Seminar Presenters
Mark McMullen, CTC, PLS1
Mark has over 28 years of advertising, sales and marketing experience working with major Fortune 500 companies, including many leading organizations in the travel industry. Mark has been a travel industry consultant and has conducted travel industry training and education programs for over 17 years. His areas of expertise include sales development, marketing, management, leadership, motivation and presentation skills development. Mark is former owner of a cruise-oriented travel agency. Mark recently published a book, Strategies for Selling More Successfully. This book is written exclusively for travel agents and managers/owners and offers practical tips on how to increase all aspects of leisure travel sales. Some key subject areas include increasing luxury sales, finding more group prospects, how to effectively close more sales, and how to be a pro at upselling to put more money in your pocket. Mark holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management and is an adjunct professor of marketing and management at several universities.
Kate Koziol
President, K Squared Communications, Inc
Kate Koziol, president of Chicago-based K Squared Communications, Inc., is a veteran publicist with more than 20 years of marketing and public relations experience. Named Women Business Owner Star of 2003 by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council in recognition of entrepreneurial leadership and professional excellence, Ms. Koziol brings her senior executive experience to a wide range of organizations, from Fortune 500 companies to entrepreneurial startups.
Ms. Koziol developed an inside and in-depth understanding of marketing and public relations working for industry leaders such as United Airlines and Westvaco. Ms. Koziol also worked for business-to-business e-marketing pioneers such as Apollo Travel Services and Galileo International. Ms. Koziol has held a variety of management positions including market management, corporate communications, sales and training development.
Ms. Koziol is a featured presenter at business conferences nationwide on a wide range of marketing, public relations and business communications topics such as: “The Brand of You,” “Using Public Relations to Build Your Profits,” “Million Dollar Marketing Ideas That Won’t Cost a Million,” “Working a Room-How to Network Effectively,” “Super-sizing your Sales,” and “Maximizing Your Tradeshow Investment.” She has conducted keynote presentations and workshops at conferences and educational institutions such as:
• The American Society of Travel Agents’ World Congress
• New England Business Travel Association
• The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference
• Ensemble Travel International Conference
• The Travel Institute’s National Forum
• Concordia University
• Columbia University
• Women’s Business Development Center
A veteran of the New York theater and film industry, Ms. Koziol is a summa cum laude graduate of City Universities of New York’s Baccalaureate Program, a customized degree program which she developed and was awarded the first B.S. in Acting and Directing. Ms. Koziol has acted and directed at theaters across the country.
Carol Fullmer
Carol began her professional career as an educator, teaching both in the private school sector and at the University of Hawaii. In 1980, Carol found herself drawn to the travel industry and has since had experience as:
Travel Agent, Agency Manager, Travel School Director, Travel Personnel Services, and Director of Agency Training and Development for Uniglobe Travel USA.
Carol has consulted with hundreds of agency owners, managers and travel agents in all aspects of business management, sales, and customer service. In recent years, she has developed and implemented a wide variety of online training programs and is considered an expert in utilizing distance learning technology. She has presented at ASTA World Congress, TRAMS Technology University and for various other industry groups including Carlson, ATAA, Signature Travel and Uniglobe.
Carol brings not only intelligence and experience but a great sense of fun and excitement to all her presentations, both online and in person. Carol recently founded Keep It Simple Seminars, KISS, as a way to bring critical technology skills to travel industry professionals - quickly, easily, and affordably.
James Dargan
Senior Consultant, Cornerstone
Most people avoid change. However, James Dargan not only adapts well to change, he’s inspired and motivated by it. Throughout his 26 years in the ever-evolving travel industry, James has been driven to innovate and has developed and delivered technology solutions on a global scale. James’ forward thinking nature helps him confidently consult with clients and see beyond the surface to what can truly help clients be more successful.
James joined Cornerstone in 2006 and is an important part of the newly created Professional Services division. He will be working directly with agencies and corporations to streamline technology selection and implementation to lower costs as he helps drive productivity and profits up. The Professional Services group will help clients choose hosted or deployed solutions and make sure the end to end solution works. The newly developed hosted solution will allow client companies the greatest opportunity to focus on their core businesses and leave the technology needs to Cornerstone.
James spent the majority of his career at American Express where he led the global deployment of their interactive travel platform. His ability to analyze, diagnose and treat issues is backed by an in-depth knowledge of travel technology. James’ philosophy is that nothing is impossible and if you ask the right questions you’ll get to the best answer. Before a couple of decades at American Express, James worked at a local travel agency and taught travel agency training courses at a local vocational school.
