Meet the AM|FM Luxury + Adventure Travel Team

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

I am Alexis. I grew up in Florida, where my dad came home one day and told my mom “I want to learn how to sail so I bought a boat!” I was 9, when we first sailed to the Bahamas. We would take Summer breaks sailing around the Bahamas and Florida (both my parents were teachers). After college, I moved to Massachusetts for 9 years with my husband, and then on to San Francisco Bay Area for 11 years. Now I call Bend, Oregon my home. My career has been in the Corporate Training world both as a Stand Up Trainer and then Training Logistics. For the last 14 years, I have been a stay at home mom to 3 kids close in age as well as 3 fur babies. I briefly dabbled in the wine industry as well as the airline industry. Now, that my kids are in their teens, I am thrilled to be taking my previous passion for travel to work! My uncle was a Commercial Airline Pilot so for many years my husband and I to travelled to some amazing places on his airline relative program. We have been to Thailand, Laos, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey and many places in Europe. In fact, my husband, kids and I also lived in Normandy France for 6 months. Why? Because why not?! When COVID hit and live school was cancelled, we decided to buy an RV and take schooling and adventuring to the road! We spent 3 months traveling the US from Oregon to Florida and back. This is something my kids will never forget! My type of travel varies from adventurous, wine/food travel, luxury travel to “roughing it” in our RV exploring road travel.

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

I admit it, I am a notorious over-packer, but I have a suitcase full of travel experience! After a sales career in the airline industry calling on travel agencies when they were in every strip mall (I’m dating myself!), I landed here doing what I love to do personally and professionally. Living in beautiful Bend, Oregon is truly special, but having the rest of the world at my fingertips is a gift. In our family, a beachy escape in the winter is considered “required”, but a good European adventure always has my heart, too. These travels bring me new ideas, experiences and inspiration to share with my clients. Throw in my ninja planning skills, and I am ready to book your next trip. Just don’t ask me for packing advice

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

Ciao, I’m Caileigh and a Pacific Northwest native who is passionate about travel! After studying anthropology and history in college, I traveled to Thailand where I fell in love with exploring new cultures. While traveling, I am always on the hunt for a good glass of wine and a great meal. Even when planning my wedding, my husband and I were in search of a new destination to elope to. In 2021, we decided to elope to Italy, where we experienced the beauty and cuisine of the country firsthand. Drawing on my own travel experiences and a passion for helping others create memories, I can help you with planning a truly bespoke adventure. Whether you’re looking for a romantic escape or want to immerse yourself in a new culture, I can help make your travel dreams a reality!

PAPAYA TRAVEL COMPANY (an AM|FM Affiliate) OWNER

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

G'day, I'm Carrie, your Aussie Specialist! I'm from Bend, Oregon but I've spent time in Australia and even lived there when I was a kid. I love good wine, pad thai and all the tropical fruit! I enjoy art and photography and I have over 50 house plants. I have always wanted to be in the travel industry and started my journey as a flight attendant at 20. After some time off to raise my son, I had to get back to travel. I started Papaya Travel Co in 2017 and love planning and designing travel dreams for my clients. I also love watching sports and catching a game while visiting a new place is one of my favorite ways to immerse myself in the local culture. Whether it's a sporting event, a festival or a food tour, I look for those special activities that will make your trip unique.

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

Hi, I am Dana! I grew up in Colorado and moved to California in 1998 with a corporate job, taking me first to Southern California and then to the San Francisco Bay Area, where I have been ever since. I have always enjoyed adventure. So much so, that in 4th grade, I slept in a tent in our backyard by myself for 4 weeks! My mom thought I was crazy. Although I prefer a swanky hotel, I still do love to camp, so our family purchased a 1978 Airstream. We call her Rosy and often take her to amazing parks and beaches. Over the years, I have generally been the one in our friend group to organize the travel plans, whether it was just a roadtrip to a lake in Nebraska as a teen or for a Mexico beach vacation in later years. While in the corporate world, I planned extensive travel for myself as a sales representative covering a territory of 4 states as well as helping to arrange corporate incentive trips. Nowadays, I spend hours planning family vacations around the globe. Now that my kids are in High School, I am making my lifelong passion into my career! Some of my favorite past travel destinations are Fiji, the Greek Islands, and Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean. I am so excited to be here at AM|FM Travel with an amazing team who work hard everyday! Bon Voyage!

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

Hey there, I am Gina! Although I consider Oregon my “home”, my husband and I picked up life, our black lab Olive, and moved to the South of Spain where we have been for the last year. Living here has allowed for lots of European discovery, embracing new cultures, and eating and drinking our way through new countries. For 13 years, I was one of those crazy middle school teachers, followed by 5 years as an elementary administrator. On all those school breaks, you can bet I took every opportunity to find a new beach, city, or favorite rooftop bar. I tend to obsessively research my next destination, and have been informally crafting itineraries for my friends and family for years. My love for people, learning, teaching, and building relationships transfers nicely to the travel industry and I can’t wait to help place you in your next piece of adventure, paradise, or tranquility!

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

I’m Graciela. I grew up in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, but I’ve lived in the Bay Area for over 20 years. I'm the second youngest of 8 kids. When I was 7 years old my Mother opened a Travel Agency. Her adventurous spirit and tenacity, combined with my father's curiosity and great desire to see the places he read about in books, was the perfect recipe for a successful business. Early on I knew I wanted to be a part of this endeavor, so I started learning the ropes and working with them from a very young age. They didn't just teach me how to be a travel agent - they taught me to become a designer of dreams and stress-free travel.

