Our History

Travel Place, Inc. was established in 1976 by Marlin and Marilyn Perdue who grew Travel Place, Inc. into a thriving travel company that specialized in trips to Paris France.  Each year, Marlin would gather his group of travelers and take them on a personally guided tour of Paris and the surrounding countryside.  Anyone who knew Marlin knew of his affinity for the French.  The Travel Place has always prided itself on client satisfaction, personal service, and fostering a vast knowledge base of travel, quality products and a diverse inventory of destinations and shared travel experiences.

Jana Jenkins

Travel Consultant & Owner

In 1995 I decided the world of travel and tourism was a career I could easily slip into.  After attending North American Travel School in Omaha Nebraska, I graduated with honors and quickly dipped my feet into the oceans of the world; at the age of 18, what more could a girl want.  I began working at AAA Travel in Omaha, where I quickly learned the necessities of being a successful travel services agent - and that is a strict code of honesty, integrity, and a commitment to excellence.  Over the years I have endeavored to surround myself and my company with people who have committed to this same philosophy.  It is not something easy to come by.  I am proud of my team, what we are capable of, and of what we have accomplished.

Throughout my travels in this world, I can honestly say that I am not the same having seen the moon glimmer on the Mediterranean, or watch as it slowly peaks out from behind Big Ben in London.  But I must confess that I am a beach girl by heart; to walk along the sandy shores of the Dominican Republic, curl up with my Nook in a hammock on St. Thomas, or watch as my beautiful girls frolic in the waves of the Mexican Riviera; I could not be happier.  My most vivid memory is watching the sun set over the Caribbean Sea from the shores of the Turk & Caicos Islands as my then, four year old daughter - Abbi, and I sat on the soft white sands.  I can remember saying, “Honey, I don't know if it can get any better than this?”  To which she said, "Let’s find out", and scurried off into the surf full of life and laughter.  And off we went...

To travel and explore is to be human: so please, embrace your humanity and put yourself out there!

As sole owner and operator, I have continued the same level of quality service and dedication to having each agent further their knowledge of the ever-changing travel industry that I learned from Marilyn and Marlin Perdue.  Each of my representatives is at the top of their game.  So let us show you what we are truly capable of!

Christopher Havener

Travel Consultant - Certified

In 1990, with high school behind me and a desire to travel clearly ahead of me, I began an internship at a local travel agency in Red Oak and found myself instantly hooked.  I loved investigating a destination, learning about the local atmosphere or the culture, and planning dream itineraries.  During this time I traveled to one of my favorite places, Sedona Arizona, where I toured the city as an adult and saw the Native American ruins, immersed myself in the Native American culture and learned about how truly connected we are to this earth.

With a desire to continue my travels, I enrolled at Travel Careers Institute in Omaha Nebraska in 1991 and completed the program with honors.  I began my official career at Travel and Transport in Omaha in 1992.  T&T afforded me the opportunity to work extensively with clients all over the world including China, Europe, India, and South Africa.  Each encounter was unique and meaningful.  I found myself having repeat clients and people that were calling me directly to make their next travel arrangements.  I was complimented on my commitment to detail, my outstanding customer service, and my ability to ensure each detail was documented, highlighted, and that my travelers were well prepared for their destination.

During my 9 years with Travel and Transport and subsequent 6 years with American Express Corporate Travel, I have been to St. Lucia, Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, Aruba, Belize, as well as cruised the Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries of several cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, and Celebrity.  My travels include extensive experience from coast to coast in the United States (with the exception of Kentucky – I have drank the Bourbon, but never visited the state) as well as Europe and the Caribbean.  I have furthered my knowledge of these destinations by completing several certifications for Destination Specialist in each of these areas.  I am currently working on my Destination Specialist for the SANDALS resorts (including Beaches, and Pineapple Resorts) and completing my certification and an accredited specialist for the Mexico Tourism Board and the Dominican Republic Board of Tourism.

But I must admit that my favorite destinations have always been Mexico, the American Southwest, and the Florida Keys.  The pace slows down and people take the time to really enjoy life.  But my favorite place to be is on the water (no lakes for this guy).  I enjoy sailing on the open water and the soothing sounds of the water as it splashes against the hull while the wind fills the sails and surges you ever further out into the sea.

I have spent the last 20 years working in a variety of fields that have enabled me to maintain a dedicated focus on client service and satisfaction.  I joined the Travel Place team in June of 2011 as a travel consultant and marketing specialist.  .

I have learned that travel is truly about the experience, and not just the destination.  From the local lore tours of Iowa to the weekend trip to New York, and even a week long adventure in the Dominican Republic, my goal as a travel consultant is to work closely with my clients to create an experience that fulfills their every cultural, culinary, and adventurist desire!

Remember, it is no longer just a vacation ~ but memories for a lifetime! 

Sharon Ford

Travel Consultant - Accredited

My interest in travel began when I was a freshman at Simpson College.  In January of 1979, a trip to England and Ireland was offered during interim. Our group spent 3 weeks based in England and 1 week in Ireland which sparked my appreciation for other countries and their rich histories, cultures, people, sights and sounds.  We packed so many wonderful memories into those few weeks which included everything from visiting Stonehenge to enjoying the peaceful, lush, green Irish countryside.

Since that time, I have traveled internationally to Canada, the Bahamas, and Mexico and to Micronesia in the South Pacific.  In the late 80’s, I was also afforded the opportunity to live in Neu Ulm, Germany for 3 years and visited the Black Forest, Garmisch, Augsburg, Stuttgart and Frankfurt during that time.

