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Daniel and Frank Slater on television in Jamaica discussing the training of Jamaican Tour Guides.


Frank Slater with current Denver
Mayor John Hickenlooper.
Mayor Hickenlooper is a strong supporter
of the Tourism Industry.


Our courses are taught by a team of Instructors, all carefully chosen for their world-class teaching abilities. They have more than a century of International Tour Managing and Tour Guiding experiences. They can offer insights that only come from years of working in the industry. They are ALL graduates of The International Guide Academy/International Tour Manager Academy and are actively working in the areas they instruct. They bring their domestic and international experiences to the classroom and are experts in their field. The core of our program is to encourage students to develop their skills through the guidance and leadership of the instructors and by the use of such sessions as actual motorcoach trips, group and individual problem solving, research techniques, individual student presentations, etc.

Connie Dineen, CTG, CITM graduated from both of the IGA/ITMA programs and was first in her class in both certification programs. She has her M.A. and teaching experience as well as being a Tour Manager in over 20 states, Washington D.C. and Canada, Belgium, Holland and Germany. She is a Fulbright exchange teacher with assignments in Europe. She has worked for Saga Holidays, Mayflower Tours, New Millennium Tours, Tour USA, Colorado Charters, Travel Organizers, Colorado Charter, Denver and Beyond, The Arrangers, and Operation Altitude. Connie is a volunteer docent at the Molly Brown House in Denver and brings her years of experiences to the classroom. "I do not consider my career as a Tour Manager merely a job. It can truly be said that Tour Directing is the frosting on the cake." Connie instructs in both of the IGA/ITMA courses. She is currently doing Tours associated with the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. Most of her assignments have been in the USA and Canada and have been on motorcoaches and cruise ships. Connie has researched and planned routes for Saga Holidays as well as being a Tour Manager for them. She continues her work as an instructor at IGA in the USA and Mexico, in addition to continuing to be an active Tour Manager. Contact Connie if you wish at: conniedineen@yahoo.com

Sid Wilson, CTG, CITM, was one of the first graduates of the Academy when IGA/ITMA came to the USA from London. Sid has been a docent and guide at the Black American West Museum and Heritage center. He was chairperson of the board for the Academy of Travel and Tourism and is currently chairman of the board for the Black American West Museum and Heritage center. Sid is President and owner of A Private Guide, Inc. “IGA/ITMA provided a gateway into a world of enrichment and satisfaction and prepared me to run a successful business in the tourism industry.” Sid has done Tour Management, Tour Guiding and is a Tour Operator. His recent tours took him to South Africa. He instructs in the Tour Manager and Tour Guide courses in the USA and in Mexico. Contact is: apgsid@comcast.net His company website is: www.aprivateguide.com

Louise Todd-Stoll, CTG, CITM graduate of both the International Tour Manager and Tour Guide courses, operates her own private tour company including tours in Ontario, Colorado and Utah. She has been a Tour Director on both motorcoaches and luxury railcars for international companies. Her prior background included work as a Park Ranger and in human services programs. Her travels have included 48 states, Canada, Mexico, Central America, England, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Greece and the Mediterranean and Caribbean Islands. She also works as a Tour Guide in the Denver, Colorado Springs and Rocky Mountain National Park areas. A member of the Rocky Mountain Guide Association, Louise earned her Masters Degree in Education. She instructs in the Tour Manager and Tour Guide courses in the USA and in Mexico. Contact is: gstollsprint1@earthlink.net

Steve Kaverman, CITM, CTG, CTM, IGA graduate from both the International Tour Manager and Tour Guide Certification Programs, was employed with the American Orient Express Rail Company (now GrandLuxe Rail Journeys), a private railway offering deluxe rail tours in the U.S., Canada and Mexico aboard restored vintage rail cars. As Assistant Director of Operations, he was involved with route & schedule development, negotiating train service contracts and crew training. Steve particularly enjoys researching and writing passenger route guides and managing Tours as he traveled with groups across North America aboard the train. He attended Michigan State University, graduating on the Dean’s List with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. Steve states that “after 16 years of formal education, vocational training at IGA led him into his current occupation.” Since entering the Travel & Tourism field, Steve further earned a diploma in Tour Management from the Breda University of Professional Education, Breda the Netherlands. He instructs in the Tour Manager and Tour Guide courses in the USA and in Mexico. Contact is: skaverman@earthlink.net

Clayton James Whitehead, CITM, CTP, Over the past 3 decades, Clayton has been employed on all 3 sides of the Hospitality Pyramid. As an instructor at IGA/ITMA he is thrilled to share his experiences and insights with students from around the world.

Since 1993, Clayton has been the Vice-President of Sports Leisure Vacations, a California-based packaged travel company. He is also Vice-President of Travel Alliance Partners, LLC and the Sacramento Arts & Business Council. Clayton has earned 2 Degrees from the University of Georgia, is a graduate of IGA/ITMA and the Centre Linguistique in Jonquiere, Canada. He was named the National Tour Association "Volunteer of the Year" for 2007.