James’ caring, problem-solving nature is evident outside of the office as well. He has taken in several homeless pets and now shares his home with three dogs, Eli, Razzle and Addis and three cats, Taylor, Misu and Montana. James’ love for change also ties in well with his other vocation—he loves carpentry and has extensively remodeled his house. A natural travel fanatic, James always dreamed of working in the travel industry and seeing far-off countries. His favorite places to visit are Italy and Chile, and he is fascinated by the energy and ambiance of Hong Kong.
Thomas L. Hudgin
President - Wilmington Quality Associates
After working 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry in senior management including the opportunity of being one of the 10 original founders of Glaxo, a pharmaceutical company in Raleigh, NC, he retired in 1991 and formed his own company, Wilmington Quality Associates. With Bachelor’s Degrees in chemistry and mathematics and an MBA in marketing, he specializes in business management success training with a focus on helping companies improve their performance by teaching more effective leadership skills, improving company image, being more competitive, having highly motivated employees and creating delighted customers. He has been Chairman of The Board for a North Carolina Credit Union, has over 200 clients nationwide and speaks to 10-15 conventions and educational conferences a year as a keynote speaker and as a breakout session presenter. Tom has written several books, including Winning At Packaging, and a high adventure, mystery just published called Incident At Cat Island. He is a licensed pilot, a retired Commander in the US Navy, and has sailed a 38-foot ketch across the Atlantic to Europe. And just for kicks, he and his wife currently live on a farm along the coast of North Carolina where they raise llamas.
Sharon Scott, CTC
Sharon Scott, CTC, is the CEO of Education Systems. Sharon has been involved in Travel Education for 26 years, beginning as the director of a private post-secondary travel school. Under her guidance, this travel school was expanded into a series of travel schools in the western United States. For many years she was the Director of Murdock Travel''s education division. She, and her husband Roy, currently own Education Systems LLC, a company that operates private post-secondary travel schools, develops and publishes travel and tourism textbooks, writes reservations training software and partners with High Schools, private post-secondary travel schools, Colleges and Universities to implement travel and tourism programs in their locations. Sharon’s company has been hired by dozens of agencies to train employees, establish travel schools in their locations and has given workshops for Travel Agents International, Carlson Travel Network, ISTTE (International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators), ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents), CITC (The Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors) and NAF (The National Academy Foundation). Sharon has been training travel professionals on teach techniques, and professional teachers on becoming proficient in travel knowledge for years. Most recently, Education Systems has developed TravelCampus, their online travel and tourism training, as well as other eLearning projects. She is currently serving as the Chairman of the Board of the International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators (ISTTE), past advisory board chair of the National Academy Foundations’ Salt Lake City’s Academies of Travel and Tourism, is a former member of the ASTA Scholarship Foundation Committee and chair of the ASTA Education Committee.
Dottie Sutherland
Dottie Sutherland has been a Business and Tourism faculty member at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona since 1995. She holds a BA in Public Administration and an MBA from the University of Arizona with an emphasis in Information Systems. She designed and currently coordinates the online tourism education program for Pima. In addition, she teaches a variety of business courses including ethics, supervision, sales, marketing and leadership. She has traveled extensively.
Scott Ahlsmith, CTC
Vice President of Global Network Solutions, Virtuoso
Scott Ahlsmith, CTC, Chairman of the Board for The Travel Institute, has a travel industry career that dates to 1972. From owning his own agency to being an expert on travel technology and distribution, Ahlsmith brings a depth of knowledge to his role as Chairman of The Travel Institute’s Board of Trustees and Executive Committee that is hard to match.
It all began in 1972 when he took on what he thought was a temporary assignment for Jostens Incentive Travel. He became account executive and stayed for six years. From there, he navigated almost every aspect of the industry, owning an agency, and working in the tour operator, travel publishing and travel technology sectors.
Scott’s resume points to the following stops in his travel industry tour: He was branch manager of Thomas Cook Travel; the director of sales for Cartan Tours; the director of the Electronic Edition of the Official Airline Guide; the President of Gant Travel Management; and Vice President and General Manager of TRAMS, President and CEO of Magellan Travel Group and Founder of You! The Brand and currently Vice President of Global Network Solutions for Virtuoso.
Scott came to Virtuoso to help design and guide the building of a global network suite. Scott’s approach has been and will continue to be to ask probing questions, listen intently to the answers, and observe. Based on this input, Virtuoso will design, build, test, and deliver Easier + Better + Faster solutions for all the constituents within its network.
