{"id":519,"date":"2025-03-31T18:38:28","date_gmt":"2025-03-31T18:38:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bennett-travel.com\/blog\/?p=519"},"modified":"2025-10-21T15:55:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T15:55:50","slug":"operations-development-and-finance-teams-thrive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bennett-travel.com\/blog\/2025\/03\/operations-development-and-finance-teams-thrive\/","title":{"rendered":"Operations, Development and Finance Teams Thrive"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three talented women lead the Operations, Development and Finance teams for the MTC Family of Brands. Read more about their impact below.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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In seven years with MTC\u2019s Operations team, Jeni Burgett has built a career around organization and efficiency. With a background in accounting and finance, her ability to manage complex logistics ensures smooth trips for thousands of students.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best advice I can give a new operations specialist is to enjoy any time you have during the offseason because the busy season will be here before you know it,\u201d Jeni said.<\/p>\n

One of her biggest challenges came during a training trip to NYC when a blizzard shut down the New Jersey Turnpike. \u201cWe had to find hotel rooms for 150 travelers overnight,\u201d she said. \u201cThanks to our team back at the office who found two hotels to house everyone and rebooked a few things, we made it to the city only one day late. The group performed at Carnegie Hall as scheduled and the only event we missed was seeing the Statue of Liberty. It was a successful trip in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Being able to help others – from the travelers to the client to all of my coworkers – is what brings me the most joy.”<\/p>\n

Jeni Burgett<\/strong>, Assistant Director of Trip Operations \u2013 Music Travel Consultants<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“I told Mark Harting [CEO] about a year after starting at MTC that I had searched my whole life trying to figure out what I wanted to do \u2018when I grew up\u2019 and I finally felt like I had found the place where I am able to use my talents and skills fully along with enjoying the work that I am doing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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From chaperoning trips to leading Trip Development, Terie Thompson has worn many hats during her decade with MTC. Currently serving as Assistant Director of Trip Development, she has a talent for balancing countless details while fostering a collaborative work environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the work itself, the ability to filter through countless details to select those most pertinent to specific trips is vital,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cFor the staff, learning ways to compassionately communicate with each other is a skill that we continuously pursue.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Terie loves the SYTA<\/a> annual conference, where she can connect with vendors and industry colleagues face-to-face. \u201cI met an amazing vendor at my very first SYTA, and seven years later, he reached out to me for MTC to partner with the American Museum of Natural History,\u201d she said. \u201cThey wanted to explore the possibility of offering the museum as a performance venue for student groups. As a result, we have two groups inaugurating their performance program. It\u2019s really exciting!\u201d<\/p>\n