Our Support Team

Anne Fuldby-Olsen, Founder:

I was born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 1993, I moved to Athens, Greece, where I married Tony. Living in a city with over five thousand years of history is not only fascinating but also very inspirational. I have spent more than 33 years in the travel industry, been blessed with traveling all my life, and visited more than 30 countries and, after moving to Greece, I built a Destination Management Company. Since March 2012, I have been a part of Executive Travel, and since January 2015, I have directed the Group Department, utilizing my extensive travel experiences. I am blessed with a worldwide network of collaborators, allowing me to create unique signature journeys.

The idea of Women of the Midwest arose when I realized that close to 70% of the travelers joining our escorted tours were women. Along with my solid local network over the past 11 years (I spend half of my time in Lincoln, NE) and a handful of enthusiastic Nebraska friends-of-heart, Women of the Midwest was born in 2018, and the dream of offering journeys solely to women became a wonderful reality.

Polly Welmaker, Group Department Director:

I am the daughter of two successful entrepreneurs and grew up in our small family-owned travel agency. My love for the business grew, and I eventually became an Account Manager for the Pepsi-Cola account, overseeing a $100 million annual business. After a successful corporate career, I moved to Costa Rica, where I developed a passion for Central and South America. This led to extensive travels throughout Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Belize, Nicaragua, Panama, and Honduras, enriching my understanding of the diverse cultures and landscapes.

Later, I became a Shore Excursions Director, Public Speaker, and Cruise Director in China. My goal with Women of the Midwest is to offer enriching travel experiences that blend adventure with cultural immersion, helping clients create lifelong memories through exploration. I’m blessed to lead a talented staff, focusing on one thing: the happiest travelers on the planet.

Rebekah Lassen, Marketing Associate:

I grew up in Austin, TX and moved to Nebraska in 2008 to attend Concordia University-Nebraska. Upon graduation, I married a Nebraska native. We have two children, a son (age 8) and a daughter (age 6). We enjoy spending time on our acreage north of Lincoln, gathering with friends, and watching our children enjoy a variety of activities throughout the year. In prior years, my family enjoyed 12+ years of cruise reunions to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Virgin Islands, and more. Most of our travel remains domestic these days, but as the children get older, I look forward to traveling more. I am excited to be back with Women of the Midwest / Executive Travel, working alongside a wonderful team, doing what I love!

Liset Garcia-Bates, Advisor & Ticketing Agent:

I grew up in Los Angeles, moved to Ohio in my mid-twenties, and I now live in Northern Kentucky near Cincinnati with my husband. I enjoy the outdoors, and my hobbies include running, biking, going on hikes, and kayaking. I have two sons; my oldest is 30 years old, and my youngest is 25. I’ve been in the travel industry since my senior year in high school, and have been with Executive Travel for four years now. To say I love to travel is an understatement! I enjoy meeting people and learning about their cultures; we are all unique. I’ve been fortunate to have visited a few beautiful places in my life like Tahiti, Hawaii, Italy, France, and Spain, but that’s only the beginning. Come, join us – let’s explore the world together!

Angella Christianson, Operations Administrator:

I was born in Dallas, TX, but as a child, I was raised in 5 different states. I married my husband in Colorado; his job relocated us to Nebraska, where we have raised our two adult children. I enjoy watching movies and any kind of sport events, emphasizing baseball and football. From 2006-2020 my family and I fulfilled a bucket list adventure by visiting every Major League Baseball stadium in the US and Canada. Recently, we traveled to Aruba, which was a fantastic trip, and we hope to return very soon. I can’t wait to start my new journey with Women of the Midwest / Executive Travel and assist our travelers and friends with their dream adventures.

Roni Thramer, Operations Administrator:

After spending my first ten years in Texas, my family and I moved to Nebraska. I grew up in a large family in a small, vibrant town. I have always thought that the Midwest is a great place to live and raise a family. But, with my curiosity and sense of adventure, I wanted to see what the rest of the world had to offer. I got the opportunity to do so working as a flight attendant. After many years of working in this profession, I gave it up a few years back. But I am once again yearning to go out and explore, and share new experiences with others. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity through Women of the Midwest! If you, like me, want to see beautiful destinations, make new friends, and share unforgettable experiences, join me for an adventure of a lifetime!