Menno Travel in Goshen started in 1953 as a branch of the Menno Travel Service (MTS) office in Pennsylvania. It was spun off as a separate entity in 1980.
I joined Menno Travel as my first "real" job in August 1972 as a domestic agent, mostly selling domestic airline tickets. We were one of the first travel agencies in the area to install a computerized reservation system in the 1970s.
Because of my time in South America, I started handling South America travel in addition to domestic air. I became Manager in 1980. Current Menno Travel owner, Geof Landis, joined Menno Travel in summer of 1982 and became part of the management team several years later. Significant events during that time included moving into the present large offices, renovating and purchasing the building, and computerizing our accounting in 1982 (again early adopter).
I had the opportunity to become half-owner of Menno Travel in 1995 when Geof Landis became owner of the other half of Menno Travel previously owned by his father-in-law, Ralph Gunden. Significant things that happened during my time as Co-Owner and President were joining the American Express Representative Travel Network, joining TAMS, involvement as a Premium Member in ASTA, adding motorcoach tours (1984-2009), adding an Elkhart office (closed in 2001), adding GDS hosting. and expanding staff.
Menno Travel continues to be the largest single-office travel agency in northern Indiana and is recognized as a leading travel agency at the national level. Memberships include as a Premium Member of ASTA, the Signature Travel Network, several local chambers of commerce, TAMS, and many civic organizations.