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AAW Founders - Mike and Kevin Holmquest
Native Vermonters, Mike and Kevin Holmquest grew up in a small town where they were immersed in the rural outdoors. In these early years they both developed an appreciation for active lifestyles, a trait that has followed them through to adulthood. While the wanderlust is peaked in both, Mike and Kevin have followed very different paths, rejoining with the founding of Adventures Around the World. The two compliment each other within the business in their goals, their individual skill sets and past experience. Through the years Mike has developed outdoor leadership skills in both professional and private ventures and today uses this experience to plan and execute trip itineraries. Always interested in small business development and marketing, Kevin focused his career on business management and primed himself for his current role as AAW’s Marketing Director and Business Operations Manager.
AAW is currently based out of Breckenridge, Colorado, which has proved to be a great central location for the budding adventure company. Located in the middle of Rocky Mountain skiing, Mike and Kevin are able to personally oversee and guide winter ski trips as well as summer activities such as rafting and trekking. The two actively build vendor connections through conferences, one-on-one meetings and follow-up communication, as well as practice over-the-top customer service to ensure that each contact becomes a lasting relationship. They continue to grow their staff and develop the company with the intent to make it one of the world’s premier adventure travel companies.
Mike Holmquest - To contact Mike please email mike@adventuresaroundtheworld.com or at 800.417.2513 or cell 510.813.8315
Mike followed his childhood ambitions to the University of Montana where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Conservation. While in Montana, Mike spent his free time rock climbing, rafting, hiking and camping. As a member of the Western Montana Rescue Team, he also learned the technical side of outdoor life and helped to train new volunteers in rescue techniques and avalanche skills. Upon graduating, Mike joined the Peace Corps in Nepal and worked for over two years in a local government office for the Nepalese people. From the cultural city life of Kathmandu to the tiny villages in rural Nepal or hiking up Everest and the Annapurna Circuit, Mike truly got to know the native culture, its land, and its amazing adventure possibilities.
Before, during and after the Peace Corps, Mike explored Thailand and Southeast Asia. After Thailand, Mike ventured to Denali National Park in Alaska to be a whitewater raft guide for Alaska Raft. After the 2003 season, Mike spent five months back in Nepal training Peace Corps National Parks and Soil Conservation volunteers. He then moved to Yosemite to climb and work as a raft guide for Zephyr Whitewater. Between rafting seasons Mike taught high school physics and chemistry at Squaw Valley Academy (SVA), a private school in Lake Tahoe where he gained experience in teaching and implementing outdoor educational programs.
Throughout his travels, Mike worked hard to get off the tourist track and to experience the local culture of every destination that he visited. He has lived overseas for 6 years, speaks multiple languages, accrued over 9,000 miles of river experience and countless more miles of hiking, biking and guiding. Also trained in whitewater rescue, Wilderness First Responder and community development techniques, Mike’s experiences create a unique approach to travel that is infused into every trip, inspiring all of our travelers. As our Destination Manager and co-founder of Adventures Around the World all of his experience is used every day to create your adventure of a lifetime.
Kevin Holmquest - To contact Kevin please email kevin@adventuresaroundtheworld.com or at 800.417.2513 or cell 818.406.6245
Kevin studied business at Florida Southern College with the intent to someday own his own business. Upon graduating with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Marketing, Kevin moved to Los Angeles and started a production company, Craters on the Moon Entertainment, developing and producing TV and film projects. During this time, Kevin learned the importance of client and vendor relationships and the value of personal meetings and presentations. While successful and award-winning, Kevin did not find his passion in film productions and was offered an unbeatable opportunity to focus on his business administration skills.
After Craters on the Moon, Kevin became a Production Finance Coordinator for Walt Disney Studios. Here he worked with a Finance Executive to oversee live-action motion pictures and helped to manage an accounting and finance staff of up to 12 people. Kevin also assisted in managing the funding and cost reporting of movie projects ranging from 30 to 100 million dollars. While at Walt Disney, Kevin seized the opportunity to develop and nurture relationships with accountants and high-level movie executives.
These relationships paid off when in 2004 Kevin had the opportunity to move to Melbourne, Australia where he worked on the film "Charlottes Web." While in Australia, Kevin was a 2nd Assistant Accountant and gained valuable experience in accounting and finance on the 80 million dollar film. He began planning towards what would become Adventures Around the World, a company that would combine both his skills and his passions. As well as wisely used his time in Australia to learn overseas business skills and necessities.
Upon returning to the USA, Kevin joined Mike in Alaska as a certified raft guide. With the two brothers together once again, guiding adventure enthusiasts down the Nenana River, Adventures Around the World’s path to success began.