Scott graduated from Kansas University in 1972, earning degrees in journalism, education, and computer science. He has put that journalism experience to good use, having written “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Vacation.” Scott also hosted daily radio shows for Voice of America and has appeared on The Bill O’Reilly Show. Scott is an Advocate, ombudsman, evangelist, true believer, guinea pig, arbitrator, intermediary, moderator, consultant, educator, coach, customer and cheerleader.
Jeff Drew, CTC
Senior Vice President of Sales, Oceania Cruise Line
Jeff Drew, CTC, joined Oceania Cruises as Senior Vice President of Sales in March, 2003. In this position, Drew directs the line''s sales efforts and oversees all aspects of Field Sales, Agency Services, National Accounts, International Sales and Charter & Incentive Sales. Drew brings more than 26 years of cruise and travel industry experience to his new position at Oceania Cruises. Jeff has held senior management positions at Seabourn Cruise Line, Cunard Line, NCL and most recently at INTRAV and Clipper Cruise Line as Senior Vice President of Sales.
Drew began his career as a Travel Director at Maritz Incentive Company in St. Louis, and additionally held positions as regional sales manager at Classic Hawaii and western regional director of sales for NCL. He is a Certified Travel Counselor, and has studied at Northwestern University''s prestigious Kellogg Executive Program. His BSB and PA degrees are from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Bernie Blomquist, MCC, CTC
Mr. Blomquist is Manager of Training Development for CLIA. Bernie’s varied responsibilities include the scheduling of training seminars for organizations that want to acquire advanced sales and marketing skills for their members/employees, as well as assisting in the development of new classes and videos for CLIA’s ever-expanding roster of training courses. In addition, Bernie oversees CLIA’s Cruise Counsellor Certification Program. Bernie brings extensive travel experience to his position. Prior to joining CLIA in October 2000, Bernie held various key sales and marketing positions in the airline, cruise and tour industries with National Airlines, Pan American World Airlines, Regency Cruises, Premier Cruise Line, Club Med and North Atlantic Tours. Bernie holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Economics from Wagner College and studies towards a Masters Degree in Marketing Management from St. John’s University; both located in New York.
Joanie Ogg, CTC, MCC
President
NACTA
Joanie Ogg is a thirty-five year veteran of the travel industry. Joanie has been involved with the independent contractor evolution since 1988. In 1994 Joanie co-authored the book “How to Start a Home Based Travel Agency”. Joanie also co-authored the book “Selling Cruises, Don’t Miss the Boat!” Joanie has trained thousands of travel agents during her career and has a tremendous amount of experience in both the operations and the marketing sides of the industry.
Joanie is the president of NACTA. With over 3900 NACTA members, this member-driven organization strives to maintain the integrity and professionalism of travel professionals nationwide. NACTA is a wholly owned subsidiary of ASTA and is run as an independent association. Her responsibilities also include management and operations of TravelSellers is a subsidiary of NACTA. Joanie Ogg heads NACTA and TravelSellers as president.
Joanie is a Master Cruise Counselor, and in September of 1996 she earned her CTC designation at the second Travel Institute Executive Forum in Chicago, Illinois. Joanie and her husband Tom have written the Home Based Travel Agent module for The Travel Institute CTC program. Joanie is on the review committee for the Certified Travel Associate program and the new CTC program. Joanie also sat on the testing review committee for the TAP, Travel Agency Proficiency Exam that was developed by The Travel Institute and ASTA.
Joanie is a featured speaker for many of the travel industry’s major conferences. In 2000 Joanie was voted Travel Agent of the Year by the readers of Travel Trade Magazine. Leisure Travel News named her one of the top 10 Travel Executives to watch in 2001. For four consecutive years now, Travel Agent Magazine has named Joanie Ogg as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Travel. In 2002 Joanie chaired the XX Travel Institute National Forum in Scottsdale, Arizona. Joanie also received the Travel Industry Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 presented by Travel Trade Publications. Joanie enjoys sharing her enthusiasm and travel industry experience with agents nationwide.
Tom Nibbio
IGLTA Global Sales & Marketing Manager
Under the direction of Tom Nibbio, IGLTA’s Global Sales Office is located in Chicago, Illinois. Tom is responsible for overseeing IGLTA’s entire Global Sales Team which includes worldwide National & Regional Sales Reps and a European Sales Manager.
The Team focuses on acquiring new membership, development of annual corporate sponsorships, and communication and support of current members. In addition, Tom oversees and presents IGLTA’s educational seminar titled
“ALL WELCOME!”. The seminar is designed for corporations and destinations interested in creating a gay-friendly, diversity-based environment.
Tom and the Global Sales Team also host IGLTA Regional Receptions inviting current and prospective members for additional networking opportunities. The Global Sales Team also represents IGLTA’s membership at various popular trade shows and consumer expos worldwide.
