Our Travel Specialists
Best known for cutting-edge itineraries that lead her clients to places and experiences otherwise inaccessible to the traveling public, Ellison is the “go to” person on travel for some of the nation’s leading publications. Each year since 2007, Travel + Leisure & Condé Nast Traveler have named her among the top travel specialists in the nation. In addition, she has been featured and referenced in the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, National Geographic Traveler, Gourmet and many others. “Raised with an atlas alongside Dr. Spock”, according to Fred, Poe Travel’s founder and Ellison’s father, she had circled the globe by age six. A former resident of Vienna and of Paris – fluent in both German and French – Ellison has served on the advisory board of Abercrombie & Kent and Virtuoso and currently serves on the advisory boards of Condé Nast Traveler and Saveur and is a former board member of Taj Hotels & Resorts.
Ellison Poe
CTC, President
Margaret began her career in the travel business as a corporate agent right here at Poe Travel. She quickly rose through the ranks working as (among other things) our GSA and Army account administrator ultimately to become our inimitable CEO and co-owner with Ellison. Margaret reinvented the way we do business on the operations side. She is a deft leader, one frequently quoted in travel trade magazines and asked to speak at numerous conferences, including Sabre World. Among her favorite places are East Africa, Australia, Western Europe, and the Galapagos Islands. Other points of interest about Margaret: she has a Masters in exercise physiology and used to teach ballroom dancing. Asked why she retired those dancing shoes, she says lightly, "Who has the time?" Another stat: Margaret is an avid and gifted golfer who has played all over the world on courses in Scotland, England, Ireland, and Africa. Perhaps even more impressive, she can fix almost anything and has a well-stocked toolbox that would be the envy of any handyperson. She’s truly a Renaissance woman—whether dancing a tango or repairing printer. Her myriad skills were needed when growing up in a large family, in which everyone was expected to contribute. Margaret, who has a twin brother among other siblings, comes from a tight-knit clan that includes 29 first cousins. "Irish Catholic," she says by way of explanation. Her love of travel was born early on during family road trips. The family was so large that they had to divide into two cars, a station wagon (wood-paneled, we assume) and a Cadillac. She's always on the go, and some of her most recent travels include Israel (a long-standing favorite), Ireland, and the Big Island of Hawaii. Of her job at Poe, Margaret says she "wears many hats." We’re just guessing here, but is one of those a tam o’shanter?
Margaret Kemp
CTC, CTIE, CEO
Angela Simon, a seasoned traveler and craftsperson par excellence, joined Poe in the fall of 2012. Her background (and skill set) is all over the map, including stints as an interior designer and paralegal. She also worked in a Chicago sweatshop, making jewelry for high-end stores, and served as project manager for a Hazardous Waste Research and Information Center—experiences that have made her unflappable in the fast-paced world of travel. (Really she’s just happy to have traded in her hazmat suit for a tidy blazer and smart pair of flats.) The mother of two, Angela can craft anything—no, really, anything, and usually from recycled materials—whether it be an extraordinary itinerary or a fanciful headpiece adorned with birds. (Before joining Poe she owned a very cool sewing and craft business.) The wildly creative Angela loves road trips with the whole family and all that that entails: singing in the car, junk food, stops at roadside attractions, whining . . . well, mostly the junk food. What she loves most about travel is that it gets you out of your comfort zone, brings family closer together, and gives rise to funny stories that become part of family lore. Her top travel experiences since coming to Poe: snuggling with a koala in Australia, snowmobiling in Iceland, and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. To sum up her travel ethos, Angela says, “If the packing list includes hiking boots and a fleece I want to go there.” No surprise then that she’s become a Certified Iceland Specialist in her time here. Other stats: Best family trip: a summer spent living in Tanzania Close runner-up: sea-kayaking and camping at the base of a glacier in Alaska.
ANGELA SIMON
Experience Designer - Team Ellison
When Bolton joined the team at Poe Travel, he was excited to discover he could have a full-time job planning travel. These days, he's on Team Ellison, specializing in creating memorable, tailor-made experiences. Before joining Poe, he was the project manager of the statewide 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment for Arkansas Children's Hospital. He created a self-designed major in Environmental Studies at Millsaps College. He then completed dual masters’ degrees from the Clinton School of Public Service and the UAMS College of Public Health. Bolton’s experience in research and relationship development are assets for his clients. He finds joy in creating personalized itineraries and ensuring all the details are correct for your trip.
