Martha - Agent

Martha King has worked in our La Porte office since September, 1983. She is celebrating her Silver Anniversary both with Edgerton's Travel and with her husband, Steve. She and Steve have a 21 year old son, Sam, who is a junior at Indiana University in Bloomington. Sam often accompanies Martha on her travel adventures, starting when he was 2 months old. Other travel companions frequently include her sister, Laura, and her friend, Sue, who call themselves the "Vagabond Princesses." Martha is a lifelong resident of La Porte.

She credits her parents for instilling a love of travel in her at an early age. Her mother frequently told her "I never regretted any trip I took. It's the ones I didn't take that I regret." Martha has lived by that philosophy and is always ready to go! She is a beach bum at heart, having worked her way through college at Purdue as a lifeguard. It should come as no surprise that her favorite destinations are Hawaii (has been there 5 times), Riviera Maya (3 times, most recently at the new Valentin Resort), and a cruise to anywhere (or nowhere...she doesn't care where the ships go...she's a veteran of over 25 cruises!). Her favorite non-beach destination is Alaska, having been there twice.

She prefers active vacations and you're likely to find her whitewater rafting, zip lining, snorkeling, hiking or bike riding. Destinations still on her "bucket list" include whitewater rafting in Costa Rica, hiking the Inca Trail in Peru, and cruising through the Panama Canal, the Amazon, and the Mediterranean. Continuing education courses which she has completed or is currently enrolled include Apple Vacations, Sandals, Destination Wedding, Hawaii, Peru, Costa Cruise Line, NCL, and Princess Cruises (achieved Commodore Status). Let Martha help you plan the perfect honeymoon, family, or active vacation!

Contact Martha

Loneda - Agent

Loneda Kreigh graduated from The Indiana Travel Academy, the travel agent certification program formerly offered by Edgerton’s Travel. She joined the team in 1995.

Over the years she has broadened her experience by traveling and taking courses to further her expertise.

She has gained certification as a Caribbean and Hawaii specialist through the Institute of Certified Travel Agents. She also has her “mouse ears” after completing the College of Disney Knowledge, as well as many other specialist courses with cruise lines and those offered by specific destinations.

She has traveled to most of the islands in the Caribbean, Alaska, and Hawaii (numerous times). She’s even made it to Tahiti! Europe has more she’d like to experience but has spent time in Italy, (her favorite), Ireland and the London area. Her favorite place to send people to is usually any place she’s been, but Hawaii is probably on the top of her list, followed by Italy.

Loneda has also had the opportunity to escort a couple of Edgerton’s group trips which gave her great insight into the quality of Edgerton’s group trips and care and service we all provide to our clients.

Nancy - Agent

Nancy Baumgartner began her career as a travel consultant with Edgerton’s in 1995.

Her love of travel began as a young adult after graduation from Purdue. Not finding employment, she and 2 friends took off for Europe and spent 2 months traveling, much to the chagrin of her parents! She has been back several times, and hasn’t found a country yet that she doesn’t love.

Planning trips to Europe is at the top of her list of favorites. Another favorite is helping honeymooners plan the “most important trip of their lives”. She likes to send them to adult only resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean- to the most romantic destinations she can find. Luckily, she and her husband, long from the honeymoon stage of life, have vacationed at many of the resorts she recommends to her clients.

Nancy says what she likes most about her job is that there is always something new to learn. A client might request a destination that she is not familiar with, so it becomes a new learning experience, and in a lot of cases becomes a place to add to her list of places that she wants to visit!

No matter where you want to go, or how your want to get there, Nancy can help you because she likes all of her clients to “go away”!

Linda - Agent

Linda Becker, the senior agent at our Elkhart office on East Jackson Street has been planning vacation travel since 1995. A specialist in beach destinations, escorted tours and cruises, she enjoys working with both families and groups, particularly family and friend re-unions and special honeymoon/wedding packages.

Favorite destinations include the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean and Mexico with their warm and friendly people. The Couples Resorts, Sandals Resorts, Riu Properties and luxury villa rentals are great choices. Escorted travel across the U.S., Europe, and Australia is another favorite, working with some exceptional tour operators including Globus, Collette, Caravan and Mayflower Tours. A favorite cruise has been Alaska and the Inside Passage; although, the Mediterranean cruise itineraries offer a world of possibilities.

Having most recently traveled to the Caribbean, and knowing that the snow and freezing temperatures are always here in January – she looks forward to helping you plan that perfect winter getaway in advance of the cold and ice - or if you are a snowbird – how about Alaska next summer?

Leann - Agent

I “physically” started working in the travel business September of 2007, however I have traveled all over the world in the last 30 years (wonderful for travel experience!)

I have been to Mexico, including both coasts 8 times so I am familiar with many of the resorts and city locations, I’ve traveled the Caribbean too many times to count! I have sailed on 19 cruises including Morocco and the Canary Islands, sailed through the Panama Canal, including Central America and either traveled to or cruised to most of the larger (and many of the smaller) islands in the Caribbean. My parents lived in Marathon, Florida in the winters so I am very familiar with the Florida Keys and southern Florida.

I enjoy the spur of the moment vacations….twice my husband and I flew to Europe for long weekends….it’s easy, you just fall asleep on the plane on Thursday night and wake up in Europe on Friday morning! I have also been to all the larger six islands of Hawaii several times.

I am a commodore with Princess Cruises having completed the Princess Academy course, a cruise expert with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, along with completing Costa Cruise Lines training and a Holland America Academy program as well. I am a graduate of the Hotel Excellence by Marriott Hotels, Hilton Hotels Academy, a Master Agent for Secrets, Dreams and Sunscape Resorts, Las Vegas Certified Travel Professional, US and British Virgin Islands Specialist, Cayman Islands Specialist and a Certified Sandals Specialist.

