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Employee Profile |
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Kris Spealman
Senior Cruise Consultant
Favorite Itinerary: Hawaii
Our employee profile this month features one of The Cruise Web's most promising up and coming stars, Kris Spealman. Kris worked with his father in construction before deciding to make the change to travel in 1999 when he began studying Hospitality and Travel Management at a technical school in York, PA. "It was immediately a great fit. I got great grades and my professors kept telling me how well I did, especially when presenting to the class." Thankfully, Kris found The Cruise Web a year ago and began making an immediate impact. In his year here, Kris has developed thousands of loyal clients who happily call him their "cruise guy." "I love the job," says Kris, "These days there are so many people concerned with stressful things like money and work, that it's great to be in a position to help them plan and talk about something fun!" Kris gets extra excited when talking about his clients and how he's able to make dreams come true. "I've booked cruises for people who never thought they'd be able to do a cruise and helped them see places that they never thought they'd be able to see. It's really rewarding." He adds, "Happy clients are my goal. I've worked in a lot of jobs where there were no client relationships. Here at The Cruise Web, that's what it's all about. I like to feel good about coming to work."
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Seth Woodward
Senior Marketing and Operations Coordinator
Favorite Itinerary: Southern Caribbean
This month, we want to take you behind the curtain, and introduce you to Seth Woodward. Seth is our Senior Marketing and Operations Coordinator at The Cruise Web. This means that Seth helps update our website, designs and distributes our weekly cruise specials and helps keep our consultants up to date with the best deals our cruise lines have to offer. Seth joined The Cruise Web after graduating from the University of Maryland with a bachelors in Marketing and Finance. While attending Maryland, Seth interned at the SEC and at an advertising agency to see which field he enjoyed most. Marketing, and then The Cruise Web, won out. "I enjoy marketing for The Cruise Web because there are a lot of different responsibilities, and each comes with its own set of challenges." Seth explains, "On any given day, I could be coding script for our website or doing graphic design one minute, and then creating marketing collateral and writing copy for our newsletter the next." With all of the different duties that Seth performs for The Cruise Web, we wanted to find out which task he enjoys the most. "I really enjoy going through The Cruise Web banner pictures that our clients send in for our 'Photo of the Month' gallery. It's a great reminder of what our business is all about - putting our clients on the best cruise possible." And what's the one responsibility he never thought he'd have? "Creating the graphics for the user submitted captions. While it's not something I ever thought I'd do, I've really enjoyed exercising my creativity."
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Don Dean
Director of Finance and Human Resources
Favorite Itinerary: Mediterranean
In keeping with the theme of the "Into the Future," this month we would like to introduce our Director of Human Resources and Accounting, Don Dean. Don came to The Cruise Web after working with us as a consultant for many years. The Cruise Web was quite a different career path compared to what Don was used to, but that was part of why Don accepted the offer to work here. "I have received job offers from just about every company I have consulted for," explained Don. "The Cruise Web was the only offer that I ever considered and accepted." There were a lot of reasons that went into accepting his position at The Cruise Web, and all of them dealt with the future and the direction of the company. "When I started talking with Frans about the direction he wanted to take the company (the new office, the size, and growth of the company) I knew it was an opportunity that I could really be excited about." And has the job been everything he thought it would be? "Well, the most challenging thing about this position is the reminder of all the small things that are necessary to make a company successful. At the consultant level, I was dealing with big picture ideas." And that challenge is balanced out by the best part of his position, which is "getting to interact with employees across the entire company." We also wanted to know what the future of Don's cruise destinations looked like. "I plan on going back to Europe with my wife, to see where we once lived and then to check out the Mediterranean. And then a few years from now, I would like to take my two children and their families on a cruise. I will likely have to wait a few more years as my youngest grandson is just a couple of weeks old and our sixth grandchild is due in December."
