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The Back Door Team

...and where we're traveling in 2008

How do we help people have better trips? By practicing what we preach! Rick will be in Europe for 145 days this year, but the rest of our staff will spend more than 2,500 days on the road. We don't think there's another travel company around that has this much current, hands-on travel experience. Here's what we do at ETBD, our favorite gelato flavors (of course!), and where we wandered, just recently.

group photo of the etbd staff
  • Aaron Harting: Travel Advisor/Guide. Favorite gelato: caffe. 2008 travels: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland.
  • Abe Bringolf: Travel Advisor. Favorite gelato: cioccolato and arancia. 2008 travels: Mexico, Southwest USA.
  • Amanda Levesque: Travel Advisor. Favorite gelato: straccitella y pistachio. 2008 travels:  Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland.
  • Amy Castanette: Tour Operations/Guide. Favorite gelato: noce di cocco. 2008 travels: Ireland, Turkey.
  • Andrew Wakeling: Shipping Assistant/Marketing Assistant. Favorite gelato: lemon. 2008 travels: Italy, Sicily.
  • Angie Kirkwood: Inventory and Special Accounts Coordinator/Guide. Favorite gelato: jasmine. 2008 travels: Canada, New York City.
  • Ann Neel: Travel Center Assistant Manager/Guide. Favorite gelato: lemon. 2008 travels: Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia. 
  • Anne Kirchner: General Manager. Favorite gelato: crema. 2008 travels:  Sanibel Island.
  • Ashley Southwick: Publicist. Favorite gelato: stracciatella. 2008 travels: Argentina, Grenada, Trinidad, Tobago, Venezuela. 
  • Barb Brannman: Accounting/Core Operations. Favorite gelato: chocolate hazelnut. 2008 travels:  Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, New Orleans.
  • Barb Geisler: Media Production Manager. Favorite gelato: pistachio. Favorite destination: Czech Republic.
  • Beth Sneeringer: Controller. Favorite gelato: chocolat. 2008 travels: The Southwest.
  • Brooke Burdick: Communications Manager/Webmaster. Favorite gelato: java. 2008 travels: Hanalei.
  • Cameron Hewitt: Writer/Lead Editor/Guide. Favorite gelato: riso. 2008 travels: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain.
  • Cathy Lu: (not pictured): Editor. Favorite gelato: pistachio. Favorite destinations: Hawaii, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland.
  • Cathy McDonald: Editor/Researcher/Guide. Favorite gelato: chocolate raspberry. 2008 travels: England, Spain, Wales.
  • Cheryl Antieau: Core Operations. Favorite gelato: nocciola/pistachio. Favorite destination:  France.
  • Cliff Cameron: Shipping/Guide. Favorite gelato: yanik dondurma. 2008 travels: Italy.
  • Cynthia Ballard: Rail Advisor/Tour Diva/Guide. Favorite gelato: limone. 2008 travels: Canada, Caribbean, Greece, Turkey.
  • Dave Hoerlein: Map Designer. Favorite gelato: baci. 2008 travels: Denmark.
  • Deanna Woodruff: Tour Department Manager. Favorite gelato: limone. Favorite destinations: France, Greece, Ireland, Italy.
  • Debi Jo Michael: Tour Operations Assistant Manager/Guide. Favorite gelato: melone. 2008 travels: Italy, Turkey.
  • Gail DeBell: Tour Diva/Guide. Favorite gelato: cassata. 2008 travels: Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Caribbean, Croatia, France, Germany, Hawaii, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland.
  • Gene Openshaw: Guidebook Co-Author. Favorite gelato: vanilla. 2008 travels: Austria, England, France, Greece, Italy.
  • Gretchen Strauch: Editor/Researcher/Guide/Provocateur. Favorite gelato: walnuss. 2008 travels: Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia.
  • Heidi Sewell: Tour Diva/Researcher/Guide. Favorite gelato: gianduia. 2008 travels: France, Italy.
  • Janine Fouts Goodrich: Tour Staff Accountant/Guide. Favorite gelato: limone. Favorite destinations: Austria, Germany, Hungary, Spain.
  • Jeanne Flatmo (not pictured): Customer Service. Favorite gelato: malaga. 2008 travels: Mexico.
  • Jennifer Davis: Editor/Researcher. Favorite gelato: chocolate. 2008 travels: Hawaii.
  • Jennifer Schutte: Travel Center & Consulting Manager/Guide. Favorite gelato: schnitzel. Favorite destination: anything Celtic.
  • Joan Robinson: Human Resources/Guide. Favorite gelato: limone. 2008 travels: Italy, Mexico.
  • Jon Johnson: Shipping/Guide. Favorite gelato: vanilla. Favorite destinations: Paris, Rome.
  • Jonathan Lee: Systems Administrator. Favorite gelato: silicon chip. 2008 travels: Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland.
  • Julie Coen: Special Events Coordinator/Travel Consultant/Guide. Favorite gelato: nocciola with coco. 2008 travels: Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Thailand.
  • Karen Baehm: Receptionist. Favorite gelato: mango. Favorite destinations: Croatia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Switzerland.
  • Karen Scholl: Chief Financial Officer. Favorite gelato: green tea. Favorite destination: Austria.
