Forest Trace

Forest City

Of all the retirement communities in Florida, there’s no place like Forest Trace.

Forest City

Forest City Enterprises, Inc., the parent company of Forest Trace, was founded in 1920 after the Ratowczer (later changed to Ratner) family emigrated to the United States. Through hard work and good fortune, the family lumberyard business — built by four siblings, Charles, Max, Leonard and Fannye Ratner — grew and expanded beyond the founders’ wildest dreams.

The Company went public in1960 and established a national reputation as a property owner, manager and developer of some of the largest and most prestigious real estate projects in the country, including its premier Florida retirement community, Forest Trace, which Forest City acquired in 2000.

Forest Trace was conceived and built in1989 as a luxury adult retirement community by Stanley Rosenthal and his partners.  His vision? To bring the famous resort lifestyle of Grossingers in the Catskills to South Florida. And today, Stanley maintains the Grossinger traditions of superb food, great entertainment and personalized service for the many residents who live at Forest Trace.

Stanley R. Rosenthal, Owner’s Representative

Stanley R. Rosenthal, one of the original developers of Forest Trace, now serves as the current owner’s representative. He graduated cum laude from New York University with a degree in accounting and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army.  As general partner of All-State Properties L.P., he helped develop the City of Lauderhill and was recognized by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as a pioneer in the county’s development.  Mr. Rosenthal and his company, SRR Management Corp., were approved by HUD to manage Forest Trace.  He was invited to Washington, D.C. to receive a commendation from Secretary Cuomo of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for his fine work in housing management.  According to Mr. Rosenthal, “The sheer size, amenities and upgraded services of the Forest Trace community make it a unique entity in this industry.”

Elaine Grossinger Etess, Director of Hospitality

Since 1990, Mrs. Etess has been Director of Hospitality at Forest Trace. She was the first female elected officer of the American Hotel & Motel Association (AH&MA) and served as its President in 1989 and Chairman of the Board in 1990. During her tenure as an AH&MA officer, she was appointed to the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s Travel and Tourism Industry Advisory Council. She continues to serve as an Ambassador of the Educational Institute of the AH&MA.

Mrs. Etess was Executive Vice President of the Grossinger Hotel in the Catskill Mountains of New York State prior to its sale in 1985. During the heyday of the Grossinger era, Mrs. Etess served as President and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the New York State Hotel & Motel Association. She has also chaired its Education, Legislative and Joint Venture Committees, as well as the New York State Hotel & Motel Association Political Action Committee.

In September, 1997, the Hospitality Industry Diversity Institute (HIDI) at the Conrad Hilton School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston awarded her the first ”Lifetime Achievement Award.” And in October, 2002 Mrs. Etess and her late mother, Jennie Grossinger, were inducted into the Hospitality Hall of Honor at the Conrad H. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management in honor of their extraordinary contributions and success in the hospitality industry.

In 2008 the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association named her Certified Hotel Administrator Emeritus in special recognition of distinguished long term service and commitment to the hospitality industry.

Awards