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Viviane Temchine
Senior Cruise Consultant
Years in Travel: 13
This month, say "hi" to one of our most well-traveled Cruise Consultants, Viviane Temchine. A proud native of New York, you could say that Viviane was literally born into the world of travel. Her dad was the Tour Manager for El Al Airlines, which means that he and his family had many opportunities to see the world. From a young age, Viviane was stamping her passport and, during high school summer jobs, she found herself stamping envelopes to mail brochures and answering the phone for travel agencies. After college, Viviane worked at various wholesale travel companies in New York City and then as the manager of the retail division of a travel corporation. One of the many reasons that Viviane is such a good fit for our "Formal vs. Casual" edition of The Current is that she has experience with both. So what's the best way to travel? "For me, it's all based on where I'm going," says Viviane. "For example, I've been to places like Morocco and Tibet where it's best to take the adventure-travel route. I traveled to China to cruise the Yangtze River and climb a mountain to visit a 500 year old temple that would soon be lost forever under 300 feet of water because of the new Three Gorges Dam. I want to get involved in the culture, the people and the adventure of the area. But, if I'm going to some place that I've been before, or just want to relax, then I'm all about the suite and my butler please!" Viviane believes that the experience is what makes a vacation. Her experience is what makes her truly an expert on a destination because chances are, she's been! "My clients keep coming back to me because, in addition to the personalized service I offer, I provide information and insight that you can't find in any book." |
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Dennard Melton
Sales Recruiter
Favorite Destination: Cozumel, Mexico
This month's profile features one of The Cruise Web's newest additions: Dennard Melton, Sales Recruiter. Charged with the job of finding top talent for our Cruise Consultant position, Dennard plays an integral role in the success of The Cruise Web. Dennard started his academic career at The Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, R.I. before accepting a football scholarship to attend James Madison University. After working in insurance for a short time, he found his match working in recruiting for a firm in Baltimore, MD. "I love what I do," says Dennard. "I've always had a passion for helping people and trying to understand them. It's a challenge to dig in and find out what they want and what they want to do." When he arrived at The Cruise Web, he immediately recognized his new challenges. "This is a unique position. The Cruise Web is looking for personality; someone who is motivated and dedicated but also possesses the skills to succeed. In my last position, I was just looking for a specific skill, and motivation and personality weren't high priorities." As one of the company's best golfers, Dennard is a natural fit for our Golf-themed employee profile. He's been golfing since he was 12 years old. "Golf was always recreational for me, especially when I was younger and more into basketball and football. But as I got older, it was more about being social with friends and having a good time. The good news is that Dennard is in the right industry for a golfer. His dream trip includes a Mediterranean cruise with a golf outing in Dubai. Sounds great, Dennard! Need a cruise consultant to help with that? |
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Lynda Lynn
Cruise Consultant
Dream Itinerary: Tahiti and Asia
Lynda Lynn is the perfect example of how the marriage of cruising and fitness actually works! Lynda came to The Cruise Web with a background in marketing and project management. Already an avid traveler, Lynda found the cruise industry to be a perfect "fit." Lynda loves to stay in shape. Not only does she run a mile and half a day, she's also signed up for a company-sponsored marathon in October. There's a common misconception that cruise vacations are all about stuffing yourself while onboard, so how does someone as fitness-focused as Lynda survive on a cruise? Let's take her last Mediterranean cruise as an example: "I went to the gym as much as I could - the gyms are very, very nice - and I frequently visited the spa. Also, I walked everywhere, especially in port." She joked, "It's easy to over indulge on a cruise - there's so much food and it's all so good, so you've got to find ways to not gain 500 lbs." As for her role here at The Cruise Web, Lynda decided to ditch her marketing background for a more "rewarding" position as a Cruise Consultant. "The Cruise Web is perfect for me; I love to travel and am impressed with the environment. The people are very focused, but you're selling a product that is interesting and diverse. There are so many different itineraries and cruise lines, and I love talking to and being around people." She likes to remind clients that travel is much more than the logistics; "It's really different for every single person. It's important to have that conversation so that I can match my client with the perfect experience. I've traveled a lot, I've stayed in a variety of accommodations, and I've been to different cultures and different climates, so I think that my experiences can really guide people who are not sure of what they want to do." |
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Steve Radosevich
Cruise Consultant
Favorite Destination: Mediterranean, especially the Italian ports of call
There are many different backgrounds that make up the staff of The Cruise Web. This month, we'd like to introduce The Cruise Web's first and only engineer turned Cruise Consultant. After graduating from Widener University in Chester, PA with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Steve found himself, as many new college grads, looking for a job. "People always told me that I had the personality for sales. I love to travel, so this seemed like a natural fit," says Steve about his decision to join The Cruise Web. Steve initially started in another position at The Cruise Web, helping Cruise Consultants reach their clients faster. "After seeing the environment on the floor, I thought that this was a company where I could see myself being successful and thriving." And he was right - Steve earned his first promotion after just a year at the job. "I was able to take a lot of the things that I was already good at with my engineering background and apply it to being a good Cruise Consultant. For example, attention to detail, being creative and building on existing things. Basically I like to find out what has worked for my clients in the past, and make sure that I focus on improving that experience for their cruise. I don't have to reinvent anything." Ask any of Steve's clients or coworkers and they'll tell you how devoted he is to both his clients and family. His next cruise is with his three-year-old daughter, Vanessa. Happy sailing, Steve! |
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Carla Rader
Quality Control
Next Cruise: Alaska
Cruising is all about service. This month we'd like to introduce you to one of our most service-oriented team members, Carla Rader. Carla is part of our Client Service department and although you may never get a chance to speak to her, chances are, she knows all about your upcoming cruise. Carla's role is to make sure that every booking that passes through The Cruise Web is accurate and ready to cruise! Carla has been at The Cruise Web for nearly 5 years. Even as a young child, Carla knew she had the gift of focus and detail, which makes her the perfect fit as the initial stage to our extensive Quality Control process. "I've always had a great focus and attention to detail. Even when I was younger and was starting to read, I would always be the one to find typos and grammatical errors in school. I still correct my friend's grammar when they speak, for example, 'you and I', not 'you and me.'" She added jokingly, "I'll always provide that feedback, even if it's not necessarily well received." So how does Carla stay motivated in a job that would seem tedious to most people? "I've never had any inclination to be anything in particular. I've really always been interested with supporting people who do something inspiring. I also love to help other people reach their goals. I get excited when our agents do well because I know the clients are taken care of too. This product is exciting! It's vacations!" Although you may never get the chance to speak to Carla, she's a huge part of what makes The Cruise Web great. The service she provides may not be face to face or over the phone, but the role she plays is vital to our Cruise Consultants and to your reservations. Ask any consultant and they'll tell you how appreciative they our of Carla! (Carla, can you please check that last sentence for us? Thanks!) |
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Heather Wasson
Sales Manager
When The Cruise Web staff decided to devote an edition of The Current to "Singles Cruising," one member of our team was just a little more excited than anyone else. As someone who has recently thrown herself into the dating world, Sales Manager Heather Wasson was the obvious choice for a spotlight. So in the spirit of the single life, we present the first ever Cruise Web Current "Personal" Ad! Let's learn a little bit about Heather...
