Steven Jorns was born Aug. 26, 1948, in Stillwater. He received his bachelor of science in hotel and restaurant administration from OSU in 1971. Jorns has been recognized as a leader and innovator in the area of hotel and resort management. Upon graduation, he joined Cleveland-based Hospitality Motor Inns and in 1974, he went to work for General Growth Properties where he oversaw a 16-hotel portfolio. In 1981, he founded American General Hospitality Corporation and served as its president and chairman. Over the years, American General expanded to an owned and managed portfolio of more than 100 hotels. In 1996 he led a successful IOP of the company and in 1998 merged American General with CapStar Hotel Company to become MeriStar Hospitality and MeriStar Hotels and Resorts. Jorns remained active as vice chairman of the board for both of these New York Stock Exchange companies. In 2002, MeriStar Hotels and Resorts merged with Interstate Hotels & Resorts. Interstate is the world’s largest independent hotel management company, currently operating
226 hotels with approximately 46,500 rooms in 37 states, the District of Columbia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Mexico and Russia. Jorns served several roles in the company including chief executive officer until retiring in 2005. From 1998 until 2008, he was actively involved in cattle ranching, owning and operating the 8,300-acre J7 Ranch in Stephens County, Texas. Through the years, Jorns has maintained a strong relationship with the school that gave him a start in his career. He has served on the hotel and restaurant administration advisory board and was also instrumental in the campaign to refurbish and reposition the Student Union Hotel. Jorns was recognized as a CHES Distinguished Alumni in 1992, an OSU Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni in 1993 and inducted into the CHES Hall of Fame in 1995. He is a CHES Lifetime Associate and has served on the OSU Foundation board of governors and as a homecoming judge. Jorns is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association and a member of POSSE. He and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Fort Worth, Texas. He has four children, Jennifer, Jordan, Chandler and Hunter.
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