The dedicated team at CCRA works tirelessly to ensure that all of our customers - from our award winning call center to our hotel and air programs and our entire network of travel professionals - has what they need to power their travel businesses each and every day.
Dic Marxen is President and Chief Executive Officer of CCRA International, Inc., a unique family of brands delivering technology, marketing, accreditation and education for travel industry professionals. Dic’s passion for marketing, technology and global distribution solutions seamlessly connect travel professionals, driving revenue, relationships and brand recognition.
As President and CEO, Dic oversees the executive team, strategically leading a group of divisions responsible for the CCRA Global Preferred Hotel Program including, AirSelect, Global TRUE program and CCRA’s Call Center−the biggest and best call center in the industry. His knowledge, expertise and dedication are reflected in CCRA’s unstoppable growth and expansion.
Under Dic’s leadership, CCRA pioneered the industry’s biggest and best call center, serving members and their travelers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With more than 40 years in the business, over 80 elite agents, 380,000 travel transactions and 100% digital recording, Dic crafted an industry leading call center solution concept majority of agencies in the U.S. trust with their greatest asset−their travelers.
Prior to leading CCRA, Dic led several successful insurance and technology organizations. He served as Senior Vice-President of Insurance Business Services at CGI Group, Inc. and as President and Chief Executive Officer of NSpire Insurance Solutions Inc., since November 2001. In 2000, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Wheatley Group, Ltd., facilitating its sale to insurance industry giant AIG.
Dic’s extensive technology background encompasses positions as Chief Executive Officer, Director and Consultant at various business service firms. He served as Vice President and Consultant with OneShield, Inc., and as Chairman of the Board for Travel Fulfillment International, a joint venture between Hickory Travel Systems and CCRA.
From 1998 to 2001, Dic served as Board Chairman at Apple Orthodontix, Inc., as Director of OneLink Corporation and as Director of Apple Orthodontix, Inc., since February 1998 and INSpire Insurance Solutions Inc. since November 2001. In addition, he served as a Director of National Pizza Corp. since 2005.
Dic founded Marxen & Associates, serving as Chief Executive Officer from 1984 to 1995. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Texas Tech University. Residing in Fort Worth, Texas, Dic enjoys spending quality time with his wife and family.
Dic Marxen is President and Chief Executive Officer of CCRA International, Inc., a unique family of brands delivering technology, marketing, accreditation and education for travel industry professionals. Dic’s passion for marketing, technology and global distribution solutions seamlessly connect travel professionals, driving revenue, relationships and brand recognition.
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Peter E. Pincus, CTC, is the Chief Commercial Officer at CCRA. With more than 30 years of travel industry experience, Peter leads and coordinates CCRA’s commercial strategy and growth across all divisions.
As CCO, Peter oversees sales, product development, supplier relations and customer service. The driving force to CCRA’s groundbreaking market expansion and trusted brand recognition is Peter’s dedication to ensuring successful integrated commercial success. His solid consortia, sales, marketing, and commercial business strategy expertise drives Peter’s passion for CCRA’s expansion and evolution.
Peter first joined CCRA in 2010 as President of CCRA’s Global Network division. In this role Peter brought CCRA to new heights, positioning CCRA as a global leading distributor of travel products and services for travel buyers and consumers in more than 70 different countries.
Prior to joining CCRA in 2010, Peter served as Senior Global Sales Manager with Marriott International where he provided strategic counsel to the largest travel consortia, key retail travel agencies, and industry associations. In addition, Peter held positions with American Express Travel and other diverse consortia. In 1995, he founded and led Consultek, Inc., a travel management consulting company that specialized in the Latin American market.
Peter studied business administration and management at Queens College. He resides in Washington D.C. with his family.
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Wendi Carman, Chief Technology Officer, drives innovation strategy and growth for CCRA, ensuring technology excellence. As CTO, Wendi is responsible for defining CCRA’s technical strategy, mission and vision across company platforms. Wendi’s passion for innovation drives her commitment to setting the bar for security best practices and corporate responsibility, driving breakthrough technology-driving products and services, evolving how the travel industry connects.
Wendi first joined CCRA as director of program development, bringing more than10 years of industry expertise. Prior to working with CCRA, she served as director of technology for VTS Travel Services. Designing trendsetting web-based solutions in travel technology, Wendi seamlessly converted challenges to benefits, empowering travel agents and suppliers to form profitable partnerships.