Favorite Itinerary: Southern Caribbean
Heather found her way to The Cruise Web after graduating from St. Mary's College in Maryland with a degree in Psychology. After graduation, she sharpened her management skills by running her own business. After growing tired of the long hours and extensive travel, Heather went on her computer and typed "travel" and "fun" into CareerBuilder and wah-la - welcome to The Cruise Web! Heather remembers, "I wanted a 'travel' job, but not one where I had to travel." And the rest is Cruise Web history. Heather was promoted many times as a Cruise Consultant and now has the responsibility of ensuring that each Cruise Web consultant has the skills necessary to be successful and make sure their clients are getting the maximum value for their cruise vacation. Although she's built so many relationships with her clients during her time as a Cruise Consultant, she's still looking for that ultimate relationship outside of the office. And as you'll read in the blog in this edition of The Current, she knows that cruising can be an excellent way to travel as a single!
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Ken Cho
Cruise Consultant
Favorite Itinerary: South East Asia - specifically Vietnam, Bangkok and Singapore Pets: Pug named Tinsel (Chainsaw to his guy friends) Favorite Teams: Da Bears, Da Cubs Favorite Green Thing: Having a green lawn There are many reasons that people have chosen to work at The Cruise Web. This month's Employee Profile, Ken Cho, may be the only person who took a job as a Cruise Consultant to travel less. A Chicago native, Ken spent many years as a government contractor. It was his job to travel overseas to sell furniture to government agencies. That job took him around the world, and he's stayed in cities throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and the United States. "My friends would joke that I was a spy, and that selling furniture was my cover," jokes Ken. Eventually his need to be closer to home (and his wife), as well as the urging of a friend who works at The Cruise Web (see Arthur Balin's profile), brought him into the world of cruise travel. "My extensive travel background really gives my clients an advantage when they work with me." His favorite place so far has been Tokyo, Japan. "It's just such a clash of culture; different people, different behaviors. Yet Tokyo is one of the safest cities in the world." Ken seems to have found a great fit with The Cruise Web. Not as much travel (at least the travel now is on a cruise), close to his home in Annapolis, Maryland and he gets to do what he loves, creating awesome cruise experiences for his clients. "My favorite call to make during my day is the 'Welcome Back' call. It gives me great satisfaction when my clients return from their cruise and can tell me all about the great time they had. I love the feedback."
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Susan Comer
Assistant Manager of Group Administration
Favorite Itinerary: Canada/New England Hobbies: Traveling. Cooking, Baking. Reading, Line Dancing, Country Music Pets: Baxter, a black pug Favorite Teams: NJ Devils This month's employee profile spotlights The Cruise Web's Assistant Manager of Group Administration, Susan Comer. Susan has been with The Cruise Web for seven years, after moving to the DC area from New Jersey. The Cruise Web was a natural fit for Susan and it allowed her to use her Travel and Tourism Management BA from Johnson and Wales in Providence, RI. Over the years, Susan has seen our Groups Department grow to more than double its size in the past five years. That growth has brought a lot of fun and interesting challenges. "I love my job because every day is something different," states Susan. "I've been able to work with so many wonderful clients over the years." It's not just the volume of clients that make the job so rewarding, it's the nature of the groups. "I'm not just dealing with someone's cruise, I'm actually dealing with a client's wedding, a family or class reunion or a once in a lifetime trip taken by a group of friends." Susan explains, "We get to work through the details of the trip; make sure the grandparents' room is next to the grandkids' room, make sure there is a table big enough to accommodate everyone in the dining area. It's those details that help make the vacation so special. It's an indescribable feeling that I get when the clients return from their cruise completely satisfied and blown away by their experience." And when Susan's not at work coordinating group cruises, she's at home with her black pug, Baxter, baking and cooking up a storm. Her favorite meal to cook is meatloaf, which also happens to be her favorite singer (just kidding). And her "go to" dessert is molasses cookies, which is a family recipe that was passed down to her by her grandmother.
