Alan McKay
Alan started escorting tours when he was a senior in high school. Since that time, he has traveled with hundreds of groups all over the world, including tours to England, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, China, and Thailand. His degree in history from Utah State University adds richness to the tours he escorts. He and his wife, Ida Mae, live in Ogden, Utah and are the proud parents of four sons. Alan’s love in life is to see the world with incredible people and to share his knowledge of travel with all of his groups. Come and become one of his “travel groupies” today.
Tours: June Nauvoo - July Palmyra & Canada - August South Africa & Dubai - August Peru – September Europe Cruise - October South Africa - November Israel - May Ireland, Scotland & Europe Cruise
Dian Thomas
With 30-plus years of travel and media experience, nationally renowned New York Times best-selling author, TV personality, and professional speaker Dian Thomas has now escorts tours to many international destinations. Her love for people and the excitement and enthusiasm she brings to the travel experience are a perfect fit, helping you enjoy the world in a fun-loving way. As a successful entrepreneur and author of 18 books, Dian knows firsthand how to entertain groups, create memorable moments, and help you gain the most from every excursion. For eight years she was a regular on NBC’s Today show, followed by six years on ABC’s Home Show . She was the subject of over 5,000 media interviews, including the Tonight show with Johnny Carson and ABC’s Good Morning America. Come have the time of your life and let Dian help you discover the lands and seas you have only dreamed about.
Tours: October China - November Thailand
Keri Evans
Keri DiSera Evans (wife of national bestselling author Richard Paul Evans) began her love affair with Italy more than a decade ago when her father took her back to the old country to find their ancestral home. Shortly after her return Keri talked her husband, Richard, into moving to Italy with their 5 children where her passion for Italia inspired another of Richard’s bestselling novels, an Italian love story called The Last Promise. Since that time, Keri has traveled nearly every corner of Italy and considers herself “a displaced Italian”. She studies the language, culture and cooking and continues to help her friends find the best sites, shopping and food in the country. Keri’s dream is to help others discover the beauty of the Italy, whether it’s in the Chianti wine country, floating the canals of Venice or walking in reverent awe beneath Michelangelo’s masterpiece of the Sistine Chapel. From small hill towns to the bustling streets of Rome, you’ll have an experience you’ll never forget. With Buon Viaggio Italy, you’ll experience the culture not just as a tourist, but as a part of a remarkable culture of the one country everyone must see at least once in their lifetime.
Tours: June Italy - June/July Italy 2 - September Italy
Paul Cardall
Award winning pianist, lecturer, and author Paul Cardall has entertained sold out audiences and inspired people worldwide with Billboard charting albums and various published writings, including his recently released book and memoir, Before My Heart Stops, published by Shadow Mountain. In addition, to the book, his latest studio album titled “New Life” debuted #1 on Billboard Magazine’s top 10 new age chart.
Paul Cardall has a unique perspective on life. His optimistic message combined with powerful instrumental music inspires people and gives them courage, strength, hope, and faith in understanding how to live a more fulfilling and peaceful life.
Tours: October Mediterranean
Alicia Richmond
Alicia Richmond is the founder of Chic on a Shoestring – a style and wardrobe consulting company. Since the company’s beginning in 2003, she is most well known for her simple approach to taking current fashion trends and adapting them to real people with real bodies and real budgets. Four years ago, Alicia combined her love of travel and bargain shopping into Chic on a Shoestring shopping tours. Whether you join a shopping tour in the United States or internationally, the experience is incredible. Come and make lasting friendships and visit some of the most breath taking places in the world. Alicia will help you find the best bargains around no matter where you travel. Be sure to catch Alicia’s Chic on a Shoestring fashion segments every Thursday on the Emmy-winning ABC 4 talk show, “Good Things Utah.” She completed a bachelor’s of science degree in Clothing and Textiles from Brigham Young University with an emphasis in fashion consultation. She and her husband, Evan, are raising four children. Two of Alicia’s children also have experienced the traveling bug and have each been to China. They think this is the best part of their mom’s career.
Tours: September New York - October Italy, France, Denmark
Lynn and Peggy Rowell
Lynn & Peggy Rowell have travelled to Israel, Egypt, Italy and Greece many times. Lynn lived and taught at the BYU Jerusalem Center and guided students as they toured the lands of the scriptures. For 38 years, he was employed by the LDS Church Educational System, teaching at BYU, the Orem Institute, and Institutes of Religion adjacent to The University of Iowa, The University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Palmer Chiropractic University. He received his master’s degree from BYU in Ancient History and Ancient Scripture with an emphasis on the Middle East. Because of his lifetime of study, Lynn Rowell is very knowledgeable about the lands of scriptures and is ready to provide a memorable experience for all on tour.
Tours: Coming Soon!
