Our Team

Terramar DMC is comprised of hundreds of team members and staff across all of our destinations. Every member of our team is top notch in their field of expertise.

Below is a portion of our award-winning team with many more working behind the scenes to make your program flawless.

Global Team

  • Sunny was born and raised in Mexico and has called Los Cabos home since 1989. He graduated from the University of San Diego and was raised in the hospitality industry with a heavy emphasis on tour operations. He’s spent decades growing the family business to cover destinations across three countries. As an avid explorer and athlete, Sunny’s travels by motorcycle, plane and ship have taken him to many corners of the world, giving him a unique perspective on what clients are looking for and the experiences they’ve yet to even imagine. In his free time, you can almost always find the proud father spending time with family.

  • Lee joined Terramar in 2015 following a 30-year career in the hotel industry. He brings an understanding and empathetic viewpoint to both clients and their hotel partners thanks to his experiences working across cultures with teams throughout the US, Mexico and Panama. He has a deep appreciation for the  beauty, warmth, and genuine, service-oriented nature of Latin American culture (not to mention the cuisine) and has called Los Cabos home for the past two decades. In his early years, Lee played the drums and performed as a musician at parties, but now you're more likely to find him in the kitchen whipping up his mother's recipes for Polish/German delicacies.

  • Matt’s impressive corporate background includes event logistics and financial experience. Before joining our team, he lived in Hong Kong while serving as the Director of Finance & Planning for TaylorMade Golf. Having participated in numerous incentive programs and conferences, he understands the needs of corporate clients. In addition to being an all-around great guy, Matt’s a scratch golfer, and excellent surfer.

Vice President of
Global Sales
lisa@teamterramar.com 

Managing Director,
Terramar US

Lisa DeLeon, DMCP

Matt Cuevas

  • Lisa is a proud Sierra Nevada native with 20+ years of DMC experience and a passion for sharing the region with incentive, corporate and association clients. She is actively involved with ADMEI’s Certification & Accreditation Board where she helps set the organization’s standards and policies. Mom to three amazing kids, the highlight of Lisa’s life is cheering them on from the sidelines. Travel and outdoor activities refill her cup, and this “s’mores specialist” loves sitting by a campfire watching the sunset.

  • Kate is a prominent industry professional known globally for unique events, strategic partnerships and impactful experiences. She speaks internationally on an array of topics, serves as the chair of the SEARCH Foundation, and is obsessed with Taylor Swift and getting a poodle. She specializes in destination markets and is equally passionate about the city, the beach and Wine Country, bringing enthusiasm wherever she goes.

  • Julia is an award-winning DMC professional of 35 years, half of which have been with Terramar. She has a true passion for incentive programs and is an advocate for how incentive travel can effectively motivate business for growth. During her time at Terramar, Julia has helped in the success of our offices in Los Cabos, Panama and ultimately Puerto Vallarta where she currently lives. She has visited dozens of countries and enjoys vacationing in big, cosmopolitan cities such as Singapore, New York and Barcelona with her husband and son. Her dirty little secret is watching reality shows from Spain.

Elizabeth Giron

Global Director of
Strategic Partnership
elizabeth@teamterramar.com

  • Eternal optimist, Elizabeth Giron, came from 14+ years in the DMC world.  With over 20 + years of Corporate Sales experience, her comprehensive business development portfolio and hospitality background combined with her quest to create the ideal guest experience makes her a great asset to Terramar.  Receiving her BS in Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago, Elizabeth also understands her clientele’s missions and excels in developing long-term business partnerships. A lover of French macaroons and dancing, Elizabeth revels in exploring the world and enjoying time with her family. Elizabeth looks forward to representing the Terramar team, exposing clients to all of the unique and special adventures of the destinations and cannot wait to meet you. 

Lee Chipman

Sunny Irvine

Managing Partner

Managing Director,
Latin America

Julia Trejo,
CMP, CIS, DMCP

Kate Patay, CPCE

Vice President of Global Engagement
kate@teamterramar.com

Vice President of
Business Development
julia@teamterramar.com  

Los Cabos Sales Team

  • Cheryl is a beach cities/SoCal native. Following a career in graphic design (Surfer Magazine) and trade show coordination (Quiksilver, Inc.), she moved to the remote East Cape of San Jose Del Cabo in 1996 and started at Terramar the following year. After raising two Terramar babies, she still strives to exceed expectations. Cheryl has won awards for her service, and more importantly, counts many of her clients as her dearest friends. When she's not working, you can find her in the garden, cooking, or processing fish for her waterman husband.

