Leadership
We have an innovation mindset in a culture of commitment, transparency and collaboration
When you partner with Adelman, you gain access to our “A” team of problem-solvers, whiteboard strategists and industry dreamers who are always ready to roll up their sleeves, listen intently for what you need, help you overcome challenges with the latest ideas and best/tech practices.
We commit to shared goals and SLAs in the myBlueprint business plan we create to document how we will serve you and your travelers. And every year, we’ll invite you to myGarage, an immersive engagement space at our corporate headquarters where we reimagine every element of your program to make sure it’s fully optimized and evolving with your needs.
Of course, you can call any of our senior executives any time you want to discuss your program or just check in and say hello. Because as a privately held company, we answer to our customers, not shareholders. And we measure our success through yours.
Take a closer look at how our innovation and leadership has changed our approach to the new 3.0 travel world.
Jason Horstman
President and Chief Operating Officer
Jason HorstmanPresident and Chief Operating Officer Jason Horstman is a travel industry veteran with over 30 years of experience. As President & COO, Jason is responsible for the overall strategic direction of Adelman Travel. His duties include oversight of sales & marketing, operations, client success, IT/technology, people & culture, our vacation travel brands, and the financial strength of Adelman Travel. Jason previously held leadership positions in sales, operations and supplier relations with BCD Travel, Cendant, CWT, TravelCorp, and Northwestern Travel Management. He uses his expertise and 30 years of industry knowledge to position Adelman for growth and a sustainable future, as he delivers on our promise to partner with our clients to help them achieve strong and successful travel programs. Jason resides in the Minneapolis area with his wife, and they enjoy escaping to their family cabin in Northern Minnesota with their three grown children and granddaughter.
Mike Collins
SVP, Corporate Sales & Marketing
Mike CollinsSVP, Corporate Sales Mike leads the sales team in providing comprehensive solutions to complex travel opportunities. As an expert in corporate travel, he has worked with accounts of all sizes, ranging from SMB to Multinational/Global. Mike has over 30 years of industry experience. His previous positions include Vice President of Multinational Sales with American Express Global Business Travel, as well as positions in account management and call center management. He also spent several years at WorldTravel BTI and Pan American World Airways. His broad industry experience gives Mike insight into prospective clients’ programs and ensures that Adelman’s offering is precisely tailored to fulfil their needs and exceed expectations. When not on the road with his sales team, Mike can still be found on the road, training for the Marine Corps Marathon in support of his son, who is stationed overseas.
Angela Abbate
SVP, Partner Solutions
Angela AbbatteSVP, Partner Solutions Angela leads Adelman’s vacation brands, which include Adelman Vacations and our group affinity travel divisions: Chamber Discoveries and Food & Wine Trails. Additionally, she oversees Adelman’s Vendor Partner Management team, with a key focus on strengthening preferred relationships and overall agency performance. Angela has been with Adelman Travel since 1995 and has over 25 years of experience in corporate and vacation travel. She started her career from the ground up, working as a corporate travel consultant for Carlson Wagonlit Travel. She also has experience managing emergency service operations. Angela credits her frontline experience, as well as her variety of positions in the industry, for giving her a foundation grounded in true customer service, which she uses to effectively lead her teams. Angela Abbate attended Texas State University and the International Airlines Travel Academy in Dallas.
Denise Clark
Vice President of Finance
Denise ClarkVice President of FinanceDenise Clark leads Adelman Travel’s finance and accounting teams and is responsible for determining the company’s financial needs, overseeing its forecasting and budgeting process, and creating and maintaining its capital structure. Her responsibilities and experience include: managing pricing, billing, P&L analysis, balance sheet reconciliation, contract reviews and overall process improvements.Prior to her current position, Denise worked at BCD Travel, where she spent 20+ years in various global finance and accounting capacities. Some of her responsibilities and experience have included; assistant controller, year-end audits, accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, cash management responsibilities and month-end close processes.Denise reports directly to Steve Cline, President of Adelman Travel Group and currently resides in Berkley, Michigan.
Jennifer Torre
Vice President, Technology
Jennifer TorreVP, Technology
Jennifer Torre has over 22 years of experience in the travel industry. As Vice President of Technology, she is responsible for Automation, Product Development, Information Technology, Reporting and Security functions and works to create synergies in the delivery of data and travel technology, with a focus on both internal and client-facing solutions that drive operational efficiencies and customer satisfaction.
Jennifer has extensive experience in Management Information Systems (MIS) and a degree in programming.
