SATW 2025-2026 Election Candidates

Christine Loomis

As a longtime member of SATW, I can state unequivocally that I’ve gotten an enormous amount out of my membership, professionally and personally. But in my roles as Western Chapter Chair and Freelance Council Chair I know that isn’t true for every member. I’ve been sad to see very talented people, especially younger members, leave SATW because they didn’t feel their investment in the organization was worth it.

I want SATW to be the most relevant, viable organization it can be for every type of member—especially our younger members. I want to see younger members in leadership positions so they can help create not only a relevant and viable organization but the organization THEY will get the most out of now and in the future.

To that end, I’d like to devote part of my time in office to figuring out how to do that. Maybe it’s setting up a mentoring system specifically to promote and provide a pathway to leadership for younger and newer members. Maybe it’s starting a young members’ affinity group to report to the board on a variety of issues. Maybe it’s inviting new members to listen in on virtual board meetings or to attend portions of onsite board meetings so they get a good idea of what the board does and the challenges it faces.

When I was still a relatively new member, I took on editorship of the old SATW print newsletter. As editor I was invited by the then SATW president to attend that year’s board meeting to listen (only) and learn about the workings of the organization. It was one of the best experiences of my early membership and definitely inspired me to want to have a say in how SATW moved forward, which ultimately meant running for various offices.

Of course, there are many issues integral to the work the president and board do—some you may not even know about and some you may feel are important that aren’t even on my radar or the board’s. Everyone needs to speak up so we can work collectively. As editor-in-chief of various magazines during my career, I always had an open-door policy. The same would be true of my leadership work with SATW.

As a longtime freelance journalist, I’m also acutely aware of the struggles freelancers face in today’s industry. What can SATW do to improve the future for freelancers? I’m not sure, but I would bet that many of us can learn from our digital publisher colleagues, our videographers, our bloggers as well as freelancers who have learned a few tricks in the past couple of years. Again, it’s all about reaching out to each other, listening to each other and working together on common goals.

I’m also aware of the struggles faced by many of our independent public relations members who don’t have the budget and backing of an agency. What can SATW do to help them?

I don’t have answers—yet—to what SATW can do to improve things for either of those groups. But one thing I do know: Griping on Facebook/social media will not lead to change. Coming forward with ideas and potential solutions will.

The bottom line is that I would want to hear from members. And I want to give members a better understanding of how SATW works, what volunteering involves and what rewards it offers—because being part of the group that drives the direction SATW is going and what it can offer is incredibly rewarding.

Where to start? By voting. Whichever candidates you vote for, the important part is taking the time to cast your vote so that your voice is included. The last time I checked, we as an organization have a voting record of less than half of members taking part. Let’s set a higher bar this year.

Kirsten Maxwell

My name is Kirsten Maxwell, and I have been a travel writer, photographer, and content creator for the last 11 years. I am the editor of two websites, Kids Are A Trip and Groups Are A Trip, and I have also been a freelance writer. For the past 2.5 years, I have served on the SATW Executive Board as Membership Chair.

I am honored to be nominated as President-Elect for SATW and to have the opportunity to guide the organization into the future.

I have been a member of SATW for 6 years, and during that time, I have been an active member of both the Freelance and DPC councils. I have served as DPC Secretary and was involved with the Membership Committee for two years before my current role. During this time, SATW has made a lot of progress toward supporting all members, but we still have room for growth.

The diversity of my experience has allowed me to have unique insight into the needs of SATW members. As SATW’s current Membership Chair, I have learned about the needs of all councils and the organization as a whole. I have seen strong leaders and worked side by side with them to improve SATW for all members by supporting initiatives to diversify our membership.

Here are some of the things I have accomplished as Membership Chair:

– Created a quarterly New Member Webinar to welcome new members and answer organizational questions and concerns.
– Assisted with the Navigator program to partner new members with current ones who guided them through the organization.
– Encouraged Associates to create relationships with existing SATW members by using the weekly bulletins.
– Participated in the Family Travel Affinity Group and worked together to share industry knowledge with other SATW members.

As the Membership Chair, we have streamlined the membership process. Our committee presented the board with several motions to improve the membership process for everyone, but there is still work to do. Several members have come to the board with concerns, and it’s time to stop skirting the issues and dive deep into making SATW an organization that listens to its members and finds answers instead of kicking the can down the road.

Timely and honest dialogue is essential for a successful organization. In the past 2.5 years, I have seen a variety of leadership styles, listened to concerns from all chapters and councils, and resolved many issues. However, many things are “tabled” for later discussion, which never seems to happen. If issues are brought to the Board, I want to work together to find solutions instead of making them someone else’s problems.

SATW needs a leader who is receptive to new ideas and solutions but who also knows how to make changes when and if needed. I believe I can be that person.