Tom is a graduate of Western Illinois University and received his MA in Education at the University of South Florida. Prior to working for IGLTA, Tom spent 6 years as the Midwest Tourism Sales Representative for Visit Florida. During his 20+ years in the travel industry he has also served as a travel agent, agency manager and regional manager.
For more information regarding the IGLTA Global Sales Team, contact Tom at Tom@IGLTA.org.
Kyle Moser
Vice President of Sales
Cornerstone Information Systems
Kyle Moser is the Vice President of Sales for Cornerstone Information Systems, a software and professional services company. He previously ran a highly successful consulting firm, and since he began at Cornerstone, Kyle has contributed to a 20% growth in sales each year. Kyle is an extraordinarily diverse person and he enjoys everything from playing guitar in his garage band to running in several road races and triathlons per season.
Gary M. Fee
GARY M. FEE, is a Consultant to the Travel Industry. Mr. Fee is a 30 year veteran of the Travel Industry and is the founder and President of The Outside Sales Support Network Association (OSSN).
OSSN is a 17 year old National membership organization consisting of 7000 Independent Contractors, Home Based Agencies and Suppliers with 68 Chapters. OSSN was created to assist, support and educate The Home Based Seller of Travel.
OSSN and Gary Fee have been responsible for the many IATAN changes that have helped Independent Contractors secure their IATAN ID card. OSSN has been the catalyst in the travel industry for the many changes that have taken place in the Independent Contractor Seller of Travel community and is the leading trade association representing the home based seller of travel.
Mr. Fee has also been responsible for spearheading the 6 year old TRUE Code ID program that is administered by OSSN and IATA that helps identify professional sellers of travel for the travel supplier community.
As a national leader in Sales & Promotion of the Cruise Business for the Travel Agency Community, Mr. Fee has trained and consulted over 20,000 Travel Agents on "How to Sell & Promote Vacation and Cruises Products" and “How To Develop A Home Based Travel Business.”
Mr. Fee received national recognition as "Cruise Agency of The Year" for Carnival Cruise Lines in 1983. Agency cruise sales exceeded 3.2 million dollars a year.
He has sailed over 400 voyages on various cruise ships teaching travel agents how to sell and market cruises plus a compliment of other topics that cater to the Home Based Travel Agent.
Mr. Gary M. Fee has written for many travel industry trade magazines on the subject of “Independent Contractor Issues and Answers” and is Co-Author of the travel industries first, "Official Outside Sales Travel Agent Manual". This publication has exceeded all expectations with 20,000 copies sold to the trade in the first three editions of the publication.
Bill Dismore
Seminar leader Bill Dismore, executive vice president of iTravelInsured has decades of the travel insurance experience, has been a highly successful sales person and has brought added success and profits to travel agency operations nationwide.
Donnie Dawson
Deputy Director of Tourism - Sales/USA
Jamaica Tourist Board
Mr. Donnie Dawson was appointed Deputy Director of Tourism – Sales for the Jamaica Tourist Board in October 2003 with location in the Florida office. The position includes the administrative as well as sales and promotional marketing of the Board’s operation throughout the United States.
Mr. Dawson began his career in the tourism industry at the offices of Jamaica’s national airline, Air Jamaica, and in 1975 he joined the Jamaica Tourist Board at its Kingston’s headquarters as a Sales Representative. He was transferred to the Board’s Florida office in 1977.
In 1979, Donnie took up the position of Regional Sales Manager with Jamaica Resort Hotels with responsibility for the Western United States.
He rejoined the Jamaica Tourist Board in California in 1982 where he was given the mandate to expand what was then a satellite office to a full-service regional operation with staff covering thirteen states.
On June 1 of this year, Mr. Dawson was appointed Interim Director of Tourism with appointment to run through October 31, 2006 after the resignation of Mr. Paul Pennicook who demitted office on May 31.
An avid golfer, Mr. Dawson has been instrumental in organizing several golf events for Jamaica including the Jamaica Air Carriers Invitational Golf Tournament (JACI), Celebrity Players Tournament (CPT) and the Travel & Leisure Golf Invitation Pro-Am.
Basil H. Smith
Director of Tourism
Jamaica Tourist Board
Appointed director of tourism November 1, 2006, Basil H. Smith, a Jamaican national brings with him many years of tourism and marketing experience to this key leadership position.
Mr. Smith most recently served as senior director, communications, worldwide for The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and executive vice-president of the Bahamas Hotel Association from 2001-2003. Before that he was managing director of the public relations agency Creative Projects Ltd. In Jamaica from 1997-1999. He earlier served as Deputy Director of Tourism for the JTB from 1995-1997, in which capacity he became well known in the local Jamaican tourism industry.
