Tom Ollinger

President and Chief Operations Officer

703-647-7029    9 am-5:30 pm

 

Tom grew up in rural southern New Jersey and began developing his customer service skills at the early age of 14 - working summers, after school, and holidays for a family owned produce and garden center throughout high school and college.  He attended Drake University (1975-1979, B.A. Journalism) and began his professional career with a marketing firm in Des Moines, IA representing manufacturers selling to the US Military Exchange system.  Tom quickly achieved “road warrior” status, traveling to over one third of the fifty states in an 18 month period.

Tom entered into the travel industry in 1984 with an agency arranging travel for foreign students to study at U.S. universities and colleges.  Two years later, he joined EWA Travel as an international travel counselor servicing Winrock International, Gannett, USA Today, and others.  Tom recently celebrated 25 years at EWA Travel and is currently the President and Chief Operations Officer.

Tom’s philosophy of flat line management enables him to maintain intimate contact with staff, stay close to the ‘heartbeat’ of clients’ needs, and keep abreast of the ever changing travel industry at the grass roots level.   As a result, EWA has one of the highest staff retention rates (12 ½ years average tenure) and one of the best client retention rates.

 Tom enjoys traveling for both knowledge and pleasure, and has traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia, and has most recently been to Dubai, South Africa, and Botswana. His favorite vacation destination is Italy – the cuisine, the people, the culture, the history. 

Tom has been married for nearly 30 years and has two sons. Hobbies and activities include golf, gardening, culinary adventures, home entertaining, and exploring new places that entice the senses.  He is active in community projects such as Feed the Homeless through church related organizations.