Professional Summary
Writer, motivational speaker and 2nd generation life coach. Talented and inspiring multi-lingual professional with 20+ years of experience in PR, travel & tourism,, hospitality, design, project & event management. Slar interpersonal skills, extensive experience and a passion for all things exceptional
Core Qualifications
Dedication to authentic experiences, sustainability, and epic adventures
Inspiring and Passionate leader
Exceptional negotiation skills
Unique professional perspective and in-depth understanding of adventure travelers, DMC’s, tour operators, guides and vendors
Extraordinary intercultural people skills
Extensive first-hand experience working with indigenous communities and government entities
Extremely adept at maneuvering around political processes and administrative roadblocks
Very strong PR skills
Creative, flexible, and able to think outside the box
Proactive & professional team player.
Able to inspire and motivate clients, colleagues & staff
Comprehensive experience in all aspects of travel industry trade shows
Exceptional networking skills
Ability to problem-solve in high stress situations and make appropriate independent decisions
General management experience in both Hospitality & Tourism
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Outstanding communicator & public speaker
Native English & Spanish. Working knowledge Norwegian & Russian. Ability to pick up conversational language proficiency with ease.
Professional Experience
Undersecretary for Markets, Investments and International RelationsEcuador Ministry of Tourism
2016 Quito, Ecuador
Charged with international promotion, public relations and marketing of Ecuador as a tourism destination
Responsible for attraction, cultivation and follow up of international investment and investors in the tourism sector
Attraction, development and maintenance of national and international connectivity to, from and within Ecuador including air travel, ground transportation, cruise lines, etc…
Official ministry representative, spokesperson and diplomatic liaison for all international delegations, government entities, NGO’s, embassies, consulates and their authorities both within Ecuador and internationally.
Successfully managed 4 independent teams: Markets, Connectivity, Investments and International relations with over 60 total employees in an extremely challenging political environment.
Country Director Ecuador Metrica RelocationsProviding orientation, housing, real estate, logistics support for High level Diplomats relocating to Ecuador. 2016- Present
Independent PR, Marketing and Event Production Consultant, 1992 – Present
Familiarity and efficiency in all aspects of event production
WTM 2008-2012
PR & Project Management for Minister of Tourism & Quito Tourist board
LATM 2007-2013
PR, Design & Management of project for Mintur, Quito Tourism, Authentic Andes & Rumiloma. Consultant for Achuar Nation
USTOA 2010- 2013 USA
PR & Marketing for Surtrek South America
Le Conde Nast Luxury Travel Show UK 2010 UK
Comprehensive Project Design and Management for Quito Tourist Board
National Geographic Flagship Store 2010 UK
Concept, design & organization of event- “Ecuador Week Nat Geo” including: Marketing, graphic design & logos, Hiring and logistics for 5 keynote speakers, Design of picture windows on London High St. Organization of printing, permissions & exposition of photo art from top Ecuadorian Photographers. Menu design, international shipment of ingredients, hiring of chef and kitchen staff for cafeteria to serve Ecuadorian food in café. Flower design to showcase Ecuadorian roses & coordination with London florists. Designed & organized PR and Marketing campaign. Liason between Ministry of tourism and Nat Geo staff
Euroflora 2010 Genova, Italy
Project Management Ministry of Tourism Ecuador. Charged with Not only the concept, design and management of project, but also with finding purveyor financing of $350K for project. Won 7 International awards for best design, best foreign country, etc…
Agriflor 2010 Ecuador
Ecuador Ministry of Tourism in conjunction with Ecuadorian Flower growers Association. Project design and management. Silver medal for Outstanding Stand Design and Execution
Luxury Travel Show 2011-2012 USA
Project design and Management for Surtrek DMC
LAN Roadshow 2013 Australia Representing Ecuador & South America
LAN Roadshow 2013 Germany Main presenter Ecuador
Ecuador Ministry of Tourism Roadshow 2015 15 cities- US and Canada, East & West Coast
Independent Event Planner and Coordinator 1993 - Present US, Europe, South America
Healing the Children NGO 1992-2000 Central & South America, E. Europe, Asia
Organization, fund-raising, logistics & travel for Surgical teams performing open heart surgeries in developing nations. Coordination of travel, funding, housing and medical care for children needing life-saving surgeries in US. Liaison with international NGO’s and Government entities
Independent Adventure & Luxury Travel Consultant, Europe, N & S America
1995- Present
Independent Consultant To International Tour Operators & Travel Associations, Tourist Boards, Ho Owners & Management, NGO’s And Community Tourism Projects
15 years conducting business with DMC’s, tour operators and travel agents in South America, Europe & North America
Destination representation for Ecuador Ministry of Tourism & Quito Tourist Board
Surtrek South America Tour Operator- Consultant & Board member. Trained sales & operations staff, developed itineraries, site & service inspections, product representation at global travel tradeshows & roadshows. 2008- 2018
Extensive personal experience developing and improving indigenous community and sustainable tourism projects: staff training, guest service, marketing plans, operations & logistics, profitability, etc.
Kapawi Lodge, Achuar Territory - Ecuadorian Amazon- In charge of team overseeing transition to 100% indigenous ownership of project: Instrumental in changing $400K annual loss to first time ever profit, indigenous hiring of first GM, creating equal opportunities and pay for indigenous workers, redecoration of project to reflect Achuar culture, values, craftsmanship, etc… developed strategies to improve viability and overall success for project based on the vision and wishes of community leaders. Staff training, guest service, marketing plans, operations & logistics, profitability, etc. 6 months as on site GM with my husband and family.
