Our Staff, Global Travel Alliance


	Jeff Peterson, President jeff@globaltravelalliance.com Originally from Wisconsin, Jeff has lived and worked in Montana for over thirty years. He has taught full-time at the elementary, secondary, and college levels, and is also a former school administrator. Jeff spent several years teaching on the Crow Indian reservation where he developed a strong appreciation and love for the Plains Indian culture and traditions. His professional work has always been strongly influenced by a devotion to cross-cultural education. When not traveling, Jeff can be found pedaling his bike, hitting a tennis ball, or enjoying a good walk (not) spoiled. He and his wife Pam have three grown children and one grandson.		Testimonials "The biggest mistake I made was not switching over to Global sooner." Randy C. Teacher, Montana "The trip was spectacular. I just don't know how the trip could have been better." Denise N. Parent, Washington "Global Travel Alliance has been planning our senior trip for years. I can't say enough good things about their professionalism and helpfulness in the planning and trip stages. We would never use anyone else!” Gail K. Teacher Landmark School "The kids had a life-changing experience (and so did the teachers!). Thank you so much for taking great care of us, we are all so immensely grateful.” Sara D. Teacher, Missouri "The tour was fantastic from start to finish, and I am already looking forward to planning our next trip.” Steven S. Teacher, New Jersey
	Steve Maehl, V.P. Sales and Marketing/Guide steve@globaltravelalliance.com A native Montanan who now lives in Florida, Steve is the most experienced traveler and guide on the staff. As a young boy he spent hours with his globe of the world and travel guides dreaming about all the places he could go in his lifetime. Now, he lives his dream and has guided trips in more than 20 countries and visited every Continent on the planet – except for Antarctica. Steve graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Elementary Education and an emphasis in Experiential and Outdoor Education from the University of New Hampshire. He also taught in a Maori school New Zealand. Like most good Montana natives, Steve enjoys a healthy outdoor lifestyle including rafting, kayaking, snowboarding, hiking and camping.
	Eric Peterson, V.P. Operations eric@globaltravelalliance.com Eric has a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, and has over ten years experience in the student travel business. Planes, trains, beds, meals, and all other things travel fill up Eric’s time each day. He is the glue that holds our team together. Eric is also a well-known football and basketball official in Florida, refereeing both high school and college games. When he is not overseeing the daily operations of the business he can usually be found somewhere at Walt Disney World, showing off “The Happiest Place on Earth” to our many Orlando groups or hanging out with Jack Sparrow.
	Carol Grassano, Account Representative cgrassano@globaltravelalliance.com Carol was born and raised in northern New York, so close to Canada that she could see Canada from her backyard. From her first job as a cashier at a local grocery store, Carol has developed a set of multi-tasking skills that anyone would be jealous of. She is our Florida sales specialists on staff, but also assists in numerous other areas including accounts receivables. Although places like Hawaii and Alaska are on her bucket list, she is happiest at home working in her garden or planning for social events.
	Amy Weidlich, Account Representative aweidlich@globaltravelalliance.com Amy grew up on the side of a mountain near Anchorage Alaska where she developed a deep-seated passion for all things wild, beautiful and dangerous. Amy moved to Montana 17 years ago and has three amazing children, a dog, chickens, snakes and 84 baby scorpions. Amy has a B.S. in biology from Montana State University in Billings, MT and is currently working on an M.A. in science education with an emphasis in marine and alpine ecology. When not in the office or guiding a trip Amy will definitely not be found indoors. She will most likely be backpacking, fossil hunting or bear whispering. Above all, Amy enjoys sharing her love of nature with students of all ages and she would love to take you along on her adventures.
	Brian Mathis, Sales/Marketing brian@globaltravelalliance.com Brian grew up in Flint, Michigan. Flint is not only the home to Buicks, Oldsmobiles, & Cadillacs, but also the Grand Funk Railroad and the world’s best hot dogs. A Fulbright Scholar, Brian studied French & German at the University of Michigan and the Université de Caen in France. Brian has taught English, French, & German in schools in Germany and France. His favorite places are Prague for the scenery, New York City for the food, and the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming for fly-fishing. Brian has a love for downhill skiing and travelling (preferably to a new mountain that he hasn’t skied.).
	Roy Peterson, Account Representative roy@globaltravelalliance.com Roy is a graduate of the University of Montana with a degree in accounting. As you can tell from his picture, that didn’t work out too well. When the snow flies, Roy can be found on top of one of Montana or Colorado’s spectacular peaks, bombing down anything in his path with swagger and style. Roy also helps with sales and does find some time to use his accounting skills. He is a third generation Montanan who resides with his wife Brooke in Colorado.
	Daniel Granados, Costa Rica Program Coordinator costarica@globaltravelalliance.com This is Daniel’s seventh year working for Global Travel Alliance, and was recently promoted to the director of operations and lead guide for Costa Rica. He holds two licenses from the Costa Rica tourism board in both general tourism and naturalism, and has received additional training in biology conservation in Latin America, forest interpretation, and birds of Costa Rica. Daniel’s knowledge of Costa Rica, along with his outstanding naturalists skills, make him the perfect person to lead you through the cloud forest, along a Pacific beach, or through the local market. His infectious smile, smooth dance moves, and his heart for service make him a huge hit with every group he leads. Daniel and his wife Andrea reside in Alajuela and the Sarapiqui region of Costa Rica. When it is not too cold, he can sometimes be found wandering the northern Rockies. Daniel likes the second best soccer team in Costa Rica, and one day hopes he will cheer for La Liga.
