Elections and Volunteering

As I stated in 2021 when I was elected, I will be a strong voice on the board for you because: 

• Having made the travel industry my career for over 35 years I have first-hand experience with marketing and selling travel as well as managing my own travel agency and all that goes with that ownership.  I also helped create and oversee a host agency with over 800 independent travel advisors when I was president of OASIS Travel Network for 12 years. I understand this business from an independent point of view and can represent that well. 

• Learn > Earn > Return.  I have Learned so much from this industry and continue to do so every day.  I Earned a good living and I want to help others do the same.  So, it is now time for me to Return all that has been given to me. Time and effort and passion is what I can now give to this industry and the people in it that made my journey possible.  

• Our industry is full of self-motivated entrepreneurs and I am one too.  I know what is required to run a successful business….: Resources, Technology, and Exposure.  And as an ASTA board member I want to make sure that our association continues to grow membership, expand our advocacy efforts, and keeps increasing consumer awareness.   By keeping these things top of mind your membership becomes more useful and valuable.     

Thank you for reading this and I ask for and appreciate your vote!

E-mail: skip.fortier@avoyatravel.com

Candidate Statement

Having been in the travel industry for more than 30 years, I bring a unique skill set to the table that is second to none. My love for travel began while serving in the U.S. Navy and having the opportunity to travel to destinations around the globe. After my experience in the Navy, I worked for my father’s company for several years, owned my own restaurant, and after some time, my desire to get back into travel led me to working at Disney World as “Goofy”. From there, my next journey was with United Airlines as a reservation and gate agent, followed by selling junkets to the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

Following these ventures, I was hired by The Cruise Web, one of the first online sellers of cruises when the internet was just taking off. After four years as their Sales Manager, I was appointed Director of Leisure Travel at MacNair Travel American Express. In 2008, I made the decision to start my own Home-Based Travel Agency and joined the Avoya Travel Network. Utilizing all the experience and expertise I had gained in the travel industry and the Navy, I was able to achieve Avoya’s esteemed Best of the Best designation all four years I was part of the Avoya Network as an Independent Affiliate. In 2011, I was awarded by Travel Agent Magazine as one of the Top 25 Travel Agents.

It became clear to me early in my relationship with Avoya Travel that I wanted to be part of this amazing company and work for a family that is all about Integrity and Professionalism. After four years as an Independent Agency with Avoya, I was asked to join the Avoya staff. In January 2012, I started with Avoya in a role responsible for spearheading the growth of our Independent Affiliate Network. As Vice President of Network Expansion, I led our network expansion team in doubling the size of the Avoya Network and have had the great privilege of helping our organization continue to grow our Network year after year. In addition to my commitment to ASTA I serve on the Board of Directors for PATH, am Vice-Chair of the CLIA Starboard committee and I am a member of the Travel Leaders Network Host Leaders Alliance.

I represent Avoya Travel on the ASTA Corporate Advisory Council and actively take part in as many ASTA events as I can, including the ASTA Global Convention, ASTA River Cruise Summit, Legislation Day, and the Business Summit. During these past years facing the pandemic, ASTA has shown not only me, but the entire industry, what a strong trade association is capable of, motivating me to submit my name for consideration for National Director at Large. I am very proud to be able to say I am a loyal ASTA Member and an advocate for travel advisors everywhere. I believe that my vast overall experience in so many facets of the travel industry, my service time with the Navy, as well as my time as a highly successful agency owner, give me a one-of-a-kind perspective perfectly tailored to help me effectively serve as Director at Large for the ASTA Board of Directors. I am committed to leveraging my skills and experience to further ASTA's mission while ensuring the success of the travel advisor community.