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Chris Roth
Senior Manager of Sales and Client Services
Favorite Itinerary: Alaska Hobbies: Geocaching, hiking, BBQing, cooking and eating wildlife Favorite Teams: Washington Redskins, Baltimore Orioles, and Washington Capitals This week, it is our pleasure to introduce the voice behind our Employee Profiles. Chris Roth has been with The Cruise Web for five and a half years. In 2005, Chris joined the company as a Cruise Consultant after working in recruiting in the Baltimore area. Since then Chris has been promoted up the ranks and now oversees the Client Service Department and the Sales team. "I was excited about The Cruise Web because I had only been on one cruise during my honeymoon, so the prospect of selling cruises was exciting." Chris has tons of wildlife experience and was a perfect fit for this month's employee profile. He and his wife are proud parents of a three and a half-year-old and a five month old. "Ethan at times can be part Tasmanian Devil and whatever animal just has an un-ending, un-dying amount of energy. Jacob discovered his voice on Saturday night so lately it sounds like a flock of hungry vultures are living in our nursery." And for the other kind of wildlife? "The best cruise I've ever taken was my Alaska cruise," says Chris. "The wildlife was such an amazing component of that trip. We were able to see a pod of whales from our balcony, bald eagles in Juneau and sea lions in Lake Auke. Unfortunately, we didn't see any bears; I guess that will have to wait until my Alaskan Cruise Tour when we go to Denali National Park."
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Gloria Hanson
Senior Cruise Consultant
Favorite Itinerary: Anything Europe, especially Greece, Turkey, Spain and Italy Charitable Activities: Church Choir, Hospitality Committee, Scouts Food & Clothing Drives Hobbies: Spending time with my grandson, Ajhani This month's employee spotlight is on an individual who has dedicated her whole life to the idea of service. Before Gloria came to The Cruise Web, she already had an impressive background in the profession of making people happy. Her experience includes time in social services, she was a landlord/tenant advocate, she worked in customer service for utility companies in Wisconsin and Virginia, and even today she continues to provide service in both her personal and professional life. Gloria has been successful at The Cruise Web for the past seven years because of her background and her ability to build rapport with her clients. "I think it's important to build trust with your clients. They need to know that I have their best interests in mind. It's important that they trust me and know that I care about them." Because of this philosophy, Gloria has built her business on repeat customers. What's next for Gloria? "Buenos Aires, I hear it's the Paris of South America." Gloria explains her passion, "Traveling opens up the doors to explore different cultures. And while I like the touristy stuff, I love to be immersed in the people and the culture. I like to get a little lost when I travel, and then when I see a main street, it's like...whew." When the Cruise Web Current staff decided to dedicate a newsletter to "Community Service," Gloria was the obvious choice for the spotlight. Ask any one of her clients or co-workers, and you'll quickly realize what it means to go "above and beyond." Thanks, Gloria! |
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Jacques Botty
Senior Cruise Consultant
Favorite Itinerary: Mediterranean, especially Naples and Barcelona Hobbies: Water sports and deep sea fishing Favorite Teams: None, prefers to follow athletes like Peyton Manning and Chris Johnson This month's theme of exploration and adventure allows us to spotlight Senior Cruise Consultant Jacques Botty. Jacques was selected not just for his high level of service, but also because he is headed to the windiest and highest continent in the world. Later this month, Jacques will be summoning his inner explorer and traveling to Antarctica. While most people think vacation means fun in the sun, Jacques chose to vacation in Antarctica because "it's one of the least traveled land masses in the world, as less than 200,000 people have ever visited. I'm excited about breaking ice and making at least one landing," explains Jacques. "I hope to see penguins, walruses (or is it walri?) and visit an active research station. Obviously, due to the ever changing conditions in Antarctica, you have to be open to last minute itinerary changes." When Jacques was studying Business Administration and Marketing at the University of New Orleans, he never thought he would have an opportunity to take a trip like this. Jacques came to The Cruise Web over three years ago, looking for something that would marry his business degree with his love of travel. Besides being an adventure traveler, Jacques likes water sports and deep sea fishing. Jacques looks forward to coming in every day because of the rush that he gets putting his clients on their trip of a lifetime. Make sure you check out next month's edition of The Current, as Jacques will be publishing a blog of his Antarctica adventure. Happy and safe travels, Jacques! |
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Kevin Sweigard
Senior Cruise Consultant
