San Diego 2012

MPG 2012 San Diego is complete. Check out a full listing of all of our local meet ups here.

2012 San Diego MPG“The event really gave me an extra umph because I realized that I’m not alone, there are others out there who are just as crazy (or sane) as I am!”
– 2011 Attendee

If you are tired of two weeks of vacation time and want to break away from the cube to explore the world, then don’t miss out on this event!

Date: Tuesday, October 16th | Doors: 6pm
Moby Dick Fish Market & Grill | 4805 Convoy Street

Not sure? Read Why You Should Attend Meet, Plan, Go!

NOTE: There are no refunds once tickets are purchased. If you wish to transfer your ticket to someone else, you will need to update your attendee information (including all survey questions). Upon registering, create an EventBrite login in order to access your account information later.

Meet Your Host: Elaine Masters

Elaine MastersElaine J. Masters grew up taking road trips and is a travel writer, international scuba diver, award-winning author of Drivetime Yoga and a Yoga teacher. She’s lived in many major cities (and a few smaller ones) along the west coast from Juneau, Alaska to San Diego, CA. Her podcast, The Gathering Road, airs on the WRN. Her stories and travel tips are at TripWellness.com and DrivetimeYoga.com.

Elaine’s been mentioned on NBC New York Go Healthy, Women’s Day Magazine, San Diego Living, Fox.com, Huffington Post, Meetings & Conventions Magazine & Passporter.com. She has spoken at NATJA, SYTAR, San Diego Meeting Planners, hospitals, hospice, businesses and networking groups helping commuters, business and recreational travelers stay happy, pain free and productive. One of her favorite memories is teaching Flytime Yoga at thirty thousand feet on a flight to Fiji! Education: Yoga Certification – Natural Healing Institute, BA – Interdisciplinary Arts, SF State and a BFA in Theater Arts, Cornish Institute.

Website: Trip Wellness | Twitter: @tripwellness | Facebook: Elaine Masters

San Diego Panelists

Wayne & Pat DunlapWayne & Pat Dunlap
Wayne Dunlap, author of Plan Your Escape, is a travel TV host and travel columnist for the Huffington Post. Wayne and his wife, Pat, recently rented their home and traveled the world for two years visiting 51 countries and are members of the exclusive Travelers’ Century Club. Pat Dunlap, a winner of Entrepreneur of the Year for San Diego, says: “Choosing to run away with my husband and best friend has been the most rewarding lifestyle change one can make. It’s brought us closer together.”

Website: Plan Your Escape & Unhook Now | Twitter: @wdunlap

Kathi DiamantKathi Diamant
Traveling the world as part of a theatrical family led Kathi Diamant to her career in media. While in college, she discovered the role that Kafka’s mistress, Dora Diamant, played in preserving his work. That discovery led her to years of research and months abroad before publishing the Geisel award-winning book, Kafka’s Last Love. Kathi Diamant is also an actor, freelance writer and broadcaster who teaches and leads the acclaimed SDSU Kafka Project.

Website: KathiDiamant.com | Twitter: @kathidiamantFacebook: KafkaProject FB page

Jennifer O'ConnorJennifer O’Connor
Jennifer O’Connor is a co-founder of Groundwork Opportunities (GO), a San Francisco based NGO that works to fight poverty through community led solutions. Jennifer leads GO’s development and program teams and has more than 7 years’ experience in international philanthropy and working with communities in Africa, Asia, and South America. Her work is focused on promoting community-led development and on reaching the disenfranchised with access to basic services and human rights.

Website: Groundwork Opportunities | Twitter: @goworksFacebook: Jennifer O’Connor on FB

Justin SkeesuckJustin Skeesuck
Justin Skeesuck (The Disabled Traveler) teaches and encourages people with disabilities how to successfully navigate and conquer the many challenges they’re faced in life and when traveling. A motivational speaker and trainer, his authentic, powerful, and hilarious storytelling.

Website: The Disabled Traveler | Twitter: @DisabledTravelrFacebook: TheDisabledTraveler FB page

Brian SetzerBrian Setzer
Brian Setzer is a two time career breaker, first taking a one year leave of absence to travel in 2006. In 2010 he left his job and set off for Alaska on a motorcycle. Since then he walked 500 miles across Spain and just returned from Colombia.

Website: Bike & BootsFacebook: Bike & Boots FB page

Lenore GreinerLenore Greiner
At 17 Lenore took off for Mexico to live with a family and by 19 she was an expatriate, studying in Italy. Since then, she has snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, galloped with Argentine gauchos, chanted in India, and danced with Maoris. Today, as a travel writer/author/blogger, she founded TravelGearForWomen.com to help women travel brilliantly.

Website: Travel Gear For Women | Twitter: @LenoreGreinerFacebook: TravelGearForWomen FB page

Shelley MillerShelley Miller
Shelley Miller grew up taking road trips. Thirty years later travel thrills her still. Today she and her family visit international homes and cottages for extended stays through a network of exchanges. Shelley founded Home Exchange Expert.com to help others travel more frequently and never say, “I wish we could afford to travel’, instead of asking, “Where should we go next?’

Website: Home Exchange Expert | Twitter: @HomeExchangeKeyFacebook: HomeExchangeExpert FB page

Mandy MorrisseyMandy Morrissey
Mandy has been wandering and traveling the globe for more than 10 years and has racked up the stamps of more than 60 countries in her passports. Her travels began with the requisite backpacking trip around Europe after college. She has also sailed in the Greek Islands, camped around New Zealand in the back of a converted Subaru, and participated in small group adventures throughout Southeast Asia, Morocco, Central America and Russia. Mandy has also lived in both Australia and New Zealand. She has worked in the travel industry for 10 years and is currently the US Sales Manager for Intrepid Travel.

Website: Intrepid Travel

John Berglund
After successful careers as an attorney, lobbyist, trade-association executive and bowling industry
magnate, Berglund tired of the corporate rat race.  He was also tired of winters bundled in layers of long johns, shoveling snow. “Everybody has their own version of paradise,” he says. “Whatever it may be, Paradise is within reach – with a little planning.”

An essential part of planning was deciding what to do for a living once he got to the French-Caribbean island of St. Martin, where Berglund embarked on his new career path as a perfumer with his wife of more than 30 years, Cyndi. He will be talking about the steps – and the missteps – he took as he and his wife crafted an idyllic new life for themselves.

Website: A Beach Less Traveled

Career Break Guide Table of Contents

Meet Plan Go