Moving forward, I would like to bridge the disconnection between councils, making sure everyone’s needs and voices are heard. I will continue to be transparent, ensuring every member understands the organization and how it operates. I will encourage new and diverse faces to join not only the organization but the board as well. New ideas are welcome and encouraged!

As we all know, the last few years have been difficult for everyone in the travel industry, and unfortunately, it appears we may be in for more uncertainty. Whatever the world has in store, I would like to see stability for our organization across all councils and chapters. There will be some tough conversations that need to be had, but I encourage respectful dialogue.

We must keep an eye on the future and acknowledge how quickly our industry is changing. I want SATW to continue to be a well-respected organization and keep pace with the ever-evolving travel journalism landscape.

I am excited about the opportunity to serve SATW and to work together towards a prosperous future. I look forward to contributing my skills and passion to our shared success. Elect me as your President-Elect so we can grow SATW as a leader in the travel industry.

Beverly Hurley

It seems I was born to take notes, and minutes. I’m a list maker, detail oriented person, who loves to keep records, whether these are of my family’s special memories, SATW’s history, my current work as a garden travel editor, my past work in public relations, and the list goes on. It takes such a person like me to be the SATW secretary who can sit through board meetings and take the minutes, and then summarize these down to a readable format that captures the essence of what just happened in the room where it happened. The job of taking minutes and remembering what was said by whom is an important role on the SATW board. It’s the historical record of SATW and one of the ways for members to know what the SATW board is discussing. It connects you as a member to SATW and it’s a way for the board to connect to you. I hope you consider voting for me as your next SATW secretary.

Jill Robbins

I would be honored to serve SATW in the position of Secretary. I have been a member of SATW since 2021 and have spent the past three years serving the Central States Chapter, first as Vice Chair and then as Chapter Chair. I am also serving on the convention committee for our upcoming convention in Detroit, which is my husband’s hometown and holds a special place in my heart – Go Lions!

I am up for the challenge of being a part of the SATW board as its secretary. In the nearly five years that I have been a part of SATW, I’ve made many connections and grown professionally, and I would like the opportunity to serve the organization in a new capacity.
I am organized and an excellent communicator, which would serve me well as your secretary. In addition to having experience at the SATW Chapter level, I have previously volunteered as secretary for two other private organizations, the Air Force Sergeants Association’s Chapter 872 at Scott AFB, IL, and the Greater Randolph Area Service Unit with Girl Scouts of the USA.

My writing has appeared in publications such as Fodor’s Travel, Southern Living, AAA Texas, and more. Journalism is a second act for me – I proudly served 27 years in the United States Air Force and retired in 2017 as a Chief Master Sergeant. I make my home in San Antonio, although I’m usually somewhere else.

Thank you for considering my interest in this position.

Jan Schroder

I took my first steps on an airplane. Maybe I should have parlayed that cute story into a lucrative career in the airline industry, like an aviation attorney. But a stint as a paralegal turned me off a legal career so I turned to publishing, starting with newspapers, and eventually found my passion with travel writing.
In addition to writing books and working in the PR industry, I’ve worked as a managing editor of a travel magazine, freelance travel writer and am currently editor-in-chief of The Travel 100, a digital magazine distributed to 400k every month.
I joined SATW in 2013 and am in my 5th year as treasurer of the Editor’s Council and as an admin for the SATW Facebook page. I have found the SATW conferences and webinars I’ve attended and the contacts I’ve made to be invaluable in my career.
My other board experience includes with the High Museum of Art, my garden club and my children’s schools. Dealing with the needs and concerns of everyone from high level arts donors to elementary school parents qualifies me to handle a variety of situations.
I am running for secretary of SATW to serve the organization in a larger capacity and to help the communication efforts, initiatives and goals of SATW. While I’ve migrated from the print world to the digital one during my career, the focus has always been to communicate clearly, accurately and effectively.
George Bernard Shaw said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” As secretary of SATW, I would work to make sure communication is not an illusion.

Jason Frye (Unopposed)

I’m Jason Frye, a travel journalist working across print and broadcast mediums and easing into more digital storytelling, and I’m here to become SATW’s next Membership Officer.

Since joining SATW in 2015, I’ve involved myself in helping plan, organize, and urge the Society forward at all levels starting with volunteering to arrange PD at my second chapter meeting, becoming Second Vice Chair for the Eastern Chapter, and moving on to the Society Board of Directors as Active At-large before joining the Membership Committee in 2023. Along the way I’ve co-chaired our 2017 Portland Convention, organized PD for 2018 Barbados and 2022 Bogota (with Mary Jo Manzanares), and will be part of the team leading our 2026 convention.

Through this I’ve experienced SATW’s evolution. At times it’s been slow or hesitant, but it’s always been thoughtful and considerate of both the needs of existing members and with an eye on the next generations of travel communicators. As Membership Officer I plan to continue this thoughtful approach, working to refine our membership and requalification standards and procedures, and making aggressive pushes to grow our member body.

I believe we can expand our Associate membership by leveraging our strong network of state and provincial PR pros, regional DMOs, and beyond to attract new people, ideas, and opportunities to the Society.

I see the same opportunity for our Active membership and believe we can reach new travel writers, broadcasters, and storytellers through targeted networking at events and meetups with our peers, through multichannel digital outreach efforts, and by raising awareness of the value and benefits of membership on both a personal and professional level.

I believe we can grow our overall membership base to reflect the diversity in ideas, storytelling, background, and ways of living, believing, and loving that make North America such a vibrant place. But I need your help. First, with your vote, then with your voice.

With your constructive feedback; help with outreach efforts; assistance developing next-generation membership and requalification standards; introductions to the editors, DMOs, and travel storytelling peers we want to bring into the fold; and with help on a hundred other things, we can grow SATW together. We can strengthen the Society; increase our depth of knowledge, breadth of experience, and diversity in output, voice, and point of view; and position the organization to influence the future shape of travel communication and storytelling.

Lindsay Nieminen (Unopposed)

Lindsay has been a full-time digital creator since 2016, successfully evolving with the industry while fully supporting her family through her work. A SATW member since 2020, she joined to connect with seasoned, professional storytellers and has found both community and inspiration within the organization. Lindsay strongly believes in the value of volunteering and has served two years on the Digital Publishers Council and currently holds the role of Secretary for the Canada Chapter.
Passionate about mentorship and knowledge-sharing, Lindsay believes in lifting others as she grows. She is running for the SATW board to better use her voice in the organization as the landscape of travel media evolves —ensuring members are empowered, adaptable, informed and well-positioned for success in the decade ahead.

Marcea Cazel

Hi all! I’m Marcea Cazel, and I am running for the Freelancer-at-Large position.

I’ve always been a storyteller. From my early days scribbling in notebooks to being editor-in-chief for my high school newspaper to earning a journalism degree from the University of Central Florida (Go Knights!), writing has been my constant. For the past eight years, I’ve built a second career as a freelance travel writer, covering everything from Black history travel, minority-owned breweries, family travel, and cruising. My work has appeared in a variety of publications, including AAA Living, Samantha Brown’s Places to Love, Next Avenue, and Hop Culture, with each piece being driven by my love of cultural exploration.

Freelancing is constantly evolving. I want to ensure that SATW continues to be a place where independent writers, no matter where they are in their journey, feel supported and see a path toward success while also helping make SATW an even stronger resource with a range of voices and perspectives.

Beyond writing, I’m a classic movie buff, an avid reader (historical fiction is often my go-to), and someone who jumps at any chance to experience something new. We all know that travel is about discovery, and I’d love to bring that same spirit to this role while working to elevate fellow freelancers in SATW.

Thanks for your consideration. I’d be honored to have your vote.

Erin Deinzer

Between AI’s encroachment into content creation, the lack of pay rates keeping pace with rising cost-of-living expenses, and many destinations cutting back on promotions to curb the effects of “over-tourism,” it’s a tough time to be a freelancer.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that so far, 2025 is shaping up to be a tumultuous year for the travel industry. With Canadian bookings (our #1 in-bound market) falling to historic lows, tariffs threatening to make travel more expensive, and retaliatory border policies falling into place, to paraphrase Bette Davis—we’re going to need to buckle up for one heck of a bumpy ride.

But on the positive side there are a myriad of things that we—as members of SATW—have in common: among them is our commitment to continue traveling, our willingness to work hand-in-hand with industry partners, a burning desire to share the varied intricacies of humanity with others, and the need to regenerate and sustain the natural world around us.

As a frequent volunteer and experienced board member, I believe I can bring with me the expertise and commitment it takes to be an effective representative for the SATW freelance community and a provide a voice for our goals and concerns.

It's along those lines that I’m putting my name in the proverbial hat for the position of Freelancer-at-Large. Although I’m not uniquely qualified for the position, I do bring with me 10+ years of membership, more than three decades of experience as a writer and editor (both in the leisure- and business-travel space), several years as a board member of BATW (Bay Area Travel Writers) where I've served as the Events & Meetings Coordinator, an appointed membership on Washington state’s Whatcom County Wildlife Advisory Committee, and I'm a founding editor of the BATW Travel Magazine.

I would welcome the opportunity to become more involved in shaping the future of the organization, to get to know more of my fellow members, and to work collaboratively with others in keeping SATW at the forefront of the travel industry.

Thank you for your consideration.

Dannelle Gay

As a seasoned travel writer, TV host, syndicated columnist, and multi-book author, I bring both a deep commitment to storytelling and a proven track record of leadership in the media space. My goal in joining the professional board is to help elevate voices in our industry—particularly those telling authentic, place-based stories that champion community, culture, and creativity.