Favorite Itinerary: Alaska Hobbies: Collecting sports cards (including 1200+ Mike Schmidt baseball cards and 1500+ Eric Lindros hockey cards) Favorite Teams: Flyers, Phillies, Eagles & Penn St. This month's Employee Profile is Kevin "The Ghoul" Sweigard. Kevin came to The Cruise Web 4 1/2 years ago. Kevin previously worked in a very stressful telecommunications company where he had 25 people reporting to him. Selling cruises was never something he thought about and it was actually a little scary coming to The Cruise Web without having any cruise experience. "Even though I didn't have a travel sales background, I have succeeded here because of hard work and forming lasting relationships with my clients," said Kevin. "Also, treating my clients with respect goes a long way, too." As for the cruise experience, he was quickly able to ingratiate himself into the cruise world, taking advantage of many cruising opportunities, including his favorite, an Alaskan cruise with his wife and daughter. As for Halloween, Kevin has some fond memories of Halloweens past. "Growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania, we had a lot of fun running around with friends, wreaking havoc." Kevin explains, "We would soap car windows and toilet paper trees of fellow classmates, guaranteeing they would have a busy November 1st." Fortunately for Kevin's current neighborhood, his Halloween plans are much less mischievous. "This year I'll sit out on the front porch and hand out candy." |
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Ellicia Ayers
Accounting Coordinator
Favorite Itinerary: Canadian Rockies Cruise tour Pets: Two cats named Bouncer and Romeo Hobbies: Photography, camping, bike riding fishing, anything and everything outdoors Favorite Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins In keeping with our "Behind-the-Scenes" theme, this month we introduce you to Ellicia Ayers, our Accounting Coordinator. Ellicia has worked behind the scenes at The Cruise Web for 6 years now. Currently, Ellicia works hard to make sure that your payments are processed efficiently and securely with the cruise lines. Although you may only speak to your cruise consultant, nearly every booking at The Cruise Web goes through Ellicia's desk. Her attention to detail and passion for working with numbers makes her a valuable asset to The Cruise Web. She came to us as a Customer Service Rep, was then promoted to Operation Coordinator and now has moved into our Accounting Department. Ellicia ensures that your bookings are paid properly and on time. "I heard about The Cruise Web from a friend who was a Cruise Consultant here" Ellicia explains. "They told me it's a great place to work, the people are friendly, and there are lots of good opportunities to travel." Since coming to The Cruise Web, Ellicia has traveled to the Canadian Rockies, Canada/New England, the Caribbean and the Florida Keys. Ellicia's travels have also helped her hone her photography skills. You can see some of her pictures in our Photo Gallery. What's next on Ellicia's travel wish list? "I definitely want to do Alaska and then Australia and New Zealand. But Alaska is my dream vacation." And when Ellicia is not crunching numbers at The Cruise Web, her new house that she bought last year takes up every waking moment. Currently, with the weather being so nice, she is working on the outdoor projects, "I just tore down an old fence and put a new one up. Also working on removing gravel from my driveway." |
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Adam Wolf
Senior Cruise Consultant
Favorite Itinerary: Hawaiian Islands Hobbies: American history, percussionist (they call him the "Egg Man"), movies, surfing the internet Favorite Teams: Clemson Tigers, Appalachian State Mountaineers, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals Adam came to The Cruise Web in February 2005 after a long stint as a college geography professor, a high school social studies teacher, and a professional tour guide. When Adam wasn't in the classroom, he liked to travel domestically and abroad. Classroom teaching helped prep him for this career because he is now able to educate his clients on their upcoming cruise vacations, as well as provide expert advice on what to see and do in the ports of call they will visit. "I've been to Europe, the Caribbean, Canada, Hawaii, Alaska and most of the US, so my geographical knowledge and extensive travel experience is a huge benefit for my clients," explained Adam. "My future vacation bucket list includes travelling to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. I have some wonderful clients in Australia who have invited me to stay with them when I visit!" And what does Adam like the most about working at The Cruise Web for the past 5 1/2 years? "I love my job and strive to provide legendary customer service to all of my clients, not just on their first cruise, but for all of the cruises they will take for the rest of their lives." Adam's strengths include his enthusiasm for cruising and his natural rapport with his clients. Although he has never met most of them in person, Adam has been known to give his clients sightseeing tours of Washington DC's monuments and memorials. When Adam is not in the office, he is usually at his house near Baltimore with his wife of over two years, Michelle, and his two cats, Kitty and Sox. House chores, yard work, maintaining his swimming pool, and frequent trips to Home Depot and Lowes tend to dominate any and all free time that he has. Luckily for him, he gets to come to work every day and talk about cruises! |
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Jarren Matthews
Senior Cruise Consultant
