Leadership
A new ELFA leadership board was elected in 2015 at the Choice Hotels International convention to serve the association for the next two years. ELFA’s Board and Regional Directors are fellow franchisees volunteering their time and energy to further the Econo Lodge brand. Connect with us to find out how you can become more involved.
Regional Directors
ELFA’s Regional Directors are a valuable resource for franchisees. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to yours with questions or concerns about your property.
Board Members
Ashok (Pete) Patel President
SC131 (843) 367-7557 petesc131@yahoo.com
Katen Patel Vice President
OR183 (503) 504-5566 katenpatel@aol.com
Mahendra (MZ) Patel Treasurer
NJ060 (609) 240-5014 mzpatel329@gmail.com
Don Neuharth Secretary
MO135 (573) 216-7590 donnor@reagan.com
Manish Desai Immediate Past President
AL168(334) 444-5414 manishal168@yahoo.com
Julie Stone Executive Board Member
NY143 585.599.4681econodl@gmail.com
Aroon Patel Executive Board
TX261 936.499.5886 aroon.jasu@gmail.com
Mike (Riverside) Patel Executive Board
CA326 909.529.1174 mikeriverside@live.com
Louis Smith Executive Director
(301) 580-1905 lsmith.elfa@gmail.com
Regional Directors
Chirag Sagar Region 1 Director (FL)FLD58
248.227.2364 chiragsagar2@gmail.com
Manish Desai Region 2 Director (AL, GA, MS)
AL168 334.444.5414 manishal168@yahoo.com
Natu Patel Region 3 Director
(NC, SC) SC553 803.230.4900 bestholiday@hotmail.com
Purnima Patel Region 4 Director
(VA, WV) VA220 757.647.0440purnimaypatel@yahoo.com
Mahendra Patel Region 5 Director (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA)
NJ060 609.240.5014mzpatel329@gmail.com
Julie Stone Region 6 Director (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT)
NY143 585.599.4681 econodl@gmail.com
Pradip (Peter) Patel Region 7 Director (KY, TN)
KY223 270.847.1297 Peter_Patel@elfa.org
Vacant Region 8 Director (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI)
Katen Patel Director 9 (ID, MT, OR, WA)
OR183 503.504.5566katenpatel@aol.com
Aroon Patel Region 10 Director (AR, LA, OK, TX)
TX261 936.499.5886 aroon.jasu@gmail.com
Vacant Region 11 Director (CO, NM, UT, WY)
Please contact Advisory Board Member
Natu Patel(803) 230-4900 bestholiday@hotmail.com
Mahendra (Mike) Patel Region 12 Director (AZ, CA, NV)
CA326 909.529.1174 mikeriverside@live.com
Don Neuharth Region 13 Director (IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD)
MO135573.216.7590 donnor@reagan.com
Past Presidents
Thank you for your service to ELFA
| Franklin R. Young 1975-1979 | A. Lewis Allen 1979-1981 | Robert T. Windham1983-1985 |
| L. Wallace Sink 1985-1986 | Robert C. Wilcox 1986-1988 | Ravi C. Patel 1988-1990 |
| A. Lewis Allen 1990-1992 | Nancy J. Money 1992-1994 | Ashvin Padhya 1994-1996 |
| Jerry Baxley 1996-1998 | Asvin Patel 1998-2000 | Anil Chagan 2000-2003 |
| Michael Allen 2003-2005 | Sandhya Patel 2005-2006 | Leonard Richardson2006-2007 |
| Mahendra Patel 2007-2009 | Natu Patel 2009-2011 | Mahendra Patel 2011-2013 |
| Hasmukh (Hasu) Patel2013-2015 | Katen Patel 2015-2017 | Manish Desai 2017 – 2019 |