About Us
RICHARD L. RAGATZ, Ph.D. is the principal of Ragatz Resort Realty Inc. His academic background includes a Bachelor's degree (1961) and a Master's degree (1963) from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. degree in City and Regional Planning (1969) from Cornell University.
Dr. Ragatz has been very active in the primary trade association representing the resort industry - the American Resort Development Association. He joined ARDA in 1969, the year it was formed. In 1987, 1989, 1995 and 2006, he was given special awards by ARDA for outstanding contributions to the resort industry. The 1995 award was Industry Leader of the Year. The 2006 award was the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
He also has been active in the Urban Land Institute, having cooperated with that group on a major national study in 1974 on the resort real estate industry, and a member since 1972.
Since 1969, he has published more than 50 articles on resort development for academic journals and trade magazines. He also has delivered more than 350 speeches on resort development at conferences held throughout the world.
Dr. Ragatz has achieved international recognition as the leading feasibility analyst and market researcher in the resort real estate industry. He has been involved in more than 2,500 studies in virtually every state and over 70 countries. Clients include most major developers and lenders in the resort industry.
Areas of specialty include feasibility analysis, consumer and product research, economic impact analysis and project assessment.
Email: info@ragatzassociates.com
FRED SCHUSTER is the Broker of Record for Ragatz Resort Realty, Inc. He holds his Real Estate Brokerage license with the California Department of Real Estate.
Fred has over 25 years experience in the Resort Real Estate industry. He began his career in 1984 with Kenneth Leventhal & Company, CPA's, as Senior Auditor for many well known and established real estate clients. He earned his CPA with the State of California in 1986.
From 1988 - 1995, Fred was Corporate Controller for The Naiman Company/Sporting Clubs of America, a national commercial real estate and health club development and management company.
In 1996, Fred began an illustrious 8 year career with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts as their Corporate Director of Finance. He was part of the start up management team of the Company's Residential Properties division. Fred played a large role in the overall strategic planning and management of the division.
After leaving Four Seasons in 2004, Fred formed FGS Realty Advisors, Inc. to provide Real Estate and Finance brokerage services to the hospitality industry. Fred received his Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration (Accounting emphasis) at San Diego State University in 1984.
Email: fschuster@san.rr.com