  • Michele’s career in tourism spans 40+ years between the U.S. and Mexico. A proud Vermonter, she traded the green mountain home of Ben & Jerry’s for Baja’s desert terrain in 1990 and holds a BS in Travel & Tourism and a BA in Spanish. Michele’s travels to 46 countries and 5 continents shaped her outlook on her hospitality career, which has included incentive house operations, hotel sales, and two decades with Terramar Los Cabos. A dedicated Mom to one daughter, when not at her computer, she enjoys a culinary adventure, creating florals, and can’t say no to a good shoe sale!

Luis Montoya, CIS, CMS

Group Sales Manager
luismontoya@teamterramar.com

  • Luis began his career with Terramar 17 years ago and likes to refer to Los Cabos as living in paradise. Each day is a learning experience, and he continues striving for excellence and sharing his insider knowledge with clients. Any free time that Luis has is spent deep sea fishing in the ocean with the high hopes of one day reeling in the “trophy billfish”.  On land, he enjoys spending time with his family, taking in a local game of baseball, or escaping to one of the many desert ranches that the Baja peninsula has to offer.

Senior Sales Manager
michele@teamterramar.com

Cheryl Miller

Michele McShane

Senior Sales Manager
cheryl@terramar.com.mx

Cancun Sales Team

Group Sales Director
brisakumul@teamterramar.com

Brisa Kumul

Elsa Castillo

Group Sales Manager
elsacastillo@teamterramar.com

  • Brisa was born and raised in Cancun, Mexico, giving her a unique perspective on the destination's growth. With nearly 20 years in the hospitality industry, 16 of them with DMCs, she is passionate about meticulously planning events that showcase her hometown and Mayan heritage. Brisa loves swimming in the Riviera Maya's cenotes and spending time outdoors with her family and her Frenchie.

  • Elsa has a degree in Business Administration and an MBA in Marketing. She began her hospitality career more than 30 years ago in the Mexican Caribbean at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun. Her passion for tourism led her to a number of roles, which gave her in-depth knowledge of the industry and confirmed that event management was what she wanted to do. With Terramar Cancun, she’s focused on exceeding client expectations with her attention to detail and customer service focus. Elsa has contributed to the consolidation of Terramar Cancun in the MICE segment, which holds 1st place as a destination in Mexico. Her love of travel takes her to new destinations, allowing her a taste of new cultures and experiences which she incorporates into the planning of amazing and memorable events for her clients.

Regional Director of Group Sales
veronica@teamterramar.com

Destination Manager
fernanda@teamterramar.com

Laura Vergara

Group Sales Manager
lauravergara@teamterramar.com

  • Originally from Mexico City, Laura is enthusiastic and loves life and all it offers. With over 15 years in the DMC business, tourism is her passion. She takes great joy in crafting remarkable experiences for clients, helping them explore the beauty of Cancun. When she isn’t busy planning unforgettable adventures and perfect getaways, she cherishes time with her two daughters and her Chihuahua, Boni.

Fernanda Soto, CIS CMP

Veronica Villegas, DMCP, CITP

  • A bonafide “chilanga” (born in Mexico City), Fernanda has lived in four different destinations, which allows her to appreciate the variety new places have to offer. She loves discovering hidden beaches and off-the-grid highlights everywhere she goes. Her 25 years in the industry have been divided between sales and operations and reflect her passion for tourism. A sense of adventure is a key component of her work, and she strives to share that passion with her clients. She believes music and tennis always bring people together, and eating strawberries and cream at a Wimbledon final is at the top of her bucket list.

  • Born and raised in Mexico City, Veronica holds a college degree in Tourism Administration. She began her career working in the travel agency sector and hotel sales and brings 25 years of experience with her to the DMC side of the industry. She covers two amazing destinations (Cancun/Riviera Maya and Panama), and one of her most significant accomplishments has been training and mentoring numerous professionals, who after working with her, have been motivated to embark on a career in the same field.  She has been married for over 30 years and is the proud mother of two daughters who were competitive swimmers from childhood through college. As a result, she loves watching major swim meets and competitions.

Panama Sales Team

Veronica Villegas, DMCP, CITP

Gary De León, CIS, DMCP, CITP, CES

Regional Director of Group Sales
veronica@teamterramar.com

Senior Group Sales Manager
garydeleon@teamterramar.com

  • Born and raised in Mexico City, Veronica holds a college degree in Tourism Administration. She began her career working in the travel agency sector and hotel sales and brings 25 years of experience with her to the DMC side of the industry. She covers two amazing destinations (Cancun/Riviera Maya and Panama), and one of her most significant accomplishments has been training and mentoring numerous professionals, who after working with her, have been motivated to embark on a career in the same field.  She has been married for over 30 years and is the proud mother of two daughters who were competitive swimmers from childhood through college. As a result, she loves watching major swim meets and competitions.

