Disney Cruise & Family Disney Travel Specialist

My career began in social work, where I spent over 30 years serving children, families, and the special needs community in a variety of roles within child welfare. Helping others has always been at the heart of who I am. While the work was incredibly meaningful, over time I found that the increasing focus on policies, procedures, and compliance often left less room for the human connection that first inspired me to enter the profession.

As a mother of two daughters, now young adults, I understood firsthand the importance of creating meaningful family experiences and memories. Throughout my social work career, travel became my way of recharging and reconnecting. Frequent visits to Walt Disney World and voyages aboard Disney Cruise Line provided an opportunity to step away from the stresses of everyday life and focus on what truly matters - family, joy, and connection.

When I was first approached about becoming a travel advisor, I hesitated. After all, it meant stepping into an entirely different world. I eventually decided to pursue travel advising part-time and quickly discovered something unexpected: helping people plan vacations gave me the same sense of purpose that had drawn me to social work years earlier.

Travel is about much more than destinations - it is about creating memories, strengthening relationships, and enriching lives.That realization led me to make one of the biggest decisions of my life: leaving behind a secure government career and pension after three decades to pursue travel full-time. While it was certainly a leap of faith, it was also one of the best decisions I have ever made.

As I immersed myself in the travel industry, I became increasingly aware that not everyone felt welcomed or supported in traditional business environments. During a familiarization trip early in my career, I witnessed a bullying incident directed toward another advisor. The experience left a lasting impression on me and reinforced my belief that success should never come at the expense of kindness, respect, or inclusion.

That moment became the catalyst for creating my own company. Today, I am the proud owner of Wind Waves and Wands Vacations, a travel agency built on the principles of connection, communication, collaboration, and genuine care for both our advisors and our guests.

What began as a vision has grown into an international team, with offices in Canada and the United States and advisors located around the world, including Australia and the United Kingdom.

My journey from social worker to entrepreneur has taught me that leadership is not about titles or authority - it is about creating spaces where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed. Whether helping a family create lifelong memories or helping an advisor build a thriving business, my passion remains the same: helping people flourish.

Our team is known as our "Ohana"—a Hawaiian word meaning family - and that philosophy guides everything we do. I am grateful every day for the incredible people who make up our organization and for the opportunity to support both our advisors and the guests we serve.

The relationships I build with my guests are just as important to me as the destinations they visit. I believe that exceptional travel planning begins with listening. I take the time to get to know each guest's unique needs, travel style, dreams, and goals so that every itinerary reflects the people taking the journey. No two families are the same, and neither should their vacations be.

Creating an inclusive and welcoming environment has always been a cornerstone of both my social work career and my travel business. At Wind Waves and Wands Vacations, we are committed to ensuring every guest feels seen, heard, respected, and supported. We carefully match travelers with advisors who specialize in their destination, travel style, or unique circumstances, allowing guests to benefit from personalized expertise and guidance.

My greatest joy is helping families rediscover the magic of exploration, connection, and shared experiences. Through concierge-level service and genuine care, I strive to remove the stress from travel planning so families can focus on what truly matters -creating memories together that will last a lifetime.

My journey from social worker to entrepreneur has taught me that leadership is not about titles or authority - it is about creating spaces where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed. Whether helping a family create lifelong memories or helping an advisor build a thriving business, my passion remains the same: helping people flourish.