The best moments of his own travel—from the French Quarter in New Orleans to Le Marais in Paris—have been discovered when wandering through neighborhoods of a new city and unearthing its secrets. Bolton’s travel bucket list continues to grow, but currently his top favorites are Greece, Turkey, and Egypt. Yet, he would never give up another opportunity to wander the cobblestone streets of Paris. When he's not talking about travel, Bolton loves discussing whatever he’s reading and his watercolors.
BOLTON KIRCHNER
Experience Designer - Team Ellison
Erika has called Arkansas home since high school, but she grew up in San Diego before that, and she's lived in some pretty interesting places in the interim! She worked for four years as a child abuse investigator in Texas, and she spent her sophomore and junior years of college in Graz, Austria, where she attended Karl Franzens University. She also spent a summer living in Dusseldorf, Germany, for an intensive language program. She has two BAs, in International Studies and German, and she is fully bilingual (English and German). Her time in Austria is where she developed a real love of travel, and she spent almost every weekend exploring other European destinations. To this day, Austria remains her favorite place to visit. Outside of working and traveling, Erika spends her time cooking and gardening. In the spring and fall, she is a keen hiker, camper, and backpacker—anything that takes her into the great outdoors. In addition to Austria, Erika has loved her trips to Peru and Egypt, places she had wanted to visit since childhood. She cannot wait to eventually travel to more Asian destinations, including Mongolia and other countries in Central Asia, and she also yearns to take off on a safari adventure. She only needs to travel to Australia and Antarctica to have visited all seven continents, but she's currently trying to muster the courage to make the Drake Passage crossing!
ERIKA BOWSHER
Experience Designer - Team Margaret
Emily hails from Bentonville, where most of her family still resides. She is a ton of fun, which is reflected in her educational and professional background tenfold! She graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre, spent some time at the Country Club of Little Rock wearing many hats (including aquatics management, family programs coordination, and membership management), and she may or may not spend part of her time as a professional princess and mermaid trainer. That's right! Emily moonlights with a children's entertainment company dressing up as everything from mermaids to superheroes, and she excels so much at this passion of hers that she is also tasked with training other performers in how to do tricks in their 40-pound silicone tails. Emily's travels so far have taken her to the beautiful Caribbean, and as a true ocean lover, her bucket list includes many places to lie on a beach, scuba, or check out the marine wildlife. These include Greece, the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, the Galapagos Islands, and an Antarctic cruise.
EMILY SIEMENS
Experience Designer - Team Margaret
Retta holds this place together (even if she has to order extra office supplies to do it). When not comptrolling, Retta enjoys being with her daughter Ashley and immersing herself in the myriad sewing/embroidery projects she creates for her business, Kokadots. She can run this office and make a seasonal dishtowel with equal flair and aplomb. Retta's heart has been in the South of France since her first trip there years ago and thinks of this breathtaking part of the world as her "birthplace from another lifetime." Still on her travel bucket list are life-changing and spiritual destinations such as Israel and Africa.
RETTA FULMER
Comptroller & Office Manager
Stacy Bright has been in the travel business since 1995 and has worked in all aspects of the industry. The multi-titled, multi-talented Stacy has a degree in journalism and marketing. Hobbies include boating, lake activities, and transforming old furniture into new—HGTV style. Her favorite trips include couple’s trip to Ireland and Disney with her husband and son Nathan.
STACY BRIGHT
Accounting
Annie is a Little Rock native and attended Sewanee to study art history followed by UALR to study special education, a field in which she worked for many years before joining the team at Poe Travel. Along with her deep love of travel, Annie also loves outdoor pursuits of all sorts, cooking, gardening, and needlepointing, which has been passed through generations of women in her family.
Her past travels have taken her to Italy (twice!), France, Morocco, Gibraltar, and Spain. In fact, she says Barcelona is the coolest city she's ever been to. She has family in Jasper, Canada, so she's been lucky enough to take her love of the outdoors to one of the best spots on Earth for natural beauty—Banff National Park—many times in her life. She fell in love with scuba diving in the Cayman Islands and explored beachy boutique hotels along the Mexican coast. She still has many adventures left to experience, though. An interest in Korean culture has put South Korea at the top of her travel wishlist, followed by Greece, the Amalfi Coast, Thailand, and South America.