  • Gary is passionate about the meetings, conferences, incentives, and events segment. He’s been part of the industry for over 20 years, becoming a reference for many events held in Panama City. One of his main professional achievements is being the first Panamanian certified as a DMCP and one of the few CITPs in the country. He cherishes quality time with family and loves traveling with his wife and son. His favorite cities include Orlando and Barcelona. His guilty pleasures are cake and caramel flan, and he also has a love for cats.

Johanna Lara

  • Joha, as clients usually call her, is passionate about creating memorable experiences for groups visiting Panama. With more than 15 years of experience in the hotel industry – ranging from reception and operations to sales – her hospitality career began in Miami where she discovered the joy of serving others. When she isn’t busy organizing her next event, you might find her at the beach, the movies, or planning a vacation for herself or friends. She’s passionate about meeting clients from different parts of the world and learning their roots and customs over a good cup of coffee, oftentimes forming lasting friendships.

Puerto Vallarta Sales Team

Vice President of Business and Development julia@teamterramar.com

Sales Executive
armando@teamterramar.com

Julia Trejo, CMP, CIS, DMCP

Armando Jaén

  • Armando was born and raised in Venezuela but has called Mexico home since 2018. His background in tourism is motivated by a passion for travel, particularly to beach destinations. A certified foodie, he loves seeking out new regions and experiencing the local cuisine.

  • Julia is an award-winning DMC professional of 35 years, half of which have been with Terramar. She has a true passion for incentive programs and is an advocate for how incentive travel can effectively motivate business for growth. During her time at Terramar, Julia has helped in the success of our offices in Los Cabos, Panama and ultimately Puerto Vallarta where she currently lives. She has visited dozens of countries and enjoys vacationing in big, cosmopolitan cities such as Singapore, New York and Barcelona with her husband and son. Her dirty little secret is watching reality shows from Spain.

Northern California Sales Team

Senior Director,
Meetings & Events
sue@teamterramar.com

Sue Meylan, CMP

  • Sue brings more than 16 years of professional event design, venue management, planning, and production savvy to our team. Outside the office, you can find her volunteering at Boys Hope Girls Hope San Francisco Bay Area and traveling the world–she was last spotted sleeping in the Sahara! She is also an active member of Meeting Professionals International, and is well connected within the meetings and events industry.

Pilar Mustafa

Director of Sales,
Napa + Sonoma
pilar@teamterramar.com

  • Pilar has 20 years of professional event experience ranging from corporate planning and production in Texas and New York to luxury winery event and wedding planning throughout Napa and Sonoma for the past 13 years. Her favorite things include a really amazing cup of coffee, making lists (with a pretty gold pen, of course), and seeking out the best glass of Pinot Noir in Northern CA wine country.

Karen Devidé Bajraktarevic

Simone Peretz

Director, International
Sales & Events
karen@teamterramar.com

  • Trilingual: English/Spanish/Croatian

    Karen has lived and traveled throughout three continents. Her Latin American background and Spanish-language fluency made her a key organizer for incentive trips, meetings, and events in Croatia. She also spent time supporting people with disabilities for the Sovereign Order of Malta. Karen and her husband live in the Sunset District with their lively Border Collie mix and darling kiddos Kyana and Kai. 

Sales Coordinator
simone@teamterramar.com

  • Simone is a San Francisco native who brings vast knowledge and perspective from Wine Country to Carmel and everywhere in between. Her passion for events motivated her to pursue a degree in Event Management & Business Administration from Arizona State University, but she's a true Bay Area local – she loves traveling and experiencing new cultures and foods (especially desserts), enjoys movie nights with her family, and suffers from an extreme love for shopping.

Southern California Sales Team

Senior Account Manager, Palm Springs m.stansfield@teamterramar.com

Michelle Stansfield

Stephanie Cruz

  • Stephanie is a native San Diegan with a positive attitude and warm smile. She studied Hospitality & Event Management and is fluent in Spanish. Working in both weddings and corporate events helped her discover her passion for the corporate side of the hospitality world. An enthusiastic foodie, she loves all aspects of the local scene – cultural dishes shared with friends, pop-up dining experiences, and trendy restaurants. A self-described perfectionist, she's driven to achieve her clients' goals.

  • Michelle has a wealth of experience in the meeting and events industry, with over 20 years of working in Colorado, Central Oregon, and Palm Springs. Her journey began after obtaining a bachelor’s in Hotel & Restaurant Management and an associate's in Culinary Arts, and it didn’t’ take long before she discovered her true passion in creating events. Michelle and her family moved to Palm Springs in 2008 and have called it home ever since. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and going to Firebird Hockey games with her family, as well as taking her twins to concerts.

