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 The
travelgirls are hitting the airwaves -- check back
for more info
about where you can see us on a regular basis this
fall! Meanwhile,
click on our "Press" page
for current media appearances.
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| Who
is travelgirl? |
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The
travelgirl home team: (photographer
- Lauren Petrilli) |
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| INTERVIEW
REQUESTS: Media requesting an interview with
travelgirl Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Oswald,
Publisher Renee Werbin or any other member of
travelgirl magazine, please
contact Publicist Wendy Guarisco, at The Guarisco
Group, 404-355-4205/office or 404-354-6468/cell.
Wendy can also be reached via e-mail: wendyguarisco@bellsouth.net.
Stephanie is currently available to talk about
ways to ease the stress of holiday travel and
how to pack your own “oasis” in
your carry-on bag. Renee Werbin and Stephanie
Oswald are the co-founders of travelgirl magazine.
The concept was born in January of 2002. The
first issue came out in June of 2003.
Wanted: One travelgirl intern!
Do you daydream of globetrotting while you sip your cappuccino? Are you
looking for an internship that will "take you places" -- but alas,
only on paper? travelgirl magazine is looking for an enthusiastic,
self-starter who wants practical experience with a national women¹s travel
and lifestyle publication. The intern will work directly with the production
team, providing editorial assistance including research, writing and various
other responsibilities that include both menial (but crucial) tasks and
mind-blowing opportunities.
The position is unpaid, but school credit is possible. Requires minimum
20-hour commitment per week, full-time is preferred.
Reply to Stephanie Oswald, Editor-in-chief at editor@travelgirlinc.com with the top 10 reasons you know you're the right candidate for the position. |
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Members of the travelgirl staff attended a special event at the Georgia Aquarium, which included a cooking lesson with Wolfgang Puck and a special dinner right outside one of the large tanks. Pictured with Wolfgang (center) are Michael Morris, Renee Werbin, Robyn Werbin and Stephanie Oswald |
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Renee Werbin, Publisher
(top)
"So many times I have thought how wonderful it would be to publish a magazine with insights into a world I know so much about. travelgirl is the realization of that dream. I welcome the opportunity to share my experiences with the public as I have been doing for so many years with my clients."
Atlanta native Renee Werbin knows the ins and outs of the travel business. She has successfully navigated the industry for nearly 18 years as CEO and President of SRI Travel and Werbin LTI Tours, LTD. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies, screen legends, and CEOs from some of the most prestigious companies around the world. Her companies have organized trade missions for Governors around the globe. |
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| Werbin’s travel expertise has influenced network news organizations, multi-million dollar corporations, politicians and foreign dignitaries. She has been a guest many times on CNN, FOX and CBS. Her traveling companions have included celebrities, television crews, and publishers and editors from some of the most distinguished publications in the country. She is requested often as a keynote speaker at women’s events, journalism schools, news organizations and company events, lending her expertise on travel to people across the United States.
In 2002, Renee parlayed her journalistic skills into her most recent entrepreneurial endeavor, as co-founder and publisher of travelgirl magazine. travelgirl is the culmination of her dream to share her vast knowledge of travel and her zest for life with others. Seeing our country face the tragedies of 9/11 enforced her goal to help others navigate this new world of travel. She is passionate about travel, flying weekly for business in search of a story or a new take on a previously visited destination. From Cher to Paula Zahn, Jane Seymour, Lauren Hutton, Soledad O’Brien, Carol Alt, Christina Applegate, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Liza Minnelli, Renee interviews the famous faces that grace the travelgirl covers.
Werbin is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia. She serves on nine charitable and advisory boards and has been recognized numerous times for her civic and charitable endeavors.
Renee’s most cherished role is that of wife and mother. Her husband is an attorney and in her words, “the single best decision I’ve ever made in my entire life.” Her children are her pride and joy, each an accomplished adult and Renee is proud of their dedication and integrity.
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| Stephanie
Oswald, Editor-in-Chief (top)
"travelgirl
is more than a magazine — it's
a feeling. Our readers will have the
information they need for successful,
practical and pleasurable journeys in
today's ever-changing world. We'll make
escape simple, whether it's a spa treatment
at home — or a three week exotic
adventure."
In print, on the Web
or on-air, Stephanie Oswald knows how
to tell a travel story. As the Editor-in-Chief
of travelgirl magazine and a Web Correspondent
for The Weather Channel, she reports
on everything from stress-relieving
spa treatments and unique escapes around
the world to the human side of a hurricane.