Clayton has lead groups through state, province, and territory in North America. Additionally, he has lead tours through Western Europe, the Carribean and the South Pacific. Clayton teaches in the Tour Manager course in Mexico. Contact Clayton at: clayton@sportsleisure.com

Tim and Elise Lentz, CITM, are husband and wife graduates of IGA/ITMA and are guest lecturers at our USA and Mexico locations, when "in port". They previously worked for major corporations in Information Technology for over a decade. They decided they wanted to pursue a career that would allow them to work together and enjoy their passion for travel and took the International Tour Manager course together. Immediately following their graduation from IGA in 2003, they obtained positions with Windstar Cruises, working all major ports of call along the coasts of the Baltic, Mediterranean, Croatia, Greece, and Turkey, including 2 Trans-Atlantic crossings and numerous Caribbean islands.

Tim and Elise are avid proponents of the IGA/ITMA program and emphasize how their training here helped prepare them for the leap from their corporate positions to International Tour Management in the cruise industry. Beginning in 2008, they are working for Tauck World Discovery on their small cruise fleet itineraries leading groups through Costa Rica, the Baltic, Venice, and the Dalmatian Coast. Their experiences offer students insights into the cruise ship industry, a career in which IGA/ITMA graduates are able to pursue after their certification. They are guest lecturers in our USA and Mexico courses. Contact Tim and Elise at: windwardtravel@att.net

Alex Galimov, CITM, CTG, IGA International Tour Manager graduate, was born and raised in Siberia, Russia. He came to the US in 1990. He has a degree in linguistics and education from the Gorky University in Russia and an International Business Degree from the University of Colorado. He attended the Teykyo University’s Japanese language studies. Alex has been involved in international travel and business since 1990, taking groups of US and Canadian businessmen, to Russia and the Republics of the Former Soviet Union acting as their translator, interpreter, business facilitator and Tour Guide. Since graduating from the International Guide Academy in Denver, Co., Alex has been a Tour Manager for several US-based Tour Operators focusing on American West. His passions are travel, languages and meeting new people. Alex has his own translation business as well. Contact Alex at: galimov@msn.com

Doug Paterson, CITM, a graduate of the International Tour Manager program has 35+ years experience as an International Tour Manager, Tour Guide, Driver/Guide, motorcoach operator, and Manager of Training, Safety and Operations for motorcoach companies. His Tour Managing and Tour Guiding has been in Alaska, the South Pacific and Asia. Doug holds his Masters Degree (MBA) from the University of Colorado and has years of prior teaching experience. He instructs our students in the fields of Tour Manager/Driver teamwork and emergencies on the road in the Tour Manager and Tour Guide courses. Contact is: doug@globaltransportation.us

Daniel Slater, CITM, CTG, CTM, a graduate of both programs, has been in the travel industry for over 17 years. He has worked as a motorcoach operator, motorcoach company owner, and tour company owner. His travels have taken him to 30+ states, Mexico, Canada, Denmark, Jamaica, Aruba, and he will be adding to his resume in 2008 in China, South Korea, and Japan.

He is a Tour Guide in Colorado and enjoys his Tour Management assignments. Daniel worked in Jamaica preparing lesson plans for training local Jamaican Tour Guides. He appeared on the Jamaican edition of the Early Morning Show and has been interviewed on local Colorado television. Daniel received his CTM from the International Association of Tour Managers (London) and the University of Breda, Holland and is a published author and industry consultant. He is also responsible for updating the IGA website. Contact is: daniel@bepaidtotravel.com

Frank Slater, Ph.D., CTG, CITM, CTM, brings over 45 years of corporate and travel experience to the IGA/ITMA. Frank received his CTM from the International Association of Tour Managers (London) and the University of Breda, Holland. He has been president of the IGA/ITMA for 13 years and is a Gold Member of the International Tour Manager Association (London). He has been a Tour Manager in North America, Central and South America, Europe, Middle East (Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Israel and Jordan), northern Africa and Asia.

He has also been a Tour Guide in Colorado and San Francisco. Frank has served on the Advisory Board of Travel and Tourism in Denver. He has been a Tour Manager in over 20 states including Alaska and Hawaii. Frank's recent Tour Management took him in to Mexico, New Zealand, England, Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, Monaco, France, and Italy. In November 2005 he was in India and Nepal. In 2006 and 2007 he worked in Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, and Ecuador. His continuing assignments in 2008 will take him throughout Latin America. Frank received his education in both the USA and England and has lived throughout the USA, England, The Netherlands and Mexico. Frank is a published author and paid speaker as well as an industry consultant. Contact is: frank@bepaidtotravel.com

