Kathy Dragon

Current

CEO at TravelDragon Inc.
Founder/Owner at The Dragon's Path
Owner at Dragon Consulting

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Past

Consultant: Boomer Travel Product Secion Creator at EONS.com
owner at ActiveWomen.com
Marketing Director at Whole Foods Market

VP: Business Unit Director Whole Journeys at WholePeople.com A Whole Foods Market company
Marketing & Tour Development at Country Walkers

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2 more...

Education

Gestalt Center for Organization and Systems Development
University of Denver

Recommended

32 people have recommended Kathy

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Leisure, Travel & Tourism

Websites

Kathy Dragon’s Summary

I've been leading, designing, selling and operating small group adventure trips for the past 20+ years. Many of the 3000 folks I've traipsed around the globe have become great friends. My target markets are Boomers and PrimeTime Travelers (ages 50-70) and Women. Some of my tours are women-only departures, lots of fun as you might imagine. I intimately understand and very much enjoy these markets. If your interesting in getting to know them better, I'm happy to I introduce you.

I'm passionate about authentic, experiential, sustainable travel. I believe why we travel, how we travel, where we go, what we do while we are there and when we return, all have the ability to effect positive change in the world.

I'm more comfortable on the road, trail, in front of an audience, leading a group, or with a new startup than in an office. I love being around and involved with passionate, smart, caring individuals and learning new things.

There is never enough time in the day for all the opportunities we are offered or to execute all the ideas that evolve. I'm incredibly busy but never too busy to meet new people who have similar view of life and work. Contact me at kathleendragon@gmail.com if you think we should be linkedIn.

Kathy Dragon’s Specialties:

Strategist and Subject Matter Expert in the categories of Boomers, Prime Time, Matures, & age 40+ Women as they relate to and interact with Travel, Technology, Sustainability, Green, Outdoor, and Natural Foods Industries. Deep understanding of Online Communities, Social Networking, Web 2.0, Open Social.

Kathy Dragon’s Experience

CEO

TravelDragon Inc.

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

December 2007 — Present (8 months)

TravelDragon offers a curated destination for travelers interested in small group, authentic experiences worldwide. Search from 1000's of tours and properties offered by 140+ of the top companies in the world focused on active, cultural, learning, sustainability, volunteering, culinary, and family travel categories.

Research, compare, share and review with like minded travelers. Contact providers directly.

Combining all the social tools and integration potential only a Ruby on Rails 2.0 based platform can do we offer real content and relevant trips appropriate for the discerning traveler. Invitation Only :-)
Founder/Owner

The Dragon's Path

(Privately Held; Myself Only; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

October 1998 — Present (9 years 10 months)

Worldwide Cultural Walking and Hiking Tours
Owner

Dragon Consulting

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

August 1998 — Present (10 years)

Strategic Consulting, including brand strategy development. Subject Matter Expert, including professional speaking and ideation.

Consumer Expertise: Boomers, Mature Market and Boomer Women.
Category Expertise: Travel: Adventure/Specialty/Experiential/Sustainable; The Outdoor Retail and Natural Foods industries.
Consultant: Boomer Travel Product Secion Creator

EONS.com

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Internet industry)

October 2006 — October 2007 (1 year 1 month)

Eons™ is a 50+ media company inspiring a generation of boomers and seniors to live the biggest life possible. Founded by Jeff Taylor, founder of Monster.com, Eons was launched in July 2006.

Travel areas offers 2500 + high quality tours provided by 140 of the top tour operators in the world. Search by destination, activity, interest or inspirational category. Http://travel.eons.com
owner

ActiveWomen.com

(Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

2004 — 2007 (3 years)
Marketing Director

Whole Foods Market

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; WFM; Food & Beverages industry)

October 2005 — October 2006 (1 year 1 month)
VP: Business Unit Director Whole Journeys

WholePeople.com A Whole Foods Market company

(Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Internet industry)

October 1999 — December 2000 (1 year 3 months)

Responsible for Business Plan and Vision for Whole Journeys, one of 5 core business units supporting 500 employees. Reported directly to John Mackey, founder/CEO of Whole Foods Market
Executive Team Member: responsible for vision and development of WholePeople.com
Hired and directly managed staff of 6.Direct responsibilities for all aspects of Whole Journeys business including tour selection and brochure development and direct marketing campaign, web site presence within vertical portal,set up of policies and procedures including budgets, staffing, operations, marketing etc.Developed partnership relations. Co-created co-branded store front with Altrec (site selling
travel clothing and gear), as well as spearheaded discussions with number of other business regarding partnership potential.
Marketing & Tour Development

Country Walkers

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)

November 1994 — November 1998 (4 years 1 month)

Worked with founders to grow company from 300-3000+ guests during my tenure. Researched and designed over 70% of worldwide walking vacations. Personally trained local guides & escorted trips in over 30 countries.

Involved in all aspects of marketing company and growing the company including first website, press releases, trade shows, travel agent training, hosted gatherings, catalog design and photography.

Kathy Dragon’s Education

Gestalt Center for Organization and Systems Development

International Organization and Systems Development 2007 — 2009 (expected)

The OSD International Program offers professionals effective alternatives for influencing the systems in which they work. The experiential nature of the program design enables participants to practice new skills in observing, reporting, and intervening in organizational settings. The intensive, international-based training draws heavily from the Gestalt Center for Organization & Systems Development Program, which was the first to apply Gestalt principles to the field of organizational consulting and has maintained a reputation for exceptional professional development for over 30 years. The program has four major foci:

* The Gestalt Framework
* Developing Systems
* Designing Interventions
* Developing Professionals

Activities and Societies:

The program consists of five week-long sessions over the span of 16 months. Each session is held in a different country. Canada, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, South Africa, and Turkey are sample locations.
University of Denver

BA, Exercise Physiology, Biology, Psychology, 1981 — 1985

Activities and Societies:

Resident Assistant, Soccer, Swimming

Additional Information

Kathy Dragon’s Websites:

Kathy Dragon’s Interests:

Adventure/Experiential/Sustainable TRAVEL, ideation, new product development, strategic alliances, professional networking, international travel, sustainable tourism practices, natural and organic food trends, LOHAS, wine, trail running, skiing, biking, hiking, photography,new technology, Social Platforms, Travel 2.0, Widgets, gadgets, macs.

Kathy Dragon’s Groups:

Sustainable Travel International (STI) Board of Directors
www.sustainabletravelinternational.org
Outdoor Industry Women's Coalition (OIWC)
Adventure Travel Trade Association

Guest presenter/speaker at Leeds School of Business, Sustainable Tourism University of Colorado at Boulder (2004, 2005, 2006)
Ecotourism Track Member for Sustainable Resource Conference University of Colorado at Boulder 2004. http://www.sustainableresources.org
Walk Boulder: Volunteer to assist this non-profit advocacy group based on Boulder., National Geo & Women and Wine

KIVA member
Hospitality & Travel member
Luxury & Lifestyle Professionals member
Green Group member
Luxury Addict Group member
----- PopularDestination.tv(net)(mobi) ---- Tourism/Hospitality/Wellness Web 3.0 Experiences member
Taste & Travel member