Molli Lynch
Senior Director, Customer Experience
Molli LynchSenior Director, Customer ExperienceSpearheading Adelman’s Customer Experience Team, Molli leads the omni-channel operation for service delivery, which includes: elite service, full service, online support, group air and related support functions. With over 23 years’ experience in the travel industry, and a diverse background in operations and customer service related positions, Molli’s skillset combines the leadership and expertise desired for delivering exceptional service to the end traveler, as well as in the post-travel customer service arena.Molli’s key areas of responsibility include: implementing programs to improve the performance of Adelman’s operations against goals, leading the Customer Experience Team in error reduction efforts, ensuring customer satisfaction goals are measured and achieved, implementing continuing improvement plans, serving as an escalation point for client and/or customer issues, and incorporating ad hoc coaching and ongoing team development programs.Molli’s passion is building customer loyalty through the highest standard of service excellence, with a goal of making travel seamless for all of Adelman’s corporate clients.Molli started her career with Adelman Travel in 2000, holding positions as Operations Manager as well as a Senior Client Success Manager. Prior to joining Adelman, Molli worked at Carlson Wagonlit Travel as a top VIP Travel Consultant and held various leadership positions.
Melinda Kirkham
Senior Director, Client Success
Melinda KirkhamDirector, Client Success As the Director of Client Success, Melinda works to ensure that Adelman’s services and solutions help clients meet their travel program goals, overall business objectives, and cultural nuances. She leads a team of world class professionals who take their work personally and are passionately committed to the work they do for Adelman’s clients.
Melinda joined Adelman in 2018 after more than a decade working in business travel. Melinda’s contributions to the industry were recognized in 2017 when she received the Business Travel Professional Service Award from the Global Business Travel Association. She graduated from The George Washington University with a Business degree in Marketing and maintains her Global Travel Professional (GTP) certification.
Melinda joined Adelman in 2018 after more than a decade working in business travel. Melinda’s contributions to the industry were recognized in 2017 when she received the Business Travel Professional Service Award from the Global Business Travel Association. She graduated from The George Washington University with a Business degree in Marketing and maintains her Global Travel Professional (GTP) certification.
Sarah Paola
Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications
Sarah PaolaDirector of Marketing and Communications Sarah Paola is a creative and versatile marketing executive with 19+ years’ experience in the travel industry. Sarah is skilled in planning and executing B2B marketing strategies for corporate travel management, that result in profitable growth, while advancing the overall success of the organization. She is committed to producing high quality deliverables that are on time, within scope, and on budget. Sarah joined Adelman Travel in 2019 and leads the marketing team across the organization. Before joining Adelman Travel, Sarah held multiple marketing positions with corporate travel management companies, including Teplis Travel, Direct Travel and Travel Leaders Corporate, where she drove profitable growth, while advancing the overall success of the organizations.
Vanessa Morgan
Senior Director, Corporate Sales Operations
Vanessa MorganDirector, Client SuccessVanessa Morgan, who has over 22 years of travel industry experience, leads the team of Client Success Advisors as Adelman’s Director of Client Success. She is responsible for driving the highest level of service for each corporate customer, maintaining positive account performance and meeting program goals and objectives throughout the client’s lifecycle. Vanessa provides strategic support and business planning, strengthens relationships built on trust and demonstrates her value through her leadership experience, analytical skillset and creativity.Prior to joining Adelman Travel, Vanessa spent 18 years at Enterprise Holdings. She spent the first 8 years in operations, where she was responsible for the performance of many rental locations and oversaw 35 employees. While in this role, Vanessa successfully developed several employees which lead to multiple managerial promotions throughout the organization. She also sucessfully increased customer satisfaction scores to record breaking levels, raised revenues and grew the rental fleet. That lead to an opportunity in sales and business where she spent the remaining 10 years and achieved success with increased market share, the creation of strong customer relationships, and was a top performer in the company helping win two coveted Exceptional Achievement Awards for the region. Vanessa earned a BS degree in Business Management from State University of New York.
Jeff Ochaita
Senior Director, Customer Technology &
Global Solutions
Jeff OchaitaDirector, Customer Technology & Global SolutionsJeff Ochaita is a results-driven business leader with over 28 years of travel industry experience. With an extensive background in travel and expense management, operations and sales, Jeff is responsible for leading the Customer Solutions Engineer Team to provide services and solutions to customers, both internal and external, with Adelman’s suite of technology -products, and global offerings.Jeff is involved with consultative planning focused around innovation, product enhancements, global multinational consolidation strategies and goal obtainment, to meet market demands, define best practices and meet our customer’s changing needs.Jeff is passionate about the travel industry and has a proven track record of success working in various positions during his 20+ tenure at Adelman Travel.
Dawn Arredondo Morante
Director, People & Culture
Dawn Arredando MorranteDirector, People & Culture As the head of Adelman's human resources area, Dawn is dedicated to ensuring that our employees enjoy a healthy work-life balance; she leads Adelman Travel's Employee Engagement Committee, which is focused on the satisfaction and involvement of our employees. Dawn also oversees the training & development area, with the goal of providing outstanding learning and advancement opportunities to our employees. Dawn is equally passionate about community involvement and is one of the founding members of our longstanding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team. Her aim is to ensure that Adelman Travel protects the tenets of a strong CSR initiative through our involvement in the Hunger Task Force, PetSmart Charities, and the Hank Aaron State Trail to name a few. Dawn has been with Adelman Travel since 1998 and has managed the human resources department of Adelman Travel for over 12 years. Prior to joining Adelman Travel, Dawn held positions in the insurance and healthcare industries.