Joan has enjoyed a dynamic, globe-spanning career in luxury hospitality, sales, and strategic development. With more than three decades in senior sales and marketing roles, Joan has built a reputation for excellence in client relations, revenue growth, and leadership in the international travel and hospitality industries.
Her professional journey began after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where she majored in Anthropology/Archaeology and minored in Art History. Joan’s early academic interest in culture and people naturally translated into a passion for global hospitality. Over the course of her career, she held executive roles with prestigious brands including Forte and Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts, where she worked across four continents and seven countries—from the U.S., Canada and England to Morocco, Jordan, Bahrain, and the UAE.
As VP and Director of Global Sales for Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, based in New York, Joan led the North American sales initiative for the luxury hotel group, promoting properties in New York, London, and Dubai. She also served on the Luxury Travel Expo Advisory Board from 2006 through 2010. Later, she held key positions with Travel Leaders Franchise Group and Drury Hotels, where she continued to lead strategic growth and field team development.
Now retired from corporate life, Joan remains active in both personal and community pursuits. She completed a two-year Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training Program through the University of California-Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center and the Awareness Training Institute, and now volunteers her time teaching mindfulness to churches and community groups.
A lifelong music enthusiast, Joan studied oboe performance at Webster College, played piano and clarinet, and sang in choral groups. Today, she is a devoted concertgoer and continues to nurture her love of classical music. She is also a student of French at Alliance Française de St. Louis and an avid traveler, having explored all seven continents and more than 70 countries.