The Travel & Words Conference is produced by a group of travel media and industry professionals who live and work in the Northwest and volunteer their time and skills.
The goals of the Travel & Words conference are to:
- Explore changes and trends in the freelance travel writing world.
- Facilitate mutually productive networking between destination marketers and freelance writers.
- Support travel and tourism industry professionals who highlight destinations, attractions and all season recreation in Washington, Oregon Idaho, Montana, Alaska and British Columbia.
- Educate participants about the use of social media and online forums in marketing one’s brand related to travel writing.
- Expose freelance writers to potential editorial markets, including print and new media.
- Address best practices of interest to travel writers, bloggers, editors and destination marketers.
Travel & Words Conference Board of Directors
Dave Peterson, President/CEO, Explorer Media and Marketing
Dave is from a consumer marketing background and has worked for brands like Stouffers, WD-40, Toro and Sunset Magazine, a Time Inc company. Originally hailing from the Midwest Dave moved out to the Northwest in 1998 as the regional mgr for Sunset and has been curious about the region ever since. After a 14 year career with Sunset, Dave purchased Northwest Travel Magazine from Spooner Industries and has given the brand a fresh print and digital look. Its presence has increased from 600 newsstands to 1250, doubled readers per copy to 7 with an overall audience of 300,000. Recently, they have launched a digital travel network including several Northwest travel and lifestyle websites.
Allen Cox, Conference Chair
Allen Cox serves as co-chair of Northwest Travel Writers Conference. He is Editor-in-Chief of Northwest Travel & Life Magazine, author of two guidebooks on day hiking, and a freelance travel and lifestyle journalist whose work had appeared in dozens of regional and national publications. In addition, he presently serves as VP, board member and Awards Committee Chair for International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association.
Tamara Muldoon, Conference Planner
Tamara is a freelance writer and photographer whose work has appeared in a number of print publications and on many websites. She primarily writes about travel and Pacific Northwest lifestyle. Her favorite photography subjects are travel destinations, landscape, food and lifestyle. Before becoming a freelance writer, Tamara worked in the hospitality and tourism industry. Over the span of her 20+ year career she worked for hotels, a tour operator, a cruise line, a botanical garden attraction and a conference management company. When she is not writing Tamara enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking, music and reading. You can see samples of her work at TamaraMuldoon.com.
Carrie Uffindell
Carrie is a freelance writer focusing on Pacific Northwest destinations, family travel, hand crafted libations, culinary adventures and the United Kingdom. She often travels with her husband and kids, all of whom share her love of adventure. Carrie writes for both print and online media, including Northwest Travel & Life Magazine, CIDERCRAFT Magazine, Eater Portland, Red Tricycle Portland and Travel Salem. Visit her website at CarrieUffindell.com.
Jade Helm
After a fifteen year career in sales and public relations, Jade took a year to explore wine and dance. This year changed her life. She delved into wine study and eventually earned credentials from the Society of Wine Educators (Certified Specialist in Wine), the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (Diploma in Wine and Spirits), and Court of Master Sommeliers (Certified Sommelier). For the past five years, Jade has provided wine education through writing for consumer and trade oriented wine publications, speaking engagements, and direct classroom instruction at Northwest Wine Studies Program at Chemeketa Community College. She is also the primary author of TastingPour.com, a blog about wine, cocktails, travel and food. When Jade is not tasting, teaching, traveling, writing or judging wine competitions, she is probably sleeping.
Ron Engeldinger
Ron is a longtime Oregon resident and intrepid world traveler. Currently, he is Editor-in-Chief of the annual Meeting News Northwest Magazine Book of Lists, a sister publication to Northwest Travel & Life Magazine. He writes about the topics and locations for the meeting and events industry in the Northwest and Mountain West. As a freelance writer, he has written travel and business articles for a variety of publications and websites. He has also written and published books on the topics of leadership and success.
Nancy Mueller
Nancy Mueller is a Seattle-based travel & lifestyle journalist with an established media outlet at: WanderBoomer.com, “fun travel adventures for the young at heart.” Her bags are always packed for day trips, weekend getaways and global adventures. Nancy’s stories have been featured in Northwest Travel & Life Magazine, FWT Magazine, and AAA Highroads Arizona, where she explores destinations through cruising, food & dining, arts & culture, and health & wellness.