Traversing direct travel programs

Michael is a proven architect, designer, and leader with a 35-year track record of innovating for global airlines, hoteliers, vacation rental providers, global distribution systems, and travel management companies. His expertise spans eight startups, including WebVentures, Orbitz, G2 Switchworks, OptionsAway, and now as President and CEO of Traverse Technologies.  
 
He is known for his ability to collaborate across business and technology models and adapt legacy methodologies to current and emerging technologies (web3/5, ML/AI, blockchain, self-sovereign data, and spatial/XR computing) to optimize value. Michael is passionate about empowering and serving others and continuously innovating for customers-partners while never standing still or allowing complacency or perfection to get in the way of progress. Outside of work, Michael enjoys time with his family, running and biking, and taking his dog to the beach. 

Sarah manages the global travel program. She oversees supplier sourcing, data management, technology integrations and is constantly seeking ways to disrupt the corporate travel industry while keeping in focus cost-effectiveness and efficiency. She and her team are proud to have built a best-in-class travel program with near 100% adoption.    

Prior to joining ZS, Sarah spent time in the hospitality industry as well as visa services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in French and International Studies from Indiana University. 

Jeff Klee is a self-described computer geek who developed and sold his first video game at the age of 13. In college, he and a buddy got a crash course in the intricacies of the airline business while planning their own backpacking trip and later decided to use that know-how to help others save money on airfares. What was first known as 1-800-Cheap-Air was founded out of a University of Michigan dorm room in 1989. When the company took off, Jeff ditched his law school plans for a far more exciting journey, combining two passions – travel and software development. CheapAir.com was born, and soon after, AmTrav for Business, which together serve almost 400,000 travelers annually. 

Sean Rumage is the Strategic Sales Initiatives Manager at Alaska Airlines, where he owns the airline’s SMB corporate products. Prior to joining Alaska’s Sales division, Sean worked in a variety of roles across Network Planning, Scheduling, and Crew Strategy at Alaska, United and Southwest, all thanks to a fateful walking tour in Brussels that led him to pursue a career in aviation.

Steven leads the Global Travel Program and Team at Baker McKenzie, a leading global law firm. His team is currently focused on building Baker McKenzie's first-ever global travel program “from scratch” and doing so in an innovative, agile, and future-proof way. Steven has a passion for challenging the status quo, delivering service excellence, and leveraging technology to focus on the user experience. Prior to joining Baker McKenzie, Steven has experience in various global roles on both the supplier and buyer side of business travel.