ASTA has announced that effective immediately Mary Clegg, Vice President of the National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA), will assume the day-to-day operations of the organization. This move comes following the resignation of NACTA President Scott Koepf.
Clegg will report to the CEO of ASTA, once that position has been filled, in the interim she will report to ASTA’s President and Chair Chris Russo. NACTA, an affiliate of ASTA, will continue to operate as a separate entity, focusing on the needs of home-based travel agents.
“In the three years since Mary joined NACTA, she has proven herself to be a key player and tremendous asset to NACTA. The organization has experienced tremendous growth, in no small part thanks to her efforts. She is well respected among the staff and both the home-based agent and supplier communities, and I know that under her leadership, NACTA will reach new heights,” said ASTA President and Chair Chris Russo.
Clegg is a 22 year veteran of the travel industry and has been involved with travel agent business development since 1987. She began her professional career in television and radio broadcasting as a news anchor in the Chicago-Land market in the early 1980s. Clegg left broadcasting and started her travel career as a sales manager with Funjet in 1987 and then as a district sales manager with Commodore–Crown Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, and, most recently, as district sales manager in West Michigan with Norwegian Cruise Line.
NACTA is the travel industry’s leading national trade association representing independent contractors, outside sales agents, cruise and tour oriented agents, group oriented travel professionals and traditional travel agencies that provide services and support to such professionals. Established in 1986, NACTA’s mission is to represent the interest of independent travel entrepreneurs and to promote professionalism and recognition for the professional independent agent.