William Robert Kohorst (born February 21, 1953) is an American attorney and businessman who served as the United States Ambassador to Croatia until January 2021.[1][2]

W. Robert Kohorst
United States Ambassador to Croatia
In office
January 10, 2018 – January 13, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJulieta Valls Noyes
Succeeded byNathalie Rayes
Personal details
Born
William Robert Kohorst

(1953-02-21) February 21, 1953 (age 71)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseShelley Allen
Children2
EducationUniversity of Dayton
University of Michigan Law School

Early life and education edit

Kohorst is the son of William Robert and Mary Helen Kohorst.[3]

He graduated from La Salle High School in Pasadena, California, in 1971.[4] He graduated with honors from the University of Dayton with a Bachelor of Science in accounting, in 1975.[5] and earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in 1978.[6]

Career edit

Kohorst started his career as a law clerk with Judge Engel at the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in 1978. In 1979, he then went on to work as an attorney for a law office in California, where he made partner in 1982.

Afterwards, Kohorst worked as an investment banker for what later became a Fortune 1000 company and stayed until he founding his own firm, Private placement Group for Public Storage, Inc., a U.S. real estate syndicator, in 1984.[6][7][8]

He worked as President in this position until 1990, when he bought two companies and became CEO and principal of Tiger Shark Golf, Inc. and Masquerade International, Inc. and also began serving as President of RK Holdings, Inc.[6][8][9] In 1991, Kohorst co-founded KH Financial, Inc., which later became Everest Properties, a company that purchases and operates apartment, self-storage, and retail properties.[10][8] In 2002, Kohorst began working for Maxus Realty, Inc. and stayed with the company until 2015. From 2015 until 2017, Kohorst served as Director of Posey Company.[11] Today Kohorst is the President, CEO, Chairman and Director of multiple businesses within the Everest Group.[11]

Kohorst donated over $1.1 million to Republican national and state committees and candidates from 2015 to 2017.[12]

He was nominated as United States Ambassador to Croatia in early September 2017, testified before the Senate on October 5 and was confirmed by Senate voice vote on November 2, 2017.[13][14][15]

Additional affiliations edit

Kohorst has served as director and chairman of the San Gabriel chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization, regent of Loyola Marymount University, since 2009 trustee of La Salle College Preparatory, and president of the San Gabriel Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America.[16][6][17][18]

Kohorst is also a trustee of the Maxus Realty Trust.[19]

Through the Kohorst Allen Family Foundation, which was established in 2008, the family has donated more than $1 million to La Salle College Preparatory and is part of the Saint Benilde Society.[11][20][21]

Personal life edit

Kohorst is married to Shelley Allen, they have two sons and two grandchildren.[6][15]

References edit

  1. ^ Denmark, Nikolina (September 2, 2017). "President Trump to Nominate Robert Kohorst as US Ambassador to Croatia". Total Croatia News. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  2. ^ "Briefs". Quadrangle. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  3. ^ "Congressional Record". congress.gov. October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  4. ^ "Staying Connected". Lancer Magazine. La Salle High School. Spring 2013. p. 32. Retrieved February 23, 2020 – via Issuu.
  5. ^ "Kathleen Estelle Kiefer Graduates Head of Her Class". University of Dayton. April 25, 1975. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Ambassador W. Robert Kohorst". U.S. Embassy in Croatia. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  7. ^ "Lunch with U.S. Ambassador W. Robert Kohorst" (PDF). American Chamber of Commerce in Croatia. February 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c "Management Team". Everest Properties. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  9. ^ "Masquerade International, Inc". Kentucky Secretary of State. September 6, 1990. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  10. ^ "President Trump Appoints Pasadena Businessman to be Ambassador to Croatia". www.pasadenanow.com. September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c "Executive Branch Personnel". U.S. Office of Government Ethics. March 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  12. ^ "Donor Search". Open Secrets. January 26, 2019.
  13. ^ Ferrechio, Susan (November 2, 2017). "Senate confirmation blitz includes 16 ambassadors, 11 other Trump appointees". Washington Examiner. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  14. ^ "PN910 — W. Robert Kohorst — Department of State 115th Congress (2017-18)". congress.gov. November 2, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Statement of W. Robert Kohorst" (PDF). U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign. October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  16. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov. September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017 – via National Archives.
  17. ^ "University Administration and Faculty". Loyola Marymount University. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  18. ^ "Former Regents". Loyola Marymount University. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  19. ^ "Other Affiliations W. Robert Kohorst". Bloomberg. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  20. ^ "Fall 2014 Lancer Magazine". issuu.com. December 12, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  21. ^ "Kohorst Allen Family Foundation". Pro Publica. December 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2018.

External links edit

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Croatia
2018–2021
Succeeded by
Victoria J. Taylor
Chargé d'Affaires