New directors elected to ASTA Board

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) today announced the results of its Executive Committee elections held at its board meeting in Miami. The two-year terms of the newly-elected directors will begin at the close of ASTA’s Global Convention in Miami this week.

The new executive committee is as follows:

John I. Lovell, CTC of Breton Village Travel Services was elected as the new Chairman of the Board. John was previously Vice-Chairman, and replaces two-term Chairman, Nina Meyer, CTC, MCC, DS.

Roger Block, CTC of Travel Leaders Franchise Group was elected Vice-Chairman. Roger was previously Treasurer.

Leo Zabinski, CTC, MCC, DS of Classic Travel was elected Treasurer and is currently Chapter President’s Council Chair.

Also serving on the Executive Committee will be Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) Chair Marc Casto, previously CAC vice-chair.

John I. Lovell, the newly elected Chairman is a 29-year industry veteran and has been a member of ASTA for 20 years. He is also a second-generation, retail travel agency owner. “I am delighted and honored to be named Chairman and look forward to working with the Board and ASTA team in this exciting new era for our industry,” said Lovell.

“John has an impressive track record of helping travelers understand the difference between price and value, which is what today’s traveler is placing a much greater emphasis on,” said Zane Kerby, ASTA President and CEO. “On behalf of the ASTA team, we thank departing Chairman Nina Meyer for her tireless service and dedication to ASTA and the world of travel.”

ASTA’s governance structure calls for a Board of Directors that consists of nine national directors elected at-large for two-year, staggered terms, three chapter presidents, the chair of the International Chapter Presidents Council (ICPC), two Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) members and one NACTA member director. At its recent meeting, the Chapter Presidents Council elected the following chapter presidents to sit on the Board: Ryan McGredy (YPS Chapter and CPC Chair), Marilyn Bell Zelaya (Northern California Chapter and Vice-Chair), and Jorge Sanchez (Midwest Chapter and ASTAPAC Chair). Zane Kerby, ASTA’s President and Chief Executive Officer is a non-voting board member.