Robert C. "Bob" Griffith, Travel Industry Executive, Passes Away.

Robert C. "Bob" Griffith June 23, 1949 - October 26, 2006

DENVER -- Robert C. "Bob" Griffith passed away on Thursday, October 26, 2006 at the age of 57, following a heart attack. Bob Griffith was known, admired and loved by those in his community as well as by a broad swath of business and industry colleagues across the travel industry and Wall Street. He was respected for his talents, dedication, work ethic, strong values and down-to-earth personality. You always knew where you stood with Bob Griffith - because he'd tell you.

At the time of his death, Bob served as executive vice president of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), a leading global travel management company with annual gross bookings volume in excess of $26 billion. Carlson Wagonlit operates in more than 150 countries with 22,000 employees and serves 60 of the worlds 100 largest companies.

Bob Griffith played an instrumental role in the strategic acquisition of Navigant International, Inc., by Carlson Wagonlit Travel for $510 million. Mr. Griffith served Navigant as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. The acquisition closed in August 2006, doubling CWT's presence in North America and expanding its presence in key regional markets including Asia Pacific.

Mr. Griffith served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Denver-based Navigant International since February 1998. In January 2003 he was named to the additional position of Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Griffith began his career in the travel industry in 1993 as vice president of finance and administration for Professional Travel Corporation and went on to become chief financial officer in 1997. Later that year, Professional Travel Corporation was purchased by U.S. Office Products, and Mr. Griffith was named chief financial officer of U.S. Office Products' corporate travel services division.

In June 1998, U.S. Office Products spun-off its corporate travel services division to its shareholders and renamed it Navigant International. Simultaneously, Navigant completed an initial public offering of its common stock and was listed on the Nasdaq stock market. During the subsequent years, Navigant International was a very active consolidator in the travel services industry, acquiring more than 40 businesses before being acquired by CWT.

Before joining Professional Travel Corporation, Mr. Griffith served as senior manager and area director of IDS Tax and Business Services, a subsidiary of American Express, from 1991 to 1993. Mr. Griffith also worked with Deloitte & Touche LLP.

Mr. Griffith was an active member in the Denver community, serving on the board of The Adoption Exchange, which facilitates the adoption of special needs children. Bob served as the organization's Chairman from 1997 - 2000, having previously served for several years as its Treasurer. He also played an instrumental roll in building the organization's golf fund-raiser into a very successful annual event. Bob was also a member of Financial Executives International and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in accounting and a Master of Science in taxation from Colorado State University, and was a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Colorado.

He is survived by his wife Becky; his three children: Mark Thompson and his wife Sue, John Griffith and his wife Michele, and Lyn Thompson and her husband Ken; his four grandchildren: Emily, Ethan, Joshua and Jack; his mother Hortense; and his three brothers: Steve, Dan and Don and sister Nancy.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in Bob Griffith's name to the Adoption Exchange. Donations may be made online at www.adoptex.org or via the following address:

                      The Adoption Exchange
                     14232 East Evans Avenue
                       Aurora, CO  80014
                      attn: Dr. Dixie Davis
                         303/755-4756