Favorite Itinerary: Mediterranean Sea Hobbies: Football, Redskins Bucket List of Food: Pulled pork, Fettuccini Alfredo, a good sirloin (any Brazilian steak house) This month's employee profile features a consultant who is truly an expert in helping his clients make their Bucket List dreams a reality. Jarren Matthews came to The Cruise Web as a referral from one of our company's Managers. Before coming to The Cruise Web, Jarren sold knives. And while selling cruises is much different than selling knives, Jarren dove right into the travel industry, built upon his prior sales experience and quickly earned the respect and trust of hundreds of cruisers. "I think people book their cruises with me because I genuinely have their best interests in mind," exclaims Jarren. "My favorite part of the job is making my clients happy. Such as finding upgrades, saving them money and recommending the perfect cruise. The most satisfying part for me is when my clients trust me enough to send their family and friends to me for their cruise plans." What's on Jarren's personal bucket list? "In the number one spot? A World Cruise, but that will have to wait until I accumulate 130 vacation days, which may take a while. Second on my bucket list is a 32-day Hawaii and Tahiti cruise out of Los Angeles. And my third choice is a Mediterranean cruise." Jarren will take care of his third bucket list item in the fall when he does a 14-day Mediterranean cruise from Venice to Barcelona. Once he completes that cruise, an Australian sailing will move into the number three spot on his list. It's always exciting to complete bucket list items and we're glad to see Jarren making a dent in his list! |
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Julie Atkins
Manager of Client Services and Group Administration
Interests: Traveling, photography, cooking, fine wine, creating photography books Favorite Itinerary: Australia This month's employee profile is our very own Manager of Client Services and Group Administration, Julie Atkins. Julie was chosen as this month's employee profile because her vast knowledge of some of the best beaches in the world; Moorea off of Tahiti, Bora Bora, Turtle Island in Fiji, Aitutaki in Aruba, Majorca in the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain and Perth, Australia. How did Julie get to see all of these beaches? "I worked for a large travel retail company in England, my native land, that gave me my first opportunity to travel abroad," explains Julie. "I then received a job offer to work in the states for a company that specializes in travel through the South Pacific." Now, Julie has a new travel companion, her 2 year old, Erin. She's only 2 years old, but she's already been on 5 cruises (a nice perk that comes with working at The Cruise Web). If you check out the pictures that Julie submitted for the Beautiful Beaches & Family Fun blog, it appears as though Julie and Erin are the only people on the beach? How do you find these beautiful, yet crowd-less beaches when you are on a cruise? "The answer is in my blog, check it out." Ok, so, the next big question becomes, what is your favorite beach and why? "Ayia Napa in Cyprus, I went there many times, but I love that beach because it's just gorgeous; golden sand and beautiful green water. It was also not crowded at all." |
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Jen Crivelli
Senior Cruise Consultant
Hobbies: Watching the Baltimore Ravens, playing softball, spending time with family and friends. Favorite Itinerary: Greek Isles, French Polynesia Favorite Food: Anything Italian Pets: A daschund, Timon, and a corgi, Talbot This month we profile Jennifer Crivelli, our wedding and romance at sea specialist. Jen has an extensive background in wedding and event planning. Combine that with her love of cruising and travel and you have a bona fide romance and travel specialist. In her four years with The Cruise Web, Jen has helped over 30 couples plan their weddings at sea. When asked why cruise ship weddings are so popular, Jen had this to say: "It's easy to be married at sea because there are so many options and it's completely customizable." While weddings tend to be her forte, Jen also loves to book clients for other romantic getaways. "Weddings aside, I love booking clients for their special occasions because you get to help them make an unforgettable memory that they'll cherish for a lifetime" The only thing Jen might love more than planning her client's romantic getaways is the Baltimore Ravens. Jen has never missed a single Ravens home game. If it's football season and a home game, chances are you'll find Jen clad in purple from head to toe and cheering for her Ravens. |
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John Tarantino
Senior Cruise Consultant
Hobbies: Shooting pool, playing guitar, listening to music and spending time with his kids. Favorite Itinerary: Western Caribbean Favorite Food: Italian (Brooklyn-style) Pets: A pug named Dixie This month we are profiling our 3.5 year TCW veteran, John Tarantino. John is being profiled this month because this is the first time ever that one of his New Year's resolutions will come true: to be the healthiest person he has ever been by May, 2010. What prompted this change? This resolution started when he was diagnosed with diabetes earlier this year. His doctor told him that diet and exercise alone would be enough to keep him off of the medications and shots that come along with being diabetic. This was both the worst and the best news that John had ever gotten, "Worst in that I had a debilitating disease, the best in that it made me change the way I live." Once diagnosed, John started his New Year's Resolution early by dropping 37 pounds in five months. He did this simply by watching everything he eats and exercising regularly. And what about cruising? Well, two weeks after being diagnosed with diabetes, John went on a 7 day cruise with his family. He came back from his cruise two pounds lighter than when he left. This prompted John to write this month's blog. Now that John has been educated on healthful eating and living, it's easy for him to make the right choices. And he is extending that knowledge to his family, friends and co-workers. "These are people that I care about, and I don't want to see them get hurt. I want to teach them how to eat and exercise and live a healthy life" explains John. "In my 2010 resolution, I resolved to get into a pair of Jeans I have saved since high school...Be glad I did not save that pair of 'Back to the Future' Speedos!"