Rainforest Alliance- Asked to develop a pilot project to take sustainable tourism practices to 8 community tourism projects in the Andes & Amazon of Ecuador.
Tropic Journeys - Community Tourism and design consultant
Hospitality Consulting
The Pink House Galapagos- Redesign
Iguana Crossing, Galapagos Islands- Consultant in Management, business development, staff training, etc.
Casa Aliso Quito- design, remodel and redecoration of ho.
Adare Manor, Limerick Ireland- Management consultant to GM
Huaorani Lodge
Siona Lodge
Mountain Madness- guiding, operations, logistics & tour design in conjunction with my husband- MM senior guide- Oswaldo Freire
Personal Service Manager/ Tour Leader for ATTA and USTOA fam trips Ecuador
South American VIP Tour leader/ Personal Service Consultant: Mountain Madness, Geo-Ex, Surtrek, etc…
Independent Global Property & Service Inspection
Independent Location Consultant for TV & Film
Owner Hacienda Rumiloma, 03/10/2006- current, Quito, Ecuador
Designed built and decorated award-winning boutique ho
Designed and developed menus & recipes
Train ho management, kitchen, service, & housekeeping staff
Design Tours and activities, organize & operate tours, train guides
Use exceptional service and resulting word-of-mouth in lieu of traditional marketing to establish ho in the top percentage of small luxury hos in South America
Managed daily office correspondence, sales inquiries, reservations, etc…
Daily meet & greet with guests as well as staff briefings
Negotiation with DMC’s, Tour Operators and Travel Agents
Personally recognized in Times London, Nat Geo Traveler, TripAdvisor, Elle UK, NY Times, etc… for outstanding service and attention to detail
Education
Mission Bay High School, San Diego, California
Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, International Relations, Foreign Language
Sotheby’s institute/ University of Manchester, London, Masters Program- Decorative Arts
Interests
Travel, writing, motivational speaking, Thru-hiking, reading, Trekking, Mountain-Climbing, Horseback Riding, Health & Fitness, beach-combing, Snorkeling, Food & Wine, Anthropology & History, Family Travel, Theatre, Indigenous Cultures, Interior Design, Decorative Arts, Reading, Cooking, Disappearing Languages & Cultures, Indigenous communities, Classical Music
Personal Achievements & Favorite Adventure Experiences
Single MOther of 4 amazing young women
Solo’ Hammock and Heels’ thru-hike across Turkey, Greece, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo and Albania 2017
Waves 4 Water Rohingya refugee Relief Project. Project Director
Co-Author Georgetown University, National Geographic & World Bank- Child Malnutrition implementation of ‘Projecto Ternura’ 2018
‘Partners of the Americas’ Dental Program -Amazon Director 2017- present
Have called 9 different countries on 3 continents home. Have worked and traveled in another 50+
Summit Cayambe for 50th 2015 5790 M/ 19K ft
Summit Cotopaxi 2006, 2009 5,897 M /19,347 ft.
Summit Aconcagua (Winter) 2007 6962 M /22,837 ft.
Summited Vallunaraju 2014 (5386M/18,655 ft.) with my husband and 4 daughters (8, 11, 13, &13) after completing the Santa Cruz trek
North Face Chongmalungma/Everest 2013 Arranged logistics and special permission for solo travel across Nepal and Tibet to Everest Advanced base camp. Including extensive negotiations with Chinese government officials Spent 2 weeks at the advanced base camp on the North face of Everest supporting my husband via radio as he summited without oxygen. We renewed our vows at a monastery on the way back down.
Designed & built a world-class Restaurant & Ho in Quito, Ecuador
Lived fulltime in the Amazon jungle; 13 days walk from closest road. My kids went to school in a canoe. Our diet consisted of masticated manioc root brew and local fish and game. We escaped under cover of darkness after a rival tribe’s death threats. Then returned for a further stint at the personal request of the President of the Achuar Nation (NAE Ecuador) and the president of the Combined Amazonian Nations Ecuador (CONAE). We continue to work closely with these tribes and their projects.
Books for Beads- founded grassroots barter-based foundation to help remote villages gain access to medical and school supplies in a sustainable way. Started 14 libraries and outfitted a dozen schools in Amazon. Organized yearly medical brigades to various indigenous communities. presentations in an effort to raise awareness of oil, logging and mining risks and potential problems.
Healing the Children- involved in over 50 open heart surgeries – raising funds, coordinating with government and NGO’s, Travel and logisitics, permissions, staffing, etc… I personally lifted each child onto the operating table and then translated for local doctors during surgery in an effort to increase pro bono surgical efforts in developing nations
Completed “Aids Ride” Bicycle Orlando- Miami 3 days 300 miles 1998
Irish Racehorse owner of the year 1998, Owner of Grand National Champion Racehorse, “Amberleigh House” 2004
Former member of West Hills Hunt Club, County Limerick Hunt, West-Meath Stag Hunt
Amateur Show jumper and Steeple Chase competitor US & Europe 1990- 2000
Sponsor and Jockey- 1999 Amberleigh House Ostrich Derby, Punchestown Race course, Kildare Ireland
Starred in pilot Food, Wine & Travel show for Irish TV
Professional References
Todd Chapman
US Ambassador to Ecuador 2016- 2019
Nathalie Pilovetsky-
President, Latitude International – Destination Marketing & PR
Mark Gunlogson
President, Mountain Madness
Personal References
Desiree Jackson-Whitney
Director Whitney Family Foundation
Ethan Lovell
Photographer, International Project Director Waves 4 Water
Tony Smurfit
President/ CEO
Smurfit Kappa Group
