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2025 NTA Board of Directors Election

The NTA Nominating Committee announces the 2025 slate of candidates for the NTA Board of Directors. After vetting the applications, conducting interviews with each applicant, and considering the applicants’ qualifications and business type, the committee composed the following slate:

Tour Operator Directors

  • Vice Chair: Michelle Pino, Northeast Unlimited Tours

    Michelle Pino

    Meet Michelle Pino, a seasoned and dedicated vice president, co-owner, and co-founder of Northeast Unlimited Tours, located in the picturesque village of Sandwich, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod.

    With an impressive 39 years of experience in the tourism industry, Michelle’s expertise in sales, marketing, and product development has fostered strong, enduring client relationships. She takes pride in crafting imaginative and tailored tour packages that create lasting memories while providing exceptional customer service.

    Michelle’s leadership extends beyond her role at Northeast Unlimited Tours. She has served on the board of the National Tour Association since 2020 and has been a member of the executive board as secretary since January 1, 2024. Her involvement underscores her unwavering commitment to the packaged travel industry. She is passionately dedicated to helping NTA become the leading association for packaged travel, fostering excellence and growth through collaborative teamwork and visionary leadership.

    Northeast Unlimited Tours has flourished as a leading receptive tour operator in its specialized regions through Michelle’s entrepreneurial drive and capable leadership. Since its inception in 2006, Michelle and her business partner, Teresa Paolini, have nurtured and shaped Northeast Unlimited Tours into a trusted and reputable name in the industry. They are renowned for their expertise in crafting creative, unique, and fun-filled tour programs across New England, New York, the Mid-Atlantic region, Eastern Canada, Canadian maritime provinces, and beyond.

    As a driving force behind Northeast Unlimited Tours, Michelle’s passion for excellence and commitment to providing top-tier services make her a true industry leader. Her dedication to excellence ensures that each journey with their company is one that travelers will cherish for years to come.

    Michelle lives in Sandwich and is the proud mother of 20-year-old Tyler, a college junior majoring in business/finance and an avid golfer. Michelle enjoys making wonderful memories with family and friends, putting her toes in the sand whenever possible, and loves to travel.

  • Secretary: Christina Werner, Custom Holidays

    Christina Werner, CTP, Custom Holidays

    Christina has served on the NTA board for the past six years and deeply values the opportunity to contribute to the travel industry. Coming from a small tour operator, she understands the importance of inclusivity for all members. She appreciates the diverse perspectives of tour operators, DMOs, and suppliers both big and small and is committed to finding ways to work together as NTA continues to grow.

  • Tour Operator Director (three-year term): Brent Dalrymple, Sunrise Tours

    Brent Dalrymple, Sunrise Tours

    Brent has worked with Sunrise Tours for 20 years and is now president of the company started by his parents. During his tenure, the company has grown substantially. Brent feels NTA has provided an invaluable forum to connect with travel professionals that help tour operators thrive. He feels he has benefited from these relationships and wants to give back to the organization to continue to grow NTA’s success.

  • Tour Operator Director (three-year term): Frances Manzitto, Trips Unlimited

    Frances Manzitto, Trips Unlimited

    Frances has been an active member of NTA for over 25 years. She previously served on the board as a DMO representative, and now that she has moved to the role of a tour operator, she brings a unique and well-rounded perspective to the position. Her experience with both sides of the industry has led her to a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s dynamics, and she is eager to leverage this knowledge to further NTA’s collective goals and mission.

  • Tour Operator Director (three-year term): Theresa Nemetz

    Theresa Nemetz, Travel Deliciously

    After picking up a brochure for something called a “food tour” while on vacation in New York, Theresa naively returned home and started a tour company. Serving as a non-profit executive director at the time, her skillset was transferable and rounded out by a strong set of mentors and learning opportunities in the tourism field. Fifteen years later, she operates Milwaukee Food & City Tours (complete with a fleet of vehicles), launched Travel Deliciously to take guests on culinary vacations around the world, and, during the pandemic, had a successful pivot which allowed her to acquire and continue the tradition of Chicago Food Tours. She is interested in continuing her role on the NTA board so that she may be a voice for tour operators who may not be traditional or typically seen and help lay the foundation to bring a new generation of niche tour operators into the association. On a broader level, she wants to serve in any possible capacity to rebuild the tourism community to be stronger and wiser in post-pandemic times.