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Karolina Shenton
Manager of Marketing and Sales Operations
Hobbies: Mountain climbing, diving, surfing, camping, pretty much anything outdoors. Favorite Itinerary: Places she hasn't been yet. Mountains climbed: 1 - Mt. Kilimanjaro Marathons ran: 4 This month's employee profile features our very own European, Karolina Shenton. Karolina is our Manager of Marketing and Sales Operations and comes to us from a little town between Warsaw and Cracow, Poland. Karolina came to the United States seven years ago after she completed her dual Masters in Marketing & Management, and International Economics. Karolina is responsible for maintaining our website and managing our blog and newsletter. Whenever you see The Cruise Web brand, you can thank Karolina and your personal cruise consultant. What does Karolina miss most about her homeland? "I miss my mom's pirogues and my dad's weekend Sudoku challenge." Is there anything you don't miss? "Yes," said Karolina, "I don't miss the 7 months of winter that you have to endure in central Europe. In fact they already have snow! They've gotten 20 centimeters." Karolina still makes it back to Poland once a year and her family and friends come over to the United States whenever possible. Karolina can expect a larger flow of relatives and friends coming to visit in the near future, as she is 7 months pregnant and due in January!
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Jaime Froehlich
Assistant Manager Client Services
Interests: Cooking, Camping, Running (sometimes), Concert-Going, Reading Pets: Two Mischievous Ferrets: Ferdinand and Isabella Favorite Concert: Jimmy Buffett This month's employee profile focuses on The Cruise Web's Assistant Manager of Client Services, Jaime Froehlich. Jaime came to us from Wilkes Barre, PA. Upon graduation from the University of Pittsburgh with her English Literature degree, Jaime got a job for a major travel website, before relocating to the DC area. When considering jobs in the DC area, Jaime wanted to find a position that combined her desire to work in the travel industry with her people skills. Thus she found a position at The Cruise Web. Jaime helps manage our Client Service Department with the goal to provide our clients with the best service in the industry. Jaime's favorite part of the job is helping people who are excited about their cruise vacations. In her 5 years here at The Cruise Web, she's helped thousands of clients with their cruise questions and requests. Since this is our Holiday newsletter, we had to ask Jaime about her favorite holiday. "I love Thanksgiving because of food and family (in that order)" quips Jaime. "My favorite Thanksgiving meal is my dad's 26 lb. turkey with his special stuffing." Currently Jaime is looking forward to taking her honeymoon with her newly betrothed. She and her husband of one month will be spending their honeymoon backpacking through Western Europe. I guess someone forgot to tell her that we sell cruises...
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Arthur Balin
Assistant Sales Manager
Interests: Soccer, Gourmet Food, Luxury Travel, Games of Chance Favorite Destination: The Mediterranean Arthur Balin came to The Cruise Web because he wanted a job that complemented his interests of World travel and seeing different cultures. An avid soccer fan, Arthur has attended the Euro Cup, the World Cup and already has plans to cheer on his favorite team, Russia, in the South African World Cup. In addition to traveling for soccer, Arthur has enjoyed several cruises throughout his four years working at The Cruise Web, including several luxury cruises. When he first started at the Cruise Web, he had heard that the luxury cruises were stuffy and reserved, but wanted to experience a luxury cruise for himself, so that he could better serve his clients. Well, Arthur and his wife had a wonderful time and found luxury cruising to be anything but stuffy and reserved. Arthur makes his knowledge of the luxury product one of his top priorities. He takes it upon himself to experience as many of our cruise products as possible, in order to give his clients the best possible cruise recommendation. Today, Arthur prides himself on his knowledge of and experience with luxury cruising and looks forward to sharing his experiences with his clients and coworkers. While before it was a business decision to cruise luxury, it is now a developed taste that cannot be ignored.