  • Keith Stickelmaier: Tour Divo/Guide/Researcher. Favorite gelato: any flavor on a little spoon. 2008 travels: Austria, France, Illinois, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland.
  • Laura Terrenzio: Rail Manager. Favorite gelato: limone. Favorite destination: Greece.
  • Laura "JuJu" VanDeventer: Map & Image Coordinator/Guide. Favorite gelato: pistachio. 2008 travels: Sicily.
  • Lauren Mills: Editor/Researcher. Favorite gelato: After Eight. 2008 travels: Alaska, England, France.
  • Lisa Friend: Travel Consultant/Tour Diva/Guide. Favorite gelato: straciatella. 2008 travels: Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland.
  • Lisa Werner: Marketing Manager. Favorite gelato: semi-freddo zabaglione. 2008 travels: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland.   
  • Louise Riley (not pictured): Tour Diva. Favorite gelato: nocciola. Favorite destination: Greece.
  • Mary Ann Cameron: Marketing Coordinator/Guide. Favorite gelato: dondurma. 2008 travels: Italy, Lopez Island.
  • Mary Carlson: Rail Advisor/Guide. Favorite gelato: nocciola. 2008 travels: Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland. 
  • Mary Romano: Human Resources Manager. Favorite gelato: amarena. Favorite destinations: France, Italy.
  • Matt Yglesias: Facilities Manager/Guide. Favorite gelato: noce di cocco. 2008 travels: Mexico.
  • Michaelanne Jerome (not pictured): Tour Operations/Guide. Favorite gelato: cioccolata. 2008 travels: France, Hawaii.
  • Michelle Kono: Tour Operations Manager. Favorite gelato: Earl Grey hot. 2008 travels: Babies R Us.
  • Mindy Patras: Tour Diva. Favorite gelato: nutella.  2008 travels:  Austria, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Chicago.
  • Pat Luczyk: Staff Accountant/Accounts Payable/Guide. Favorite gelato: apple strudel.  Favorite destination:  Poland.
  • Pat O'Connor: Travel Advisor/Guidebook Co-Author/Guide. Favorite gelato: poteen. 2008 travels: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Switzerland. 
  • Patricia Weiss: Core Operations. Favorite gelato: chocolate, pistachio. Favorite destinations: France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain.
  • Paul Orcutt: Travel Consultant. Favorite gelato: stracciatella. 2008 travels: Austria, France, Italy.
  • Ragen Sewell: Tour Operations/Guide. Favorite gelato: stracciatella. 2008 travels: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland.
  • Renee VanDrent: Tour Operations/Guide. Favorite gelato: pistachio. 2008 travels: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Slovenia, Vietnam. 
  • Rhonda Pelikan (not pictured): Art Director. Favorite gelato: IPA. 2008 travels: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Indiana, Route 66.
  • Richard Earl: Rail Advisor/Travel Consultant/Researcher/Guide. Favorite gelato: café. 2008 travels: Bosnia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Slovenia. 
  • Rich Sorensen (not pictured): Senior Content Manager. Favorite gelato: espresso. Favorite destination:  Gimmelwald.
  • Rick Steves: President/CEO/Author/Guide/Researcher/TV & Radio host/Teacher. Favorite gelato: ganja. 2008 travels: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Sweden, Turkey. 
  • Risa Laib: Managing Editor. Favorite gelato: melone. Favorite destinations: Narnia, Neverland.
  • Robyn Cronin: Web Production Designer/Guide. Favorite gelato: cannelle. 2008 travels: Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, London, Poland, Slovenia.
  • Russ Whealy: Product/Purchasing Manager. Favorite gelato: amaretto. 2008 travels: Aruba, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam.
  • Ruth Ann Rouse: Tour Diva/Guide. Favorite gelato: limone & frutti di bosco. 2008 travels: Austria, Bosnia, Croatia, France, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland.
  • Sheryl Harris: Core Operations Lead. Favorite gelato: chocolate hazelnut. 2008 travels:  France.
  • Simon Griffith: Television Producer. Favorite gelato: silver fern. 2008 travels: Greece, Denmark, Turkey. 
  • Sonja Groset: Web Department Project Manager/Guide. Favorite gelato: lakris. 2008 travels: Denmark, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Sweden.
  • Steve Cammarano (not pictured): Television Series Editor. Favorite gelato: tiramisu. 2008 travels: Italy.
  • Steve Smith: Manager of Tour Planning and Guide Staff/Guidebook Co-Author/Guide. Favorite gelato: escargot. 2008 travels: France, France, and more France.
  • Sylvia Strom: Staff Accountant/Accounts Receivable. Favorite gelato: nutty papaya. 2008 travels: Kauai.
  • Tara Swenson (not pictured): Tour Department Assistant Manager/Guide. Favorite gelato: shljivovitca. 2008 travels:  Canada, Minnesota, Motherhood.
  • Tim Tattan: Radio Producer. Favorite gelato: Mado Turkish apricot goat's milk. 2008 travels:  Detroit, Los Angeles.
  • Tom Griffin: (not pictured): Editor. Favorite gelato: caffe. 2008 travels: New Orleans, Pennsylvania, Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon.
  • Tom Platt: Shipping Manager. Favorite gelato: nutella. Favorite destinations: Ireland, Italy.