Taylor Green

Sales & Operations Coordinator
taylor@teamterramar.com

  • Taylor has spent a decade in the event industry supporting corporate, non-profit and social clients. Her experiences are wide-ranging, from rentals, operations, and scheduling to sales, coordination, and planning. Her career began just out of college managing décor for large weddings in Orange County. Looking for a change of scenery, Taylor and her husband moved to Seattle, where she joined a team of corporate event planners that “brought the fun” and learned how to be a successful planner. In 2020, Taylor and her family took advantage of the opportunity to move back home to SoCal. She enjoys traveling with her family, trying new foods and experiencing the fun and adventure life has to offer!

Senior Account Manager, Orange County
sara@teamterramar.com

Kelly Truitt, CMP, DMCP, M.S.

Sara Parrell

Director of Sales
kelly@teamterramar.com

  • Kelly’s passion for planning memorable experiences has taken her to South Florida, Washington D.C., and San Diego where she’s lived with her pups since 2018. A lifelong learner, she earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Meeting & Event Management and never misses and opportunity to grow her industry knowledge. When she isn’t at an event, you can find Kelly at Coronado’s Dog Beach, curled up with a good book, or traveling the globe absorbing different cultures and cuisine. She prides herself on knowing the latest and greatest spots in her city and every place she visits.

  • Sara’s experience in the event and destination industry spans 20+ years with a background in corporate, incentive and social events. She's devoted to her work and loves bringing people together through the joy of food, entertainment, and decor. Her career began in the heart of Orange County at Disneyland and took her all the way to Tokyo Disneyland where she fell in love with the people and culture. This passion for all things Japanese is still a huge part of her life. She also admits to a major obsession with studying maps and searching for new adventures.

Tahoe + Reno Sales Team

Key Accounts Manager
blossom@teamterramar.com

Matt Robertson

Blossom Adler

Director of Sales mrobertson@teamterramar.com

  • Matt’s calling is planning exceptional experiences for everyone lucky enough to visit Tahoe. His professional portfolio spans all sides of the Lake and includes 10+ years of hospitality, travel and sales experience. When he isn’t curating events, Matt enjoys plotting his own outdoor adventures. He prides himself on being able to order a cocktail in German, Czech, Italian and French, and he loves eating things he can’t pronounce in faraway places. A self-described National Parks nerd, Matt holds an MA in Russian history and has traveled to Lake Baikal, Tahoe’s Siberian sister lake. 

  • Originally from Michigan, Blossom moved to Lake Tahoe to fuel her love for the mountains. She has worked in the hospitality industry for over a decade, and absolutely loves seeing groups experience memorable events. She has a passion for the outdoors and loves to incorporate it into her work. Her career path has exposed her to all sides of the meeting industry, from designing and executing incentive programs of all sizes, product launches to corporate and convention events. In Blossom's free time, you can find her enjoying the outdoors with her husband and two young boys.

Creative Team

  • Forever in love with special occasions of all shapes and sizes, Alix attributes her event knowledge mostly to her time spent watching Martha Stewart; but, she entertains the idea that she was possibly influenced by the array of jobs she’s had in the event world over the years or the degrees in graphic design and communications from her beloved tree-filled alma mater, UC Davis. Alix’s passion for event styling and organization led her to Cappa & Graham Terramar in 2012 where she’s thrived since. 

Josie Fitzwinge

  • Josie is a versatile designer with a lifelong passion for art. She infuses creativity into every project, and her diverse skill set ranges from drawing and custom graphics to animations and spatial design. With a background spanning various roles in hospitality and corporate design, she thrives on bringing visions to life. A graduate of Pratt Institute, she holds a degree in Communication Design, specializing in Graphic Design. Outside of work, you can find Josie tending to her houseplants, volunteering at her local dog shelter, or on the beach with a good book.

Event & Graphic Designer, Terramar US

Designer, Terramar US

Alix Levy, CMP, DMCP

Karly Sahr

Director, Design & Events, Terramar US

  • Karly is a designer of things big and small, ranging from florals and custom graphics to special events. She minored in art and received a BA in graphic design from UC Davis, leading her down a lifelong path of creativity. Since joining us in 2018, her event world expertise has truly blossomed. On her days off, Karly enjoys tending to her flower garden, playing with her kitties, and off-roading with her husband in the Sierra Nevadas.

HR and Finance Team

Francisco Muñtón

Corporate Director
of Finances

Nanci Grajeda

Corporate Director of HR

Karen Pérez

Controller / HR & Payroll Manager, Terramar US

  • Karen is a numbers enthusiast with a passion for continuing education. A three-year DMC veteran, she holds a degree in accounting and is constantly seeking out the latest industry insights. Volunteering and travel are high on her list of favorite things and, when the weather's just right, you can always find her at the beach.