Pam Aten, CITM, was the supervisor of Tour Directors and Tour Coordinators for Globus family of brands, and Archers for over 3 years. She developed and supervised tour operations in an eight-state region and Eastern Canada, researched and conducted site visits of tour destinations throughout North America and Canada, and hired, trained and supervised over 300 domestic and International Tour Directors. She has additional industry experience planning and marketing tours as well as personally conducting tours. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Advertising. Her affiliations include the Denver Metro Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Pam is currently owner of Aten & Associates, an event development and planning company headquartered in Denver, CO. Contact is: pam@atenandassociates.com Her website is: www.atenandassociates.com

Sharron Toulouse, CTG, CITM is in her fourth season with MaupinTour where she has conducted Tours to The National Parks, Colorado by Rail and Christmas in New Mexico and has worked for Archeological Tours and in Morocco. She has been a Tour Director with Globus family of brands on their Fall Foliage in New England Tours. Other assignments include work with Laureate Tours, Great Events, Arches, A Private Guide, The Arrangers, Rocky Mountain Connections, and Around and About Tours. Contact is: sgtoulouse@yahoo.com

Arturo Hernandez Martinez, CITM, began his association with the Travel and Tourism Industry 30 years ago. His work within the industry included both domestic and international relations. He received his license as a guide for tourists from the country of Mexico. Arturo is a graduate of the Universidad de Morelos in Mexico. He specializes in handling tour groups with interests in archeology with special attention to Chichen Itza, Palenque, Teotihuacan, and the museums of history and art throughout Mexico. He conducts his tours fluently in Spanish and English, and is currently working on his fluency in French. His work as a guide at a professional level includes his guiding and narration for the International Guide Academy on their class field training in Mexico at such places as Xochicalco, Museo Dolores Olmeda, Xochimilco, and motorcoach training.

Francisco Conejo, CITM/CTG, IGA Tour Manager and Tour Guide graduate, has guided and managed over 300 motorcoach, mini-bus and train tours in Costa Rica. He specialized in the cruise sector, servicing English, Spanish and German groups. Francisco graduated from the University of Colorado receiving his MBA and a second master’s degree in International Business. Immediately after IGA graduation he received offers from companies operating throughout the Western USA. He has been giving English and German tours in 11 Western states. Companies he has worked for include Montana Rockies Rail Tours, Alternative Tours (Germany), Rocky Mountain Holiday Travel and A Private Guide. Francisco has lived in 4 countries and traveled to over 20. His interests include history, antique/ancient cultures and ethnic cuisine. Francisco is currently working on his Ph.D at the University of Otago in New Zealand. His planned thesis is on "tourism destination branding".


Bob Lindsay, CITM, a graduate of the International Tour Manager program, has 10 plus years working with Globus family of brands, and Archers. He is president and owner of “Aspen Leaf” and has worked as a Tour Operator as well an International Tour Manager. Bob has his Master's Degree in Geology from the University of Nebraska. This education, combined with his study of history, allows Bob to bring his interpretive narration to his tours of the USA Western National Parks and to the IGA/ITMA classroom. Bob instructs in the Tour Guide course.

Carole O’Connell, CTG, is a graduate of the Tour Guide program. She has been a Tour Manager and Tour Guide for Ambler Tour and Travel, Colorado Custom Tours, Denver and Beyond, Great Events, The Arrangers, and others. She has covered most of the USA and parts of Europe. Carole has more than 20 years experience in the tourism industry. She instructs in the Tour Guide course with a field trip to the local international airport where she instructs students in airport protocol, arrivals and departures, security, meet-and-greet, ground transportation, and baggage handling/control. Carole has been a guest panelist at the RMGA Educational Seminar. Contact is: transworldcarole@aol.com

Richard Schwendinger, Ph.D., CTG is a graduate of the Tour Guide program and is considered “Mr. Colorado” when it comes to Tour Guiding. He owns his own company, has taught Colorado History at Red Rocks Community College and has taught History of the American West and European history. Dick is a docent for “mining history” with the Colorado Historical Society. He has been a Tour Guide in 14 states including 20 years in Alaska. He brings his 40 years of experience to the IGA/ITMA classroom. Dick conducts actual hands on walking tours for the Tour Guide course.

Roxanne Snell, CITM, International Tour Manager grad, currently works for EF Smithsonian. She previously worked for Globus family of brands, and has had assignments in the Canadian Maritime and in New England. Roxanne recertified as an International Tour Manager with IGA/ITMA in 2000. She has led European Tours for the American Council of International Studies. Her assignments took her back to the Canadian Maritimes and New England in Fall 2007. She trains our students on the motorcoach trip as well as in the classroom. Roxanne trains our students in airport responsibilities on-site at Denver International Airport. Roxanne earned her B.A. from Baylor University, and earned her Masters in Education at Colorado State University. She has 25 years teaching experience, and recently retired from Frontier Airlines. Contact is: roxannesnell@aol.com


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