The National Travel Center was founded in 2014 to do something meaningful. Today, we are unique in America. Over 30 years of experience on the part of each of several principals, a depth of knowledge, and client requests have led us to dedicate our practice to assisting small towns, rural communities, and scenic and historic routes, to achieve economic development through tourism, and not only survive, but thrive. Operating as a B Corp, we can tailor our efforts and fees to suit each situation to deliver maximum value through both planning and implementation, helping communities and clients use their strengths and resources wisely.
Our Staff
Dr. Maree Forbes Gaughan
Chief Strategist & CEO
Maree Forbes Gaughan, PhD, Chief Strategist & CEO
As Chief Strategist for National Travel Center’s Center for Economic Development and Tourism, working to help communities achieve greater economic success, Dr. Forbes has had a long and varied career. All the experience, education, and expertise assists the National Travel Center team to...
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Debra Brown, IOM
Community Action Specialist
Deb Brown, IOM
Chief Success Officer
Debra Brown has spent her entire varied career helping communities and organizations be more successful. She is able to define where the community or organization is when she first interacts with them and works together, creating an action path to help communities and organizations even in the...
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Mary Hodson
Narrative Strategist
Bringing to life the story of your community is our Narrative Strategist, Mary Hodson, from Hutchinson, Minnesota. Hodson learned early in life about helping others and sense of community, starting with her young years in 4-H working with other young learners/leaders across the county, state and country. She was focused...
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Dr. Philip Bergey
Organizational Development
Dr. Bergey understands the challenges of business directly having begun his career in the trenches as a partner in a third-generation family business that had been thriving since 1937. After a decision to dedicate his life to service, he returned to college to study history, theology and ultimately, at the...
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Greg Phillips
Content Principal
Greg is an award-winning journalist who has directed and written videos, branded entertainment and case studies for a multitude of clients including American Airlines, CNN and Discovery. As a traveler’s traveler, he has explored the 50 states and more than 60 countries, producing stories from all the continents. To date,...
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Jamie Beasley
Economic Development and Main Street Specialist
Jamie Beasley is a seasoned economic development professional with a strong record of leadership in rural revitalization, small business support, and regional capacity building. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Pike County Chamber & Economic Development Corporation in Illinois, where she leads strategic initiatives to support...
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Ethan Brown
Experience Development
A recent graduate of Pratt Institute with a Master of Science in Historic Preservation, Ethan has been involved in researching and writing histories of people and places in New York City, as well as overseas in Italy. He was also involved in a multidisciplinary studio that provided design, interpretation, and...
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Debra Elliott
Website Developer
Debra Elliott is a seasoned website developer with a journey spanning over 15 years in the ever-evolving digital landscape. Beyond her coding abilities, Debra is a passionate small business owner, driving success through innovative online solutions.
Debra holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University....
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CFO
Business Management
National Travel Center has a behind the scenes business manager who works to help keep things organized, so our very creative and experienced team can continue to produce the highest quality work for clients.
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- Hospitality Management, Atlantic Cape College
- Former AAA Five Diamond Chef