What is the Advisory Board?
The Advisory Board is an independent organization set up by Levarté Travel to give our travel advisors a voice in the direction of the company. It is Levarté Travel’s mission to raise up professionals in their travel career. Toward that end, we feel it is especially important to be held accountable by those we claim to serve. The Advisory Board will be there to make sure to let the company know the desires of all our advisors.
Our Current Board Members
Dawn Ogden
Chairman
Dawn Ogden launched Dawn’s Destinations Travel Service in March 2007. She turned her personal passion for travel into a concierge travel planning service for reunion groups (all-inclusive vacations and cruises) and romance travel (destination weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries, and vow renewals).
She is an active member of the American Society of Travel Advisors, the Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Specialist Association, has attained a Master Cruise Counselor designation from the Cruise Lines International Association, and is recognized as a IATAN qualified travel advisor.
Kai Solomon
President
Kai has been a resident of Atlanta, Georgia for 18 years and began her career in the travel industry in March 2015. At her previous agency, Kai was a top producing agent, which caused her to be sought after for travel training. Her passion and love for travel is seen through her dedication to helping people fulfill their dreams of exploring new cultures through amazing travel adventures. She has traveled to many destinations and enjoys a wide variety of vacation planning including group travel, honeymoons, cruises, Disney, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe. Whatever your dream destination is she will enjoy helping you every step of the way.
Penny Wisemiller
Vice President
I am a mother of 2, grandmother to 2 wonderful grandboys and a Sr. Project Manager for a worldwide print manufacturer. I decided to join the travel industry, because travel and travel planning excite me! I am looking forward to new adventures, new relationships and gaining knowledge for something that I am passionate about.
Sandy Kelley
Secretary
My name is Sandy Kelley and I’ve been a Travel Advisor since 2008. I’m an Army Veteran, wife, and mother of 3! I enjoy seeing different parts of this beautiful world but I’m passionate about learning about different parts of the world! Creating memories one destination at a time is my goal for all of my clients!
Tina Rush
Board Member
I love to travel the world with family and friends. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” -St Augustine
Alyssa Johnson
Board Member
My name is Alyssa and after an incredible trip to Europe I was inspired to help other people get back to traveling safely, easily, and save some $$ in the process.
So, I became a travel agent! Or as the term is now, a travel advisor.
Funny thing, I’ve actually been booking travel for others at my day job for over 15 years, so it’s a very natural transition for me. Except now I get to help people book fun vacations instead of boring corporate trips.
Tamika McRae
Board Member
Owner of Live For A Lifetime Travel, Tamika McRae has been curating unforgettable vacations for others for well over two decades. In 2018, she decided to make it her business. Whether it’s a girl’s trip, family vacation, romantic getaway, destination wedding, honeymoon, or cruise, she takes pride in personalizing every vacation to ensure her clients create memories that will Live For A Lifetime.
Paul Dabney
Board Member
I’m Paul Dabney a Travel Advisor for the best travel company in the world. I’m blessed to have been able to turn my passion for Travel into a wonderful career. I love seeing new places and making priceless memories with my beautiful wife and kids. Now with my 12 years experience in the Travel industry I’m able to help my clients to travel the world and enjoy life.
My motto is “It’s a Beautiful World and You Should See It”
Ahesha Catalano
Board Member
Ahesha Catalano is a former schoolteacher with an M.Ed in Teacher Leadership. After 12 years in Philadelphia charter and public schools, she left the classroom to pursue other passions for travel and entrepreneurship. Her love of food, music and people around the world led her to the travel industry. She became a travel agent and has trained thousands of agents over the years for several successful travel agencies and travel companies. She is a co-founder of Cote Noire Luxury Travel Agency and the owner of Group Trip Travel Services. She is also excited to sit on the executive board of Levarte Travel Agency.
When she is not traveling with her family, she works in the entertainment industry. Her work can be seen in the films Pearl: A Fashion Film, Friendship and A Better Baltimore and in print work for Amazon Echo and Ally Bank to name a few. She now resides in California with her husband and two daughters.
Most recently, Ahesha started a business with her oldest daughter Abigail, QT With My Cuties. She helps mothers of daughters ages 4-12 reconnect through bonding activities in a supportive online community.
Yolanda Beard
Board Member
Yolanda Beard is the owner of B and B Travel Getaways out of Danville VA. She is the wife of a Pastor, has two daughters and one grandson. She has a MBA in Business Administration and is a Senior Business Analyst at a government entity. Because of her education and experience each client is provided with the utmost professionalism at all times.
Yolanda loves to travel and decided to turn her passion into a career to assist other people in seeing the world. She is pursuing her dream by helping her past and present clients in exploring one destination at a time.
Her motto is “If you want to see the world, let B and B Travel Getaways take you there!”
Yolanda is currently one of four partners who created Bucket List Vacations. This group collaborates to promote large tour groups and provide clients the opportunity to travel around the world with like-minded travelers. Yolanda’s future goal is to educate and empower new Travel Advisors on how to be grow their business and become successful.
How do I Become a Member?
All Active Levarté Travel members are eligible to be part of the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board of Directors are empowered to adjust the size of the Advisory Board as they see fit. Considerations might be the need to fill certain committees or replace retiring members.
Advisory Board members get recognition on the Advisory Board web page as well as special perks at Wave Camps, Conventions, Seminars at Sea and other company events. Lori sees this Advisory Board as a steppingstone in your travel career. She wants to be able to recommend members to Travel Industry Advisor boards such as Delta Vacations and Aruba Tourist Advisory Boards.
How is the Advisory Board Organized?
The initial Advisory Board will consist of ten (10) members. There will be three members from each of the subscription levels (LevNew, LevUp, and LevPro). They will be joined by one non-voting person from Levarté Travel.
Initial members will be selected by Levarté Travel. Additional members as needed and subsequent replacement members (after expirations of their 18-month term) will be determined by the Board following the rules set for in the organizations Bylaws.
The Advisory Board will be run by a Board of Directors consisting of a Chairperson, President, Vice President and Secretary. These officers will run the Advisory Board. Some duties include organizing and holding regular meetings, creating special committees, and advising Levarté Travel on important issues.