Cruise Planners Promotes Theresa Scalzitti to Chief Sales Officer, Updates Executive Team
by Jessica Montevago
Scalzitti, left, is Cruise Planners' new Chief Sales Officer while Ana Parodi, right, joins the Cruise Planners team as the vice president of sales and marketing.
Cruise Planners, the largest home-based travel franchise company, announced Friday changes to its executive team with a reorganization.
“To ensure that we are always providing the best support for our growing network of travel advisors, we also need to grow our Home Office support team and create an internal structure that poises us for continued growth and industry-leading success,” said Michelle Fee, CEO of Cruise Planners.
Theresa Scalzitti was promoted to as chief sales officer. In her new role, she will continue to lead the entire sales organization including retail sales and marketing, franchise development marketing, business development, groups, American Express Travel programs, business intelligence and special programs.
Scalzitti joined the Cruise Planners executive team in 2016 as senior vice president of sales & marketing, after a 21-year career at Royal Caribbean International.
Ana Parodi joins the Cruise Planners team as the vice president of sales and marketing, and will report to Scalzitti. She will directly oversee the areas of marketing, sales, business development, groups and special programs.
Parodi most recently served as director of national accounts, North America for Viking Cruises. Prior to that, she spent nearly eight years at Oceania Cruises in various senior roles, as well as Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International.
Koepf, left, is now senior vice president of strategic development while Guerra, right, has been promoted to vice president of technology.
Scott Koepf, who has been with Cruise Planners since 2018, is being promoted to senior vice president of strategic development. Koepf has led the training and events teams within Cruise Planners, from its six-day training program for new franchise owners, STAR University, to more than 20 annual training and agent engagement events.
Phill Guerra has been promoted to vice president of technology. He joined Cruise Planners in 2010 serving as vice president of franchise development. Guerra will continue to report to Chief Information Officer Brian Shultz.
