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The individuals are what makes Travel With Barb what it is today. Learn about our amazing team members below.
Barb received her CTA certification from Travel Careers Institute. She has earned an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. The Empire Registry of Executives and Professionals includes Barb as an outstanding business professional. In 2016 Barb was proud to be honored as one of the Top 10 Influential Women in Student Travel. In 2020, she was awarded the Groups Today Tenacity in Travel Award. As of 2021, she is a Certified Student Tour Planner.
Barb was a high school band director for 11 years. Under her leadership, the group traveled extensively. She sees the value in you being the educator, while Travel With Barb handles the logistics. She is a past board member of the Nebraska Music Educators Association, the conference coordinator for Nebraska State Bandmasters Association, a weekly volunteer with a large high school band program, and a current member of SYTA (Student Youth Travel Association). Barb has recently been selected to the Student Youth Foundation Board of Trustees and looks forward to serving the foundation in their mission of providing travel opportunities to youth who may not have the resources available. Barb finds her greatest joy in bringing people together and empowering them as a team, both at Travel With Barb and during her volunteer work at local high schools. Her passion for helping individuals grow into the best possible versions of themselves is what motivates and inspires her.
Jen started her career in the vocal music classroom, where she saw firsthand the way travel opened the eyes and the minds of young people. Her passion for merging student travelers and inspirational destinations only increased when she began working as a Tour Director for Travel With Barb in 2004.
She is proud to serve as the company’s Business Development Manager. Travel can change young lives; this is Jen’s main focus.
Groups Today, the Community for Group Travel Professionals, recently featured Jen as one of the ‘Top 10 Next Gens’ and wrote a feature profile showcasing her passion about the student travel industry. As of 2023, Jen is a Certified Student Tour Planner.
Lisa first joined Travel With Barb in 2016 as Operations Manager, and began developing a network of relationships with vendors, hotel staff, and sales managers to ensure that student groups have a perfectly organized and worry-free trip. Now, as TWB’s Vendor Coordinator, she is putting her passion to work bringing your group access to the best events and activities out there. With years of experience in the banking world, you can be sure that Lisa is used to checking everything twice and will not overlook a single detail of your trip. In March 2020, Lisa’s enthusiasm and dedication to student travel was profiled by Groups Today magazine as she became the second TWB team member to be named one of the “Top 10 Next Gens”. In her free time Lisa enjoys going on walks with her husband Mike, their son Calvin, daughter Madeline, and dog Murphy. Lisa and Mike also can’t wait to teach Calvin and Madeline all about the fun outdoor activities they enjoy such as fishing, golfing, and kayaking.
Gus recently earned his Business Management degree from University of Nebraska at Lincoln and is excited about helping educators deliver an amazing travel experience to their students.
While at UNL, Gus participated in Symphonic Band and Varsity Choir, and served as a Section Leader for the Cornhusker Marching Band. His coursework in leadership and grant writing resulted in two grants being awarded to non-profit organizations. Gus is an incredible musician and plays Euphonium in the 43rd Army National Guard Band. If you get a chance to hear them, do it, as they are a high caliber ensemble. Gus enjoys travel and music and is an avid sports fan. In his spare time, you could find him biking, running, or walking his dogs. Gus is a chef and prides himself in pairing food and drink quite well! (that’s great news for the TWB team!).
Gus was raised in Omaha, but has enjoyed traveling the world (literally) through music. He knows firsthand that travel can change lives. We are so happy to have Gus on our team!
Mr. Frank Stroup is a Lincoln native who graduated from UNL with his bachelor’s degree in music education and music Technology in 2014. Frank then moved to the Washington DC area where he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the University of Maryland’s Athletic Bands while working to earn his master’s degree in music and Trumpet Performance. Mr. Stroup completed his master’s degree in 2017, studying trumpet under Chris Gekker and Steve Hendrickson.
In the fall of 2017, Mr. Stroup moved back to Nebraska and began his career teaching instrumental music in Omaha Public Schools and later in Lincoln Public Schools. In November of 2017, he joined the Nebraska Army National Guard as a trumpet/cornet player in the 43rd Army Band and is currently serving as a non-commissioned officer. He was recognized by the Nebraska Music Education Association as the “Young Music Educator of the Year” in 2021. He is the vice president of the UNL Band Alumni Association, a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, and an honorary member of the Tau Beta Sigma Band Sorority. Outside of teaching, Frank loves performing on his trumpet and spending time with his wife, Megan, two daughters, Scarlett and Eva, and two kitties, Harper and Bebe. After 6 years of teaching 5-12 instrumental music, he is excited to serve students in a different capacity at Travel With Barb!
Tina Schwahn, a native of Lincoln, Nebraska, has 30+ years of experience directing choirs in Nebraska. She is a recently retired teacher who taught vocal music and directed choirs and show choirs in the Millard and Elkhorn school districts in the Omaha area. She holds degrees (BME and MME) in music education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Tina specializes in middle school vocal music, specifically working with adolescent changing voices. Tina has spent her life serving others to help them find their voices, both literally and figuratively. She is now serving women as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant as well as through her website and lifestyle blog at tinafayeschwahn.com. A teacher at heart, she is a lifelong learner, and learning even more in her new endeavor. Tina is overjoyed to be serving you through working as an administrative assistant at Travel With Barb!