My interests also include travel within the United States.  I have been too many U.S. points of interest but have the most experience in the San Francisco Bay, CA area, Orlando/Cocoa Beach/Ft. Lauderdale, FL areas and Seattle/Olympia/Tacoma, WA areas.

I did live in Washington State for 2 years and during that time is when I graduated from the Travel Training Institute in Tacoma, WA and interned for a short time at a travel agency in Olympia, WA before moving back to Iowa.  It took several years to find my way into the travel business but feels like the right time for me to do so.

There is always something new to experience. I really appreciate every opportunity to travel when I can and to share those experiences with others.

Journey to a place that speaks to your heart & soul!

Angie Collinsworth

Outside Sales Consultant

As an ROHS and Iowa State graduate, I'm an Iowa girl at heart living in Kansas. I transplanted to Wichita in 1999 when I married my husband Matt.

My first experience in the travel industry was working at a local aircraft management company. I was afforded the opportunity to work for a cooperative aircraft ownership company which meant that I provided travel service for the owners of private aircraft. Everything from scheduling their planes for requested private trips, to coordinating catering and ground transportation once they arrived at their destination, and also learning airport codes and much more about the air industry; this job really gave me the knowledge base for the travel world.  Later on I took a position with the same company as a flight service coordinator and was able to work with some of America’s Forbes 100 clients while their own private aircraft were being serviced and they need private jet service.  The biggest lesson I have learned to date is that in order to meet the needs of your clients, you have to be extremely good at clear and concise communication!

In 2004 my husband and I welcomed our first daughter to the world, and I couldn't bear to go back to working full time.  The corporate world just lost all of the appeal when she arrived!  I was blessed with the opportunity to try my hand at being a travel agent, working from home as an outside agent for a local company. It was such a great fit for our family and I've so enjoyed helping people plan their vacations!  

I joined the Travel Place team as an outside agent in 2010. I'm a self proclaimed Disney expert, specializing in WDW and Disney Cruise Line. I can't think of a better job for me than helping people plan their Disney vacations! It's so fun to help them figure out the details, tell them some tips and tricks, and create touring plans for my clients. As the Kansas agent for TPI, I book vacation packages of all sorts, but Disney is definitely my thing.

 I might be the Kansas agent...but I can tell you that I do not share Dorothy's philosophy of "there's no place like home"... rather, I would say

 "There is no place like Disney"

Or

"There's nothing like having sand between your toes!"

Kim Sowers

Outside Sales Consultant

My travel career began in 1993.  I started working for Marlin & Marilyn in August and have loved it ever since.  The industry has changed quite a bit since then, but still offers me the opportunity t help people fulfill a dream which is and always has been the best part.

I worked at the office for 15 years before I decided that I would like to stay at home and raise my second son.  It's a fortunate opportunity that I am lucky to have been offered.  Our third son will be born in April, so it doesn't look like I will be returning to the office any time soon.  I miss the day to day with co-workers, but wouldn't change my position for anything.  Fortunately, the office still calls on me for my expertise with our GDS system as well as my 19 years of industry experience.

Mary Lou Davis

Outside Sales Consultant

 I started in travel in 1985, graduated from Worldspan Travel School in Atlanta Georgia and was associated with Central Travel Service in Shenandoah, until its closing in 2001.

I have traveled throughout the United States and Mexico, most recently returning from a tour of Scotland and Ireland.  I have experience with large group travel sending the local 4-H club to Washington DC and coordinating all aspects for a trip of 73 people with great success.  My most memorable group booking was for a family of 32 people on a 7-day Caribbean Cruise, Bands to Florida, and the Rose Bowl, Bowling group to National Conventions, golfers to Yuma Arizona, groups to Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada.

Having lost my husband in 2009, I decided it might be fun to return as an outside sales representative, since missing the contact of clients and other travel professionals.

I am looking forward to bringing my past experiences to help you plan your future dreams in any way possible.

Michaela Lewis

Travel Service Specialist

My first vacation was to Bullshulls Lake in Arkansas.  The water was so clear; you could see the fishing swimming all around you.  I have since ventured to San Antonio and strolled along the River walk, scaled a few mountains near Breckenridge, and most recently took a road trip with my “special someone” to the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix Arizona) to watch my beloved Hawkeyes.

Travel is new to me in the sense that it is truly a multifaceted industry that has so many details, I sometimes find myself asking, “What am I doing here?”  But in all honesty, it is the people that I enjoy the most.  I quickly discovered that nothing brings me more pleasure that seeing the look on someone’s face when they know their dream vacation has just come true.  It is a moment of utter bliss.  So while I am new to the travel industry, I am not without a desire to learn, experience, and create.

In the future, I plan on visiting the infamous Las Vegas Strip with my coworkers, walking the sandy beaches of the Mexican Riviera, and hoping a cruise ship to the Southern Caribbean.  But truth be told, my dream vacation is to float effortlessly in a gondola through the canals of Venice, then finding a quaint café in St. Mark’s square and enjoying the lively music played every night by a variety of local Italian musicians.  And if I’m lucky, I may make it all the way to the Roman Coliseum!

But one step at a time...

Office Hours

Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time and Saturdays by appointment

Telephone:  (800) 652-8572

E-mail:           tpi@travelplace.net

Physical Address
207 E Coolbaugh St.
Red Oak, IA 51566

* Travel Place Inc. is member of MAST.