Page 15 - MRN Educational Summit 2018

Karen Morrissey CTIS Sweet Magnolia Tours

A Nashville, TN native and 35-year travel & tourism industry veteran, Karen Morrissey has worked
in many facets of the travel industry. Wanting to make a career change but undecided on what
path to take in the early 1980’s, she took a temporary summer job conducting sightseeing tours at a
local Nashville tour company and fell in love showing visitors her home town. Throughout the years
Karen has held sales and operation positions at a local Nashville hotel, a riverboat company,
charter bus company, the Country Music Hall of Fame & receptive tour companies. Experience in
all of these travel industries has enabled Karen to understand logistics and negotiate with vendors
for a “win, win” outcome for everyone and most importantly for the customer. Creating fun and
interesting itineraries for school groups, travel clubs, church groups and military reunions has been
Karen’s favorite job in the travel industry and working with the military reunions is a favorite.
Karen has been on the Board of Nashville Women In Travel and served every position including
President of the organization. She is currently on the SYTA (Student Youth Travel Association)
Hospitality & Volunteer Sub-Committee for the 2018 Conference and is working on her CSTP
(Certified Student Youth Professional) Certification. In January of 2018 Karen received her CTIS
(Certified Travel Industry Specialist) Certification from American Bus Association.

Danita Hurst Crowne Plaza Jacksonville

Danita has worked in the travel industry since 2004. While her emphasis has been with hotels, she
worked with Avis Budget Group for two years, gaining critical insight into travelers experiences
before reaching their hotel. She has been directly involved with military reunions for many years
and understands the importance of veterans groups staying connected. She loves working with
veterans throughout the planning process. Danita studied at Jacksonville University receiving her
Bachelor's degree in Social Science with a minor in Business Management, Criminology, Sociology
and Psychology in 2016. Danita’s other loves are her two daughters. While they are 23 and 30, they
will always be her “little ballerinas”.

Jadeine Shives CMP HMCC Experience Kissimmee

Jadeine is the Meeting Sales and Services Manager for Experience Kissimmee, the official travel
bureau of Osceola County in Central Florida, where she promotes and plans memorable events for
reunion groups and military veterans from across the country.

Born on Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii, Jadeine’s family ties with the military began
with her father, and have continued through her brother’s military service and her own professional
career in the tour and travel industry. With over twenty five years with Experience Kissimmee and
major brand hotels, she is dedicated to planning and supporting seamless events that bring people
together to create lasting memories.

Jadeine holds a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification from the Events Industry Council,
a credential recognized globally as the badge of excellence in the meeting, convention, exhibition,
and event industry. She also has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and master's in Speaker Bios
eastern philosophy.
In addition, she is the author of "Digging a Well to Heaven," a novel documenting her experience in
India while participating in the world's largest religious festival recorded to date. Proceeds from the
book have funded freshwater wells serving numerous rural villages throughout India.

Jadeine shares her home with her husband of 33 years, Tony, and three loveable rescue dogs.

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