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E-mail: kgeorge@culturetraveler.com

Candidate Statement

• Travel + Leisure Travel Advisory Board and A-List 
• Hurtigruten Black Traveler Advisory Board 
• German National Tourist Office Advisory Board 
• Explora Journeys Travel Advisory Circle 
• Travel Market Report Advisory Board  
• Oasis Travel Network - Advisor Mentor and New to Travel Bootcamp Speaker
• Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival – Board of Directors  
• Detroit Symphony Orchestra – Governing Member 

• ASTA Global Convention Participant (2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022) and Speaker/Panelist (2019, 2022) 
• ASTA Premium Business Summit (2021, 2022) 
• ASTA Inaugural River Cruise Expo (2022) 
• ASTA Destination Expo: Morocco (2015), Greece (2018)  
• ASTA Global Live Participant and Panelist (2020)  
• ASTA Legislative Day: 2020, 2021, 2022  
• ASTA FAM Participant: Los Cabos (2021)  
• ASTA China Summit Participant (2017)  
• Contributor – ASTA Publications 

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E-mail: david.harris@ensembletravel.com

Candidate Statement

I love the business of travel and its global socio-economic impact. I have been privileged to see it evolve and serve the industry and consumers alike over the past 39 years through various roles and perspectives. 

As someone who has spent my employable life working exclusively in the travel industry as both a second-generation travel agency owner and in my current role as Executive Chairman of Ensemble, it’s not a stretch to say that travel is in my blood as much as it is my passion.  

Some of my earliest memories in the business are of working at my parents’ office as we developed a business together and where I’d stamp brochures and deliver travel documents.  As I grew older, my interests turned to business growth and there was literally no agency business function that I was not responsible for in the early years – systems and technology to bookkeeping, corporate business development and of course being a professional advisor. Eventually, I took over my parents’ agency until passing the torch to my daughter to continue the legacy as a third-generation travel agency owner in 2019.  

I have also had the opportunity to witness significant changes and challenges. Many of us will remember the headlines in the 1990s proclaiming that the travel advisor was dead with the introduction of online travel agencies - and also the elimination of airline commissions.   We have not only survived the many false predictions of the demise of our chosen profession, but I know that we have evolved into a more trusted and valued resource for all consumers. 

Concurrent with a rapid and encouraging recovery from the most unprecedented episode in our industry’s history, I am genuinely more confident about our future than ever before and that the value of and demand for our services has never been more sought after or appreciated. Yet as one of the smallest verticals in the travel industry, it has always been a challenge to have our voices heard and our interests addressed by elected officials.  To say that ASTA has done incredible work as the only American trade organization working exclusively on behalf of travel advisors and agencies is an understatement. But they can’t do it alone.  

When I assumed the role as CEO of Ensemble Travel Group in 2019, one of the first things I did was to require ALL of our members to join ASTA.  Why? Because I truly know the importance of advocacy and that it’s incumbent upon all of us to support their work, which is critical to our industry: whether it’s participating in grassroots advocacy efforts, attending annual Legislative Days to meet directly with elected officials or meeting with local representatives regularly to ensure that they understand our industry’s challenges and needs. 

I believe that there is more I/we can and must do to support ASTA’s mission. 

If I am elected, I will focus on four core issues. 

1. Continuing to promote the value and importance of travel advisors for consumer awareness and benefit through various channels and platforms from speaking opportunities, participation in industry events, social media and grassroots advocacy activities.  
2. Supporting advocacy and communications efforts to ensure that elected officials understand the economic impact of a well-functioning travel ecosystem and how all verticals contribute to and are essential to a strong travel industry for the benefit of consumers and industry businesses alike. 
   
3. The importance and need to establish and promote a system that recognizes and designates a classification of travel advisors based on their productivity, professional experience and certification for the benefit of industry standards and consumer awareness.  
4. To work with ASTA and the industry to bring forth important refinements with respect to regulatory requirements for agency registrants in the industry. This is an enormous but important challenge to ensure there are minimum financial and operational standards that apply to all Agencies and Advisors for the benefit of consumers and our industry alike.  

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E-mail: pamelairwinctc@gmail.com

Candidate Statement

Please vote for me as your ASTA Director At-Large. I will truly be YOUR voice  with ASTA. I will listen to YOUR concerns and be YOUR mouthpiece.

E-mail: jamesjkillen@yahoo.com

Candidate Statement

Dear ASTA Election Committee,

It is with great enthusiasm that I enter my name to be considered for the National At-Large Director for this upcoming election!

Education, collaboration, and strong listening skills has always been my career mantra. Through the years I have enjoyed countless mutual successes working side by side with advisors, that created a strong bond, being their trusted advocate.

My career has been mostly on the supplier side, first as a sales representative / business development manager. I was able to catapult my career at each company I worked for, as I was always eager to better myself and those around me. I found that leading individuals and teams came easy to me, working strategically in unison for a common goal.