I am hard-working and detail-oriented, and I’m really passionate about sharing all the things I’ve learned while traveling around the world. From guiding teen travel groups around Europe, cruises, adventure travel, and exotic honeymoons to corporate travel, I have done it all.

Travel has always been my great passion, and I love to share this passion with my clients. I love experiencing different cultures - listening to new music, swimming in the ocean, enjoying a delicious meal and a great wine, meeting new friends, talking to the locals, and taking tons of pictures (photography is my other passion!)

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

Hi, I'm Kelly. I was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, but have called the greater Phoenix metropolitan area my home for over 22 years now. Formerly a customer service manager for a fortune 500 company, I am a natural at making sure things go smoothly. I have been planning travel for over 7 years now and am happiest when crafting and creating - whether that is travel itineraries or home decor! I have spent time at many of the luxury hotels and resorts throughout the Southwest, and have traveled extensively throughout Hawaii, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. I can't wait to share some of my favorite spots with you!

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

My favorite pastime as a child was to pack my ‘magical suitcase’ and go anywhere I imagined- by just stepping out the door into the backyard. To this day, travel continues to play a major role in both my personal and professional life. I thoroughly enjoy curating experiences customized to my client’s needs and expectations. With certifications in both plant & energy medicine, I gravitate towards eco-tourism destinations and mind/body wellness retreats. However, I am also versed in fly-fishing adventures, cruises, ski trips, luxury travel, and anything in between. I am blessed to be living in the ‘foodie mecca’ of the Pacific Northwest, and love to incorporate new culinary experiences with travel. No matter what stage you are in planning your next adventure, I am here to help make it extraordinary!

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

Hi! My name is Megan, and I’m a Colorado native passionate about travel! I started traveling internationally in 2009 and have since explored 31 countries on 6 different continents! Looking for an adventure? I can help! When I’m not navigating the globe, I enjoy writing, searching for out-of-the-box activities, and tasting mac and cheese at every restaurant. My husband and I recently welcomed our first child in June of this year - our greatest adventure yet. I love planning trips for our family and friends, and can’t wait to see the look on my son’s face (or yours) when experiencing somewhere new. Let me help you step out of your comfort zone and discover another version of yourself you may not have known existed

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

Ciao! I’m Megan. I was born and raised in Kansas and have been living in Missouri for the past 25 years. After serving as a police officer for 20 years and retiring, my drive to help people has remained unwavering. Following my retirement in 2015, I began designing travel itineraries and assisting people in planning their dream vacations.

My love for travel sparked during my high school years when I did volunteer work and had the opportunity to live with locals in Ecuador and Honduras. I’m obsessed with warm weather and the serene tranquility that the ocean brings. I would love to call Italy home one day. The country's unique charm, enchanting way of life, and rich cultural heritage have captured my heart. I enjoy immersing myself in new cultures by meeting locals and experiencing their unique way of life every time I travel to a new place.

My expertise is founded on a mix of professional training and practical experience, complemented by my own personal travel adventures. This unique combination enables me to offer you first-hand knowledge and insider tips about your potential vacation destination.

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

Hi there, I’m Nelle! I’ve been passionate about travel and cultures my whole life. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to over 70 countries across all 7 continents! Since joining the travel industry over a decade ago, I have done everything from Tour Guide to Operations to Product Design and Contracting. Now with a toddler in tow, life and travel pace looks a little different than the 4 years I spent living out of a backpack, but my passion for people and exploring the world remains unchanged!

I have spent the last several years designing independent and small group travel around the world. Some of my favorites have been my Cuisine & Culture series, Northern Lights, Luxury Trains, National Parks, Wellness, Active Adventure, and Family tours. Some of my personal favorite travel locations include Alaska, Hawaii, Kenya and South Africa (Safaris), Uganda (Gorilla Trekking!), Antarctica, Thailand, Cambodia, Bolivia, Galapagos, Costa Rica, Egypt, Norway, Italy, there’s too many to list!

I would love to make your travel dreams a reality whether it’s stateside or across the globe! Because, If not now, WHEN? Happy Travels!

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & OUTSIDE SALES

Hello, we are Sarah and Scott Steen known as the Steen team! Between the two of us we bring a wealth of travel knowledge and experience. We have personally used and referred AM FM Travel for many trips. This is a natural fit to join their team and help create memories for our future clients. As a Rotarian (Sarah) out of Albany, Oregon we have hosted many students from around the globe. This has given us additional insights and perspectives on cultures and places that are hidden gems of the world. We look forward to connecting and finding the right experience designer on the team to help make your travel goals and dreams into a reality. We both work full time outside of the travel industry. Sarah works in business development and Scott in the aviation industry. Our skills will shine in customer service and analytical detailed planning.

Some of the places we have traveled internationally in the past fifteen years include Spain (multiple times), France, England, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, Italy, India, Mexico, Bahamas, the Caribbean and more! We also are very fond of anything and everything in Hawaii ( engaged and married in Maui). We know what it takes to prepare for a trip of a lifetime and have resourceful tips in our tool belt to help you, your friends and family.

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER

TRAVEL + EXPERIENCE DESIGNER