Instructors
Our Instructors
At IGA, our unique approach to teaching is reflected in everything we do. We pride ourselves on having high-performing instructors who go above and beyond to provide educational services with the latest curriculum.
Our instructors come from diverse cultural backgrounds, beliefs, perspectives, and lifestyles. Despite their differences, they share a common ability to excel in the Travel and Tourism industry and pass on their knowledge to the students.
Our success as a leading training and certification school can be attributed to our team, and the inclusive environment, fueled by innovative ideas and teaching methods.
Currently, we are expanding the number of locations where you can receive your training while ensuring that the curriculum taught by the very best instructors remains up to date.
Meet Your Instructors
Amit Ariel
CITM , ctg
Amit Ariel, CITM, CTG is the Chief Operations Officer and an Instructor of IGA.
Amit is a graduate of the International Tour Manager and Tour Guide programs and has 35+ years of experience in the travel industry.
She has had a diverse and unique career. Since 1985, Amit has held positions in the international travel industry as a Special Groups Tour Operator, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Groups Sales Manager, Certified International Tour Director, and Guide as well as the owner of an Incoming Land Services Company, Ariel Ground Service, Inc.
She brings years of travel experience to IGA. In addition to having been an International Tour Director on several continents and has worked on cruise ships in Alaska, the Great Lakes, and U.S. riverboat cruises.
Amit has led tours domestically and abroad for companies such as Road Scholar, Gate 1, Collette, AHI, and EF Tours. Her travels took her to many U.S. states, including Alaska, abroad to Jordan, Egypt, Israel, and Morocco as well as Canada and Cuba.
Amit lives by the mantra: “When you love what you do, you don’t work a day in your life”!
Becky Alexander
CITM, CTG
Becky is a licensed guide in New York City and Washington DC. She has worked as a travel agent and a career college instructor in the field of travel and tourism. She has been published over 70 times, including books, magazine articles, and curriculum. Becky holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Miami University of Ohio. You can contact her at: beckyalexander1@bellsouth.net.
Terri Ross
CITM
Sid Wilson
CTG , CITM
Doug Paterson
CITM
Doug Paterson, CITM, a graduate of the International Tour Manager program has 50+ years’ experience as an International Tour Manager, Tour Guide, Driver/Guide, motorcoach operator, and Manager of Training, Safety and Operations for motorcoach companies. His Tour Managing and Tour Guiding have been in Alaska, the South Pacific and Asia. Doug has years of prior teaching experience. As a senior instructor, he advises the students in the fields of Tour Manager/Driver teamwork and emergencies on the road in the Tour Manager and Tour Guide courses. Contact is: dapaterson4@gmail.com
Daniel Slater
CITM, CTG, CTM, President of IGA
Daniel Slater, CITM, CTG, CTM, President of IGA and senior instructor is a graduate of both certification programs, and has been in the travel industry for over 30 years. He has worked as a motor coach operator, motor coach company owner, and tour company owner. His travels have taken him to 40+ USA states, Mexico, Cuba, China, Canada, Denmark, Jamaica, Colombia, Aruba, Guatemala, Belize, Europe, and numerous Caribbean islands. He has completed multiple tours in China over his career.
Frank Slater
Ph.D., CTG, CITM, and CTM (Europe)
Audra Conklin Taylor
CITM
Environmentalist, wildlife advocate, and tour professional, Audra graduated from the International Guide Academy in 2016. Assisting with Road Scholar tours in Yellowstone National Park inspired her to learn more about the travel industry and her background in communications, personal travel, and caring for people seemed to make her a great fit for the profession. Since graduating, Audra has had a diverse and unique career as a tour director, guide, and operator. Living next to Yellowstone National Park has proven to be the perfect place to launch her own enterprise. Her company, Lamar Valley Touring, delights clients with incredible wildlife-viewing in the “Serengeti of America” where many species of animals abound and, on most days, the famous wolves of Yellowstone are sighted as well.
Audra’s first job in the tour business was with Insight Vacations directing trips for 15 days on a motor coach with 42 guests. She missed the “naturalist” part of her personality and decided to focus on tours where she could teach ecology, environmental ethics, and earth science. She has led tours for Road Scholar, Global Travel Alliance and In Our Nature where people from all over the world, ages 2-92, would share her enthusiasm for the outdoors.
Terri McConnell
Ph.D., CITM
Terri McConnell gained a sense of wonder as a child when vacationing in Smoky Mountain National Park. She believes that travel is life changing and transformative; it takes us out of our element and reminds us of why we are here.
Terri graduated from the International Guide Academy in 2007 after serving as a professor and a school administrator for 25 years where she designed international exchange programs with Russia, Spain, China, Jordan and Turkey. She has traveled to 43 countries and all 50 US states.
She has worked with numerous tour operators including Gate 1, Yellowstone Association Institute, Road Scholar, Grand Circle Travel, Collette Vacations, Odysseys Unlimited, Tourco, Jetsave Touring, Trafalgar/Destination America, Legendary Journeys, and Will’s Hope, a unique program based in Yellowstone that provides young adults with mental & emotional disabilities in a supportive atmosphere & opportunities to see their situation in a positive way. She holds a Doctorate in Education, Master’s degrees in Environmental Education & Communications and Training Technologies, and a Bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Recreation and Leisure Services.
Contact : terrilynnusa@gmail.com