Meet the Team
Our team is comprised of revered industry individuals who decided to unite travel professionals through giving back. Leading successful careers, our Founders and Board Members are all volunteers, not benefiting from AVANCE Collective financially in any way. Avancing causes close to our hearts and leveraging the charitable power of the travel industry are reward enough!
We’re always happy to work with volunteers who feel they have time and skills to contribute. Please reach out!
Co-Founders
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Co-Founder
Geoffrey’s education and personal interests have always helped him nurture and cultivate a passion for the travel industry. From an early marketing role with a prestigious hotel group in Monaco to contributing to the development of the yachting market in China, he has enjoyed building rewarding connections with a solid network of friends and partners. Ravoire is currently Vice President at Huffman Travel, a top luxury travel consultancy.
French born, Geoffrey grew up in the Alps and later accumulated an extensive experience abroad (over 60 countries and counting) including years of expatriation. Before Chicago, Geoffrey lived and worked in France, New York City, Taipei, Shanghai, and Monaco.
A strong believer in philanthropy, he is regularly involved in charity auctions, has supported projects with UNICEF, Rotary International, and served on the Board of Directors of the Rotaract Club of Chicago.
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Co-Founder
Lindsey has been working in luxury hotel sales for the past 13 years. Her roles within the hotel world have ranged from being on-property, to home-based for a single property, to global sales for two of the world’s most exclusive brands. She is currently the Head of Sales, North America for Oetker Collection and handles all market segments, looking after the Midwest and Eastern Canada.
Outside of her professional work, Lindsey is the creator and director of the River Forest Community Bike Exchange, an annual event offering the opportunity to exchange, donate, or purchase for charity both kids and adult bikes to promote sustainability. Additionally, she is the Chair of Green4Good, a committee of the PTO at her children’s elementary school.
Prior to being in the hospitality industry, she worked in other sales roles within the city including the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and ClubCorp. She previously served as President of SITE Chicago and as President of the local chapter of the Florida State University Alumni Board, The Windy City Seminoles.
Lindsey has a passion for exceptional service, attention to detail, and her local and global community. When she is not traveling for work, she enjoys her time at home outside of Chicago playing tennis and enjoying the company of her two boys, Brady and Harrison, her husband Damian, and their husky, Boomer.
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Co-Founder
With 20 years of luxury hospitality sales and marketing experience, Chris Reed has worked with some of the most prestigious brands in the hotel space, including most recently helping to expand the award-winning luxury wellness brand, The Ranch, across the US and internationally. Reed successfully launched Equinox Hotels' flagship location in Hudson Yards and prior to that, oversaw the North American global sales division for The Langham Hospitality Group. Additionally, he has served on the Board of Directors and Committees for MPI, SITE, FICP, as well as serves as a volunteer counselor for The Trevor Project, advocating mental health education and crisis support for LGBTQ youth.
An avid traveler, Reed has lived, worked, studied, and traveled extensively throughout six continents, bringing with him an array of cultures and viewpoints that he can draw on in both his career and philanthropic endeavors. In addition, he holds certifications in both personal training and nutrition health coaching. One of his greatest passions is connecting people, as well as persuading others to try out the latest (and sometimes unusual) wellness fads.
Officers
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Director of Events & Corporate Partnerships
Brooke is co-owner & Chief Operating Officer in a family-owned, full-service corporate meetings & events agency. With a wealth of experience, Brooke has orchestrated numerous successful meetings and events for clients spanning the globe. At the helm of Global Access Meetings, she leads a team committed to a customer-centric approach, emphasizing high-touch service and unparalleled event experiences.
Brooke's journey commenced in the world of high-end residential interior design in San Francisco before she seamlessly transitioned to collaborate with her mother, Linda Latham in 2011, ultimately co-founding Global Access Meetings. Armed with a unique blend of a design background and an Undergraduate degree in Business, Brooke leverages her creativity, meticulous attention to detail, and sharp business acumen to gain a competitive advantage in the meetings industry. As a Certified Meetings Professional, Brooke continues to push the boundaries of what is achievable for her clients' meetings and events, prioritizing sustainability and giving back.
When not traversing the globe, Brooke finds solace in spending quality time with her family in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
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Director of Industry Partnerships
Beatrice grew up in hospitality with both parents working in the hotel industry. From a young age, Beatrice was a world explorer, traveling to off-the-beaten-track destinations before they became in vogue. After a decade working for luxury hotel brands such as The Ritz-Carlton and Viceroy Hotel Group, Beatrice co-founded Bennett + Mercado Hospitality, a U.S. based sales representation firm for independent hotels, resorts and destinations, each with a unique local story to tell.
Beatrice helped established her company’s “The Cause Is Right” initiative which allows her team to spotlight and “give back” to non-profit organizations such as Every Mother Counts, Direct Relief, and The Shade Tree of Las Vegas. You will also find Beatrice advocating for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation in support of her daughter who was diagnosed with this autoimmune disease.
Beatrice has served on various advisory boards, most recently advocating for DEI and LGBTQ+ communities, for companies such as Virtuoso and Viceroy Hotels & Resorts. Beatrice serves on the Travel For Better Foundation and is an active member of Millennials in Travel and Prost Beach Cities.
A native of the Philippines, Beatrice grew up in New York City and now resides in Los Angeles, CA with her wife and twins. She enjoys cooking, concerts, and attending sporting events.
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Director of Advisor Relations
Haleigh's foray into the travel industry in 2017 was fueled by her fervent passion for people and an innate knack for planning. Her philosophy? The magic is in the details. Haleigh's approach to crafting travel itineraries is nothing short of meticulous, tailoring each journey to reflect her clients' unique personalities, preferences, and dreams. She's a firm believer in the transformative power of travel – how it can leave indelible marks on our lives and foster change.
In her new role as Director of Advisor Relations, Haleigh is set to spearhead our fundraising initiatives within the travel advisor community. Her mission? To inspire and mobilize travel advisors to rally behind AVANCE Collective’s cause. With a strategic focus on leveraging a portion of her own sales revenue for charity, Haleigh aims to ignite a philanthropic spark among her peers, urging them to explore the profound impact they can make.
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Born near Lake Como, Italy, Selene’s passion for hospitality began early, shaped by summers exploring Greece and studies at a prestigious hospitality school. Her career spans hotel operations, sales, and marketing, with a strong focus on the St. Regis brand and sustainability—deepened by her time in the Maldives.
This commitment led her to launch TERRA Collection, a boutique firm representing luxury hospitality brands that prioritize sustainability, wellness, and community empowerment. Having lived in Milan, the UK, Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles, she recently settled in Ojai with her wife to embrace a more intentional, small-town lifestyle.
Passionate about design, authenticity, and meaningful experiences, Selene is dedicated to supporting brands and communities that align with her values.
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Director of Social Media
With over 15 years of luxury hotel industry sales experience, Jenny has made her mark on the hospitality world. She notably led the global group sales efforts opening the prestigious Equinox brand's first hotel in New York City's Hudson Yards, and now oversees global sales for the award-winning wellness retreat brand, The Ranch.
Also an entrepreneur at heart and the owner of her own business, Honey Dub Social, Jenny helps health and wellness coaches scale their businesses through the power of social media.
Based in Sarasota, Florida, Jenny's greatest passion is exploring the latest wellness trends and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle alongside her wonderful husband and family.