With 12 years of practicing small business management, Kevin is well prepared to supervise AAW’s business operations, marketing and finance departments. In addition, his travel experience keeps him closely tuned into the other side of Adventures Around the World. Kevin still seeks out educational opportunities; most recently a seminar focused on marketing and client relationships, hosted by the American Society of Travel Agents and their new president, Chris Russo.
AAW is currently based out of Breckenridge, Colorado, which has proved to be a great central location for the budding adventure company. Located in the middle of Rocky Mountain skiing, Mike and Kevin are able to personally oversee and guide winter ski trips as well as summer activities such as rafting and trekking. The two actively build vendor connections through conferences, one-on-one meetings and follow-up communication, as well as practice over-the-top customer service to ensure that each contact becomes a lasting relationship. They continue to grow their staff and develop the company with the intent to make it one of the world’s premier adventure travel companies.
Mike Holmquest - To contact Mike please email mike@adventuresaroundtheworld.com or at 800.417.2513 or cell 510.813.8315
Mike followed his childhood ambitions to the University of Montana where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Conservation. While in Montana, Mike spent his free time rock climbing, rafting, hiking and camping. As a member of the Western Montana Rescue Team, he also learned the technical side of outdoor life and helped to train new volunteers in rescue techniques and avalanche skills. Upon graduating, Mike joined the Peace Corps in Nepal and worked for over two years in a local government office for the Nepalese people. From the cultural city life of Kathmandu to the tiny villages in rural Nepal or hiking up Everest and the Annapurna Circuit, Mike truly got to know the native culture, its land, and its amazing adventure possibilities.
Before, during and after the Peace Corps, Mike explored Thailand and Southeast Asia. After Thailand, Mike ventured to Denali National Park in Alaska to be a whitewater raft guide for Alaska Raft. After the 2003 season, Mike spent five months back in Nepal training Peace Corps National Parks and Soil Conservation volunteers. He then moved to Yosemite to climb and work as a raft guide for Zephyr Whitewater. Between rafting seasons Mike taught high school physics and chemistry at Squaw Valley Academy (SVA), a private school in Lake Tahoe where he gained experience in teaching and implementing outdoor educational programs.
Throughout his travels, Mike worked hard to get off the tourist track and to experience the local culture of every destination that he visited. He has lived overseas for 6 years, speaks multiple languages, accrued over 9,000 miles of river experience and countless more miles of hiking, biking and guiding. Also trained in whitewater rescue, Wilderness First Responder and community development techniques, Mike’s experiences create a unique approach to travel that is infused into every trip, inspiring all of our travelers. As our Destination Manager and co-founder of Adventures Around the World all of his experience is used every day to create your adventure of a lifetime.
Kevin Holmquest - To contact Kevin please email kevin@adventuresaroundtheworld.com or at 800.417.2513 or cell 818.406.6245
Kevin studied business at Florida Southern College with the intent to someday own his own business. Upon graduating with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Marketing, Kevin moved to Los Angeles and started a production company, Craters on the Moon Entertainment, developing and producing TV and film projects. During this time, Kevin learned the importance of client and vendor relationships and the value of personal meetings and presentations. While successful and award-winning, Kevin did not find his passion in film productions and was offered an unbeatable opportunity to focus on his business administration skills.
After Craters on the Moon, Kevin became a Production Finance Coordinator for Walt Disney Studios. Here he worked with a Finance Executive to oversee live-action motion pictures and helped to manage an accounting and finance staff of up to 12 people. Kevin also assisted in managing the funding and cost reporting of movie projects ranging from 30 to 100 million dollars. While at Walt Disney, Kevin seized the opportunity to develop and nurture relationships with accountants and high-level movie executives.
These relationships paid off when in 2004 Kevin had the opportunity to move to Melbourne, Australia where he worked on the film "Charlottes Web." While in Australia, Kevin was a 2nd Assistant Accountant and gained valuable experience in accounting and finance on the 80 million dollar film. He began planning towards what would become Adventures Around the World, a company that would combine both his skills and his passions. As well as wisely used his time in Australia to learn overseas business skills and necessities.
Upon returning to the USA, Kevin joined Mike in Alaska as a certified raft guide. With the two brothers together once again, guiding adventure enthusiasts down the Nenana River, Adventures Around the World’s path to success began.
With 12 years of practicing small business management, Kevin is well prepared to supervise AAW’s business operations, marketing and finance departments. In addition, his travel experience keeps him closely tuned into the other side of Adventures Around the World. Kevin still seeks out educational opportunities; most recently a seminar focused on marketing and client relationships, hosted by the American Society of Travel Agents and their new president, Chris Russo.