Wendi attended the University of Delaware where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in finance in 1992. She currently resides in New Jersey and enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her family. When Wendi isn’t transforming technology, you just might find her touring Italy.
James Bush joined CCRA in 2014 as CCRA’s Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, James oversees the accounting, business support, financial planning and analysis, internal audits and tax functions at CCRA. Under James’ guidance and financial strategy, CCRA seamlessly evolved from one of the largest hotel distributors in the U.S. and Canada to a global travel consortium. James is just as comfortable balancing budgets as he is about balancing key relationships.
Prior to joining CCRA, James served as CFO for ABP International, eeParts, Inc. and Priester Supply Company. But his expertise doesn’t stop at crunching numbers. James also served as a Corporate Controller for Estes, Inc and led Zoom Services, LLC, as their President & CEO. It is James’ diverse background, from balancing people to balancing budgets that ensures CCRA’s financial strategy not only works for the company, but also works for their partners while remaining fiscally responsible.
During James’ studies at Baylor University, he served as President of Lambda Chi Alpha and graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting. He currently resides in Fort Worth Texas.
Jerry Paquette serves as Vice President, Call Center Solutions for CCRA. In this role, Jerry is committed to setting the bar for low hold times and exceptional customer satisfaction levels. Jerry’s passion for nurturing client relations and flawless customer engagement drives him to successfully leading a global travel consortium call center, open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. As VP of Call Center Solutions, Jerry oversees a team of over 80 elite call center solution agents located throughout the U.S., serving 450 domestic and international travel agencies, while seamlessly processing about 380,000 travel transactions per year. Since 1988, Jerry dedicated his career to pioneering the 24/7-call center concept and designing top talent customer experience for CCRA.
Jerry began his career with CCRA in 1988 as a reservationist. Between 1988-1995 he wore several hats through his journey as reservationist, lead reservationist, ticketing agent and up to supervisor. In 2000, his talent to lead successfully diverse teams was acknowledged, redirecting his career path into management of training. Having served in every position from the bottom to the top, his unique perspective of strategic management earned him several more promotions in 2007 to Director of Operations, 2010 to Senior Director of Operations, 2014 VP of Operations and now serving as VP of Call Center Solutions.
Upon graduating high school in Simi Valley, California, Jerry jumpstarted his relentlessly focused career in the travel industry with CCRA. Jerry resides in his hometown Simi Valley, with his wife Jennifer, son and daughter. When he isn’t transforming challenges into solutions, you might find him coaching his kids’ baseball team or living it up at music concerts around the globe.
Steve Pello is CCRA’s Vice President International Air Division. In this role Steve ensures CCRA’s International Air Division delivers first class offerings and solutions for our travel agent and airline partners. Under Steve’s leadership, the International Air Division evolved the connection between travel agents and airlines through negotiated contracts, yielding top-tier commissions for CCRA registered travel agents through the ABC•CCRA Air Program.
As VP of the International Air Division, Steve is the architect of the ABC•CCRA Air program. Spearheading this program, Steve bridged the relationship between leading international air suppliers and ABC and CCRA’s travel agency partners with a robust network and profitable negotiated contracts already in place. Bringing 22 years of direct airline experience and more than 30 years in travel, Steve creates a win-win program for both suppliers and agents, booking commissionable air travel across the globe.
Prior to joining CCRA, Steve served as Regional Sales Manager-Southeast for American Airlines, Inc., developing groundbreaking sales and marketing strategies for American Airlines Hubs in Raleigh Durham and Nashville, Tennessee, resulting in an astonishing $900 million in sales. Throughout his 35 years of travel industry experience, Steve was responsible for operations, sales and marketing as the previous owner of Carrier Travel in New York City and in senior positions at Directravel, Travel Savers and OneTravel.com.
In 1982, Steve earned his Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and communications from Adelphi University. He resides in Palm City, Florida with his wife Kathy. Steve and Kathy are no strangers to traveling. From Stamford, Connecticut to Boulder, Colorado, they stay busy flying from coast to coast visiting their daughters and grandchildren. But land isn’t the only area of travel Steve and Kathy enjoy. In fact, you just might find them scuba diving under the sea.
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