Tour Supplier Directors

  • Tour Supplier Director (three-year term): Mike Pitman, Sight and Sound Theater

    Mike Pitman, Sight and Sound Theater

    Mike has been blessed to serve in this industry for 31 years. Giving back to the industry that has provided blessings and fulfillment in his life, family, and community is important.  NTA was his first major travel industry show in 1993. He believes in the NTA mission and purpose, and he desires to see NTA grow and be the leader that makes a significant impact on the travel and tourism industry. As a supplier member, he understands how NTA helps members understand and navigate a complex market. He feels that NTA’s advocacy is vital for its members as it represents them on legislation and regulatory issues that impact their work.

    He looks forward to mentoring and encouraging young industry leaders and exploring innovative practices and technologies that can transform the industry.

     

DMO Directors

  • DMO Director (three-year term): Pam Williams, CTP, Huntsville/Madison County CVB

    Pam Williams, CTP, Huntsville/Madison County CVB

    Pam began her career in the travel industry at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and has since dedicated 19 years to the Huntsville/Madison County DMO where she currently serves as the vice president of tourism. Pam is a long-time member of NTA and currently serves as the chair of the DMO Member Network.  She is looking forward to using her skills and experiences to contribute to NTA’s goals and enhance the member experience.

  • DMO Director (one-year term): Juan Pablo Suarez, Ottawa Tourism

    Juan began his tourism career over 16 years ago with the Mexican Tourism Board promoting Mexico in the Canadian market. His current role with Ottawa Tourism includes managing the USA, Asian, and Mexican markets. He is passionate about being both a servant and strategic leader and looks to make a real difference in the tourism sector and supporting sustainable community development. When not at work, Juan enjoys coaching youth soccer and being a member of the Milton Youth Soccer Association committee.

  • Voting instructions

    Tour operators will vote for four operator candidates and officers, tour suppliers for supplier candidates, and DMOs for DMO candidates.

    Each member company/organization in good standing may cast only one ballot. (More than one ballot cast will result in the elimination of all votes submitted by one member company/organization.) Ballots will be distributed by e-mail to the primary contacts of all tour operators, tour suppliers, and DMOs on Sept. 26. If you need a paper ballot, email Jennifer Royse. NTA will host a virtual Annual Business Meeting on Nov. 7, when members can hear from the nominees and have an opportunity to ask questions. Online voting will remain open until Nov. 7. Results of the election for the 2025 NTA Board of Directors will be announced during Travel Exchange ’24 in Huntsville.

I can help!Jennifer Royse, CTP jennifer.royse@ntastaff.com+1.859.264.6576

  • Travel Exchange is worth every penny. The networking is great, and there is always business to be made to show ROI for your decision makers. The investment is worth the reward. Cory Mace, Badger Bus
  • What NTA does is provide the right buyers. They provide the right people who make decisions. This is what makes this organization one I can’t afford to take off my list. John Stachnik CTP, Mayflower Tours, NTA member since 1979
  • I came to NTA to build a business, and that’s exactly what it did for us, as sales came in. For me, it’s the only outlet for new ideas. Matthew Squire, Select Travel Service (UK), NTA member since 2002
  • The No. 1 member benefit of NTA has to be all the great professional and personal connections we’ve made over the past decade. Taunya Wolfe Finn, CTP, Wolfe Adventures & Tours, NTA member since 2005
  • We have not found a more reliable, more profitable or more consistent tourism venue in which to acquire new business than NTA. Diane Hohnstein, Hospitality Management Services, NTA member since 1999
  • You guys at NTA have the best bunch of members I have ever come across. I had one of my best shows ever. Everybody was so nice and welcoming, and the organization of the event was spectacular. I am so happy to be a member and be assured of my continued support in the future. Bernard O'Reilly, Joe O'Reilly Ireland DMC
  • NTA events provide us with beneficial networking with many top tour operators. It’s national and international in scope providing a global perspective. Tim and Elaine Moulder, Brilliant Edventures, NTA member since 2015