ANNIE CARTER
Receptionist
Lacey James has been in the travel business since 1994. She started out in leisure travel and has dedicated the better part of two decades to our air services. Lacey enjoys building client relationships and meeting their diverse needs. She has a strong work ethic, thrives on challenges, and loves the fast pace that comes with working in air. To unwind, Lacey loves to camp and hike around Arkansas with her husband, who served two tours of duty in Iraq. Her favorite trip—an absolute dream, Lacey says—was her journey with Jeff to the Maldives and Dubai, a major bucket list item. She has also enjoyed travels to Italy, Germany, a Rhine river cruise, and even a 4,000-mile road trip through the entire state of Florida and both of the Carolinas.
LACEY JAMES
Leisure & Corporate Air Services
Mildred has worked with Poe for over 30 years, helping all of us keep on the straight and narrow—no small task! During her time here, she has traveled extensively, alighting on almost every continent on the globe. An all-time favorite trip was to South Africa, where she had the ultimate safari experience. When not traveling, Mildred she enjoys being an active Episcopalian and spending time with her three daughters and their families. (She’s a proud grandmother of six!)
MILDRED COOPER
Accounting Manager
Macie is a busy bee here at Poe Travel, assisting various people and teams around the office to keep things running smoothly. With a bachelor's degree in General Studies with a focus on Health Science and an associate degree in General Studies with a focus on Business, Macie's range of education is a huge asset to the team. Though she started with us here in Little Rock, she now works remotely from North Carolina, where she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two dogs. As if that isn’t exciting enough, Macie and her husband are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first child in August. When she’s not busy with work or family, Macie loves to explore new places and cultures. Her travel bucket list includes dream destinations in Southeast Asia and Africa, where she can soak up the natural beauty and connect with locals. Macie’s passion for learning about different cultures and way of life is contagious, and she looks forward to broadening her horizons with every adventure.
MACIE WHITNEY
Administrative Assistant
Breana handles all of our marketing, from our Wanderblog to our social media to our PoeGo magazine and beyond. Her studies took her from a BA in English to an MFA in Creative Writing. She came to us from the insurance industry and fell in love with travel. Though Breana got her start at Poe Travel right here in Little Rock, she now works remotely from her new home in the UK. When she started at Poe Travel back in 2016, she never imagined just how far it would take her—literally! She met her English husband at Virtuoso Travel Week, and the rest is history. When she isn’t working, Breana enjoys reading (like, a ridiculous amount of reading), walking her three dogs, exploring her surroundings in England, and occasionally doing a little writing of her own. Breana’s favorite travels include a trip from atmospheric Edinburgh through the Scottish Highlands on the Belmond Royal Scotsman, a road trip through New England during leaf-peeping season, and an unforgettable week on the Greek island of Crete, where she fell in love with the scenery, the food, and the people. Her travel bucket list is still long, with far-flung places like New Zealand and the Galapagos Islands topping the list.
BREANA DUMBRELL
Marketing Director
Prior to joining team Poe, Delanie worked in multi-family property management in Mississippi and Arkansas. Her degree in Business Management coupled with her 12 years' experience managing invoices and bill payment systems mean she's right at home here in our accounting department. When she's not crunching the numbers at the office, Delanie loves spending time with family, gardening, estate sales, crafting, walking nature trails with her husband and Papipoo, and—of course!—traveling. After her first flight to California at age eight, Delanie was hooked, so much so that her dream job for many of her childhood years was to be a flight attendant. Now, she gets to live the best of both worlds, being able to experience the world while also being close to home with her family. She can't narrow her travels down to a favorite trip, but instead she lists some of her favorite memories: the jazzy tones of New Orleans; fresh lobster rolls in Portland, Maine; lights and music on Broadway in New York City; the seashell beaches off the coast of Tybee Island, Georgia; and the sea turtle farms of the Cayman Islands. She's still got lots of destinations on her travel to-do list, with Paris being at the top of the list.
DELANIE ATCHISON
Accounting
A mother of six, Ann has a background in education and has worked at Poe Travel part-time since 2017. Ann and family are outdoor enthusiasts; they love to camp, hike, go caving, really, any and all outdoor activities. They are active and sporty like that. In 2017 they all piled into an RV and traveled cross country for the summer, star gazing, hiking, and making many memories along the way. A couple of years ago Ann and daughter Abbey went to Tanzania to teach English to the Maasai and volunteer at a school, helping set up social programs for high school kids. Someday she would like to return to East Africa with the rest of her family. Ann is an all-around delightful person, and we’re lucky to have her.
ANN STRAESSLE
Documents Designer
