About Steve Wellmeier
International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). As Director, Steve established the organization’s first professional office, managed an $800,000 annual operating budget and $1.6 million reserve capital, authored vital compliance and dispute resolution policy, and created crisis media management procedures. He spearheaded implementation of a new interactive website platform, content management system (CMS) and database enhancements.
Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) New York Recovery Office. As External Liaison for Public Affairs, Steve coordinated communications with New York media, local
relief agencies and community groups in the wake of the September 11th
World Trade Center disaster. One of his roles was to anticipate media trends
and breaking news stories and to develop strategies for appropriate response. He
also established the weekly summary of World Trade Center recovery issues and statistics for
FEMA and White House officials in Washington, DC.
INTRAV/Clipper Cruise
Line. As Vice President of Marketing and Creative Director, Steve successfully merged two divisional marketing groups of this $125 million deluxe tour
operator and cruise line into an effective team of six managers and 19
subordinate staff. Managing a marketing budget of $14 million, he served as a
key member of the new executive team to deliver the two most profitable years
in the company’s 40-year history. He pioneered the use of direct mail in the
travel industry to promote cruises to non-affinity consumer databases using
demographic and psychographic data.
TravLtips Cruise
& Freighter Travel Association. As Marketing Director for this New York City-based firm, Steve helped create a database program to profile customer demographic and purchasing data
to increase effectiveness of targeted direct mail to the association’s 30,000
members. He also wrote for, edited and produced the association’s bi-monthly
member magazine as well as all direct marketing promotions.