Mike and Bonnie Ramsdell
Mike and Bonnie Ramsdell have spent almost half of their married life living abroad in Europe, Scandinavia, and Russia. Upon returning home to America after Mike finished his career, they found themselves with a second career of hosting groups to various travel destinations around the world including: the British Isles, the Middle East, Russia and the Eastern Block, Scandinavia, Europe, South America , the Caribbean, and Asia. With degrees from Brigham Young University and Utah State University and their years of living abroad, Mike and Bonnie’s world experiences add greatly to the trips they host. A highly sought after speaker, Mike gives lectures from his national best seller “A Train to Potevka” during tours. The book details his years living and working in Russia as a covert agent. A pseudo archeologist and history buff, Bonnie lectures on the fascinating, recent discoveries of the early civilizations of North America. Come join Mike and Bonnie for a trip of a lifetime.
Tours: July China
James Ferrell
James L. Ferrell is the author of several religious and national bestsellers, including The Peacegiver, The Holy Secret, and The Hidden Christ. His newest book, Falling to Heaven, will be published in February of 2012. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Yale Law School and is a founding partner of a global consulting firm that specializes in peace building. He and his wife, Jackie, are the parents of five children.
Tours: Coming soon!
Dick Jensen
Dick has been in the travel industry for over 25 years. He started a travel agency as a college student with some friends, and it has grown from there. Dick has been to more countries than states and is an expert in international travel. He loves setting up his own tour packages in countries around the globe so that he can offer the most affordable and exciting packages to travelers. Dick and his wife Greer have 3 children and are residents of Kaysville, Utah.
Tours: Coming soon!
Larry and Cheryl Stamps
Larry and Cheryl traveled to Brazil on their own in 2003 and then went on two group tours with Dick in 2005 and 2007. Since then they have hosted a number of trips for Dick Jensen & Alan McKay, including 3 transatlantic cruises. Larry lived in Brazil for two years from 1966-1968. With a love of Brazil, Larry has worked to keep his Portuguese active. After returning from Brazil, Larry married and served as a linguist in the Air Force for four years. He then received a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Travel Management, worked as a travel agent and in 2010 completed a 30 year career with Amtrak. Larry helped develop a visitor program and tours for the small, historic, central California town of “Hanford”. Cheryl worked in elementary education and raised their children. Larry and Cheryl recently moved across country from WV near DC back west to establish a nest in Reno, NV closer to their 3 children and 8 and counting grandchildren. But, loving to travel, they have been gone from their nests more than at home since retirement.
Tours: November China - November Italy Cruise
Ted Winder
With more than 37 years in the travel industry, Ted has directed groups in more than 60 countries worldwide. A geographer at heart, his favorite saying is by the Prophet Mohammed – “Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me where you have traveled.” He is a Certified Travel Counselor and Life Member of the Travel Institute in Wellesley, Massachusetts. He currently serves as a member of the board for the Utah Tour Guide Association and is one of its founding members. Ted’s friendliness, attention to detail and years of travel experience have made him a favorite among travelers. He and his wife JaNae now make their home in beautiful Torrey, Utah.
Tours: Coming Soon!
Don Shafer
Don Shafer is co-host of “The Travel Show,” heard on several radio stations throughout the Intermountain Western U.S.A., and writes a travel column for the Enterprise Newspaper. He is also the Director of Religious Education at Saint Francis Xavier Church in Kearns Utah. Don holds a PhD in Religion and formerly taught theology at the Utah Institute for Biblical Studies (now Salt Lake Seminary), as well as at the University of Utah, and he has traveled throughout the Mediterranean, including many visits to Rome, Israel and Egypt as the host of group pilgrimages.
September Japan and China Cruise
Alf Gunn
Alf Gunn took Portuguese into a 30-year career in law enforcement and today utilizes Portuguese and Spanish in providing travel security presentations in retirement. Alf enjoys maintaining email newsletter correspondence with over 2,000 former people who have lived in Brazil and is now a veteran of five specialty tours to Brazil. Alf is an expert on travel to Brazil with incredible first hand knowledge of the customs, culture, and Brazilian lifestyle. Alf loves to meet people, and work and life have taken him to 95 cities at last count. He and Marcia call the Pacific Northwest their home, where most of their 10 grandkids live and where he bicycles and sea kayaks year-round.
Tours: November Spain & Portugal to Brazil
Dave and Mary Hardman
Mary and Dave Hardman love to travel and have had the opportunity to visit parts of Europe, the Mediterranean, China, Mexico and much of the United States. They enjoy experiencing and being immersed in different cultures more than just seeing the sights. Dave is the President of the Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce and teaches an online Course at Weber State University. Mary has owned her own business and has volunteered in many educational and community organizations. Their greatest joy is family, planning travel events and traditions with their five children and grandchildren. The family especially enjoys anything to do with water activities.
Tours: Coming Soon!
Ellen Payne
Ellen has lived in Davis County, Utah all of her life except for the four years she attended college at Southern Utah University in Cedar City. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and then promptly went to work at building and raising her family of four daughters. She has since added three sons-in- law and five grandchildren. Ellen has been employed for 15 years at a religious institution. She began traveling at a young age when her parents would put her on the train every summer to visit her grandmother in California. She has since traveled all over the United States and has hosted two other trips to Israel. She loves Israel and looks forward to sharing that experience with others.
Tours: Coming Soon!