Mr. Smith has, in the course of his career, also held the positions of partner and senior vice-president of The Counsellors Ltd., the leading marketing firm in the Bahamas, worked as the special assistant to the Minister of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and with Jamaica Information Service, Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, and the Bahamas News Bureau.
The Director is expected to build upon the past successes of the Jamaica Tourist Board, help the JTB expand its global reach and continue to forge a strong partnership with the private sector.
Lee Robinson, CTC
Vice President Field Sales
Princess Cruises And Cunard Line
Lee Robinson Graduated from Washington State University with Degree''s in Business Administration and Hotel and Restaurant Administration. Upon graduation he worked for Hyatt Hotels Corporation in various management positions throughout the United States. After leaving Hyatt, Lee joined the management team at Holland America Line where he managed two of their hotels in Fairbanks and Skagway, Alaska.
In 1985 Lee moved to Seattle, WA. And joined the management team at Princess Tours as Director of sales where he stayed until 1992, when he was transferred to the Princess Cruises headquarters in Los Angeles.
Shortly after the move he was promoted to Vice President of Field Sales for Princess Cruises where he directed the sales activities of more than 100 outside and inside sales employees. Lee changed hats once again in 1997 when he assumed responsibility for the Princess Cruises Customer Service Center as Vice President of Reservations and Customer Service.
In 2000, Lee and his family Moved to Miami Florida to work with Cunard Line and Seabourn Cruise Line as Vice President, Sales, Launching the Largest Cruise ship in the world, Queen Mary 2. He moved to back to California in 2004, when Cunard moved their offices into the Princess Cruises Campus. Lee is currently the Vice President of Field Sales for both Princess cruises and Cunard Line.
Pam Miller
President
Magellan360
Years of sales and entrepreneurial talent led Pam to leading roles in a wide variety of travel industry companies.
Beginning her career as a home-based full-time leisure specialist for an agency in California, Pam utilized her training and background to grow and maintain a large clientele. A family relocation to Denver resulted in an opportunity to work in a management position for a large host agency where she provided support, training, and led the sales and marketing development team. Her dynamic leadership gave focus and direction to the company and was a key component in the continuous growth and success of the agency.
While in Denver, Pam also sat on the Board of the Rocky Mountain ASTA Chapter. A move to Chicago opened the door for a new opportunity where Pam was asked to manage TRAVA, a well-established travel agency. She was also given the opportunity to help create and develop a new concept in host agencies. Thus came the creation of Magellan360. Her management skills coupled with her knowledge of the travel industry have made Magellan360 one of the most respected and valued host agencies in the country.
Pam sits on the advisory board for the Professional Association of Travel Hosts (PATH) and for Platinum Seminars. She also donates her time as a guest lecturer at one of the leading travel education programs in the country, the College of Dupage’s Travel and Tourism program.
Jeffrey Anderson
Jeffrey Anderson is the Vice President of Marketing for America''s Vacation Center (AVC), one of the top-producing travel agencies in the American Express Travel Representative Network. A longtime employee of AVC, Jeffrey''s main responsibilities include overseeing the Marketing, Public Relations, and Event Departments. Since joining AVC''s executive management team, he has revolutionized the Marketing Department by turning one-to-one consumer marketing from an art to a science. Jeffrey founded AVC''s Ambassador program, which helps AVC agents spread the word about AVC''s unique offerings as a host agency and share how their decision to join AVC changed their lives.
Under Jeffrey''s direction, AVC has grown from a small, California-based travel agency to one of the largest and most successful travel agencies in the nation, with a growing brand identity. Jeffrey was raised in the travel industry, as the grandson of the founders of Anderson Travel, now known as America''s Vacation Center. He received his bachelor''s of arts degree in communication studies from Azusa Pacific University. He currently lives in San Diego with his wife and two sons.
Jeffrey is also a member of the TravelAge West Editorial Advisory Board.
Mark Murphy
President/CEO
Performance Media Group, LLC
Performance Media Group, LLC is lead by Co-Founder and President/CEO Mark Murphy. Mark has been a travel publishing executive since 1991 and led the team at Travel Agent magazine from 1993 to 2000, when he left as Publisher. In spite of the havoc wreaked by the Internet, commission cuts, and terrorism on traditional travel publishers, Performance Media Group, LLC has grown dramatically since its launch in March 2002. The company now includes ModernAgent.com and more than a half dozen web businesses, print publications including Agent@Home magazine and Cruise & Vacation Agent magazine, and a trade show business called Agent@Home Expos that will call on 26 cities in 2005. “By focusing on helping suppliers reach the individual agent and measure their marketing results, we have been able to grow as our clients have grown”, says Murphy.
