Cover Human Resources 2 Message from the Chief Conductor MEET JOANNA HUESTES! 3, 13, 14 If You Only Knew... HTA’S NEW DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES 3 Welcome Aboard oanna comes to HTA from the 4-5 St. Augustine Tampa Bay area where she had 5 CAST Anniversaries over 15 years of corporate human 6 Vendor Spotlight resources experience. Most recent - ly, Joanna handled Human 6 Someone’s in the Kitchen With... J Resources for 300 people in large 7 Puzzles, Games, and Trivia financial call center. She has also HR 8 Washington, D.C. experience in the rental car industry, the 9 Savannah medical field, and retail management. 10 Ghost and Gravestons, Key West As a graduate of the University of South Florida, she earned a Bachelor of Arts 11 Personality Profile degree in Communications with an empha - 12 Conch Tour Train sis on public speaking and performing arts. 14 Famous Faces Joanna also holds the certification of 15 CASTmembers of the Month “Senior Professional in Human Resources” 16-18 San Diego from the HR Certification Institute. She is a 19 Key West member of the National Society for Human Resource Management and has recently 20 Boston joined the local Florida Keys Chapter. Joanna Huestis Her and her husband Eric were married thought I would actually get an interview. in St. Thomas, V.I. 10 years ago and devel - It was a Saturday, after spending the day oped a love for all things tropical. working in my yard, that I got the call from She went on lots of cruises, spent Chris Belland that was about to change my lots of time in the Keys on vaca - life. tion and all the while dreamed From there it was a whirlwind! She came about the possibility of relocating to Key West for the interview and was very here. She explored the different impressed with everyone that she met at the islands in the Keys & spent time in corporate office. Later that week Herschel many of them. While learning Hayo called me her with a job offer. At about the area through articles that moment she knew Eric and -- her were online and even met with a about to begin a new adventure. Realtor to look at homes for sale. She is very excited about her new career The only thing that stood in the path with HTA and our new life in the way was finding a great job. Florida Keys. After a while we just gave up During her free time, you will find Joanna on the idea, because it just Joanna and her husband Eric’s boat Salty Paws. and her husband on their boat, “Salty seemed to be out of reach. Then, Paws” enjoying the beautiful waters of the I saw the ad for the HR Director Florida Keys. at HTA. I applied, but never FROM THE CHIEF CONDUCTOR What it Takes for Success in School is Pretty Much the Same for Life - An Open Letter to the Sons and Daughters of HTA CASTmembers BY: CHRISTOPHER C. BELLAND Chief Executive Officer, Historic Tours of America, Inc. s you begin the new school read the word, but “Now” is always when year, I wanted to share some you should seek to do and be your best. thoughts about the elements of Contrary to the popular saying, opportuni - endeavor and accomplishment ty knocks many times in life but sometimes A and the difference between fail - it is a fleeting chance to do, say or be a per - ure and success. I do this knowing much of son of whom you can be proud. At the what I say may go unheeded for we some - same time, it is true that, “The time and tide times must make our own decisions and wait for no man.” Get the best information subsequent mistakes. I know I did. that you can, listen to the people you trust Anything built to last has a foundation. and, finally, rely on your own counsel and Make no mistake that you are building your when that is done, seize the day! life and the only foundation for a successful, A very wise man in dirty clothes driving a fulfilling and happy life is integrity. “My rusty pick up truck once told me, “Pride word is my bond” is more important than goeth before a fall.” He turned out to be the ever before in today’s fast moving, discon - richest man in the town where I grew up nected society. The firm handshake and and it taught me a great lesson in pre-judg - direct look in the eye have an indefinable ing people. I also took to heart his words, a power that can overcome fear, doubt and quote from a biblical verse. It is well to go most obstacles in human relations. Integrity through life with a self awareness of who builds trust which is a two-way street but as you