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Michael Harris
Sales Manager
Charters, Incentives, Meetings & Events at Sea Interests: Softball, Baseball, Boxing, Racquetball, Fishing - pretty much anything sports related Favorite Itineraries: Alaska Cruise Tour Pets: 2 Basset Hounds - Bella & Jeeves. This months' employee profile is one of the biggest sports enthusiasts at the Cruise Web, Sales Manager, Michael Harris. Michael came to the Cruise Web over 3 years ago, fresh out of Ithaca College. His decision for post college work was either to pursue his childhood dream of playing for the Dallas Cowboys or finding a job he loved. Since the Cowboys didn't need a 185 lb. free safety, his career at the Cruise Web was born. The good news for Michael is that he was able to find an outlet for his athletic interests at the Cruise Web. He played on the Cruise Web softball team as an outfielder, our shortstop and our pitcher...sometimes all at the same time. Michael also celebrates his love of sports on all of the cruises that he goes on. On the Solstice, Michael excelled at bocce ball. On the Fascination he was deemed the Tiger Woods of the ship's mini-golf course. He saved his best athletic performance, however, for his honeymoon. He completed the cruise ship triathlon; he medaled in shuffleboard, he rang the bell at the top of the Royal Caribbean rock wall and he led his Dodgeball team to the Championship. "Dodgeball was by far the best time I've ever had on a cruise ship. And I was on my honeymoon!" said Michael. It should also be noted that Michael's wife of only a few days also participated in the Dodgeball tournament. However, she was on the opposing team. "It went great. I knew she was gunning for me, so I made sure she was the first one that I knocked out of the game," Michael explained in all seriousness. So, the next time you are on a cruise and you want to participate in the ship's many sporting events, please look out for Michael. He takes his vacationing as serious as his sports.
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Rosalind Smith
Business Development Manager
Charters, Incentives, Meetings & Events at Sea Interests: Food, wine, music, travel & spin classes Favorite Itineraries: All Seven Seas Pets: Two exotic birds - Lilly, a Yellow Crested Cockatoo and Polo, a Yellow Nape Amazon Parrot. This month's employee profile focuses on one of the Cruise Web's biggest personalities, Rosalind Smith! When you first meet her, you almost get the sense that she has missed her calling and should be on a stage somewhere in Vegas or Broadway. However, once you start talking to her about travel and cruising and experience her boisterous spirit and captivating personality, you realize why she belongs in the cruise industry. Rosalind brings this enthusiasm and passion to her position, taking care of our big business, which, in the cruise industry means private ship charters, corporate incentives, meetings, and special events at sea. "We could not have designed a position to fit any better, well maybe if I resided on a cruise ship! I am in a 'feel good' business and enjoy providing an unforgettable experience. I get to play a part in companies and organizations celebrating, rewarding and/or recognizing the people that make it happen" said Rosalind, who sends her clients around the world, regardless if it is a retreat for 12 board members, an incentive for 35 employees, a meeting of 150 associates and their guests or a private full ship charter for up to 5,000 people. Does Rosalind steer her clients towards her own favorite locales? "The world is my favorite itinerary. Really, I couldn't possibly select just one itinerary or port of call. That's like asking me 'what is your favorite wine'? It all depends on the mood, the purpose and what you hope to gain from the experience. Perhaps a port of the week for every itinerary?" (she laughs), "They are all so uniquely different that it depends on the specific purpose of the journey!"
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Brandon Biss
Senior Cruise Consultant Interests: Sports, exercising and food! Favorite Destinations: San Francisco, Sorrento, Boulder, College Park and Amsterdam This month's employee profile features the Cruise Web's very own "Procrastinator Buster", Brandon Biss. Brandon's success can be attributed to both internal and external factors. Internally, Brandon is goal oriented and enjoys challenges. "It feels like I have never worked once in the past six years. Every day is a new challenge, and I get to spend my time coming up with ways to overcome those challenges." Externally, Brandon enjoys the diversity of selling cruises. "I never feel stagnant here because I'm constantly talking to different people about their individual plans. It helps to keep things fresh." But what about the procrastinators? "It's about understanding if this vacation is what they really want. If it's the right ship and the right destination, then what are we waiting for? Let's book it so you can start planning for your great vacation." So procrastinators beware, if you get Brandon on the phone, you'll probably find yourself sailing on the perfect cruise in no time.
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In this month's profile, we are focusing on the Cruise Web's own family connection, Cruise Consultant Sherry Jefferson and her son, Client Service Representative Craig Jefferson. Sherry started working here as a cruise consultant in November of 2005. Sherry loves this job because of the relationships that she builds with all of her clients. This is one of the few sales jobs she's encountered where the client's long term satisfaction and needs are the number one priority. Craig joined his mom and the Cruise Web family in December of 2006. Since then, Craig has excelled in our Client Service department. As a travel enthusiast, his favorite part of working at the Cruise Web is talking with our clients about their cruise plans. When asked about the perks of working with family, Sherry and Craig had this to say:
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Your Cruise Web Team
Cruises Taken: 350+ Destinations Visited: 550+ Interests: Fine Wine with Laser Tag, Fitness, Concerts, Literature, Sports and of course Cruising!
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Each month we will introduce you to a different employee at The Cruise Web. You'll meet people from our consulting staff, management, quality control, accounting, operations, marketing - each individual who is dedicated to making sure your cruise and experience with us is a memorable one. We are sports fans, travelers, mothers, fathers, husbands and wives. We love our pets, literature, poetry, music and dance. We love what we do and we can't wait to introduce ourselves to you! Check next month for a new employee profile! Click here to return to the Newsletter.
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