Jackie Friedman CTC, CTIE
Jackie Friedman is a 23-year travel industry veteran. She joined the Nexion team in 2004 as Vice President of Operations and was responsible for all aspects of the host agency’s operations, including the relocation of the business from San Jose, CA to Southlake, TX. In early 2007, her responsibilities increased when she was promoted to General Manager of Nexion. She now leads a team of 40 travel professionals focused on membership growth, marketing, business development, customer support and host agency operations. Under Jackie’s leadership, the membership base has tripled and annual gross sales have grown to well over $200,000,000 a year.
Jackie came to Nexion after a 15 year career with Sabre Travel Network, serving in a variety of sales, business development and management positions. During her career with Sabre, Jackie consulted with both the sales teams and travel agency customers in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Prior to joining Sabre, Jackie got her start in the travel industry working as a front-line agent in her home town of Toronto, Canada.
Penney Rudicil
Penney Rudicil started her home-based travel agency in 1996 and is now a host agency as well, with 10 independent contractors. The Travel Planner has been voted the #1 Travel Agency in Sumner County (just north of Nashville, TN) for three years running.
She serves on the Travel Agent Advisory Board for CLIA and is the Eastern Regional Manager for OSSN.
Penney has competed CLIA’s ACC, MCC and ECC designations, and holds many other certifications. Believing that education is the foundation of success, she has dedicated the past few years to facilitating seminars@sea, speaking at conferences, and leading workshops, as well as working with agents and agencies on various training programs.
She is currently working on a program called ‘Travel Agents Road to Success’ which will be a CD/DVD series of the many workshops and seminars that she facilitates.
In addition to being a travel consultant, business owner and trainer, Penney is a wife, mother, and volunteer. Penney has raised 13 children, through a special needs Foster Parent Program for teens since 1991. She and her husband have adopted twice and continue to do emergency and respite care, at times having as many as 6-7 teenagers in their home.
Penney’s passion is helping others to achieve their dreams, whether that be giving a child a home, helping a client plan the perfect vacation or working with a fellow travel agent in the success of their business!
Anita Pagliasso
Anita Pagliasso started her career in travel in 1992 after switching gears from selling electronic components in the heart of Silicon Valley, California. Since then she has built a successful home-based travel business by vowing to provide extraordinary and personalized service for all of her clients. As President and founder of Ticket To Travel she has since seen the growth of her home-based business to that of a host agency that includes more than 50 independent contractors.
Anita shares her knowledge, expertise and proven techniques with other travel professionals in her book entitled, “How I Made a Small Fortune as a Home-Based Travel Agent”, which is filled with fun and innovative marketing ideas as well as sample letters and forms she has developed over the years. Anita''s comprehensive and insightful book is now in its fifth release. Ms. Pagliasso has recently released a CD entitled “Anita Tool Box for Home-Based Travel Agents” that includes dozens and dozens of forms, letters and office templates which she has developed over the years.
Anita has had numerous articles written about her success in several publications such as "Income Opportunities Magazine", "Travel Weekly", "Travel Agent", "Travel Age West", San Jose Mercury News, New York Times, Agent@Home and "Leisure Travel News" where she was nominated as "Enterprising Agent of the Year". Ms. Pagliasso is a regular featured contributing columnist for Agent@Home Magazine and the OSSN E-Agent News.
Ms. Pagliasso is also OSSN’s Western Regional Manager and an Executive Board Member of PATH (Professional Association of Travel Hosts)
Kelley Sexton
Kelley Sexton, who hails from south of San Francisco Bay, has a background as an executive and manager, including working for several multi-national corporations. She has more than 20 years of business and personal travel arranging experience. She has been a home-based agent for the past four years. She has also been a trainer in the resort industry. She currently resides in Alamogordo, NM with her husband and two four-legged children.
Ken Jonker
Ken Jonker has been with TRAMS for five years. While his background is finance and he is a CPA, his first love is sales and marketing. He grew a small business in to a large successful travel agency in a few years after he made the switch from finance to sales/marketing. As a heavy user of earlier versions of ClientBase, he is able to relate well to our current base of customers using ClientBase. His primary responsibilities in the company are national accounts, which include all of our consortia relationships and he aggressively pursues new Live Connect suppliers. Ken is also the primary author behind the ClientBase Monthly News Bulletin.
Susan Weissberg
President, Wyllys Professional Travel
A 36-year travel industry veteran, Susan Weissberg has been president of Wyllys Professional Travel since 1987. The full-service travel agency, established in 1939 and located in the annex of the Westin Colonnade Hotel in Coral Gables, specializes in upscale and exotic cruises and land vacations. Weissberg has served on the Ensemble Travel Group Board of Directors since 2005.
