IWORLD OF TRAVEL - Key Persons
Anita is the ultimate destination specialist, with expertise not only in her native Croatia and surrounding region (Slovenia, Bosna & Herzegovina, Serbia, Hungary, Italy) but also, she is well traveled and knowledgeable of countries throughout Europe (Austria, Germany, France, Spain, UK, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Greece, Czech Republic), and the USA, Thailand, Egypt, and Tunisia. Anita's career in travel spans nearly two decades, from organizing tours and overseeing travelers in Croatia to sales and financial responsibilities. After managing a branch office of Atlas, the largest tour operator in Croatia, she founded her own company arranging private tours in Croatia and the region, including hotels, restaurants, tours, guides, and drivers.
Anita is happiest traveling with her family, playing with her dog, skiing, sailing, hiking with friends, listening to U2 and Sting, and dining on Asian cuisine. The best part of her job is when clients return happy after a trip she created for them. Her favorite travel memory was in Lourdes, France. Anita dreams of living near the sea, taking long walks, and doing yoga.
Job Titles:
- Associate Marketing Designer
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- Business Development Manager
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- Project Management Consultant
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- General Manager, Gelber 's Way / AST
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- Destination Specialist Support
Evan views travel as a worthwhile splurge, giving him the chance to have unique experiences and explore amazing places. His most memorable trip was seeing Machu Picchu which literally took his breath away at first glance. He has traveled extensively and still maintains a full bucket list. Evan is happiest when in good company-with family, friends, partners, or even complete strangers. He enjoys watching classic shows (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Office, Seinfeld, All in the Family, and Scrubs), listening to Nirvana, and dining on a medium-well rib eye steak, sushi and ceviche. Evan values his free time (to travel) and his memories for the good experiences they let him relive.
John Vedder graduated from Auburn University in 2015 and was called into the ministry at an early age. He has served in both part-time and full-time pastoral roles for the past 15 years. John started the first college ministry at his local church in Opelika, Alabama, and served as the first full-time College Pastor. He then moved with his family to Virginia, where he joined a team to plant Foundations Church. While there, John served as the Associate Pastor. In 2018, John accepted the role of Church Relations Coordinator for the U.S. National Office of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ). John regularly speaks at events and churches around the world and has a unique ability to bridge the gap between pastors, Biblical world-view, and international travel.
John has had the privilege of leading hundreds of people on Christian tours throughout the land of Israel. He is passionate about seeing the world through a Biblical perspective and loves to share his experiences with pastors and church groups as he leads tours. John's deep love for the people and nation of Israel is contagious as he opens the Word of God in the Land to help travel groups understand what God is currently doing in and amongst the nations of the Middle East. John is married to Natalie Vedder. They have three children: Myah, Solomon, and Sarah Lane. John and his family reside together in North Alabama where they love to bike ride, rock climb, and spend as much time outdoors as possible.
Job Titles:
- Senior Tech & Systems Integrator
Her experience includes working alongside artists and designers who have produced visuals for a music and arts festival, album covers, music videos, and various projects revolving around graphic design. Now Jordan is ready to use her creative spirit in the travel industry, hoping to combine her skills with the talented IWorld of Travel team.
As a teen, Katharine's AOL instant messenger screen name (travelinmiss) was prophetic. Since then, she has toured every corner of the world, filling passport pages with stamps from exotic lands across the globe. A safari in Tanzania with her family stands out as a life-changing, time-stopping experience. In between trips, she oversees two very active children, filling almost every afternoon, evening, and weekend with soccer matches, cheer competitions, and flag football. She is the team mom for her daughter's cheer squad, and the team manager for her son's soccer team. Mexican food is her preferred cuisine, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Michael is CEO and Chairman of the Board of IWorld of Travel. He was born into the company led by his late father who mentored him early in sales, marketing, networking, and relationship development-skills he has drawn upon to strengthen IWorld of Travel. Michael's extensive professional and leadership experience spans many industries-wine, food & beverage, magazine publishing, incentive-based travel, and the first multi-state dating service. At IWorld of Travel, Michael has found his calling and is steering the company successfully through sunny and stormy times, most notably through the global pandemic, when he inspired many travel advisors with his weekly newsletters focused on life lessons, rethinking the future, and preparing for business in a changed world. During this challenging time for the travel industry, he notably launched new programs and cemented new partnerships to offer kosher river cruises throughout Europe and luxurious yacht cruises in the Adriatic along Croatia's Dalmatian coast-complementing the unique, life changing journeys around the globe for which IWorld of Travel is known.
Love of travel runs in Michael's blood and is deeply embedded in his DNA. Since age 4, he has traveled over one million miles to 50+ countries. Michael also loves golf, a game at which he excels, listening to U2, Japanese or Mexican cuisine, and fast cars, particularly his Maserati, one of a few splurges in his life. He credits the book Good to Great for teaching him about the principles of relationships, leadership, and success. His most memorable travel experience is when he proposed to his wife in Ecuador on the Equator. Michael is happiest on the beach with his family, the most important focus of his life.
Job Titles:
- Vice President Global Sales