Meaningful Travel Summit with the Willamette Valley Educational Sessions & Schedule

Destination Development Manager

Jessy Fabrizio-Stover (She/Her) is the Destination Development Manager at the Willamette Valley Visitors Association (WVVA), the Regional Destination Management Organization for the Willamette Valley. Having entered tourism with a background in Ecology and Evolution, Jessy is deeply committed to responsible and sustainable tourism development. Particularly focused on regenerative tourism, recreation development, and agritourism support her work emphasizes collaboration with local communities to create tourism initiatives that benefit residents and visitors alike. Jessy is dedicated to equitable destination development and ensuring the Willamette Valley remains a welcoming and inclusive year-round destination. Recently Jessy was recognized during Oregon’s 2024 Travel and Tourism Industry Achievement Awards as the Willamette Valley’s Rising Star.

General Manager

Meara McNally Butler is the General Manager at Fairsing Vineyard, a family-run and sustainability-focused vineyard. Meara works closely with her parents, the proprietors of Fairsing Vineyard. Fairsing strives to act as a good steward of the land with respect for the stewards who came before and practices that can sustain it into the future. Fairsing’s sustainability focuses include re-forestation, soil health, and pollinator habitat.

Agritourism Coordinator

Audrey Comerford serves as the Agritourism Coordinator for OSU Extension Service in Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties. Growing up in the Willamette Valley gave her the opportunity to be familiar with diverse farming activities. Audrey’s efforts strive to bring education and understanding about the benefits of agritourism and farm-direct marketing as an additional revenue source to farmers, tourism groups and government entities. She is part of the OSU College of Agriculture’s Agritourism Working Group and currently collaborates with organizations such as Travel Oregon, nonprofits, economic development, and local tourism offices. Audrey also works on efforts like farm loops and food trails, agritourism research projects and is one of the instructors of the agritourism online course. Before joining the OSU Extension Service, Audrey coordinated and managed school tours along with other aspects of farm-direct sales. She currently lives on a small farm with her husband and raises Romney sheep.

Owner

Tessa received a Bachelor of Animal Science degree and Master of Arts degree in Philosophy, Animal Science, and Political Science. Se has 21 years of farming experience. Having spent most of her professional career in commercial finance, Tessa was delighted to move to full-time entrepreneurial ventures in 2017. In addition to managing TMK Farm, Creamery, and Distillery with her husband, Todd, she has been an active board member and current chairperson of Friends of Children Klamath Basin since 2014, chairs her local farm loop, and sits on the board of her local tourism directors council. Previous board affiliation and volunteer work includes local city development council, education needs for differently abled children, and community fundraisers where Tessa has offered expertise in finances, marketing, and business management.

Beekeeper

Jeremy Mitchell became interested in honey bees while a student at Oregon State University. He graduated with his B.S. degree in Recreation Resource Management and Natural Resources in 2012. The following spring, Jeremy enrolled in OSU’s Master Beekeeper Program where his love for bees was solidified. Jeremy now runs Flying Bee Ranch in Salem, Oregon with his partner, Delsey Maus. Together they have transformed their once sideliner beekeeping operation into a popular agritourist destination and long-term resource for hobby beekeepers in the Willamette Valley. Their farm store offers beekeeping supplies, beekeeping classes, spring nucs, and Oregon’s largest selection of varietal honeys. Flying Bee Ranch offers year-round honey tastings. The tasting room is open Tue-Sat 9am-5pm. Learn more at https://www.flyingbeeranch.net

Executive Director

Roni Weiss is the Executive Director of Travel Unity, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on making the world of travel welcoming to people of all backgrounds and identities. 

Born in New York and raised in Washington State, Roni received his AAS with Honors at the age of 12. He graduated from high school at 15 and received double Bachelor’s in Drama and English at the age of 18.

At Travel Unity, Roni has led the curation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) Standards for Travel & Tourism and the management of its individual and organizational DEI certification programs. Through the Travel Unity Alliance, Roni helps connect organizations serious about applied DEI to one another and to resources to further their work to become more inclusive.

Roni has visited 70+ countries, including every country in Europe, and six of seven continents. He lives in Pleasantville, NY with his partner, Lauren, and their four children.

Founder and Chairman

Geoff Babb is a two-time stroke survivor with a passion to make wild places accessible to those with mobility challenges. His vision and leadership have led to the creation of the AdvenChair, a convertible wheelchair, equally capable of traveling off-road in sand, rocks, or snow, and into buildings. AdvenChairs have been to Machu Picchu, the Grand Canyon, the CaminodeFatima, helped kids experience outdoor school, elder adventurers revisit favorite trails, and allowed entire families to get outside together. AdvenChair is now partnering with Wanderlust Tours to offer AdvenTours, accessible guided natural history tours in Central Oregon. See advenchair.com for more information.

CEO & Founder

Joe's father has used a wheelchair for his entire life, and Joe noticed how his father was treated differently from the rest of his family and that the world was not designed for people with disabilities in mind. He founded VisitAble, to create more welcoming and inclusive environments for all, by working to remove barriers and change attitudes related to disability.

Executive Director

Steve has worked in parks and natural areas for nearly 20 years, around San Francisco, Milwaukee, WI, and across Oregon – connecting people to nature is integral to his passion. Prior to TKO, he served 10 years with Oregon State Parks, spending his last 2 years with the Gorge State Parks management team. As TKO’s first staff person in July 2017, Steve accepted the challenge of moving from a volunteer-led organization to a statewide effort with staff support of Oregon’s trails. Being driven by people-power, the proof of success is in the smiling faces found in the TKO staff directory and the thousands of volunteers they support each day – at more and more scenic sites across the state. Contact Steve at steve.kruger@trailkeepersoforegon.org.

Susan Sygall is an internationally recognized expert in the area of international development, international exchange, and leadership programs for persons with disabilities. She is the co-founder and CEO of Mobility International USA (MIUSA) which advances disability rights and leadership globally. She has been honored with a MacArthur Fellowship and the “President’s award.”

She has co-authored numerous publications, co-produced several award-winning videos, and lectured around the world on topics related to international development and disability rights. Susan received her master’s degree from the University of Oregon and holds two honorary doctorate degrees from Chapman University and the University of Portland. Most recently, she received the Convention Leadership Award from Travel Lane County in 2024. Susan provides consultation to ensure that all travel destinations are inclusive.