Chair
Kim Foley McKinnon
I’ve been a member of SATW for seven years. In that time, the connections I have made through this organization have led to a variety of work for me, from book deals to regular columns, but more importantly, I’ve gained mentors and friends that I might not have had otherwise. Even before I joined SATW, I heard grumblings about it being staid and out-of-date, but I believe you get out of something what you put into it. The first year I joined, I was recruited to be on the board and saying yes was one of the best decisions I could have made. It helped me get to know the organization and the membership in a way that I probably would have missed out on.
After having served as the first vice-chair of the Eastern Chapter for two terms, I have a solid grasp on how the chapter runs. As chapter chair, I want to work on getting more members involved in volunteering, create more opportunities for networking throughout the year and help the organization as a whole be the best resource for everyone in the travel industry.
For those who don’t know me, I’ve been a Boston-based travel and food writer for more than 20 years. I’m primarily a freelancer, with regular gigs with Forbes Travel Guide and U.S. News & World Report. I frequently write for the Boston Globe, Cruise Critic, AAA publications and many other outlets. I also write and contribute to a number of guidebooks. My most recent book is 100 Things to Do in Boston Before You Die (Reedy Press, 2018).
Thank you for your consideration!
2nd Vice Chair
Caroline Eubanks
I’m Caroline Eubanks and I’m a fairly new SATW member. I joined three or four years ago. I’ve attended two Eastern chapter meetings, which I found to be a great way to get introduced to the organization. I’ve met some great people this way. I come from a mostly new media background, starting with an alt weekly newspaper and my personal travel blog. Since then I’ve found work specializing in the Southern United States for BBC Travel, Afar, Fodor’s, and in my first book, This Is My South: The Essential Travel Guide to the Southern States.
As second Vice Chair for the Eastern Chapter, I’d like to bring my knowledge from new media to find speakers and professional development topics that will benefit members in their future work. Since the organization now has a large number of bloggers, it might be helpful to have some talks that focus on issues related to this type of work like search engine optimization and storytelling through social media.
For all members, the business side could be addressed, like bookkeeping, terms of contracts, and negotiating the many misunderstandings that come up between media and PR. I’m fairly well connected in the industry and would be happy to reach out to potential speakers. I look forward to another year of membership and to doing my best to help propel the organization forward.
Ed Wetschler
Treasurer
Teresa Delaney
As an Associate Member for more than 20 years, I have benefitted greatly from my affiliation with SATW and now feel strongly about giving back to the organization and its community. It is wonderful to see the many positive changes that have taken place recently, and I would be excited to extend my support as progress continues.
As the partner of a growing boutique PR agency, I’ve become adept at managing the company books and handling the fiscal responsibilities associated with being a business owner and employer. From budgeting and planning expenditures to negotiating contracts and working with financial professionals, my skill set in this discipline continues to expand and sharpen.
Financial forecasting is also a big piece of developing action plans on behalf of the agency’s clients. We constantly endeavor to get the most out of the funds available to us and achieve the biggest impact. This includes finding creative ways to utilize resources and strategizing opportunities to share costs amongst partners.
It would be a privilege and a pleasure to volunteer my time, and apply these energies and abilities on behalf of SATW in the position of Eastern Chapter Treasurer. In addition to the primary duties of the role, I would also be an active and available resource for the entire Chapter and officers, willing to lend my assistance and experience where requested.
I would be honored to serve alongside my friends, colleagues and the entire SATW community as the Eastern Chapter Treasurer, and I hope to have the opportunity to do so.