Ashley Blake, Founder

Ashley’s first taste of travel began at age 17 after a volunteer experience in Panama. In college Ashley studied in Spain and Costa Rica, later working in concert production and international travel where she directed tours to festivals in Europe as well as the Olympics in Beijing and Vancouver.

Ashley’s work today as a travel specialist, cultural consultant, and location-independent entrepreneur is based on 20 years’ experience in 70+ countries across Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Ashley works with individuals, teams and organizations to leverage the power of cultural flexibility to build confidence, clarity and connection in your personal and professional journey. 

Ashley holds a BA and BS in International Studies and Print Media from Oregon State University and obtained her MA in Media Studies from the University of Texas, Austin, focusing her research on music for social change in Brazil. She also taught business English in Seoul, South Korea. Ashley is a fluent Spanish and Danish speaker with experience in German, Portuguese and Arabic and loves language as a door to culture

Ashley is an avid runner, lover of all things outdoors, and you can frequently find her dipping the ocean or out foraging the season’s best!

Laura Hamm, co-owner

A passionate international adventurer for over two decades, Laura has traveled in over 50 countries, living abroad for much of her adult life throughout 7 different countries on 5 different continents.

Living around the world while working in the arts, education, and hospitality & tourism provided context and depth to her international experiences. In addition, long-term independent travel and immersing herself in local projects helped add to the breadth of her cultural understanding.

In 2021, Laura completed an MSc in Sustainable Development from University College of Dublin. Partnered with the UN’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network and directly linked to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development goals, the program strengthened her knowledge and passion for globally impactful work in the travel industry.

Laura's desire to help others travel led her to found her own travel company, which then merged into Traverse Journeys. Her goal is to pave pathways for immersion in culture and nature while truly connecting the traveler and the destination to bring positive transformation on both sides.

ANDREA MAHON

Administrative Coordinator

Andrea has passions in life; helping people, nature and plants, and planning travel and events. This lead her to administrative, logistical, project management, operations, and event production roles in the live event entertainment and hospitality industry for the past 10 years. 

After completing her BS in Exercise Science and Environmental Policy Institutions & Behaviors from Rutgers University, she began her career working in the healthcare field. Andrea ultimately shifted her career to event production, entertainment, and hospitality work fueled by a passion to cultivate high level experiences. 

Her hobbies are slow travel, adventure travel, physical fitness including weight training, hiking, yoga, and creative pursuits including abstract painting, crocheting, and creating essential oil blends. She also has extensive experience with lifestyle coaching, stress management, health education, and wellness best practices. 

olivia slade-silovic

Digital Content Manager

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Olivia graduated with a BA in English Literature from Miami University in 2014. After graduation, she flew to Croatia for a one-year MBA in Marketing program and ended up making her move permanent. She studied abroad three times in different countries (her favorite being Bangkok, Thailand) and is passionate about immersing herself in new cultures.

Olivia’s move to Croatia kickstarted her career in digital marketing, where she got her first role as a Social Media Manager at a local agency. Since then, she has expanded her skillset to now specialize in SEO, content writing, and overall digital strategy.

Inspired by her Croatian roots and extensive travels through the country, Olivia started her own travel blog promoting life and travel in Croatia. In her free time, she loves going on walks with her dog Bella, spending time on the Croatian coast, reading, and trying out international recipes in the kitchen.

raffa cinti

Trip Lead

Raffa lives in a village nestled in the Italian Alps. Raffa has been working in the tourism industry since 2008, and she has lived in different countries. Joining the Traverse team is a wonderful opportunity to create and offer some unique experiences to all our guests willing to explore Italy as well as other magic destinations.

MICHELLE FAJKUS

Trip Lead

Michelle is a writer, lifelong learner, yoga teacher, retreat leader, and creator of Yoga Freedom. She has been joyfully teaching yoga since 2002 and leading retreats since 2010. A left-handed Texan Gemini with Libra rising, she lives with her family on magical Lake Atitlan in Guatemala and works as a freelance writer, editor, translator, interpreter and yoga instructor.