With 19 years of travel industry experience, Lisa Watson has worked in various areas, from student group tours to corporate travel, meetings and incentives, leisure, host agencies, travel associations and education. Throughout her career, she's gained valuable insights and skills while working at companies like BCD Travel and ASTA.

When you ask Bryan Cole, President of Orlando-based Super Holiday Tours, how he got involved in the travel industry, he'll tell you it happened by accident.

Executive Director | National Dude Ranchers' Association

Kate Scopetti got her start in the industry in 1982 working at a small hotel in Indiana, Pennsylvania—the Christmas Tree Capital of the World. While the city wasn't considered a group tour destination at the time, Scopetti worked to come up with an idea to make it one.

While Lori Visser, VTA knew she wanted to work as a travel advisor after high school, she initially followed a different path—one that led her into accounting and later as a corporate controller for a construction, manufacturing and commercial real estate business. She was used to often being the only woman in the room. Eventually, Visser returned to what she calls her first love: travel.