The more I travel, the more I realize I have so much more of the world to see, taste and experience…which led me to the sad realization that I can’t possibly be in all the places I want to be and remain current. I have enlisted trusted friends in the industry with insider knowledge of the places they travel with a certain edginess. I hope you enjoy all our picks and please be sure to report back on your favorites and anything new you may find.
Meet the team:
Nikki Pepper, New Jersey native turned NYC resident.
Nikki, Deputy Editor for OTPYM, is from a small New Jersey beach town. She brought the sand between her toes to New York to pursue her passion for city life and all things creative. She fell is love with travelling during several family trips through the Caribbean and knows there will be much travel in her future. Nikki works for Virgin Hotels by day and writes for lifestyle sites like AllAroundHome.com by night. When not writing, she reads, practices yoga and explores the city.
Ella Keeven, New York City, USA.
Ella, Editor and Contributor for OTPYM and marketing extraordinaire, grew up just around the corner from Michaela in St. Louis, MO. After living in San Francisco, CA and a quick jaunt in Amsterdam, Holland, she now calls New York City home. When she is not exploring all that NYC’s five boroughs have to offer, she is discovering the best of the best around the United States and the rest of the globe. Ella has worked extensively in the fields of design and architecture. She recently left the corporate world behind to bring us her stories from road, plane, train, tram, boat or whatever form of transportation is readily available.
Zac Osgood, Chicago, IL, USA.
Zac, a native Chicago resident, joined the OTPYM team for a two week video mission in Peru and a 20-day shoot across Southern India. He’s been shooting (video not guns) and editing for us since. A man of many creative talents and infinite patience with an almost 100% female team!
Jordan Jones, Chicago, IL, USA.
Jordan, our second male addition also hails from the midwest. Post college in Iowa he worked in politics and non-profits. After working as a field director on a competitive 2012 Congressional campaign, he relocated to Chicago and we recruited him to the dark side–Jordan served as chief comic relief officer, master social media photographer & our production associate during the 20-day shoot in India.
Maryann Fernandez, New York City, USA.
Maryann leads high net worth individuals and families out of the boardroom and into the field. As Founder & President of Philanthropy Indaba, a unique company that develops customized philanthropic journeys and opportunities for learning and service, Maryann brings donors closer to a deeper exploration and understanding of themselves, each other, and the world in which we live.
Lindsey Taub, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Lindsay is a writer/editor, producer and photographer covering travel, lifestyle, culture, arts, food, health, and all facets that make life a journey. She calls Los Angeles home when she’s there, but prefers to leave the city for the mountains and open spaces as often as possible. If you can’t find her, she’s trekking through a jungle, seeking a seeker, admiring wildlife, or on a plane, quite possibly jumping out of it when the adrenaline junkie is at her best. Follow her on twitter @lindsaytaub58.
Mariana Aguirre, New York, NY, USA.
Originally from the buoyant streets of Mexico City, Mariana Aguirre first got on a plane when she was six months old and hasn’t stopped since. With a Masters in Public Relations from the United Kingdom, Mariana works her magic at American Express in New York City, USA managing Luxury Retail clients. Whenever she’s not visiting one of her clients, she’s visiting one of her friends around the world or sometimes even making new ones.
Sarah De Martini, London, United Kingdom.
Sarah an Australian native, born to Italian parents, currently lives, works and plays in London. Sarah, who travels often, is always looking for a way to truly immerse herself into the destination– through interaction with the local people and their culture. She has her finger on the pulse of what’s new, but also compelling everywhere she travels.
Keren Eldad, NY, NY, USA
Keren, former Brand Publisher of IWC watches recently left Zurich, Switzerland to return to NYC. Keren is of Israeli decent and lived all over the world including Peru. The only thing Keren may love more than jet-setting across the globe, is shopping. Not only the major fashion brands, but those local designers in each location that have yet to be discovered. Her impeccable taste extends far beyond the amazing outfit she has on…to hotels, where to be seen.
Pallavi Shah, New York City, USA.
Pallavi Shah, founded Our Personal Guest, Inc in 1989, in order to create highly customized and unique experiences for her travelers. She specializes in Asia, Europe and Latin America. And it goes without saying….India! But she has always been an avid traveler, prior to OPG, she spent 25 years in the airline industry, as the Director of Special Marketing for Air India. Pallavi and her dynamic team planned the “Michaela’s Map” India video shoot in February 2013.
Lucy McCormac, Graphic Designer, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Lucy is graphic designer that was born, raised, and is currently living in St. Louis, Missouri. Although she loves to travel when the opportunity presents itself like attending her friend’s wedding in Chile, her true passion is fashion…she has stacks of fashion magazines to prove it! When she is not designing and/or flipping through fashion magazines, she enjoys soaking up all that St. Louis has to offer.
Lisa Gower, Mfuwe, Zambia.
Lisa Gower, swapped her corporate job and high heels in London, UK to work in Zambia. She spent her first two years living within the community teaching wildlife conservation to children and then progressed to work for The Bushcamp Company in guest relations and overseeing the Conservation and Community Projects. Despite her family thinking she is slightly crazy she would not swap this life for the world!
Cari Gray, Toronto, Canada and Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Cari Gray, the woman pictured above introducing her daughter to vodka (the cap is on), traveled the world initially as her parents’ excess but well-loved baggage on overseas work assignments. After completing law school, Cari worked for over 15 years for Butterfield & Robinson in the luxury active travel business. In 2008, she started Gray & Co., applying her in-depth knowledge and personal experience to create custom active journeys for high net worth individuals and corporations around the world.
Muriel Truter, Toronto, Canada.
Muriel Truter, is the founder of Askari Travel and trip designer of OTPYM’s founder, Michaela’s three-month solo journey across Africa. Muriel, who we affectionally call, Mur, grew up in Zimbabwe and has lived in England, Israel, and Canada and has spent over 20 years exploring adventure travel destinations. Over a lifetime of travel and a career in tourism, Muriel has journeyed extensively, personally visiting over 65 countries. Muriel’s search for new and interesting never stops—whether it’s finding that perfect unknown hotel or the best cervicheria. As more of the world makes itself accessible to travellers, Muriel is determined to help others navigate the ever-richer and more complex choices.
Beth Egan, proud New York City traveler.
Beth’s motto is “live to leave.” Between living in New York City, the greatest city in the world, and working in a career that takes her on the road quite often, her love for exploration gets fed almost everyday. She is the author of TravelsfromMadAve.com.
Dan Smarg brought the New England mud on his boots to Los Angeles.
A New England native, Dan made the leap to the West Coast after college. As a Field Producer for cable TV, he is constantly traveling and shooting through North America. Dan enjoys spending his downtime “off the grid” in California Backcountry: adventuring through the lesser-known parts of the Golden State. His work can be found at www.MAVpics.com.