About

Maritza Valenzuela

Born and raised in Arizona, Maritza has always been fascinated by foreign cultures. She started in the travel industry with DSA Vacations in 2011 as the Office Manager and Travel Insurance Specialist, and as her knowledge of South Africa grew, so did her love for her job. She has been given the unique opportunity to see and experience the South African culture. Her travels have allowed her to evaluate what is wanted and needed by her clients. She has learned to ask the right questions to assure that her clients’ vacation exceeds their expectations.

Kristina Kowalczewski

Kristina hails from the Midwest, but has both lived and traveled extensively, thus ensuring her passion for exploring new regions.  As a travel specialist at DSA Vacations, she gets to combine that passion with her career and truly invests herself in the travel she arranges for her clients.  Further interests in culinary arts, culture and wildlife truly round out her ability to tailor your dream vacation.

Chita Steveson

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain

Mark Black

Mark was born in Kansas and moved to Tucson in 1978. After completing graduate school he worked for what was then a small spa-resort in Tucson called Canyon Ranch directing their outdoor program. Eighteen years later he transitioned into full time professional guiding in Europe and Iceland, and now applies all of his passion for travel and people here at DSA Vacations.

Grant  Yoko

Grant Yoko is a South African with extensive experience in financial management  in Africa for the last 30 years in diverse industries from Export to Construction and mining. Having travelled extensively for both business and pleasure to many continents and places to name a few  – Botswana , Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, Mauritius, Libya, Chad, The United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden, Mozambique. Hong Kong, Dubai, Italy, Corsica, Portugal, France, Spain, Monaco, Ibiza, Austria, China, The United States, Mexico and Germany.

In 2014, Grant assumed the role of CFO at DSA Vacations.

Terry von Guilleaume

After growing up in South Africa and finishing my studies at the University of Stellenbosch, I decided to finally visit the United States. My mother was born in Queens, NY and had met my father, who was from South Africa whilst working in California. He was a recent graduate at the time from UCLA. Given I was born on the 4th of July, I was eager to explore my American roots….

Working as a teacher around the country, allowed me to explore – both during the academic year, but also during the long summers. For a few summers I worked at Teton Valley Ranch Camp outside of Jackson Hole….and it here that I met my wife Holly. We were fortunate to have two weddings…one in Tucson where she was from, and one back in South Africa.

We decided to settle in Tucson and start our family here, with the possibility of moving to South Africa in a few years. Well this never happened….and instead to get the best of both worlds and to satisfy my yearning to be back ‘home,’ I decided to start a travel company specializing in Southern Africa.

Fifteen years later, I continue to live in Tucson and help manage DSA Vacations. My wife and three kids have had the great fortune of visiting Southern Africa on numerous occasions….and although they all have their individual favorite experiences – a safari and a South African barbeque (braai) are just two that rate high on their lists.

Tamah Donaldson

Tamah is a Tucson native, who has been in the Travel and Tourism Industry since 1995.   Starting with American Airlines, then a brief stopover in the financial industry and then back, with her 10+ year career at Madden Media; where she wore several different hats including Sales, Marketing and Business Development.

Her love of travel started young when her parents would take her and her sister yearly, to Mexico and California with friends and family.  She has been fortunate enough to continue this family tradition with her husband and three children.

Her favorite travel quote is-“Travel- It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a Storyteller.”  Appropriate, as her job here is to tell breathtaking stories to encourage people to go, fly, roam, travel, voyage, explore, journey, wander and discover!

Holly von Guilleaume

Holly was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona.  She was a Rotary exchange student in Finland for a year and did a study abroad in Bali, Indonesia during her undergraduate years.  These experiences encouraged a love of traveling in Holly and every chance she could she was off to explore another place including Europe, Mexico and Central America.  Also from the age of 15 she also spent every summer in Jackson Hole, Wyoming attending and working at a summer camp.  During these summers she became interested in education and completed a M.A. in Special Education in 1996 and spent 12 years in the classroom before joining Terry full time in the business as the CFO.

Leigh Ann Simpson

Leigh Ann was born in San Francisco and grew up in Virginia Beach. She’s new to Tucson having just moved here in October 2018. She is looking forward to exploring this side of the country.

Her travel highlights include a trip to the UK where she visited Stonehenge, Westminster Abbey, Canterbury, Hampton Court, and many more. She took her first cruise through the Caribbean in 2017 and can’t wait to do it again. She has also been to the Philippines a handful of times.

Leigh Ann and her husband are huge football fans and if you meet her, you will quickly get to know just how much she loves her San Francisco 49ers.