She is the co-founder of travelgirl--
the first national travel magazine to
launch after the events of 9/11. The
bi-monthly travel and lifestyle publication
was chosen by industry leader Mr. Magazine
as one of the "most notable"
launches of 2003. |
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Oswald is a native New Yorker who spent 13 years
globetrotting as CNN's travel correspondent and
host of the weekend program, CNN Travel Now. Her
CNN reporting took her everywhere from The Great
Wall of China to The Grand Canyon. She's a savvy
traveler-- whether it's a business or pleasure trip,
international or domestic. In 2003, she also launched
a groundbreaking series called The Weather Channel
Road Crew that showcased the "fun" side
of weather. In 2004, she filed written and audio
reports during Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne as the
very first Web Correspondent for Weather.com.
In addition to managing the editorial side of travelgirl
magazine, she currently teaches Travel Writing Skills
and Successful TV Presence at the Emory University
Center for Lifelong Learning in Atlanta, and is
a media consultant for Atamira Communications. She
has also spent time as a Hearst Fellow at the University
of Colorado in Boulder, teaching various aspects
of TV journalism. In her personal travels she has
hiked the Inca Trail and is headed for Mt. Kilimanjaro
in the near future.
As anchor and correspondent for CNN Travel Now,
a weekly program on worldwide destinations, travel
trends and cuisine, Oswald specialized in adventure
travel, filing reports from Europe, South America,
Asia and the Caribbean. One series took her into
the depths of Papua New Guinea for a rare and eye-opening
look at the Huli Wigmen. Her reports also appeared
on CNN Headline News, CNN in-flight programming
for Delta Air Lines, CNN International and the CNN
Airport Network.
In 1996, Oswald covered the Cultural Olympiad in
Atlanta and received an Emmy for producing during
the Centennial Olympic Park bombing. Her coverage
of the serious side of tourism also included the
impact of Great Britain's handover of Hong Kong
to China and a journey highlighting the wonders
of Northern Ireland. While at CNN, she also reported
on travel industry issues including pilot fatigue,
airline alliances and airport security.
Immediately after 9/11, she filed human interest
stories on the crisis for CNN, and covered the impact
on the travel industry for CNN Headline News during
live studio reports.
In 1995, Stephanie was chosen to participate in
the French-American Foundation Journalists Exchange
Program. She has lived in both Paris and Strasbourg.
During the Gulf War, Stephanie worked on CNN's international
assignment desk, coordinating Saudi Arabia coverage.
Before joining CNN, she was a general assignment
news reporter for WCTV in Lynn, Mass. Oswald earned
a journalism degree from Boston University, graduating
cum laude. In addition to her love for travel, she
also has a passion for music, horses, SCUBA diving
and hiking.
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Michael
A. Morris, President (top)
"Since women
make 75% of all travel decisions,
travelgirl gives the lady of the house
everything she needs to make plans
for the family, adventure, romance,
solo travel and her travelguy. It's
a fun magazine that teaches you how
to travel in a five star fashion even
if your budget is only two or three
stars."
Michael Morris brings
the brawn to the travelgirl table,
with more than 15 years of experience
in investment banking and securities
brokerage and a decade of experience
managing and marketing his own companies.
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As a 25-year resident of Atlanta, he founded and
was Chief Executive Officer of GMA Partners, Inc.,
an investment firm providing securities brokerage
services to high net worth individuals and foundations,
and investment banking services to middle market
clients. Projects included merger and acquisition
advisory, public and private offerings and strategic
sale advisory services.
In addition to GMA Partners, Michael was involved
as a director in the creation, marketing and branding
of several start-up companies, including Outweb,
Inc., a technology consulting company; and Load
N-Go at Home Depot. Previously, Mr. Morris held
various financial positions with Balentine &
Company, Wolf Camera, Inc. and Merrill Lynch.
Michael Morris is on the board of several multi-million
dollar foundations and helps to give away more than
$50 million a year to charities. His travels for
business, pleasure and charity have taken him all
over the United States, as well as to England, Wales,
Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, Israel and
the Caribbean.
Michael currently serves on the board of several
charitable and civic organizations including the
Centers for Disease Control Foundation Board of
Visitors, the Board of Visitors of the Shepherd
Center, the Israel Democracy Institute and Emory
University's Goizueta Business School Board of Advisors.
He is also a Trustee for the Atlanta Jewish Federation
and President of their Young Leadership Council.
Michael received his Masters of Business Administration
from Goizueta Business School of Emory University,
graduating with honors, and received a Bachelor
of Science in Engineering Science and Economics
from Vanderbilt University.
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| Robyn
Werbin, Business Manager (top)
Robyn Werbin is a
fanatic about travel, business planning
and making a difference. A recent
Emory University graduate with a degree
in Mathematics, Robyn began her career
4 years ago working in the high-tech
IT industry doing Business Intelligence
for KnowledgeStorm, Inc. While there,
she created the first Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP) for the company along
with verifying qualified buyers of
Software and matching them with appropriate
sellers.