The top three destinations I would recommend are:

Cruise to the Panama Canal:
It is an unbelievable experience to see huge ships moving up in the water in front of the ship you are on and hearing how it all was completed. Also, the exotic jungle flora and fauna throughout the area is fantastic.

Western Europe:
Traveling through Europe is very easy whether by air, train or coach. And seeing history unfold before your eyes including buildings that were constructed centuries before our country was even begun is inspiring!

Hawaii:
A beautiful land where the tropical and unique combine and you can forget you are still in the United States! Each island is different from the other in sights, landscape and activity. Hawaii appeals to all types of vacationers from the ecological minded to the high energy who want to experience it all day and night. You will not run out of things to see or do.

Phyllis - Agent

Phyllis Howe might be new to Edgerton's Travel Service, Inc. (she joined the staff in 2007) but she is not new to travel. Her first adventure at the age of 17, was traveling to Tokyo, Japan, and touring with a group of musicians. Other destinations that were just as exciting include the Florida Keys, Disney Land in California, the Northwest, Southwest and Canada. She enjoys cruising in the Caribbean islands appreciating the hospitality of the locals in Cozumel, the Caymans, Nassau and Freeport, Bahamas and of course, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Phyllis’ past work experience in educational administration and accounting bring some much needed skills to her job, including being very detail oriented and always looking for a great value for your dollar. She loves to ‘do all the planning and let you have all the fun’.

Recent educational accomplishments include completing the Costa Cruise Academy, Apple Vacations Academy and becoming a Sandals Specialists.

Some of her favorite vacations to recommend include Montego Bay, Jamaica, and taking on the water slide from the top of Margaritaville down into Montego Bay; Amtrak from Chicago to Flagstaff, AZ, touring the Grand Canyon, High Desert of Arizona, winding down through Red Rock Canyon to Sedona continuing on to Phoenix; and just relaxing in the luxurious environment the El Dorado Royale, Riviera Maya in Mexico has to offer.

Jodi - Agent

Jodi Stapler joined Edgerton’s in January 2008.

It is amazing to her to have come full circle after working for Marriott for over 20 years. She would open, close and reorganize hotels throughout the Caribbean, Mexico and the United States. She was born in Ft. Wayne but graduated from college in Florida with a degree in Travel and in Business. While her permanent address reads Key West, Florida, she was always traveling.

She spent 3 months in Mexico with the Travel Advisor from the U.S. Department of Tourism so Mexico will always be one of her top five picks. She is a scuba diver and enjoys rating the Caribbean Islands from below and at sea level. She has spent a great deal of travel time in Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, St. Maarten, eastern Canada and the Florida Keys.

Having found her way back to the Fort Wayne area and she feels very privileged to have the opportunity to create and orchestrate your travel adventures!

Tom Edgerton - President

T.E. (Tom) Edgerton, Sr. is the 3rd generation of Edgertons to serve in the travel industry. During his college years he escorted tours for the Cartan Travel Bureau in Chicago and joined his father full time in the business in 1968.

During the rapid growth period of the travel industry, Tom directed the growth of Edgerton’s to 7 retail offices and 2 travel schools before consolidating into 4 service centers across Northern Indiana.

Conferences, meeting planning and group travel are the major focus for Tom and he brings more than 40 years experience to this aspect of the business. Group travel is the fastest growing segment of Edgerton’s business and the “Edgerton Experience” is the watchword for a quality operation that over delivers on every departure.

(Photo courtesy: The South Bend Tribune/Sanitago Flores)

Carolyn Edgerton - Accounting

“Travel is exciting and working in the travel industry is too”, says Carolyn Edgerton.

One summer day in 1986 she stopped by the South Bend/Mishawaka office to say, ‘hi”. The phones were ringing off the hook and she volunteered to help answer them and take messages . . . a couple of hours turned into many years. She has worked in every department of the business: from taking messages to eventually being trained in booking business and complex travel. In recent years she has taken on the role of accountant and general manager. She calls it the “best of all worlds … working with great agents, computers, and numbers.” She still finds working in the industry to be exciting and can’t seem to get enough of it!

When you come to the Mishawaka office, stop and say, Hello! She’s in the back office with the computers and bookwork but her first love is still great clients like you!

Deborah - Marketing and Promotions Coordinator

Deborah Maisonneuve is the Marketing and Promotions Coordinator and also assists with group operations. She began her career with Edgerton’s Travel is 1998. She credits a friend for encouraging her to apply for an opening with the company. “I’ve always wanted to travel”, says Maisonneuve, “and this position with Edgerton’s was the perfect opportunity to use my skills and also pursue my passion to see the world.”

After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from IU she accepted a position as Morning Producer with a local television station. After spending two years working in the media field, she came to realize that she wanted to pursue another career and is very thankful for the opportunities she has received with Edgerton’s Travel. While Deborah’s work can be stressful and challenging, she gains pleasure from working with agents and the group department; by promoting exciting travel itineraries for clients.

“Since working at Edgerton’s, I’ve been given the opportunity to travel throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.”

Deborah resides in South Bend, and enjoys gardening, cooking and spending time with friends and family.

TESTIMONIALS

I had more fun than I have since I was in college- and that was a long time ago.
- Joyce R. - Italy 07

Best run and co-ordinated tour we have been on. Sherrill and Charlie did an excellent job of taking care of the group and having fun. We also had a bus driver who was great and lots of fun. We had fun, and enjoyed fantastic food, entertainment & comradary.
- Ronald S. - New Orleans & Old South Mar. 09

The entire trip was outstanding!! Our cruise trip to New England with Sherrill Lee as our tour guide was excellent! Edgerton's were very thorough, detailed and informative. Great to work with. We were treated like royalty!
- James & Phyllis W. - New England Cruise 07