Nov 2021 – May 2022 · 6 mos · Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Assisting students successfully begin a work integrated learning position with partners in the fields of tourism and hospitality, and developing a virtual position within the college for international students.

Sep 2021 – May 2022 · 8 mos · Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Courses taught include…
• 2021: “Specialty Tourism, Research and Trends”
• 2022: “Canadian Food Studies” + “Presenting & Communicating Effectively for Tourism”

Feb 2020 – Apr 2022 · 2 yrs 2 mos · Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Conducted in-person and virtual lectures for "HOST 1085 -Principles of Hospitality & Tourism Management" during the winter semester of 2020 as the global pandemic caused schools and tourism businesses to close. I remain on their faculty contract professor teaching “Global Tourism Geography” during the winter 2022 semester.

Aug 2017 – Present · 8 yrs 7 mos · Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

• Responsibilities include developing tour product, social media management, tour guide recruiting and training, liaising with suppliers (breweries and restaurants), networking and business development.

Jan 2017 – Present · 9 yrs 2 mos · Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

• Craft Beer Vietnam is an online community of brewers, bar owners, and discerning craft beer drinkers in Vietnam. Created resources: Facebook Page, Google Map, Website and other electronic media useful to all who seek to learn about and enjoy craft beer in Vietnam.

Nov 2009 – Mar 2021 · 11 yrs 4 mos · Toronto, ON

• Responsible for the entire operation of the local Toronto tour business: ensured compliance with local laws, hired and trained contracted tour guides, developed tour products and meaningful experiences for guests through partnerships with local small businesses, purchased advertising and ran ad campaigns, created media content (copy, video) for marketing, managed online reputation, delivered exceptional customer service, and grew the business. Advocated for the use of tours with purpose to help change the way people see the world through the Intrepid Urban Adventures global network and at annual conferences. Expanded business into Ottawa in 2016.

Apr 2009 – Present · 16 yrs 11 mos · Toronto, ON

• Founded Tour Guys (in Toronto) with Steve Woodall (in Vancouver) and pioneered the free walking tour company model in Canada which now hosts more than 12,000 guests per year in Toronto. Created a series of short but engaging walking tour experiences for locals and visitors that can be scaled, developed a system of training new guides to deliver meaningful thematic experiences, and created a brand with a first-rate reputation within the industry, delivering customized tour itineraries and exceptional customer service to clients from Tourism Toronto VIPs to visiting student groups. Expanded business to Hamilton in 2018.
• Developed Toronto's first graffiti tour, drawing positive attention to the art form and helping establish Graffiti Alley as a significant city asset through tours, hosting media, giving public talks on the subject during Jane's Walks and The Artist Project, and offering insight and perspective to the StreetARToronto program staff during its first year.

Feb 2007 – Oct 2008 · 1 yr 8 mos · Toronto, ON

• Developed marketing materials for both print and web, and promotional items with design and marketing departments for all TUI Student Travel (formerly First Choice Student Travel) brands including producing promotional videos, and hiring and coordinating in-destination blogger for Ottawa trips.
• Worked with the TUI Student Travel educational brands (including Impact Educational Tours and School Voyageurs) to integrate practices for hiring and training new tour leaders using an online video contest and microsite.
• Developed an environmental initiative that included on-tour educational component and partnership with Zerofootprint for carbon offsets.
• Organized and conducted "lunch and learn" sessions for staff on environmental and social issues, financial planning, and other topics of interest to the staff.
• Facilitated the travel components for Leaders Today (affiliated with Free the Children) international leadership programs for high school and college groups.

Jun 2006 – Dec 2006 · 6 mos · Kandahar, Afghanistan

• Coordinated home leave and 3rd location travel arrangements for Canadian Forces Members deployed with Task Force Afghanistan at Kandahar Airfield.

Jan 2003 – Jan 2007 · 4 yrs · Toronto, ON

• Managed and trained a team of tour guides to lead tours for elementary and high school students to destinations in Canada and the USA. Conducted workshops on public speaking, presentation, group management, policy and procedure, and safety.

Jan 2001 – Jan 2005 · 4 yrs · Toronto, ON

• Assisted in recruiting and training destination staff for student leisure trips to Montreal and Quebec City, worked in destination supervising hotel properties and managing other destination staff. From 2002 - 2005 was the in-destination transportation coordinator during Spring Break and New Years Eve trips, managing the fleet of 25+ motor coaches and drivers used to shuttle clients to the ski slopes, shopping malls, and historic district.
• Worked closely with security agencies, local police, and suppliers in Montreal and Quebec City to ensure a safe environment for Breakaway clients to celebrate their youth and party with thousands.

Jan 1998 – Jan 2000 · 2 yrs · Canada

• At both the Toronto ON and Lake Louise AB locations provided guests with local information, conducted hostel events (pub crawls in Toronto, avalanche awareness events and improv nights at Lake Louise), and ensured their stay was pleasant from check-in to check-out.

Jan 1996 – Jan 2001 · 5 yrs

• Led overnight school trips to Ottawa, Quebec City, Montreal, and Boston. Responsible for the smooth operation of the tour, engaging the students and teachers in discussions on history, geography, culture, and language, and for creating an outstanding travel experience for all.