Robyn left KnowledgeStorm
after only one year to join her mother
at SRI Travel and fulfill her passion
for globetrotting. Since then, she
has been all over the United States
and the Caribbean and has been to
Europe several times. Her favorite
destination is Istanbul, Turkey where
she was mesmerized by this spectacular
city divided and existing in two continents
by the Bosphorus strait. As travelgirl’s
Business Manager, Robyn’s journeys
are sure to continue! |
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| Jan Butsch Schroder, Managing Editor and Web Editor (top)
 Prior to joining travelgirl magazine in May 2004, Jan worked as the Membership Manager of the High Museum of Art, Editor of Schroder Publishing and has been a freelance newspaper columnist. Jan is the author of two books, a humor book about parenting called Just a Stage and Murphy's: 25 Years of Recipes and Memories.
Jan has won six finalist Green Eyeshade Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Golden Flame Award from the International Association of Business Communicators. She has been published in Elle magazine, Creative Loafing, Atlanta Parent, Fulton County Daily Report and Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mothers Soul.
Her travels have taken her crocodile hunting in Belize, snorkeling in San Salvador, snowshoeing in Yosemite, sailing in the British Virgin Islands and doing a whole lot of nothing on as many beaches as she could find. Highlights include watching her daughter run the Olympic Torch in Klamath Falls, Oregon, biking down Haleakala in Hawaii, and a dining with her extended family at a castle in Tuscany.
Jan is a native of Atlanta and graduated cum laude from the University of Virginia with an English degree. She is married to Chris Schroder, president of Schroder Public Relations, and is the very proud mother to two children, Catherine and Christopher. |
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| Valerie
Cassius, Creative Director (top)
Valerie Cassius joined
travelgirl magazine in January 2004
following a challenging and successful
freelance career meeting the creative
demands of a vast array of clients,
including American Express, several
large real estate firms and numerous
financial institutions. During one project,
she was responsible for the creative
design of an American Express travel
publication for a European market.
She spent 11 years as an in-house designer
and writer for Georgia Telco, a credit
union servicing major telecommunications
corporations such as AT&T and BellSouth.
An Atlanta native who grew up in Memphis,
she graduated from Indiana University
with a degree in Journalism and Fine
Arts and also attended Parson’s
School of Design in New York City. Valerie’s
creative skills were honed during a
prestigious international program she
was accepted to via the School of the
Art Institute of Chicago, when she spent
several weeks in Rotterdam, Holland
attending a specialty design school.
She has traveled to Thailand, Brazil,
Panama, Israel and many European destinations,
but Valerie says her wanderlust isn’t
satisfied yet! As Creative Director
for travelgirl, she brings color and
class to the pages of the publication. |
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| Gideon
Lewin, Artistic Director (top)
Gideon Lewin, travelgirl’s
artistic director, is a world renowned
photographer. Our “Maestro”
of photography is a graduate of the
distinguished Art Center College of
Design in Los Angeles and holds a
BFA in photography and design. He
began his career in California as
the protégé of the celebrated
Richard Avedon. In 1980 he established
the Gideon Lewin Studio in New York
City. Lewin’s career is marked
by a long list of successes and he
has captured some of the most famous
and coveted faces in the world through
his lenses. With an eye for detail
and a flair for bringing out personality
in his portraits, Lewin is one of
the most sought-after photographers
in America. |
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| Marybeth Bond, Adventure Editor (top)
Marybeth Bond has written about women and travel for two decades, including 11 award-winning books for National Geographic and Travelers' Tales and most recently in the Wall Street Journal. Her bestsellers are 50 Best Girlfriends Getaways, Girlfriend Getaways Worldwide, A Woman's World, and Gutsy Women, which took her to The Oprah Winfrey show.
She joined travelgirl magazine in 2004 as the Adventure Editor after TV work as the "Smart Traveler" for CBS Evening Magazine, Oxygen, travel editor for ivillage.com and "Travel Expert" for Outside Radio. She is still a frequent travel expert/guest on CNN, National Public Radio, CBS, NBC, and ABC. She's a spokesperson for a variety of businesses, including AAA, Sojourns and Hilton Garden Inn.
Marybeth walked, hiked, climbed, cycled and kayaked her way through six continents and more than 70 countries from Mt. Kilimanjaro to Kilarny. She traveled alone, with her gal pals, daughters, sisters, husband and mother. |
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travelgirl’s
women’s cycling team
(photographer -
Trish Albert)
So, exactly
what is the travelgirl Women's Cycling team?
Who are we, and what are we about? ...more... |
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