Tour Directors & Schedules
All Starr Tour Directors have been carefully selected and specially trained in the skills that assure a carefree, enjoyable trip. They are knowledgeable, understanding and devoted to making your trip relaxing and memorable. They supervise the handling of luggage, take care of check-in and departure from hotels, reconfirm included meals, and brief you on the daily events and timetables during the tour. They are happy to assist in suggesting restaurants, ideas for free time, or simply look after reasonable special requests. He or she will do all that is possible to accommodate you.
Angie Belmont
Years of Service: 3
Forty years in education,
has left me fulfilled.
Spending day-in and day-out with teenagers,
has left me thrilled!
I’m ready for the next step;
swimming, bicycling,
maybe a trip to Fiji,
Along with spending time,
with those who call me Gigi!
has left me fulfilled.
Spending day-in and day-out with teenagers,
has left me thrilled!
I’m ready for the next step;
swimming, bicycling,
maybe a trip to Fiji,
Along with spending time,
with those who call me Gigi!
Anndee Byers
Years of Service: 6
Anndee has worked for several years as a local guide in the Philadelphia area sharing her love of history and interesting locations with people who enjoy traveling. She also has a consulting and training practice and works with several colleges as an adjunct instructor. She enjoys spending her free time with her family and friends or on one of her many hobbies.
Anne Anderson
Years of Service: 4
Anne has been in the travel business for about 30 years. She is a local Philadelphia/Valley Forge tour guide. Her focus is with student groups & Seniors. She has also been a travel director and worked on site for events. She enjoys her time with her family who live in Indianapolis and Wilmington, NC.
Anthony (Andy) Waskie
Years of Service: 37
Andy is a retired professor from Temple University. He is the founder and president of the General Meade Society and the 8th Armored Division Assoc. Andy is also a member of the Armed Services Council of the Union League and American Legion. He is a published author and active in Civil War history, research and preservation efforts.
Bette Barr
Years of Service: 16.5
A native New Yorker, Bette is also a licensed NYC tour guide. Her trips to the “Big Apple” are always spiced up with stories about the city’s founding, development and background. She loves to ski, Jazzercise, read and is also a volunteer with the USO. She and her husband of 55 years have a German Shepherd named Faust and two lovely daughters.
Bobbi Flesher
Years of Service: 25
Three things in life are important:
The first is to be KIND.
The second is to be KIND.
And the third is to be KIND.
-Henry James
The first is to be KIND.
The second is to be KIND.
And the third is to be KIND.
-Henry James
Carol Andrew
Years of Service: <1
Carol has worked in higher education for 30 years as an Academic Advisor, Recruiter and in Student Affairs. Previously in professional theater, Carol’s hobbies besides traveling include singing with the Capitol Singers of Trenton and volunteering at Grounds for Sculpture.
Christine Durling
Years of Service: 17.5
Christine is a “retired” educator who delights in sharing travel adventures with Starr customers. When not being a “kid” again with her three grandchildren, Christine’s joys include reading historical fiction, applauding good theater, gardening, decorating, and trying to keep up with technology.
Corinne Egner
Years of Service: <1
Corinne has loved teaching high school science, but retired to travel more and pursue other interests, such as becoming a Master Gardener. She loves nature and outdoor activities such as skiing, kayaking, hiking, and bicycling. She has traveled to 47 states and 5 continents, but the Galapagos and Antarctica are still on her bucket list.
Evy Simon
Years of Service: 21.5
Evy is originally from Philadelphia. She was a teacher in Baltimore and New York, and raised her family in Montreal. Then it was on to Indianapolis before she and her husband moved back to the East Coast. Next time you travel with her, ask Evy about her cool job as a “standardized patient.”
Francie Schwabenland
Years of Service: 2
Francie taught for over 40 years and has led many trips for students and parents throughout Europe. She is a passionate travel photographer and writer and is the author of “Living Namaste: Photography and Spoken Word Poetry.” Francie has explored 6 out of the 7 continents and gets excited by opportunities to leave her comfort zone and open to new wonders.
