John Connors has over 30 years of experience in sales, service, operations, and human resources management in the travel industry. His vision is to develop customer-centric teams that exceed expectations and make the organization an employer of choice. He has led mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and organizational changes. Key career achievements include growing leisure travel sales from $9.4M to $83M and developing new strategic plans and unique travel experiences. He holds an SPHR certification and has served on various industry boards. His target positions include VP/Managing Director roles focusing on operations, human resources, and product development at travel-related organizations.

1. John P. Connors, SPHR
Charlotte, NC 28269
Cell: (716) 982-8401 johnconnors229@gmail.com
Vision Statement
I aspire to develop and lead teams of successful sales and service professionals for a renowned
service sector employer assuring strategic growth of the organization, while:
- developing complementary customer-centric distribution
- exceeding customer expectations
- influencing the core values and culture to make the organization an employer of choice
Career History
AAA Carolinas Branch Sales Manager 2009-
AAA Auto Club South Managing Director 2006-2008
AAA Western and Central New York Vice President, Travel 1994-2006
AAA Western New York Vice President, Travel and Human Resources 1985-1994
Areas of Expertise
Operations Human Resources Product Development
Core Expertise: Core Expertise: Core Expertise:
Sales and Service Strategic Management Innovation and
Management Compensation and Differentiation
Customer Satisfaction Benefits Negotiations and P&L
Training & Development Performance Management
Bricks & Mortar, Call Management Controlled Growth
Center and Internet Training & Development Project Management
Distribution Employee Relations Risk Management
Merger Transitions Managing Restructuring
Global Expertise:
Customer Service
Passionate about building strong teams that provide exceptional customer service. Trained teams and team
leaders to know their customers, anticipate their needs and wants, and sell them appropriate products and
services to exceed their expectations. Successfully trained, transitioned and developed service providers into
sales producers creating new revenue stream while enhancing overall customer satisfaction.
Merger Transitions
Led multiple cross functional teams representing seven mergers and acquisitions through transition process
achieving buy-in and loyalty to the new organization. Developed consistent regular communications to keep all
associates informed of changes and progress towards transition team and overall corporate goals.
Organizational Development
Led the organization through restructuring of distribution. Analyzed and projected customer usage and
relevancy of bricks & mortar offices and the growth of call center and internet transactions. Implemented stay-
move-close decisions impacting multiple locations. Personally conducted all meetings with impacted associates
and communicated changes throughout the organization, to customers and to communities. Evaluated multiple
metrics of results over a multi-year period.

2. Career Achievements
 Changed product mix and increased sales from $9.4 million to $83 million in leisure
travel sales through creation of job families, skill base routing and directed sales.
 Led Regional Travel consortium in developing a new strategic plan, changing the
purpose of the organization from negotiating regional agreements to a joint training and
marketing association.
 Chartered, marketed, and sold unique travel package that included the British Airways
Concorde’s one and only flight ever into Buffalo, NY.
 Chartered European River cruise ships, created value-added, differentiated
experiences and sold out sailings creating new profits and enhanced image in Travel.
 Led a group of Travel Executives on a tour to Cuba utilizing cultural licenses to develop
new experiential opportunities for international tourism.
 Achieved top producer status for sales of Holland America Line, Travel Impressions,
Pleasant Holidays, and American Tours International.
 Achieved national recognition as the AAA Disney Club of the Year.
 Developed, published, trained management, and communicated to associates new,
formal Human Resources policies. Wrote and published new Employee Handbook.
Education / Professional Leadership
- Bachelor of Science in Education, SUNY College at Buffalo
- Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, certificate program “Creating the Future, the
Challenge of Transformational Leadership”
- Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certified, May 2009
- Co-chair and member of AAA National Preferred Supplier Selection Committee
- President, AAA Greentree, Travel Industry Consortium
- Chairman, Board Member of the Amherst, NY Chamber of Commerce
- Board Member, Buffalo/Niagara Convention and Visitors Bureau
Target Positions / Organizations
Operations Human Resources Product Development
Pres-CEO/VP VP/Managing Director VP/Managing Director
AAA AAA AAA
Walt Disney Attractions Publix Walt Disney Attractions
Travel Corp American Red Cross Buffalo-Niagara CVB
Visit Charlotte United Way Delaware North
Holland America Cruise Line Visit Charlotte Globus Family of Brands
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Delaware North Travel Corp
Buffalo-Niagara CVB Wegmans Visit Charlotte
Universal Orlando Resort OSI Restaurant Partners Holland America Cruise Line
Clearwater Regional Buffalo-Niagara CVB Visit Tampa Bay
Chamber of Commerce Visit Tampa Bay Port Promotions
Visit Tampa Bay Holland America Cruise Line