In August 2007, Weissberg was named to Conde Nast Traveler’s 8th Annual Top Travel Specialist report as one of the top 130 travel agents in the world. Also in 2007, Weissburg was also named as a founding member of the advisory board for ISRAMWORLD, one of the largest tour operators in the world. In addition, she was one of 10 semi-finalists in the Royal Caribbean International Liberty of the Seas’ Godmother Search, an international competition that recognized extraordinary agents and their volunteer efforts.
Weissberg’s countless volunteer hours and significant fundraising includes work for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Vietnam Veterans Association, the local literary society, and Funding Arts Network. On a global scale, Weissberg recently championed efforts to deliver the first of several drinking wells to the impoverished boat people of Siem Reap, Cambodia, and well as helping raise funds for NAVAH, an organization which aides and supports victims of terrorism and their families.
Dan McGinnity, Vice President
AIG Travel Guard
Dan McGinnity is a senior marketing communications executive with AIG Travel Guard, North America’s leading provider of travel insurance and assistance. Since joining the company in 1999, Dan has directed a number of multifaceted initiatives that include corporate brand identity, e-commerce marketing support for B2B channels, new product rollouts, database marketing, and customer relationship management (CRM) programs.
In his role with AIG Travel Guard, McGinnity is also responsible for corporate communications, consortium and other marketing support for the company’s travel agency partners.
McGinnity has a broad management, media relations and advertising background. Prior to joining Travel Guard, his previous corporate and agency career included work for Honeywell, Citibank, Gatorade, Wilson Sporting Goods, Brigg & Stratton and Miller Brewing Company. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and a certified facilitator of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Barbara Wanzo
Director of Travel Agent Channel Operations
As Director of Travel Agent Channel Operations, Barbara Wanzo is the voice of travel agents for Trisept Solutions. Barbara works closely with travel professionals and Trisept’s product development team to design technology products for agents’ sales, marketing, and research initiatives. With more than twenty years experience in the leisure travel industry, Barbara leads travel agency channel operations for VAX VacationAccess® and XAP, Trisept’s leading travel agent technologies. Barbara holds a master’s degree in business from Marquette University and is an active allied member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA).
Debbie Marshall
Debbie Marshall started her career in 1975 with a two week student work experience in high school to avoid afternoon gym class. From that point on, she was hooked on experiencing the world, and taking others with her.
That 14 day job evolved into a 28 year stint at one of the largest travel agencies in the country. Over those years, she was a top producing agent during some of the most tumultuous changes in the industry. Debbie still managed to remain relatively sane and visited over 70 countries and sailed on more than 50 cruises.
Frustrated by corporate restrictions, and desiring a return to customer service excellence, Debbie now owns ‘Travel Diva Productions” based here in Las Vegas. Her passion for travel designing and her zeal for showing others the world is stronger than ever. Her clients know her two mottoes by heart: “Never buy black luggage” and “Your vacation, your way”.
Debbie is also the OSSN Las Vegas Area Chapter Director.
Peter Rasmussen
Peter B. Rasmussen is General Manager, USA for Travel Counsellors LLC, the world’s leading host agency for full time travel professionals. He has almost 30 years experience in the travel industry having held senior management positions in both Europe and USA.
Immediately prior to joining Travel Counsellors, Rasmussen was Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Auto Europe.
Before joining Auto Europe, Rasmussen was Vice President, International Sales & Marketing and Global Tour and GSA Operations for Budget Group Inc.
Prior to that he served in a number of management positions for The Hertz Corporation in Europe and the USA including: Division Vice President, Travel Industry Sales; Division Vice President, International Sales & Marketing and Director, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Scandinavia.
He is actively involved in the travel industry community through numerous speaking engagements and involvement with various groups, boards and committees.
Peter Rasmussen is a Danish citizen, born and raised in Copenhagen. He has lived in the USA since 1990 and resides with his wife in New Jersey while financing the college education of his two daughters. Go Hoosiers and Clemson Tigers.
Andi McClure-Mysza
Montrose Travel
Having grown up with the travel industry, Andi currently oversees MTravel.com, the host agency division of Montrose Travel, as well as the Group Division. As one of the owners of Montrose Travel, a top 5 host agency and a top 50 travel company nationwide, she is responsible for key accounts, host program development, agent recruitment and satisfaction. Andi is also a charter member of the Board of Directors of PATH (Professional Association of Travel Hosts).
