Meet the Team Engineering Exceptional Travel, Crafted With Care
Meet the award-winning advisors who bring uncommon insight, meticulous planning, and more Awestruck moments to every journey.
The Awestruck Experts
a note from our founder
JENENE MEALEY
At Travel with Awestruck, first-class service is at the heart of everything we do. That’s why I have cultivated a team that will always put our clients first. With combined expertise that spans decades and multiple continents, our team can help you design nearly any travel experience you dream up—and encourage you to dream bigger. Discover your next partner for exceptional travel.
Chief Growth Officer
Alexis berlin
Our leadership
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+ Corporate event travel
+ Group event travel
+ Ultra-Luxury custom itineraries
+ agency partnerships
Chief Growth Officer
Alexis berlin
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+ Corporate event travel
+ Group event travel
+ Ultra-Luxury custom itineraries
+ agency partnerships
Our leadership
As Chief Growth Officer of Travel with Awestruck, Alexis brings a rare blend of strategic rigor and global perspective to the world of luxury travel. A Harvard graduate and former McKinsey & Company manager, Alexis draws on her background leading growth transformations for Fortune 100 consumer brands to design travel programs that move the needle, from large corporate incentive trips to ultra-luxury leisure itineraries.
Alexis developed and leads Awestruck Incentives, Travel with Awestruck’s division dedicated to corporate meeting, incentive, and event travel. Her work deploys a proprietary, unique-to-industry method that places business objectives at the center of event travel and develops programs in service of those goals.
Specializing in event travel and ultra-luxury journeys to remote and remarkable destinations, Alexis has personally explored over 30 countries and uses that firsthand knowledge to craft high-touch, high-impact experiences for individuals, families, and corporate teams alike.
work with Alexis
Vice President of Sales
Colleen Cunningham
Leadership team
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+ Mexico & the Caribbean
+ EUROPE
+ cruises
Chief Growth Officer
Alexis berlin
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+ Corporate event travel
+ Group event travel
+ Ultra-Luxury custom itineraries
+ agency partnerships
As Chief Growth Officer of Travel with Awestruck, Alexis brings a rare blend of strategic rigor and global perspective to the world of luxury travel. A Harvard graduate and former McKinsey & Company manager, Alexis draws on her background leading growth transformations for Fortune 100 consumer brands to design travel programs that move the needle, from large corporate incentive trips to ultra-luxury leisure itineraries.
Alexis developed and leads Awestruck Incentives, Travel with Awestruck’s division dedicated to corporate meeting, incentive, and event travel. Her work deploys a proprietary, unique-to-industry method that places business objectives at the center of event travel and develops programs in service of those goals.
Specializing in event travel and ultra-luxury journeys to remote and remarkable destinations, Alexis has personally explored over 30 countries and uses that firsthand knowledge to craft high-touch, high-impact experiences for individuals, families, and corporate teams alike.
work with Alexis
+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
+ EUROPE
+ ROMANCE TRAVEL
Donna narduzzi
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+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
+ EUROPE
+ ROMANCE TRAVEL
Our advisors
Donna has been designing honeymoons, family and couples’ getaways, and destination weddings to spellbinding regions around the globe since 2015. In the age of online travel bookings, Donna feels honored when clients new and old come to her for a personal touch to vacation planning. Her biggest travel “save” involved her daughter’s trip to the Greek isles; when a storm left her daughter stranded on Mykonos without a hotel room or ferry ticket, Donna worked with her favorite suppliers to quickly secure a room at a “sold out” hotel and a ferry ride to Santorini the next morning.
work with Donna
+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
+ EUROPE
+ ROMANCE TRAVEL
leslie stetler
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+ Mexico & the Caribbean
+ Hawaii
Leslie’s “happy place” is on the water, so it’s no surprise her clients return to her again and again to design trips to island paradises around the world. Her extensive personal travel experience means she knows exactly which destinations and properties to pair her clients with. Leslie has traveled to Mexico more than 20 times, frequently visits Turks & Caicos, Aruba, Punta Cana, and the Bahamas, and has explored Hawaii on multiple trips as well. She is an Hyatt Inclusive Collection expert and a Sandals & Beaches Specialist. Outside of the office, you can often find Leslie at Beaches Turks & Caicos, a personal favorite, with her husband and high school sweetheart Sean and their two teens.
work with leslie
+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
+ EUROPE
+ ROMANCE TRAVEL
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Nikki Trefzger
+ Mexico & the Caribbean
+ europe
+ River cruises / cruises
Nikki works with families and couples to design bond-building journeys to Mexico, the Caribbean, and beyond. Before planning travel professionally, Nikki earned a Masters in Education and worked as a programmer and recruiter in IT, where she developed her excellent listening skills that she utilizes with her travel clients today to curate deeply personalized travel experiences. She currently serves on her local school board and has a special passion for family travel; as the mother of four kids, Nikki knows that travel has the incredible ability to foster curiosity in young minds.
work with Nikki
+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
+ EUROPE
+ ROMANCE TRAVEL
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melinda borczuch
+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
+ Destination weddings
Melinda is a creative entrepreneur with a passion for curating unforgettable experiences. As a successful business owner and wedding floral designer, Melinda has spent years transforming her clients’ visions into breathtaking floral moments that capture the heart of every celebration. Building on her love of celebration and attention to detail, she expanded her services to include personalized travel planning to help clients seamlessly design both their events and their escapes. She offers a unique blend of beauty and logistics — from stunning wedding florals to expertly planned honeymoons, destination weddings, and family vacations. Her deep industry knowledge, commitment to service, and eye for aesthetics make her a trusted partner for couples and families alike.
Specializing in tropical destinations like Mexico, the Caribbean, and Hawaii, Melinda brings the same creativity, care, and professionalism to travel as she does to floral design. Whether planning a wedding, a honeymoon, or a milestone trip, she ensures every detail is as meaningful and memorable as the occasion itself.
work with Melinda
+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
+ EUROPE
+ ROMANCE TRAVEL
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Tara carcioppolo
+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
+ Europe
Organizational ace Tara helps couples and families take sun-filled escapes, whether that’s to Mexico and the Caribbean or Italy’s Amalfi Coast. While now planning travel professionally, Tara has also been a Registered Nurse for 20+ years. She sees a strong link between travel and health; her years working closely with cardiac patients showed her all too clearly how important it is to slow down and de-stress—and perfectly planned travel allows you to do just that. Outside of Travel with Awestruck, Tara is often cheering on her three kids at their sporting events or working with her husband on sticking to their “3 Month Rule”—every three months, they take a trip, large or small, together!
work with Tara
Jack specializes in designing exceptional European travel experiences tailored to your style, interests, and pace. With family roots in Croatia and a strong personal connection to the region, Jack brings both insight and passion to every itinerary he creates. His travels across Europe, particularly through Italy and Croatia, have shaped a deep appreciation for the continent’s culture, history, and hospitality.
With a focus on 5-star service and authentic experiences, Jack curates trips that go beyond the expected. Whether it’s a private tour through the streets of Florence or a relaxing escape along the Adriatic coast, his goal is to ensure each journey is seamless, meaningful, and memorable. Jack approaches travel planning with creativity, precision, and a commitment to delivering elevated experiences that reflect the best of European living: great food, beautiful places, and moments that leave a lasting impression.
If you're seeking a refined and enriching way to explore Europe, Jack Grbac is ready to help bring your travel vision to life
work with jack
+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
+ EUROPE
+ ROMANCE TRAVEL
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Kate Jordan
+ destination weddings
+ Romance travel
+ Group travel
Kate Jordan began her career as a wedding planner, helping couples bring their dream days to life. Today, she gets to do the same thing through travel.
Married to her high school sweetheart and raising their little boy together, Kate understands just how important it is to make every moment count. Those experiences — from destination weddings to honeymoons to once-in-a-lifetime group journeys — matter as much to her as they do to you.
She specializes in creating curated, stress-free travel experiences for couples, from destination weddings and honeymoons to special getaways. Her goal is to handle every detail with care, so couples can stay present and focused on making memories, not managing details.
Think of Kate as a travel planner, guide, and biggest cheerleader all in one.
work with KATE
Larisa is an all-inclusive expert whose passion for travel began early in life. As a teenager, Larisa led her family’s own all-inclusive vacations, and over the years, she has become a true expert at uncovering the details that don’t make it onto glossy brochures, combing through traveler reviews to find those hidden gems and practical insights that make a trip truly seamless. Now, with her parents in their golden years, she plans with an eye for comfort and convenience, zooming in on accessibility details that are often overlooked.
Larisa has taken countless trips across Mexico, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. In doing so, she has mastered the art of balancing the needs of parents, partners, friends, and children with true relaxation. Her goal for every trip is simple: a joyful, well-planned, and high-value experience. When she is not designing dream journeys for her travelers, you will find Larisa spending time with her college sweetheart, five-year-old daughter, and two rescue shepherds.
work with larisa
+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
+ EUROPE
+ ROMANCE TRAVEL
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Jackie Rittenberry
+ destination weddings
+ Executive travel
+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
Jackie brings six years of experience in the travel industry, supporting high-level executives and managing complex business travel with precision and care. Jackie has planned seamless, detail-driven itineraries, often involving tight timelines, multiple destinations, and elevated expectations. This experience built a strong foundation in logistics, organization, and thoughtful planning, where every detail mattered.
A recent destination wedding bride herself, Jackie also understands travel from a personal perspective and the magic that comes from celebrating life’s most meaningful moments abroad. Having navigated the destination wedding planning process firsthand, she offers a unique blend of professional expertise and lived experience, an insight many advisors simply don’t have. Today, Jackie brings her corporate-trained attention to detail and passion for travel to designing elevated leisure experiences, from destination weddings and romantic escapes to family adventures and once-in-a-lifetime celebrations.
work with Jackie
+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
+ EUROPE
+ ROMANCE TRAVEL
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Carla Alshanski
+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
+ Cruises
Carla has spent the past several years crafting unforgettable getaways. She specializes in turning travel dreams into reality, whether that means a romantic escape to the turquoise shores of the Caribbean, a family adventure through Mexico’s vibrant culture, or a cruise that blends relaxation in luxury with cultural discovery.
An avid traveler herself, Carla knows the hidden gems, the best resorts for every budget, and the cruise lines that cater to both relaxation and excitement. Carla’s passion lies in curating personalized itineraries that bring people closer, whether you're celebrating love, bonding with family and friends, or simply chasing sunshine.
work with Carla
+ MEXICO & THE CARIBBEAN
+ EUROPE
+ ROMANCE TRAVEL
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Our advisors
melissa merrit
Senior Groups Manager
Melissa loves bringing together all the details for group trips to beautiful destinations. Her exceptional organizational skills, optimistic attitude, and calm demeanor when things don’t go as planned set our clients at ease from start to finish. With over 20 years of experience in event and travel management, including sales meetings, incentive programs, product launches, celebrity appearances, and destination weddings, Melissa ensures a seamless and stress-free planning process.
Her career began as a management intern at New England Dragway, and she quickly built on her event experience at Verizon Wireless. There, she managed corporate events, sponsorships, and C-level briefings, and later oversaw retail operations strategy for the Northeast. For the past decade, Melissa has combined her event planning expertise with her love of travel, organizing trips from theme parks to all-inclusive resorts and cruises, always focusing on personalized attention and continuous improvement.
In her spare time, Melissa enjoys life with her husband and their two Siberian Huskies, living the lake life and drag racing.
As a reservations concierge, Erin meticulously crafts custom trip itineraries, books dining reservations, organizes tour excursions and transfers, and coordinates special amenities for VIP clients. Her 11 years in healthcare IT and five years as a business manager have equipped her with exceptional communication and organizational skills, which she now channels into flawlessly executed travel experiences. Erin also leverages her tech expertise to enhance business processes, contributing to the company’s growth and ensuring smooth travel for clients.
Recently transplanted to New England, Erin loves exploring charming seaside towns with her husband and discovering the best gluten-free eateries. Their travels often take them to visit family across the Midwest, West Coast, and desert Southwest, fueling her passion for uncovering hidden gems in any destination.
