day in Pelotonia as a part of the Rockbridge team.

Award judges took note of the innovation involved in creating an industry conference to increase the impact for charities and applauded Rockbridge for its efforts.

Rock the Road is unique in that it goes outside of the hospitality industry for speakers and content, so attendees can be inspired to think differently and walk away better than they came. In addition, Rock the Road is one of the only national hospitality conferences with all proceeds going to a charity. Merkel has been amazed by the number of stories of fellow hospitality leaders and family members living with or surviving the disease and knows that people connect with such a life-changing event.

As the fourth largest fundraising team in Pelotonia in 2014, Rock the Road and Team Rockbridge are on track to donate more than $500,000 to Pelotonia this year and have raised more than $1 million for cancer research to date. Rock the Road 2015 will be held August 6-7 before Pelotonia begins August 8. If you would like to learn more or attend, please visit rocktheroad.cvent.com.

With more than 325 investments across 45 states, Rockbridge is a market leader in hospitality investment. As an integrated hotel investment firm for more than 20 years, the company consistently seeks quality properties in top performing regions of the U.S., bringing them to the standards of the modern marketplace to maximize profitability.

About Rockbridge

Rockbridge is a private equity firm that invests in hospitality. Over the past 20+ years, it has made more than 330 hotel investments in 44 states in transactions worth more than $5 billion. Through its deep in-house experience and strong foundation of industry relationships, Rockbridge has delivered a track record of high absolute returns across multiple cycles and is a leading investor in hospitality.