Amy Hobbins
Journeys Unlimited
Amy Caldwell Hobbins, MCC, CTA, is a 20 year industry veteran. She has managed both the corporate and leisure side of an branch location of a full service retail agency, as well as teaching evenings at a travel school. In 1999, she started her own non arc, leisure agency, Journeys Unlimited, with an emphasis on destination weddings and the honeymoon market. .Because the demand has grown, she has created Romantic Journeys, the branch of her agency that specializes in this lucrative segment of the market.
Bill Moreno
Manager, Travel Agency Sales
Amadeus North America
As Manager for Travel Agency Sales, Bill Moreno focuses on small and independent travel agency customers for Amadeus North America, based in Miami. Bill is responsible for helping smaller, home-based or start-up travel agencies in the U.S. and Canada find the right Amadeus solutions and services for their business, whether through traditional-GDS based selling platforms or hosted programs.
From its beginnings in 2003, Bill was a key member of the development team that created programs to enable smaller travel agencies to stay competitive. Programs such as Amadeus Professional Package (formerly known as Agenta), and Amadeus Mobility Package (formerly known as Agenta [basic pack]), enable agencies to reinvent the way they do business and focus on selling travel.
Bill brings more than 20 years of travel industry knowledge and experience and a unique understanding of its technological history and growth. His background encompasses training, sales management and e-commerce, and has had many different managerial roles within the Amadeus North America organization.
Bill began his career in the travel industry while still in college, working for both United Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines from 1984 -1986. He spent two years as a Corporate Travel Agency Manager before joining System One in June of 1987. Bill’s experience encompasses many diverse facets of the travel industry from fueling 727s to helping develop an agency-friendly sales approach for Amadeus North America.
Bill holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Alabama Huntsville.
Bob Lowry
Senior Vice President, Products and Support
Amadeus North America
Mr. Lowry is responsible for products and support for Amadeus North America. He reports to Kay Urban, President and CEO of Amadeus North America. Mr. Lowry’s role includes overseeing product management and definition, launch and implementation of Amadeus products in North America, along with support and commercial operations of those products and service.
He has more than 30 years experience in the travel industry, evolving from the technology division at Eastern Airlines where he held positions in software design and technical support. Mr. Lowry started the first technical support unit at System One, which Amadeus acquired in 1998. This technical unit is still a key part of Amadeus North America.
In 1996, Mr. Lowry was appointed as Director of Customer Support and quickly re-engineered that department to ensure a smooth transition during the System One/Amadeus consolidation.
In 1998, he was appointed Vice President of Product Management for Amadeus North America, working with the Amadeus worldwide product development organization in Nice, France.
In March 2002, Mr. Lowry was promoted to Vice President, Customer Support and Product Management. In this role, he assumed additional responsibilities in the area of support services and commercial operations that serve customers in North America.
Mr. Lowry is a key driver of change in Amadeus as well as contributing to significant cost saving while improving service in recent years.
Mr. Lowry holds a Bachelor''s of Science degree from Ohio State University.
Susan Tanzman
Owner and President
Martin’s Travel and Tours
Susan Tanzman, Owner and President of Martin’s Travel and Tours in Los Angeles, has been a leader in travel for more than a decade and was named by ASTA as “Travel Agent of the Year” in 2005. Tanzman has also been instrumental in developing and promoting the California Seller of Travel law and has chaired multiple Travel Scam conferences. She has acted as an expert witness on behalf of the Federal Trade Commission and has testified before Congressional subcommittee which resulted in a telemarketing bill passing in Congress.
In addition to Tanzman’s work with her local ASTA chapter, she was chairperson of ASTA’s 2002 World Travel Congress and has served as on ASTA’s Board of Directors and as National Secretary and National Vice President. Tanzman has chaired the Society’s Budget and Finance Committee and ASTA’s Marketing Services, Inc. (AMSI). Under her leadership, AMSI accomplishments included a co-branded credit card, endorsement of TravelPro luggage and progress on an ASTA cable channel.
Tanzman is vice president of the California Coalition of Travel Organizations and sits of on the board of The Ensemble Travel Group. She has served on several advisory boards including those for Alamo Rental Car, united Airlines and the Kahala Mandarin Hotel.
Tanzman has been named by Travel Agent magazine as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Travel,” and to its “People of the Year” issue. She received the American Eagle Award from American Airlines, the “Elaine Kirschner Travel Agent of the Year” Award and the NOAH Award by the Society fro Accessible Travel & Hospitality. In 2000 Martin Travel and Tours was honored by the Oahu Visitor’s Bureau as Outstanding Travel Agency of the Year. Tanzman speaks worldwide to travel industry audiences on profitability and legal rights.
