Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Frady
Hi Melanie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Travel has always been a large part of my life. Ever since I was a little girl, my parents made sure that I was able to participate in their travel adventures. Instead of getting dolls at Christmas, I was gifted a trip to Disneyland to meet Mickey Mouse in California. Instead of summer camp, I experienced a flight all by myself to visit my grandparents in Oregon when I was only twelve.
I watched my dad travel the world for his job every week, and every time he came home he would bring back a souvenir of his latest adventure. Each souvenir would make me want to go with him even more, but it never worked out… until it did.
My absolute favorite adventure was the summer when I was fourteen years old. I did not hang out with friends that summer. Instead, I travelled to Russia with my family for a full month. We visited all of the Russian monuments and churches, we ate all of the food, we soaked in all of the culture. I could not get enough of it. It was this trip, this month of culture, that showed me that I had to incorporate travel into my own life.
After marrying my husband Zach in 2002, we experienced beautiful places like Florida, New York, California, London, Hawaii and Italy. We soaked in each destination and wanted to travel more and more. After seven years of travel, we slowed down to start our family. Two kids later, we got into a routine of work, preschool, dinner, repeat.
While on the playground with the kids in 2016, another mom asked about my job. I was a human resources manager during the day, but I loved to help other moms plan trips to Walt Disney World in my spare time. She told me about a company called Travelmation that would allow me to help families plan their travel as a side job. I knew that travel agents were popular years ago, but I had no idea that they were still relevant. After a few nerves, and a few over-the-phone interviews, I was hired. I was now a part- time travel agent. It was so exciting and nerve wracking all at the same time.
Balancing being a wife, raising toddlers, helping a sick parent, working a part time job, and now building my own business on the side was a lot at first. I had to figure out how to make it all fit into my life. As word got out, my client load started to grow substantially. I had found a job that I loved with all my heart, and now families were trusting me with their travel planning. It was exhilarating.
Months later, I left my human resources job to become a full-time travel agent. It was the best decision I could have made. It freed up my time to travel the world, help more families and use what I had learned to grow my business. It also opened my life up to a flexible schedule which I desperately needed. During the summer of 2018 we were unexpectedly relocated from Atlanta to Jacksonville. The relocation agent we worked with during the move was surprised when she asked if I needed help finding a local job. I simply smiled and said “No, My job travels with me.”
On September 20, 2024, I will celebrate eight years with Travelmation. In that time, I have learned so much about the world of travel and about myself. What started as a job sending families to Walt Disney World for a week with Mickey Mouse, has turned into helping families travel the world, supporting companies that are planning corporate events, arranging family reunions, booking birthday getaways and so much more. Instead of clowns and bouncy houses, families are choosing travel for their birthday celebrations. In place of family reunion cookouts, they are taking cruises to the Bahamas. Rather than gifts on Christmas morning, they are creating memories in Europe. I am so blessed that God brought this amazing opportunity into my life, and He continues to help me grow this business on a daily basis.
If you are looking for someone to help plan your next travel getaway or celebration, I am just a click away. Visit me at www.melaniefrady.com
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest struggle is balance. It is difficult to raise a family and grow a small business all at the same time. I talk very honestly with my kids about what we have to do to achieve a healthy balance in our family.
It is a lot of give and take, but we are making it work.
As you know, we’re big fans of Travelmation . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Travelmation is a national, innovative travel agency that creates unforgettable and personalized experiences for clients around the world.
It was started by Adam Duckworth in 2012 simply as a way to help families travel with confidence. Today we have over 2,000 travel advisors, and the growth that we have experienced is unheard of in this industry.
Travelmation uses innovative technology, and modern social media/marketing to reach travelers around the world who are looking for someone to guide them in their travel journey.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Funny enough, traveling was my favorite memory. Our trip to Russia for a month when I was just a kid will always stick with me as the most incredible experience of my life. Walking down those Moscow streets and buying food and soda from vendors in flea markets was my favorite part of the day.
Pricing:
- Complimentary Travel Advisor included with every Travelmation travel booking
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/MelanieFrady
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melaniefrady/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melanie.frady/