Through my platform, The Traveling Cheesehead, I reach a diverse, engaged audience across print, digital, broadcast, and social media. I’ve built successful partnerships with tourism boards, veteran organizations, culinary guilds, and nonprofit initiatives. I understand firsthand the challenges writers face in monetizing their work, expanding their reach, and staying relevant in a rapidly shifting media landscape. That’s why I’m passionate about helping fellow creatives thrive, not just survive.

My background includes years of speaking at tourism and writing conferences, mentoring new writers, and leading group travel experiences that spark curiosity and connection. I believe in community over competition and in building bridges across genres and generations. I also bring business experience as the CEO of Traveling Cheesehead Productions, where I manage multimedia projects from ideation to syndication.

On this board, I would contribute an entrepreneurial spirit, a strategic mind, and an unwavering love for the written word. I see this role as an opportunity to support members through advocacy, collaboration, and innovation—especially in areas like accessibility, professional development, and content diversification.

I’d be honored to serve.

Craig Silva

Dear SATW Colleagues,

I am honoured to submit my candidacy for the position of Freelancer-at-Large on the SATW Board. As a freelance travel writer and content creator, I understand the unique challenges our community faces. I am passionate about advocating for the interests of freelance professionals — writers, photographers, editors, bloggers, influencers, and online publishers — and ensuring our voices are heard at the highest levels of the Society of American Travel Writers.

The role of Freelancer-at-Large is a critical one, especially as the landscape of travel writing and content creation continues to evolve. Freelancers are integral to the success of the travel industry, yet we often face issues such as inconsistent income, lack of professional benefits, and the need to navigate complex digital platforms and evolving business models. These concerns must be raised and addressed within SATW to ensure the continued well-being of our community.

With a deep understanding of the freelance experience, I aim to serve as a conduit between freelancers and the Board, bringing issues that impact us to the forefront of discussions. I will work to ensure that the challenges we face, ranging from fair compensation to access to professional development and networking opportunities, are not only acknowledged but actively addressed. I believe that through collaboration and open dialogue, we can create a more supportive and sustainable environment for freelancers within SATW.

As a Freelancer-at-Large, I will advocate for initiatives that provide freelancers with greater access to resources within the SATW membership and beyond, which in turn will provide opportunities for all of us to thrive. I believe in the power of community and will work to ensure that freelancers feel connected, valued, and empowered within SATW. By fostering stronger relationships between freelancers and other members of SATW, we can continue to uphold the high standards of travel journalism while ensuring that freelancers are given the tools to succeed in an increasingly competitive industry.

If elected, I will be your voice during Board discussions and advocate for solutions that benefit all members, particularly those who rely on freelance work for their livelihood. I am committed to being a proactive, accessible, and dedicated representative for freelancers, ensuring that our concerns are heard and addressed in every Board meeting and decision.

Thank you for your consideration. I would be honoured to represent you and serve as your Freelancer-at-Large on the SATW board.

Sincerely,
Craig Silva

Paula Carreiro

I would like to become part of the Board to support North American media visit international destinations to enhance foreign cultures awareness in this market through the joy of travelling.

Joyce Kiehl

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as SATW’s Associate-at-Large. It has been an honor to represent our Associate members. I am asking for your support to serve a second term.

Over the past year, I have gained an even greater appreciation for the responsibility of representing our Associate members and the commitment required to make meaningful progress. It has been deeply rewarding to contribute to initiatives that prioritize the needs and interests of our membership.

We have been laying a stronger foundation to better support Associates with the tools, connections, and resources needed to succeed. In the coming months, you will see new opportunities for associates to connect with one another as well as develop their connection to media. We are making steady progress, with a continued focus on delivering value and ensuring clear, consistent communication about what is available and how to access it.

Associates face unique challenges—whether it is navigating a rapidly evolving media landscape, balancing partner or client demands, or finding meaningful ways to connect with our editorial colleagues. That is why I am proud to support the Associate’s Council and its work to bring more professional development opportunities and strategic value tailored to our needs.

At the heart of it, every Associate should feel seen, valued, and supported. Whether you are with an agency, running your own shop, or just getting started, SATW should be a place
where you can grow, connect, and build lasting relationships. That has been my priority throughout this term, and with a second term, I would be honored to help bring even more of that to life.

As Director of Communications for Visit Greater Palm Springs and a longtime SATW member, I have had the privilege of working with both Associates and Actives across the industry. I know how powerful our network can be when we come together, and how important it is that Associates continue to have a strong voice at the table.

If re-elected, I will continue advocating for the resources and support that help all of us thrive—practical tools, stronger connections, and meaningful opportunities for growth.

Thank you again for your trust and support. It would be a privilege to continue serving as your Associate-at-Large.