Heidi Jo Lean
Eagle River,AK
Summary
Regenerative tourism driven professional and detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills.
Skilled in working under pressure and adapting to new situations and challenges. Successful at managing multiple priorities in a fast paced environment with a positive attitude. Bringing solid understanding of industry trends, excellent communication skills, talent for spotting areas in need of improvement and implementing changes with strategic approach. Alaskan born and raised, with a passion to encourage tourism as a positive impact to the community.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Travel Manager
Alaska Travel Source
09.2023 - Current
- Enhanced travel experience for clients by researching and recommending unique destinations and activities.
- Developed tailored travel packages for corporate clients, resulting in repeat business and client satisfaction.
- Negotiated competitive rates with vendors to provide cost-effective travel options for clients.
- Organized large-scale group travel arrangements, ensuring seamless logistics for both domestic and international trips.
- Coordinated complex multi-city itineraries that catered to individual preferences while maximizing group cohesion.
- Established strong relationships with industry partners, leading to exclusive deals and offers for clients.
- Streamlined booking processes for increased efficiency, implementing a user-friendly online reservation system.
Program and Operations Manager
Alaska Travel Industry Association
08.2022 - 07.2023
- Implemented process improvement to shape organizational culture, optimize procedures for higher efficiency and help company evolve and grow.
- Strengthened trust and relationships with public to build honest and reliable sources of information.
- Established positive and effective communication among staff and organization leadership, reducing miscommunications and missed deadlines.
- Managed mail and both incoming and outgoing correspondence, mail, email and faxes.
- Worked with senior management to initiate new projects and assist in various processes.
- Handled logistics, catering, agendas and travel arrangements for meeting and event planning for board of directors, president and executive vice president.
- Streamlined operations and prioritized tasks, allowing senior staff to increase productivity.
- Facilitated donor stewardship activities such as site visits or special events designed to showcase the impact of funded initiatives effectively.
- Volunteered to help with special projects of varying degrees of complexity.
Amenities Manager
Premier Alaska Tours
04.2018 - 07.2022
- Expanded cross-functional organizational capacity by collaborating across departments on priorities, functions, and common goals for amenities needed on tours and charters.
- Established intradepartmental relationships when Amenities Department was created in 2018
- Resolved problems, improved operations and provided support company wide.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help in every department year round.
- Supervised amenities team to achieve optimal productivity and inventory control.
- Collaborated with team members to achieve target results
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Kept detailed records of daily progress to identify and correct areas needing improvement.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
Director of Operations
Talkeetna Denali View Lodge & Cabins
03.2016 - 04.2018
- Remotely oversaw reservations and day-to-day production activities in accordance with business objectives.
- Modernized and improved operational procedures to increase productivity and profitability while tightly controlling costs
- Kept up-to-date with industry trends and identified areas of opportunity to drive improvements
- Defined, implemented and revised operational policies and guidelines
- Spearheaded training to enhance employee performance and boost employee morale and productivity.
- Established positive and effective communication among staff and lodge owner
- Maintained positive energy and enthusiasm in a fast paced environment.
- Achieved team goals through formalized training plans, coaching and performance management
Independent Traveler Coordinator
Wilderness Express - Premier Alaska Tours
06.2014 - 09.2014
- Worked Independently establishing a 'boots on the ground' contact for a new independent traveler program within the Wilderness Express operation.
- Greeted guests at the Talkeetna rail depot and engaged in pleasant conversations while managing check-in process.
- Resolved customer issues quickly and notified supervisor immediately when problems escalated.
- Used quick response and dynamic service skills to build relationships with the Talkeetna division of the Alaska Railroad.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks 05.2010
Skills
- Personable and friendly
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Program Leadership
- Able to work remote and independently while meeting deadlines
- Interpersonal and Intercultural communication
- Travel coordination
- Verbal and written communication
- Adaptable in high stress situations
- Policy and procedure improvements
- Cultural Sensitivity
Timeline
Travel Manager
Alaska Travel Source
09.2023 - Current
Program and Operations Manager
Alaska Travel Industry Association
08.2022 - 07.2023
Amenities Manager
Premier Alaska Tours
04.2018 - 07.2022
Director of Operations
Talkeetna Denali View Lodge & Cabins
03.2016 - 04.2018
Independent Traveler Coordinator
Wilderness Express - Premier Alaska Tours
06.2014 - 09.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Similar Profiles
Wendy SwensonWendy Swenson
DIRECTOR OF TOURISM MARKETING at Alaska Travel Industry Association/Travel AlaskaDIRECTOR OF TOURISM MARKETING at Alaska Travel Industry Association/Travel Alaska
Collin ReissCollin Reiss
Expeditor at Air Source AlaskaExpeditor at Air Source Alaska
Maria SalinasMaria Salinas
CDL Class B Driver/ Tour Guide at Alaska Travel AdventuresCDL Class B Driver/ Tour Guide at Alaska Travel Adventures