The Destination Experts
Photo credit: Vladimir Kvashnin
Our expert travel planners whether here or in the field representing our destination network are exceptionally well-traveled and extremely knowledgeable about our destinations. We couple an unrivaled depth of experience with an unmitigated enthusiasm for culture, history, language and geography.
This wealth of experience, personal connections and intuition benefits our clients immeasurably.
Central Asia Operations
Born and raised in Samarkand, Abdu Samadov is full of inside information about his hometown, and virtually all of Uzbekistan. He has studied in England and the U.S. and is fluent in English, Farsi, and Russian. Abdu works on special development projects and guides MIR’s travelers throughout Uzbekistan, Central Asia, and the Middle East, as one of our top tour managers. He loves sharing his deep knowledge and travel tips with other travelers.
Sales Manager
Amy Stidger hails from Texas where she earned a B.A. in history and an M.A. in Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies. She has studied Russian in Moscow and Voronezh, Eastern Armenian in Yerevan, and has traveled around Europe, Russia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Her recent travels include Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
Trip Planning Assistant
Ana Pataridze joined the travel industry in 2017, arranging a wide variety of private and group tours in the South Caucasus region. She is passionate about nature, culture, history, and wine production. Ana has participated in an exchange program in the U.S., learning more about globalization and the inter-connectedness of the world. Fluent in English, Russian, and her native Georgian, she now aspires to learn Spanish. She has a small winery near Tbilisi and enjoys using Georgian grape varieties to make wine in her spare time.
Director of Service & Support
Andrew Barron studied Chinese and Russian in college and spent a year living and working outside of Beijing. His travels have taken him across China from Xi’an to Lhasa, on an extended overland expedition from Shanghai to Urumqi, through Chinese Turkestan, and from Western Russia to Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan at the heart of Central Asia.
Vice President
Annie Lucas has been with the company since the very early years. Her background in Russian & Eastern European studies serves her in her role overseeing company-wide operations, systems, and product development. With a passion for out-of-the-way places (favorites include Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan), Annie personally scouts emerging destinations and has an extensive travel history. She represents the company at industry trade events in the U.S. and around the globe. Recent travels include multiple trips to Georgia, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia.
Trip Planning Assistant
A native and current resident of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Aruna Mederbekova has nearly 10 years of experience in the hospitality and travel industries. She has worked with a leading local Kyrgyz tour operator on their educational/outbound programs, in addition to managing and coordinating guest services at hotels in Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Thailand, and the Maldives. Aruna is excited to continue her career in the travel industry, especially expanding her experience outside of hotels. Aruna speaks excellent English in addition to her native languages, Kyrgyz and Russian. She majored in History at the Kyrgyz National University in Bishkek.
Senior Trip Planner
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, now residing in Salt Lake City, Corinne has spent over 15 years creating and coordinating custom and group experiences around the world for curious and intrepid explorers. Some of Corinne’s favorite experiences have been in Iran, Central Asia, Pakistan and India. She is an advocate of learning from the unknown and sharing discovery through foreign travel, and is thrilled to continue that pursuit with MIR. Recent travels include a summer visit to the country of Georgia.
Central Asia Operations
Dmitry was born in the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan and today lives in the city of Tashkent. He has worked as a Tour Specialist in MIR’s Tashkent office for many years. A talented singer and chef, Dmitry speaks Russian, Korean, and English – useful since his favorite countries are Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, the U.S., Uzbekistan, and Korea.
Director of Custom Group Tours
Dmitry Rudich grew up in Ukraine and traveled in his home country as well as the South Caucasus, and Turkiye before coming to the U.S. for an international business degree. Since then, he has been from the snow-capped mountains of Tajikistan to Eastern China, and from the Baltics to Budapest, and he has also traversed Central Asia with a contingent of Land Rovers and crossed Turkiye from Lake Van to Istanbul by train. Recent travels include visits to Hungary and Estonia.
President and Co-founder
Douglas was inspired to grow the company after traveling to the Soviet Union in the mid-1980s on a goodwill exchange between members of the Soviet Olympic volleyball team and players of the sport from 11 U.S. states. He has made over 120 trips to our destinations and is a member of the Explorers Club. Whether exploring archaeological sites in Central Asia and the Caucasus or leading specialty tours, Douglas’s trips have spanned MIR’s destinations since our inception in 1986. Recent travels include Georgia, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq including Kurdistan, Iran and Armenia.
Trip Planning Assistant
Born and raised in Bishkek, and currently residing there, Elmurat has a background in the travel industry with three years at a leading local tour operator and an additional year working with the World Nomad Games. Elmurat also co-manages an educational study abroad travel company with his sister. Elmurat is passionate about this work, which helps provide young Kyrgyz women with educational opportunities in Europe. Elmurat also has experience with marketing and public relations work in the tech industry and for nonprofits. Elmurat majored in International and Comparative Politics at the American University of Central Asia. He speaks Kyrgyz, Russian, and English.
Central Asia Operations
Elvira Nadirova is a native of Tashkent, Uzbekistan and a graduate of Tashkent State Technical University, where she participated in USAID projects that allowed her to apply her accounting background on a global scale. Elvira enjoys studying homeopathic medicine and spending time hiking and exploring the mountains outside of Tashkent with her daughter.
Senior Trip Planner
Currently based in Seattle, Greg Mazzola has been curating and delivering travel experiences for more than 17 years as an expedition leader, product development manager and customer service agent. He developed an affinity for China’s rich culture after four years guiding small groups throughout the country and during teaching stints there. Greg has planned and delivered trips on every continent, except Antarctica, and adamantly believes in the power of positive travel. As a Wine and Spirits Education Trust Level 3 certified sommelier, he also enjoys exploring the world through a glass of wine, and recently explored the country of Georgia–the birthplace of wine.
