Gary Pollard will become the Travel Institute's chairman on Jan. 1, succeeding Brian Robb, who will retire after six years as chairman.
Gary Pollard
Pollard has been a member of the board since 2009. He is the owner of Ambassador Tours in Foster City, Calif., and earned his Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) designation in 1988.
"Today, there's a golden opportunity for agents in the 'Covid recovery era' to show up better prepared, educated and positioned to provide the value consumers need more than ever," Pollard said in a statement.
Joining Pollard on the institute's board of directors executive committee are Rick Meadows, Seabourn's recently retired president; Patrick McGovern, director of business development for digital marketing agency Ascedia; and Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of World Travel Holdings' B2B division.
The board's membership consists of Scott Ahlsmith, chief operating officer, Phoenix 180; Rick Baron, former managing director of global sales, Tauck; Laurie Bohn, senior director of national accounts, Silversea Cruises; Jackie Friedman, president, Nexion Travel Group; Evan McElligott, president, Longer Vacations; Anita Pagliasso, vice president of industry relations, KHM Travel Group; Robb, founder and principal, the Robb Aspect; Jennifer Simmons, president, Marketexture; Debbie Wilson, professor and department chair, Los Medanos College; and Horst Schulze, founding president of Ritz-Carlton (board member emeritus).