Schaefer has been with the company for 11 years, said RandyChurchey, interim CEO, in a statement. There was not previously apresident of the company. Former CEO John Emery resigned in May.The company has consistently recorded losses, including a net lossof $2.3 million in the first quarter and $4.1 million in the secondquarter.

The spokesman tells GlobeSt.com that the firm hopes to stemlosses by either forming joint ventures or taking on license dealson all future projects. "This is a shift in our developmentstrategy, most of our properties are company-owned," he says. "Withthe current capital and credit markets, this is a more viable thingto do, as opposed to building new facilities from the ground up.Kim will lead this effort."

The firm has 12 properties open, including 11 Great Wolf Resortsand one Blue Harbor Resort. The properties are broken down into twostyles: Generation One resorts, 300 rooms or less, are mostly inthe Midwest, and have been struggling due to regional economicdifficulties and competition; while Generation Two resorts, about400 rooms or more and newer, are mostly on the East Coast, and havebeen seeing more than 70% occupancy.