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KAREN L. JOHNSON, CTC
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
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BACKGROUND
President
and Owner of Preferred Adventures Ltd (PAL) a travel company specializing in
international adventure and nature-based tourism. Johnson founded the corporation April
1, 1989.
Graduated
from the University of Minnesota with a General College AA degree in 1962. Completed training and FAA certification Private Pilot,
single engine land 1962. Scuba certification.
Began
travel career 1973 and specialization in Costa Rica 1982.
LEADERSHIP IN THE PROFESSION
Founder and Charter President of
Minnesota Executive Women in Tourism (MEWIT).
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Active member since inception in
1983
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Director for IFWTO 1986-88
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Program Chair 1988-90
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Educational Chair 2002 2004
International Federation of Women’s
Travel Organizations (IFTWO)
Chair for Opening Ceremonies of 24th
Annual IFWTO Convention (1993)
American Society of Travel Agents
(ASTA)
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National Committee on Environmental Concerns
1990-92
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Founding member of ASTA National Committee on
Environmental Concerns
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Initiated development of ASTA's
Ten Commandments on Eco-Tourism and Travelers' Environmental Guidelines
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Participated in creation of ASTA/Smithsonian
Magazine's Environmental Award
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Upper Midwest Chapter, ASTA. Officer/Secretary
2000-02
Institute of Certified Travel Agents
(ICTA)
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Life Member; completed CTC (Certified Travel
Counselor) Program in 1978.
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President of ICTA Minnesota Forum - 1980
Early eco-tourism pioneer in promoting
horticultural tours (1984) and birding tours to Costa Rica and Panama.
In 1979 invited to China to discuss tourism
development with the CITS North American marketing leaders.
Participating in study on eco-tourism in Gabon
with the US Trade and Development 2004
Mentoring University of Minnesota PhD candidate
from Sri Lanka on development of sustainable tourism in Sri Lanka 2004
SPECIAL FOCUS PROGRAMS
Pioneer in Eco-tourism Awareness
Education, guest lecturer
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Chicago - International Travel Industry Expo 1991
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Dallas/Ft. Worth - Traveling
Times Travel Expo 1993
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Las Vegas - International Travel
Industry Expo 1992
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Minnesota - Governor’s
Conference on Tourism 1991
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Star Tribune Travel Weekly
Seminar “Adventures in Travel” 1999
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South Dakota - Governor’s
Conference on Tourism 1991
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Wisconsin - Governor's Conference on
Tourism 1991
- Community Development Agency Conference 1992
Promoting and encouraging
cultural and conservation exchanges involving youth travel
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Youth symphony concert/cultural exchanges to Costa Rica,
former Soviet Union, Hong Kong, Japan, China, Taiwan, Fiji,
Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Chile, Bolivia
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Boy Scout “TurtleWatch”
exchanges with Costa Rican Scouts
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Minnesota Thunder
Soccer Team exchange/residency to Costa Rica
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Lake Wobegon®
Brass Band England concert tour
Collaboration with Costa
Rica travel partner, Costa Rica Expeditions, in designing a program
to enhance nature travel in that country by improving and enriching
English-speaking fluency of the most talented of Costa Rican
naturalist guides.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Costa Rica-Minnesota Foundation board 1991 to 2006
Costa Rica-Minnesota Medical Committee, 1988 to 1992
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Children's Heart
Fund medical projects travel advisor
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Children's Heart
Fund Benefit
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International
Physicians Exchange Program
St. Paul (MN) Chamber of
Commerce “Twin Chamber Program” with San Jose, Costa Rica
through the Caribbean Central American Action organization
1982 -
Chair of Tourism Committee
from 1983. Responsible for consulting and recommending a process for
the development of a National Plan for Tourism for the country of
Costa Rica.
Serve or have served on the
non-profit Boards of Directors of
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Global Volunteers
1984-1987 Advisory/Executive Board
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Greater Twin Cities’
Youth Symphonies (President 1987-89) 1986-1997
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Danebo Retirement Home
1985 – 1992
Member of Advisory Board
– Dakota County Vocational-Technical Travel School (1984-89)
Past member of West St. Paul/Mendota Heights
Rotary Club
Indianhead BSA committee
for fundraising event 1995-present & St Croix Valley Girl Scouts
Costa Rica exchange programs
Mendota Heights American
Cancer Relay for Life Committee 1999 – 2001
Supporter of The Raptor
Center at the University of Minnesota
Volunteer at the
Armed Forces Service Center MSP Airport 2003-current
“Books for Africa” event coordinator – 10th
Anniversary
September 1998
"Books for Africa" Ambassador's Circle
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Member 2005-2006
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Board member
2006
AWARDS
National Geographic Traveler "80 Experts For
Your Travel Files" - October 2004
Travel + Leisure Magazine's 125
top travel super-agents.
September, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Travel + Leisure Magazine’s
A-list of 70 travel super-agents. One of 4 rated A+. September, 2002
“The Center for Ethical
Business Cultures salutes Preferred Adventures Ltd as an Award
Finalist in the Small Company Category 4/24/02.”
2002 Minnesota Business
Ethics Award in
recognition of outstanding achievement in the advancement of ethics
within the business community.
Minnesota Keystone Program Contribution Award
for Service to Community and State – 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
, 2002, 2003
Minnesota Executive Women in
Tourism (MEWIT) “Travel Woman of the Year” award – June, 1992
Travel
Weekly’s “National
Achievement Award” for best television commercial – 1990 (Theme:
Sustainable Tourism as an Alternative to Cutting Down Rainforests.)
American Society of
Travel Agents (ASTA) Best in Nation “CREST award” (Creative
Retailer Excellence in Selling Travel) for project involving
development and promotion of tourism to Costa Rica – 1984
Lion’s Club San Jose, Costa
Rica Award for Outstanding Service 1984
ASTA “CREST Award” for
production of travel agency newsletter TRAVELSCOPE – 1981
ARTICLES
Numerous trade publications:
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- Adventure
Journal
- St. Paul ACE
Magazine
- MINNESOTA U
Alumni
- Sun Current
- Riverview Times
- Upsize
Minnesota
- Naturescape
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TRAVEL
Johnson has had the privilege of traveling
to 7 continents and approximately 80 countries. Her favorite air/sea/land memories
include:
JOINING the search in Papua/New
Guinea for long lost airmen "missing in action", 2008 and 2009. These were
moving and extraordinary experiences!
FLYING in a DC4
from Oshkosh, Wisconsin to Johannesburg, South Africa 1994 via Gander, Azores, Canaries, Ivory
Coast, Angola, Namibia on a historic journey with South African crew.
SAILING on
a 57 foot ketch as working crew off the Kenya and Tanzania coasts including
Mombasa, Zanzibar and the
Comoros Islands. This Indian Ocean voyage began in Kilifi,
Kenya and ended by overland bus in the capital of Madagascar.
TREKKING from
Panama’s Caribbean Puerto Obaldia crossing over the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean. “Surefoot” Johnson with Choco Indian porter followed the
steps of Conquistador Vasco Nu
ńez
de Balboa. It was a
historic and cultural adventure crossing a continent from coast to coast
through the formidable tropical rainforests of the Darien jungle.
Along with Panama's leading conservationist
and current Mayor of Panama City, Juan Carlos Navarro, the team was greeted
on the Pacific coast by Panama's President. The objective of the
expedition was to call to the attention of the world the rich natural and
cultural diversity in Panama and the importance of protecting what remains
in the region.
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