are and of what you are capable. There fragile as a spider’s web. In all undertakings is nothing to be gained from being superior you will either have integrity or you won’t. because there will always be someone actions, you will never lose at anything you There is no degree of it. smarter, faster or better looking than you. do and you will grow as a person. Everything you do in school and in life Always be nice to people on your way up Sign your work, your relationships and will involve the quid pro quo of human rela - through life because you may very well your charity with the best of yourself. Many tions. You will take and you will give. Over meet them on the way down. times it will not be enough and when it is two thousand years ago the rabbi philoso - Never confuse failure as loss or success as not, be accountable for your actions. pher, Hillel, said, “If I am not for myself, gain. Failure can be the greatest teaching Do not be afraid to be yourself. There has who will be? If I am only for myself, what experience you will ever have. Mark Twain never been anyone like you before, there is am I? If not now, when?” This has always once said, “Good judgment comes from no other one like you now and there will meant to me that we must first be for our - experience, much of which comes from bad never be someone like you in the future. selves. We are obliged to do those things judgment.” True success is You are unique. Embrace this. Conformity that are in our best self interest so long as not material gain but growth is repaid with mediocrity. Individuality is they do not unduly or unfairly harm others. of the human spirit. graced with the blessing of knowing yourself At the same time, we cannot achieve any - Remember in every contest or and reaching your own potential. thing without the help of others or be much endeavor there is an outer game Finally, there are two immutable secrets of of a human being without helping others in and an inner contest. No the universe that insure happiness and suc - return. Today is not a rehearsal for tomor - matter what the score or pos - cess that the most learned of people some - row, today is a gift and tomorrow only a sessions realized in the outer times miss. First, you will get everything hope. “Now” is a moving target that will game may be, as long as you you want in life in direct proportion to how change the learn from your much you help other people get what they moment want. Second, do more than what people you expect of you. Put a different way, tell the truth, show up on time and say please and thank you. Oh, and don’t talk with your mouth full. 2 the nation’s storyteller ® July/August 2010 3 TROPICAL SHELL AND GIFT HISTORIC TOURS OF AMERICA Patricia Fox Joanne Huestis Larry Murchison Janos Schaffer KEY WEST SHIPWRECK Katarsha Brown TREASURES MUSEUM Nancy Saas David Casey Megan Stewart Timothy Stroud Maritza Wilder William Marengo SAVANNAH Francisco Duarte Jessica Battle Douglas Nanni Aundre Lark Timur Rakhmatov Petya Kostadinova Anna Radionenko Derek Shiloski KEY WEST Andrew Kotcher William Korte GHOSTS AND GRAVESTONES George Waters Jr. BOSTON Sarah Silverlight Bruce Smith Laurie Skinner Daniel Ferris Darice Edwards Suze Panrock Patricia Martinez Michael Molinaro Jill Vigna Jordan Cooper Chaniqua Bevens Wayne Gilbert KEY WEST AQUARIUM Kimberly Barrett SAN DIEGO Rudolph Brancel Jose Lopez CONCH TOUR TRAIN Reyes Avalos KEY WEST Aaron Paik Samantha Forsythe Michael Pappas Keith Valdez Francisco Noguez-Ballesteros Richard Gray Albert Adkins Andrew Kirby Jr. Joan Akins ST. AUGUSTINE Veronica DeKoster Betty Mayle Melissa Mezick Kyle Williams Nancy Shellenberger WASHINGTON, DC Emily Lay Benjamin Hudnall George Takacs Kalmun Lee SAN DIEGO SEALS Terrie Thomas Joyce Pease Robert Murp Mesha Jones Michelle Nelson Aviya Maverick Brian Thompson Romana Kalinovska Scott Abrams If You Only Knew... ED SWIFT III President, Historic Tours of America The six people I would like to have dinner with are my parents Ed and Helen, grandpar - ents Freida and Ollie, all my children, and stepchildren at the table talking at once. Its a glori - ous noise. My five favorite movies of all time are Four Weddings and a Funeral, It’s a Wonderful Life, Forest Gump, Shakespear in Love, and Moonstruck. (Anything with Jack Nicholson or Meryl Streep.) The four foods I refuse to eat are nothing. (Maybe worms) Three things I am terrified of are root ledges, governement and a scorned woman.