Following an election with the highest participation in recent years, ASTA has unveiled its new board of directors.
Thirteen candidates ran for the five director-at-large positions available. The winners were Kelly Bergin, president of Oasis Travel Network; Roger Block, president of Travel Leaders Network; Kareem George, principal of Culture Traveler; Vanessa McGovern, co-founder and chief sales officer of Gifted Travel Network; and Patricia Thorington, manager of Plaza Travel, who was elected to her second term.
They will each serve two-year terms starting at the end of ASTA's Global Convention in Chicago next month.
TerraMar Travel president Rhonda Shumway was elected director of the Small Business Network. Deb Belchak, president of Lazy Dayz Travel, and Lynda Phillippi, owner of Renaissance Travel: Go with Lynda, were elected as regional directors. And, senior vice president of BCD Travel Kathy Bedell was elected Corporate Advisory Council director.
Directors returning to the board with terms expiring next year are Marc Casto, president of leisure for the Americas, Flight Centre Travel Group; Michael Dixon, president of Travelink/American Express; Helen Enriquez, vice president of product development and technology solutions, Ensemble Travel Group; Jackie Friedman, president of Nexion Travel Group; Tiffany Hines, president and CEO, Global Escapes; and Eddie Woodham, an advisor with Palm Coast Travel.
"This year we almost doubled the number of travel advisors who voted in our last election," board chairman Dave Hershberger, owner of Prestige Travel Leaders, said in a statement. "Almost 1,900 eligible members participated, the highest participant rate in recent years."