Special Projects
Jake Smith earned a degree in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Washington. While working on his degree, Jake’s participation in two study-abroad programs in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan reinforced his passion for Central Asia. Jake went on to spend six years supporting educational and cultural exchange programs in Central Asia with an international nonprofit, four years of which were based in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. His most recent travels include China, the South Caucasus, and Kamchatka.
Director of Air Travel/Logistics
Jered Gorman was born in Seoul and lived in the Netherlands and Germany as a child before settling in the Pacific Northwest. Jered studied in Guilin toward a degree in Chinese studies, and he has traveled throughout China, Mongolia, Southeast and Central Asia, Europe, Turkey, and Georgia.
Director of Sales
Joanna Millick was born in Warsaw and speaks a host of Slavic languages. Her experience in Poland as a tour manager complements her master’s degree in international studies. She has led groups through the Balkans and has explored high-end hotels and attractions in the United Arab Emirates. Joanna is our resident expert on Jewish Heritage tours in East and Central Europe, and has led tours to Holocaust sites in Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. She most recently traveled to the Baltic nations of Estonia and Latvia, as well as to the South Caucasus countries of Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Trip Planning Assistant
With a diverse background in the tourism industry, business development, and quality management, Lika also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (BBA) from The University of Georgia. She is fluent in English and her native Georgian, and has a good command of Russian and is currently studying Spanish. Lika loves travelling and aspires to visit as many countries as possible. She believes each journey is an opportunity to explore new cultures, forge connections, and broaden our horizons.
Travel Designer
Lisa Peterson earned her degree in international studies from the University of Washington and taught English and history in Romania and Russia. She has also studied in Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, and Zagreb, and returns almost every year. Lisa has recently explored Uzbekistan, Macedonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and has spent time wine tasting and truffle hunting in Croatia.
Director, Ukraine Operations
Luba Rudenko is, first and foremost, Ukrainian. Fluent in Ukrainian, English, Czech, and Russian, Luba graduated from the Foreign Language Department of Uzhgorod State University in western Ukraine. She led tours for nearly two decades in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and has traveled extensively as a tour manager across the Baltics, Ukraine and Central Asian countries, as well as India, Malaysia, Turkey, and beyond. Luba lives in Kyiv with her husband. **The Ukraine office is not active at this time**
Trip Planning Assistant
Markhabat (“Markie”), is a native of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, but she currently lives in Budapest, Hungary. There she is studying at the Budapest Business School – University of Applied Sciences, in the Faculty of Commerce, Hospitality and Tourism. Prior to moving to Hungary, Markie spent nearly two years working for a leading tour operator in Bishkek, primarily on their outbound programs. She has also taught English and worked as an assistant to the ambassador of South Korea to Kyrgyzstan. Markie speaks fluent Kyrgyz and Russian, excellent English, and is also learning German.
Director, Central Asia Operations
Mikhail heads up MIR’s office in Tashkent, Central Asia. Born in Moscow, Mikhail has lived in Uzbekistan for more than 20 years and has worked for MIR almost the whole time. He speaks Russian and English, and says his favorite countries are Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, the United States, Uzbekistan, and New Zealand.
Marketing Manager
Driven by her passion for global affairs, Mariam ventures into the world of travel and marketing with finesse. With over eight years of marketing experience and degrees in public relations and public administration, she designs strategies that connect travelers with destinations. She believes that dream odysseys go beyond the everyday, and should each be a vivid tapestry of histories, flavors of local cuisines, notes of fine wines, and the cultural richness of each destination. Coming from the nation of Georgia – a land that has nearly everything a traveler could want – and with travel experience in the Middle East and Europe, she understands how to craft unforgettable adventures that become a part of a traveler’s own narrative.
Senior Trip Planner
Suzanne has spent her Boston based career working at global tour operators, international educational organizations, and in academia, inspiring both students and adults to partake in life changing experiences through travel. She has a passion for lifelong learning and her wanderlust has taken her around the world to more than 60 countries across six continents. She has firsthand experience visiting under-explored places across Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Recent travels include Croatia, Montenegro, and Georgia.
Trip Planning Assistant
Living in Tbilisi, Georgia, Tata has a degree in Business Administration from the Saint Andrew the First-Called Georgian University of the Patriarchate of Georgia. She is also working towards a certificate in Hospitality Management from Cornell University. Tata manages her own ceramics production start-up in Georgia, in addition to running an Airbnb and working as a freelance translator. Tata has also spent time working with a local TV news station in Tbilisi and also working with international customer service for a pet supply company. Tata speaks Georgian, English, and Russian.
Trip Planning Assistant
A native of Georgia, Tornike has a background primarily in information systems and web design. He has worked for several for-profit tech companies in Tbilisi, including customer service at the country’s largest internet provider. Tornike’s first experience in the travel industry was as a front office administrator at the Rixos Borjomi. Tornike worked in that role for nearly three years. He is now excited to spend some time learning more about the industry with MIR. Tornike speaks Georgian, English, and Russian. [Tornike is the cousin of MIR Tour Manager Davit Nozadze]
South Caucasus Operations
Tvalta spent her university years pursuing fashion design at I. Nikoladze Art collage in Tbilisi and multimedia design degrees at Tbilisi State Academy of Arts. She has worked professionally as a graphic designer and photographer, as well as spent a decade teaching university-level design courses. In 2017 she embarked on a path in the field of tourism and never looked back. Tvalta speaks English and Russian in addition to her native Georgian.