	Jason Maehl, Media Director jason@gtours.net Jason graduated from Westwood College in Anaheim, CA in 2004. He graduated Valedictorian with a BS in Visual Communications. He has always had a heart for adventure and exploring the ends of the earth. Having visited 45 countries Jason has had a wide range of travel experiences. He has traveled to every Continent on the planet – except for Antarctica. His vast experiences include climbing Montana's highest peak 9 times, Kilimanjaro, Matterhorn, and the highest mountain in the southern hemisphere, Aconcagua. In the spring of 2009 he returned back to Everest, but this time to climb it. His sherpas abandoned their work load and Jason had to pick up their work load and carry out many unforeseen challenges on his expedition that no client should have ever done. He was slowed to a stop with HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema) at 27,500 feet and his team, guide, and sherpas abandoned him. Jason had to fight to make it off the mountain alive by descending 10,000 feet alone.
	Paul Belanger, Account Representative pbelanger@globaltravelalliance.com Paul comes to GTA after a 10-year career directing place-based education programs in Montana for The Nature Conservancy and Montana Audubon. Born and raised in southwest Ohio, Paul moved to the Rocky Mountain West 20 years ago. Since, he has explored a majority of the northern Rockies National Parks including a one year hitch at the Teton Science School in Teton National Park. Paul’s outdoor destinations are guided by an overarching principle – a good trip equals abundant wildlife, landscape vistas and few traces of our human footprint. Paul has a passion for helping young people connect with the outdoors through recreation and learning. Paul now lives in Hamilton, MT in the Bitterroot Valley with his wife and two children along with a gaggle of other critters such as frogs, fish, cat, dog, chickens and the occasional snake.
	Marlene McCave, DC/NYC Program Coordinator mmccave@globaltravelalliance.com Marlene is a guide and trip planner for Global Travel Alliance and may be the biggest travel fan of us all. Her favorite destinations are London and San Francisco but she also sneaks in trips to Alaska on the side. When not planning a trip, guiding a trip, researching a better way to do a trip or dancing in the chorus line, Marlene likes to sneak in a road trip or two with her husband.
	Andrea Sepulveda, Air Coordinator andrea@globaltravelalliance.com Andrea grew up in Virginia Beach, VA, but has lived in Orlando, FL since 1984. She has worked in the airline industry and/or travel jobs since 1989 and has a great love for travel. Some of her most memorable travel accomplishments are having crossed the Arctic Circle, climbing on the Great Wall of China, snorkeling in the Red Sea and seeing the Northern Lights from Alaska. Her favorite place is Jerusalem and she continues to make progress toward her goal of spending time in each continent of the world.
	Rebecca “Beks” Paki-Newport, Air Coordinator rebecca@globaltravellalliance.com A theme park enthusiast, Beks moved from her native New Zealand to the United States. Beks is the only person at Global Travel Alliance that claims nobility, being related to the Maori King of New Zealand. While Beks wants to one day tour Europe, she has already crossed off some very exotic locales off of her to do list, including Tahiti and the Cook Islands. In the meantime, she is taking advantage of living the theme park capital of the world.
	Steven Falls Down, Guide sfallsdown@globaltravelalliance.com Steven grew up on the Crow Indian reservation in south central Montana. He has worked in educational travel for over 8 years, having led numerous trips to places including Washington, DC, Arizona, Montana, New York City, and most of Western Europe. He currently resides in Billings Montana with his wife, and spends his off-hours coaching varsity football and riding the range.
	Jamie Jarvis, Guide Jamie is going into his 7th year as a guide for Global Travel Alliance. Jamie’s day job dovetails nicely with guiding student educational programs; he is a middle school History & Geography teacher. Jamie brings great passion and teaching expertise to guiding throughout the United States and Europe. Even when confined by the walls of his classroom, Jamie still manages to get students to engage with the world around them; he is the creator of the Two Roads Project, a micro-financed program that lets middle schoolers create and manage small scale community outreach programs. Jamie has lived in Pennsylvania, Colorado and now lives in Montana with his wife, Shannon.
	Matt Redinger, Central/South American Coordinator Matt is a native-born Montanan. A love of nature cultivated in his home state colors his perspective on the world, particularly Latin America. He is a professor of Latin American and United States history and Chair of the Department of History at Montana State University Billings, and holds a PhD in History from the University of Washington. In Latin America, his love of nature and the fascination he finds in history come together beautifully. Matt's current research project is a comparison between the plains cultures of Argentina and the United States, and their conflict with governmental forces. When he's not researching his next book or touring in Latin America, he loves pedaling his bike across the high plains of Montana, seducing trout with a well-casted fly, or hiking in the Beartooth Wilderness with his wife an two children.
	Mitra Talarman, European Coordinator/Guide The Swedish girl that looks Italian and sounds American, Mitra, was headhunted from the corporate world to be a tour guide several years ago and decided to give it four months. Two years later she sold her apartment in Stockholm and made Rome her permanent home. Many years later she leads tours not only all over Rome, but all over Europe. From private clients, to groups, to students, she enjoys them all and encourages them all to interact with her on her tours answering questions and asking them right back. With a degree in Business Finance and seven years in an office, this corporate dropout did a 180 and got the equivalent to a Masters in Classical History/Art History. If you ask her if would she do it all over again, she´d tell you she only wishes she got out of the corporate world sooner and to Rome faster. When not touring, you will find Mitra more than likely taking pictures, as her second job is being a photographer, or cooking with her Italian husband in the house with a garden they share with one Swedish and one Italian dog and the occasional very-hungry-for-basil garden snail.