SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Heather is a board-certified art therapist and licensed mental health counselor based in Indianapolis. In addition to her private practice, she leverages her many years of military service, private sector leadership experience, and a decade of working in the mental health field to offer professional development in a consultation capacity. Through speaking engagements, workplace training, and one-on-one consultations, Heather has spent the last five years consulting with travel industry professionals on how to bring mental health awareness into the workplace, prevent burnout, and communicate effectively. 

Dan is vice president of sales and head of tourism at Satisfi Labs, a trailblazer in the field of conversational AI for tourism, entertainment, and sports. In his previous role at Maverick Helicopters, Dan spearheaded expansion efforts for the company that offered helicopter and airplane excursions to popular destinations such as the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas Strip, and Hawaiian Islands. Dan served on The NTA Board of Directors for five years, from 2013 to 2018, and was part of US Travel’s National Council of Attractions and Experiences Board of Advisors from 2019 to 2023. Dan also chaired the Tourism Cares Development Committee for five years.

Jeff is the founder of NTA Corporate Partner The Ment Law Group. He has more than 30 years of experience representing many types of travel companies and professionals, including tour operators, vendors, DMCs, travel agents, transportation companies, and trade associations. Jeff counsels clients on the industry’s best practices, including contract terms, compliance with government regulations, risk assessment, crisis response, and employment issues. Jeff also represents travel companies in litigation throughout the country. His background in the industry includes working as a travel agent, a tour guide, and a sales manager for two airlines.

With a mission to promote meaningful and sustainable travel, award-winning South Asian travel writer, columnist, author, and speaker Sucheta Rawal has contributed to over two dozen publications, including CNN, Time magazine, NatGeo, Travel+Leisure, CondeNast, Fodor’s, and HuffPost. Sucheta is a three-time TEDx speaker and the author of five “Beato Goes To” children’s books that educate kids about the world’s diversity. She has traveled to more than 130 countries across seven continents and speaks about her experiences from a firsthand perspective. She also founded the nonprofit organization and award-winning blog, Go Eat Give, to raise awareness of different cultures through travel, food, and community service.

Andrea is dedicated to bringing business owners and entrepreneurs clarity when it comes to their companies. As an entrepreneur herself, she used this clarity to start and scale a global company. Andrea founded an award-winning Southeast Asian tourism company called Journeys Within. During her time there, she grew revenue to $3 million and opened offices in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The company was successfully acquired by Wild Frontiers, and Andrea stayed on to grow U.S. operations. Andrea resides in Reno, Nevada, with six kids always running in and out of the house: two adopted, two biological, and two stepchildren. When not working, she loves to travel and be out in nature.

Chris Singleton is a former professional athlete drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2017. Following the loss of his mother in a racially motivated mass shooting, Chris has now become an inspirational speaker and best-selling author who has shared his message of unity and racial reconciliation with NFL and NBA teams as well as multiple Fortune 500 companies across the United States. He speaks to more than 100 organizations—and over 50,000 students—annually. Chris resides with his spouse, Mariana, and three children in Charleston.

Michelle Stark is vice president of sales and marketing for Red Sage Communications, an NTA Corporate Partner. Based in Alabama, Red Sage serves clients nationally in destination-attraction-place marketing and consumer brand building. Michelle and her team have designed award-winning strategies and powerful outcomes for partners across the Southeast, including many of the region’s premier destinations, attractions, and conferences. Michelle is also an Emmy Award-winning former television news anchor and technology reporter for ABC and CBS affiliates. As a natural storyteller, she has served as a featured speaker, moderator, and panelist for organizations that include the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama and the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.

Greg has been the CEO of Tourism Cares since 2019. He previously served on its board, chairing it before becoming CEO. Prior to Tourism Cares, Greg was the President of Trip Mate Inc., a travel insurance administrator. He began his 36-year career in the travel and tourism industry at The Mark Travel Corporation, where he served as general counsel. Greg has served on the boards of NTA, the IGLTA Foundation, and the U.S. Travel Association, as well as numerous industry committees. He is from Chicago and has an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Juris Doctor degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

For the past 10 years Christina has been with Custom Holidays, her family-owned tour company based in Michigan, where she plans tours and works closely with communities and partners across the region. An active member of NTA, Christina has served on the NTA Board of Directors for seven years. Christina received her carbon literacy certification in 2024, and she helped guide Custom Holidays through the Tourism Cares Sustainability Workshop for Tour Operators. In 2025, Christina completed VisitAble certification in an effort to better understand and support accessible and inclusive travel. She later helped start the Meaningful Travel Team at NTA and was involved in the development of the Meaningful Travel Guide released in 2025 as a starting point for members exploring meaningful and sustainable travel.

Jon is a writer, speaker, serial entrepreneur, and performance coach. He is chief of staff at Sovereign, a venture studio and holding company. Previously, he cofounded an award-winning brand studio, founded a strategic communications consultancy, and served as a congressional press secretary on Capitol Hill. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina.