We are so excited about the latest Mentoring Class in the Brownell Mentoring Program. The five incredible women that make up Class 22 come from around the world with unique backgrounds, but each of their paths led them to the travel industry. Learn a little more about them below.

Abbay King

Auckland, New Zealand

Abbay has a true understanding of the transformative power of travel. After a 10-day trip to Europe, she applied for a four-month international placement at her accounting firm and moved from Alabama to Auckland. Fast forward three years, and Abbay has made New Zealand her home, quit her accounting job, spent nine months traveling around the world, and launched Abbay’s Escapes.

Caity Connors

New York, New York

Caity’s wanderlust began during family vacations and grew when she studied abroad in Spain during her time at the University of Virginia. She quickly became the go-to resource for her family and friends, helping them create itineraries and sharing advice. And after nine years in marketing at ESPN, Caity decided to pursue her dream of becoming a travel advisor.

Jodianne Johnson

Charlotte, NC

After living in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Hawaii – all before the age of six! – Jodianne quickly learned to appreciate a suitcase. She worked at Piedmont Airlines before launching several of her own businesses that took her on frequent trips to New York, LA, Paris, London, and Florence. As a travel advisor, Jodianne is eager to help her clients experience the world through once-in-a-lifetime trips.

Lawson Rothgeb

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Lawson fell in love with travel during a three-month stint in Paris studying at the Sorbonne. She continued to see the world while earning her MBA from Emory University and then working as a global marketer in the beauty industry. After taking a year off to go sailing, Lawson traded in her desk job and worked in the superyacht industry before deciding to launch her own travel business.

Rachel Hoppes

Nashville, TN

Rachel’s interest in languages led to her passion for travel. In college, she spent a year in Nice, a summer in Normandy, and another summer in Florence while getting a dual BA in French and International Business and later a MA in French. Rachel and her husband lived in France working for a luxury villa company before moving back to her hometown Nashville, where she started RH Travel design.

Click here to learn more about the Brownell Mentoring Program.