Justin LaycobFounder & CEO
Jonathan Borgida
Senior Director of Sales & Chief Operating Officer
As Senior Director of Sales & Chief Operating Officer, Jonathan is responsible for setting and implementing Southern Explorations’ strategic course, managing day-to-day operations in Southern Explorations’ United States offices, and for ensuring each and every traveler experiences a trip of a lifetime. Jonathan worked closely with Founder & Owner Justin Laycob to build a company committed to creating custom adventures to amazing places, and is thrilled to bring his passion for travel, his vast knowledge of South America’s people and places, and his experience in planning and operations to the company. Jonathan has over twenty years’ experience in the adventure travel industry; prior to joining Southern Explorations, he served as the Logistics and Operations Manager for the Colorado Outward Bound School. Jonathan holds a degree in Planning, Public Policy, and Management from the University of Oregon.
Marisa Edgerton
Sales, Operations & Special Projects Manager
While growing up in Vermont Marisa dreamed of traveling to distant lands, and made those dreams a reality on her first international trip to France during high school. She went on to earn a degree in Travel and Tourism Management at Johnson & Wales University. Extensive European travel left her with a basic foundation in the Spanish language which fueled her desire to explore Latin America. Marisa enjoys all things outdoors, including running, hiking, and mountain biking. Her passion for both world travel and outdoor activities is an asset in helping Southern Explorations’ passengers to personalize their trips.
Eric Bartanen
Sales, Operations & Special Projects Manager
A Washington native, Eric graduated from Seattle University with a major in International Business and Economics. Eric has a strong interest in world religions, cultures, and languages. His excellent eye for detail ensures that all logistics of every Southern Explorations passenger's trip is in order. While not in the office, Eric enjoys a wide variety of outdoor pursuits from snowboarding fresh tracks to dropping cliffs on his mountain bicycle.
Kaitlyn Lavalette
Galapagos, Ecuador & Peru Travel Specialist
Angelita Muro
Operations & Peru Sales
From Lima, Angie worked at our Lima-Peru Operations Office for 2 years. Now, she is working with us at our office located in Seattle as the Operations Assistant. She graduated from Cenfotur Institute in Peru with a degree as an Official Tourist Guide with Advanced English. Angie, has traveled extensively in her native Peru and is knowledgeable about the country’s varied geography and its indigenous cultures. She also worked at a Travel Agency in Iguazu, Argentina. Like our customers, Angie also enjoys travelling, hiking and other outdoor activities.
Deanna Nicoli
Director of Antarctic Sales & Operations
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Deanna grew up hiking, horseback riding, camping and climbing in the forest around her home, always in search of adventure and wildlife. At age 11, she moved with her family to Naples, Italy for two years, and a passion for history and culture was then added to her desire to explore the natural world. She has since lived in Los Angeles, New York, Rome, and Seattle where she joins Southern Explorations with over ten years of travel industry experience, having arranged international group travel and remote, expedition-style trips before specializing in Antarctica Expeditions. Deanna’s extensive travels have taken her throughout much of Europe, as well as to Turkey, Kenya, Tanzania, India, the Maldives, Peru, mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Argentina and of course, Antarctica -- hiking, kayaking, ice-climbing and paragliding along the way.
Juan
Peru Operations
Juan is our operations specialist for Peru and is based in Lima, Peru. He speaks Spanish, English and Hebrew fluently. A graduate in engineering and a trained zoologist, Juan is a remarkable source of information about Peru's history, culture and ecology. His knowledge and enthusiasm are always appreciated by our travelers.
Ecuador Operations
Fernanda
Ecuador Operations
Fernanda is our logistical specialist for Ecuador and is based in Quito, Ecuador. She graduated from the University of Quito with a major in Tourism and Marketing. Knowledgeable in all areas of Ecuador, Fernanda meets all of our guests when they arrive and ensures that their entire trip in her country is seamless. Fernanda manages all of our Ecuadorian guides, hotels and reservations.
Carolina
Ecuador Operations
Carolina’s passion for travel and cross-cultural communication developed during the year she spent in Vermont as an exchange student in high school. After becoming fluent in English and learning about North American culture, she entered the tourism industry on her return to Ecuador. Carolina has since built a 15-year career in the field, making her uniquely equipped to help travelers plan once-in-a-lifetime experiences in Ecuador. Her favorite place on earth is the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Alex
Galapagos Operations
Born and raised in Quito, Ecuador, Alexandra been in the travel business for two decades. She spent years working for Galapagos cruise ship companies, many of whom worked closely with Southern Explorations. Alex, as she preferred to be called, holds a degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Escuela Politecnica del Ejercito in Quito and has traveled extensively throughout the Americas and Europe. She brings much appreciated knowledge to the Southern Explorations team combined with a unique enthusiasm for her native Ecuador and Latin America. In her spare time, Alex enjoys hiking, reading, trying out new restaurants and of course, travelling!
Mauricio
Costa Rica Operations
Born and raised in Costa Rica, “Mau”—as he’s known to his friends—entered the travel industry in the early 90s by starting an incoming travel company. His work has taken him throughout the world, from Jordan to Japan, China to India and Egypt, as well as to many countries in Europe and Latin America. As a Costa Rica travel expert, Mau provides our clients an authentic experience of his country, showcasing its beauty and its people, and sharing his love of travel, gastronomy, wine and culture.
Laura
Argentina Operations
Laura is our master logistics coordinator for Argentina and the Argentine Patagonia region. With a degree in Tourism from Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, she has been working in the tourism industry for over fifteen years. She has a great eye for quality and detail, making sure that nothing is overlooked for Southern Explorations passengers. Laura speaks fluent Spanish, English, Italian and some French. She travels frequently in Argentina looking for new great hotels, keeping in contact with our guides and seeking to discover the next great destination in Argentina.
Renata
Brazil Operations
Renata was born and raised in São Paulo, the business and finance capital of Brazil. She studied International Business and earned her postgraduate degree in Business Administration at Fundação Getulio Vargas, one of São Paulo’s most respected universities. Upon graduation, Renata traveled extensively throughout the United States, South America, Europe, Africa and Australia, spending significant time in countries where she could perfect her English and German. Upon returning to Brazil, Renata followed a lifelong passion for nature and outdoor activities by settling in Florianopolis on the island paradise of Santa Catarina off the southern coast. Here she has developed a career as a tour planner for visitors from around the globe, showcasing the island's unique attractions. Extremely knowledgeable about all Santa Catarina has to offer, Renata specializes in eco-tourism. When not working, Renata can most likely be found on a nature hike, mountain biking, or discovering a new waterfall or other natural wonder to show future visitors.
Victor Pino
Operations
Victor, a native of Santiago, Chile, has been working in the tourism industry for over 20 years. He spent 7 years working in Santiago for a travel guide which offered tourism information about Chile online and then 10 years working at a boutique local tour operator as part of the sales team. Victor joined the Southern Explorations team in 2015 and plays an essential role in operations. Assisting the sales team from start to finish with complicated trip logistics, Victor’s knowledge and eagle eye attention to detail ensures that all aspects of our guests’ trips are in place. Victor has spent the better part of the last two decades refining his local travel expertise and has a passion for Latin America and world travel. He enjoys introducing people to Chile’s variety of travel possibilities and has experience in and around Chile like no one else. His hobbies include cinema, exercise, meeting new people, spending time with his family and friends, and by far his main passion is traveling. His travels have taken him across the globe to places like Cuba, Greece, and Japan among others. Victor can’t choose a favorite destination in Chile, though one day he would like to live in the south.
