Management Team Bios

Robert Jacques
General Manager: Bob brings over twenty-five years of corporate experience to AIT which includes ten (10) years with General Motors Corp. at both the manufacturer and distributor levels, thirteen (13) years with Honda Corporation, and six (6) years with the Carrier Division of United Technologies Corp. During his career, Bob has held line and staff positions in sales, marketing, training, service, and dealer/distributor development for a variety of products.

In addition to overseeing the sales and operations for AIT, Bob also conducts training workshops for Fortune 100 companies on Leadership, Sales, Negotiations, Business Planning, Distribution Development, and Customer Service. Bob received his B.A. in Communications from Indiana University, completed his Masters of Arts program at Louisiana State University, and has a Masters in Human Resource Management from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Jackie Johnson
Director of Planning: Jackie has been with Advanced Incentive Travel since it opened in 1990. Her experience encompasses 33 years in various facets of the travel industry. After beginning in the wholesale and retail market, she moved into the incentive field and was the Manager of the Air Department for Business Incentives, Inc. in Minneapolis for four years. Since then, she found her true passion in planning incentive travel programs. She has been designing programs around the globe for twenty-five (25) years. Jackie is well respected in the business and draws on her well-established relationships and diplomatic expertise to obtain the best value and creative programs for her clients.

Erin Clewett
Planning & Program Management: At AIT, Erin plans and operates unique travel experiences throughout the world and provides on-site customized service for any group function. Prior to joining AIT, Erin received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Arizona, Tucson. In addition to attending the University and participating in intercollegiate athletics (soccer), Erin organized group events and fundraisers for the American Lung Association, developing her skills in coordinating and managing large group events. Through her vast travel experiences Erin has developed a strong commitment and passion for this industry. Her event planning skills, customized techniques and in depth knowledge of the travel industry make Erin a valuable asset to AIT.

Jody Johnston
Director of Operations: Jody joined AIT in the summer of 2006 with 13 years experience in the travel industry. He graduated from Trans World Airlines Travel Academy in 1993 and worked as a reservation agent for TWA for four years. Since then he has built a wealth of experience in corporate travel handling VIP clientele for American Express and the University of Southern California (USC) account for Carlson Wagonlit. As a valued member of the AIT team Jody overseas group operations and works with the airlines directly to book group air for incentive and corporate programs.

Sandy McPeak
Group Operations: As a result of her love for travel, Sandy McPeak received her Certificate of Travel from Mount San Antonio College in Pomona, California, and has worked in group operations at AIT since 1991. Whether it’s hotel rooms, food and beverage, audio visual, ground transportation or activities; she enjoys coordinating the myriad of details that go into creating a successful event or trip. In addition, Sandy’s writing and graphic skills are utilized in communicating information to attendees and designing trip or event logos for such items as travel wallets, luggage tags, giveaways and room gifts.

Wendy McNeil
Group Operations: Wendy has a truly international background. She was born and raised in Chile, moved to the United States when she was 18 years old and is a British citizen. She traveled extensively while growing up. As a result, her good sense of geography and her fluency in Spanish have made her a great asset to the AIT team. She has been employed at AIT since 1995 and has developed strong relationships with hotels and ground suppliers worldwide. Wendy is experienced at operating trips and meetings of all sizes.

Gus Zambrano
Manager of Air Operations: Gus has over 15 years experience in the Airline Travel industry. Before joining the AIT team he was responsible for individual and group travel for the Mexico Tourism Consultants. Gus also spent several years with Cheap Tickets Inc. which was a pioneer for many of today’s ticketing operations and where Gus supervised a staff of “20” agents. He also spent five years with American Express Travel in supervisory position overseeing ticketing and quality Control. Gus spends much of his free time as a youth minister at his church in Los Angeles.

New York Office
Peter Penizotto
Director of National Accounts: Peter comes to AIT with a wealth of experience in the travel and business meeting industry. He is in his tenth year of representing AIT with primary focus on business development for the east coast market, based out of Syracuse.

Previous to his entry into the incentive travel business he enjoyed a long, successful career with Carrier Corporation with executive positions in sales, marketing communications and market development with primary responsibility for corporate business meetings, dealer and distributor recognition programs, customer events and travel.

This experience on both sides of the fence makes Peter uniquely qualified to ensure that each and every AIT program is tailored to meet our client’s needs and objectives and to maximize return on their incentive dollar investment.

Miami Office
David Ross
Vice President of sales: Born in New Zealand and raised in the United States and the Bahamas, David was brought up in the hospitality industry due to his father’s involvement in tourism in Europe, Asia and the Islands of the Bahamas. David attended San Diego State University and worked in resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean, promoting the Bahamas as a destination while in school. He comes to AIT after a ten year tenure with Sandals and Beaches Resorts in the Caribbean where he was instrumental in the success of their groups department, focusing on corporate meetings and incentives.

David has traveled extensively and brings a broad knowledge of destinations and business to help clients meet their business objectives.

Travel Directors

Mehr Singha
Mehr attended Seneca College and York University where she received degrees in both International Business and Business Administration. For five years she worked as an independent off-site group event manager, involved in all aspects of conferences or events including destination selection, site inspections, planning and operations.

Mehr has worked with AIT since 2006 as an Incentive Group Trip Director, overseeing all aspects of daily operation of their Corporate Incentive Programs at the destination. Mehr’s vast management and supervisory experience, together with strong organizational abilities, attention to detail and interpersonal skills, has resulted in a long list of successful programs for AIT around the world.

Bill Singha
Bill has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and a graduate degree in International Business. Prior to the incentive travel business, he was the national sales manager for Bow-Dell Publishing where he won many awards.

Bill has over thirteen (13) years experience in the travel industry as a sales and marketing manager. In his career as a meetings and conference site manager, Bill has planned and executed conference and travel programs for small and large groups in many different parts of the world. This experience has given him the opportunity to be a consultant to the hotels for Incentive groups. Bill has been a Travel Director for AIT since 2006 and is committed to making AIT programs very special and successful.

Jan Barranco-Grams
Jan Barranco-Grams has an Advertising and Marketing background, graduating from The Advertising Arts College in La Jolla, California. After working for a newspaper and then an advertising agency she decided to go solo as a wedding and party planner. The move proved to be her calling, Jan has been an independent event planner and Incentive travel director for almost 20 years.

Jan is married with a 13 year old daughter. Travel, entertaining, tennis, golf & skiing are some of her passions. She has traveled with AIT Groups since 1998.