Cheryle Velsor

Cheryle is the team’s travel industry “veteran” that includes over 35 years of industry experience. Originally from Virginia, she has now relocated to Tucson, Arizona after living and working on the East Coast. Cheryle’s love of travel has taken her to 44 countries and she is still seeking new ones to discover. She has held her position as Director of Agency Sales & Industry Relations with DSA Vacations for over 6 years and looks forward to assisting you in future travels.

Lacy Hill

Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Lacy resides in Arizona with her husband and two four-legged animals. She enjoys being with family and friends, fanning out to her favorite sports teams, and being outside in the beautiful Arizona sun.

Lacy is a lover of all kinds of travel. From relaxing on calming beaches, the hustle and bustle of the big cities, even the stunning gushing geysers, she is up for anything!

Lacy loves combining her passion of travel with her clients’ curiosity and sense of adventure to ensure they have the trip of a lifetime.

Lupe Gutierrez

Cathy Lenox

Cathy is a travel advisor because she love to experience the world and there’s nothing she enjoys more than sharing her experiences with clients as she build unique travel itineraries for them. Some of her most cherished memories come from trips her and her husband have been on with both family and friends. She draws on her personal experiences to create customized itineraries, whether it’s crafting the perfect family vacation, romantic getaway, or active vacation adventure. She thoroughly enjoys gathering knowledge to ensure your next vacation is perfect. She loves to help people make their dreams come true.

Richard Schwartzel 

Richard was born in Durban South Africa. He feels blessed to have lived in many beautiful places. Cape Town, San Francisco, England, France, Hawaii and the ski resort of Vail Colorado.

Jerry Lankin

Jerry has been traveling for business and pleasure for over 45 years and brings to DSA a wealth of knowledge and experience that reflects the imaginative packages that are presented to his clients.

Jerry Lankin specializes in innovative travel ideas for couples, singles, multi-generational, and group touring.

Jerry is able to develop creative, and exciting itineraries that are customized for each client’s interests. Jerry provides experiential journeys that are memorable, exceptional, and adventuresome.

Vanessa Schwartzel

Originally from the UK, Vanessa grew up in a region made famous by British TV programs such as Poldark and Doc Martin. Dramatic vertical flint and granite coastlines. Historic tin mines, an assortment of patchwork quilt countrysides. Friendly colloquial accents and quaint stone fishing harbors complete, with picturesque fishing boats and lobster pots. The distant views across the Irish Sea to Ireland and the English Channel to France ignited her lifelong, love affair to explore and travel to new horizons.

After many, many adventures, Vanessa and her husband Richard, moved to Tucson in 2015. The big blue skies, punctuated with the occasional white fluffy clouds, the endless sun-drenched days and its old Pueblo charm, were just too irresistible.

Whatever your reasons may be, to travel. It’s so much more fun, when you have the expertise of an experienced traveler, at your fingertips. Someone who understands where you might want to go, what you might want to see, don’t worry if you don’t have it all figured out yet. We can spoil you with some amazing recommendations, and importantly, once you do have this all figured out, we know how to get you there.

A passionate travel influencer and specialist. Vanessa is just as excited as you are about your travel goals. The details and your chosen destination. She loves helping clients experience the magic of somewhere new. Discovering the mysteries (and beauty) of jaw-dropping vistas. To chance upon delicious cuisine. Read the stories, etched upon the faces and smiles of the local people.

For Safari travelers, perhaps even witness, some moments of tenderness between a lioness and her cubs. Or, take in some time, to just simply relax.

Wherever your heart desires to go, if you get a moment, we believe you will hear it whisper, come back, come back, and visit us again soon!

Jessica Acosta

Jessica is our Airline Manager and brings over 20 years experience working in this field that she loves! Her lifelong love of travel resulted with her working for airlines during that time and has given her the opportunity travel the world with her friends and family!

Her passion for wanting to help others travel  to faraway places, especially the beloved  South Africa, drives her in creating the perfect experience for others to enjoy while traveling; either through absorbing the culture and city life of The Mother City, or capturing thrilling moments in Kruger or viewing the breathtaking Victoria Falls, all of which she would love for you to experience while on your trip of a lifetime!

Jessica is ready to help you book your flights and build the perfect itinerary for your dream Safari!

Nicki Bechtol

Born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  In 2016, her husband Eric’s job in professional hockey brought their family to Tucson.  Nicki and her family are avid sports fans, but have a passion for hockey.

As a child, Nicki remembers spending her Summers traveling with her parents and grandparents.  One of her most memorable trips was a two-week driving adventure “Out West”, all in the same car!  As an adult, she has been able to take several cruises, travel within the United States, Canada, Mexico and Germany.

Nicki prides herself on doing whatever it takes to make her clients happy.  She is looking forward to helping her clients plan a vacation of a lifetime.