I have had a long and diverse career and have enjoyed incredible success. The commitment to excellence I brought to my work career and what I do now as President of New York ASTA (and in my own business at Tzell Travel – Long Island), blended with my experience makes me more than confident that I will be a very strong asset on the At-Large National Director team.

I pride myself with having a plethora of industry experience; I am high energy; I have no mixed messages; I am proactive; I have no hidden agendas and I refuse to be a victim. For decades, I have enjoyed intimate work relationships with owners of mega agencies, presidents/owners of consortiums, tour operators, tourist boards and airlines to name a few.

I have 4+ decades worth of experience involved with ASTA, being the official liaison for the companies I represented. I have been a staunch supporter of local ASTA chapters as well as ASTA headquarters. I have been on ASTA committees for the then World Congress, Eastern Regional (where I personally executed and hosted at Universal Orlando), chaired the Connecticut ASTA Make-A-Wish program, and was an original founding member of YPS.

Today, I am dedicated to revitalizing New York City ASTA and work diligently to ensure the chapter is not only successful, but relevant, exciting, informative and educational. My first order of business after I became New York City ASTA president was to have the chapter’s first ever YPS. After 18-months, the NYASTA YPS went from zero to 50 strong! We have 4-6 events per year, and we are thriving. Why was this so important to me? I was extremely involved getting the original YPS started; and my very strong belief that the YPS demographic is ASTA’s and our industry’s future.

Outside of the travel industry, I am involved in charitable and philanthropic organizations. One organization which I am the immediate Past president, where we annually raised tens of thousands of dollars to help those less fortunate, fed and clothed the hungry, poor and our veterans. Fiduciary duties, driving membership, creating, and balancing budgets, marketing and promotions were all my daily day to day.

For your perusal, I have included my CV/resume, my experience and diversity speak for itself. My record in this industry working hand in hand with advisors is nothing short of stellar. I have excellent leadership skills; I am an exceptional team player. I always check my ego at the door, to get whatever job needs to get done.

My enthusiasm for ASTA, what it represents, it’s policies and procedures is ever growing. I know I will be an asset to the team, I ask for your confidence by voting for me.

Respectfully submitted,

Jim Killen

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E-mail: apagliasso@khmtravel.com

Candidate Statement

I’m excited to announce that I am running for a seat on the ASTA National Board of Directors and would be most grateful for your vote on the 2023 election ballot.

 I took at leap of faith from owning a successful Silicon Valley manufacturing rep business when I ventured into the travel industry almost 30 years ago.  I went from opening a one-person home-based travel agency mentoring thousands of advisors to becoming a leading host agency.  Since that time, I have written two top selling books for travel advisors and have been a speaker at most of the major industry conferences.   Every unique door and opportunity that has opened for me solidifies that I made the right chose to follow my passion and I have never looked back for a moment.   

 It was ASTA that led me in the right direction during those early years of my career and helped me build a successful agency.  I’ve continued over the years to be a staunch supporter of everything that ASTA does for our industry.  Over the years I have participated in countless local and international ASTA events, ASTA CAC meetings, ASTA Premium Business Summits, ASTA Independent Advisor Committee, NorCal ASTA President, ASTA Leg Day, ASTA AGC, and as Vice President of CCTO (California Coalition of Travel Organizations) I was active in advocacy when successfully getting the exemption to AB5 which kept the independent contractor legal status intact.   Most proudly, I was humbled and honored when presented with the 2021 Barbara O’Hara Advocacy Award.

As KHM Travel’s Vice President of Industry Relations, I continue to stress the importance of ASTA membership to our 4700 advisors.  Most recently, my mission has been to be  “KHM Industry Strong” and to continue to educate advisors what it means to belong to an association that supports and defends their business model.  In fact, I have coined a phrase “Travel is your business – ASTA is your voice!” and have been using this at any opportunity that I speak to travel advisors.

If I am elected to a board position, I plan to continue to support and promote the association, the membership, and advocacy in all manners for the advancement of the industry and for ASTA.

Thank you for your vote consideration, and if given the opportunity, I will be most honored to serve as a proud member and  to represent you as a National Board member.

With kind regards,

Anita Pagliasso

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