Gene Gray
Years of Service: 6
Gene is a retired history teacher of 34 years and the founder of the East Windsor Recreation’s Junior Travel Camp. Since retiring, he is an active tour guide at Allaire State Park teaching groups about life in 1836 New Jersey. Gene is best known as Starr’s Cross Country Tour Director. His multi sensory approach to travel is a great way to experience the magnificence of America. Traveling is his passion as is music, baseball and hockey. Gene is widowed and resides in Allentown, New Jersey.
Howard Cylinder
Years of Service: 3
Howard has enjoyed a varied career as an automobile appraiser, a traffic accident researcher, a Sunday School teacher, the owner of a ceiling tile cleaning business, and as a materials tester for an engineering firm. He is an avid bicyclist and motorcyclist and has traveled extensively throughout the US, Israel, Europe and Scandinavia and is hungry for new horizons with Starr Tours.
Jane Peters Estes
Years of Service: 29
Although best known for her history-themed tours (Civil War Trails), Jane also enjoys Nova Scotia, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. She and her husband, Gary, reside in Burlington Township, NJ, with their two cats. When not working, Jane volunteers at a community luncheon which provides meals for the homeless, poor, elderly and children, as well as numerous historical organizations.
Karen Coate
Years of Service: 6
Karen is a retired Business Education teacher. In addition to teaching, she has held numerous advisor positions, worked on school plays, and coordinated the work and technology programs. She volunteers with the Rotary, Grounds for Sculpture, and at her church. Karen has two beautiful daughters (one of them even works full time at the Starr office!) and enjoys exercising, music, and traveling to her second home in Myrtle Beach.
Kathy Gillespie
Years of Service: 3
Kathy has retired from school counseling in a suburban middle school. She’s passionate about photography and sponsored a photography club for her students. Together with her husband, she volunteers with Special Olympics. She enjoys spending time with her three granddaughters especially at the New Jersey shore.
Lucille George
Years of Service: 31.5
Lucille loves spending time with her children and grandchildren. She is a retired Violations Clerk/Court Administrator after 30 years of service. In her free time, Lucille enjoys gardening, going to the beach and just relaxing with family and friends.
Martha Costa
Years of Service: 3
Martha was born in Cuba and raised and educated in the U.S. She spent 25 years in Early Childhood Education, owned and managed two Childcare Centers. Prior, she worked in both the corporate world and the Travel Business. Through the years, she has traveled extensively within the U.S. and abroad. Martha has one daughter and two grandsons and enjoys, theater, music, exercise classes, entertaining, reading and, of course, travel.
Penny Rudolph
Years of Service: 34.5
Penny is a lover of the outdoors and especially enjoys directing tours to coastal towns, charming countrysides, and mountain getaways. The Canadian cities of Quebec are some of her favorites along with Mackinac Island and Cape Cod. She spends her free time with her husband Rich. They often hike on local trails or in the Poconos. She also enjoys curling up with a good book and her cat Stella.
Rick Weiss
Years of Service: 6
After a military career that gave him extensive travel opportunities in Europe and Asia, Rick spent 20 years as a history teacher in Trenton, NJ. He still enjoys travel and takes advantage of free military space available flights whenever possible. Rick is active as a boy scout leader and keeps fit with yoga, kayaking, and cycling. Every summer he enjoys the challenge of a week long bike trip with friends and family.
Roseanne Iannotti
Years of Service: 5
Roseanne is a World Language Teacher. She has taught Italian and currently teaches Spanish. Her passions are people, culture and travel. Roseanne has three children, two grandchildren, and three dogs. She has been involved in her local business association as well as being an active volunteer with American Red Cross. Her interests also include gardening, cooking, tennis, and above all, travel.
Wendy Prater
Years of Service: <1
Wendy has worked in the travel industry for over 17 years and has always had a love of travel. Prior to the travel industry she worked in education as a College recruiter and a teacher. She enjoys traveling the world, cooking, gardening and time with her daughters at the beach with their new pup Millie!
This could be you!
We’re always looking for great Tour Directors!
Go to Careers at Starr for more information!
Go to Careers at Starr for more information!