The Zicasso team

Our Team

With spectacular service and innovative technology and always in alignment with our Culture of Excellence, we at Zicasso work together to connect our travelers to the best travel specialists in the world. We’re a diverse team of talented individuals from across the country and the globe who speak many languages and have traveled to the far corners of the planet. From the enchanting deserts of Atacama to the pristine shores of Zanzibar, our collective expertise permeates everything we do.

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Brian Tan

Founder & CEO

Brian Tan

Founder & CEO

Lucky me! My job allows me to explore my big passions: travel, food, photography, and wildlife. I love the adventure of discovery when I travel. For food, my favorite destinations are Italy and Malaysia, where I grew up. Most of all, I love African safaris--the wildlife and scenery create a photographer’s paradise!

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Yuchun Ku

Founder & COO

Yuchun Ku

Founder & COO

Having traveled to over 60 countries, I treasure the moments that I am immersed in the wonder of nature, cute wildlife included. I love forming a genuine connection with local people and life, whether it be following a leopard and her cubs in Botswana to discovering a Tibetan monk’s life journey.

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Alli Ross

Traveler Care Specialist

Alli Ross

Traveler Care Specialist

Growing up with five siblings adopted from the United States, Peru and Korea, I have always had the desire to learn about other cultures. Now based in Denver, I have a true passion for travel. In my years spent as a flight attendant, my husband and I explored the various corners of the world, and we are just getting started. When we are not traveling, you can find me snuggling with my pups, reading good books and always planning my next adventure!

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Andrew Kern

Traveler Care Specialist

Andrew Kern

Traveler Care Specialist

Originally from Ohio, I've spent the past seven years in sunny Colorado, filling my time with skiing, camping, & exploring different breweries. Having been to 25 countries, I've learned that travel is one of the best ways to bring people together, and I'm excited to work in an industry that does just that!

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Benjamin Snoha

Front-End Developer

Benjamin Snoha

Front-End Developer

Also known as the Snoha Constrictor, I am a Developer known for often programming with a Rubik’s cube in hand. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, I moved to Denver in 2014 to pursue a degree in Computer Science from the University of Denver. After graduation, I began working at Zicasso and have never looked back!

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Brandon Evans

Marketing Team Lead

Brandon Evans

Marketing Team Lead

Born and raised in Northern California, my family always encouraged travel as I grew up. Once I studied abroad in Bolzano, Italy, and backpacked through Europe, I became addicted. I love to surf, spearfish, kayak, and relax on the beach. My passion for the ocean and traveling eventually influenced me to spend eight months living and working in Australia.

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Brennen Bull

Lead Software Engineer

Brennen Bull

Lead Software Engineer

I grew up in the Southeast and spent most of my time climbing in the mountains of North Carolina. I've traveled all over the U.S. for climbing, had plenty of adventures, and made many awesome friends along the way. Now I have my roots in Colorado, where I can get into the mountains almost every weekend.

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Camila Schinca Nigro

Traveler Care Support Specialist

Camila Schinca Nigro

Traveler Care Support Specialist

A born-and-bred Buenos Aires local, I am fueled by a relentless love for travel. When I'm not dreaming up adventures, I'm in the kitchen baking up a storm for my loved ones or diving into stories from every corner of the literary world. And when the engines roar on the Formula 1 track, you'll catch me cheering passionately in front of the TV, an avid enthusiast of the racing world.

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Charlotte Taylor

Partnerships Manager

Charlotte Taylor

Partnerships Manager

Originally from the U.K my passion for travel started as early as I can remember with my main aim being to live in Spain. Straight after leaving school I started a successful career in the travel industry to help my dream become a reality. Nearly five years ago, I relocated to Southern Spain with my young daughter and the rest is history! In my spare time, you will find me by the beach with a jug of Sangria and Gambas Pil-Pil looking out at the glorious Mediterranean Ocean!

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Chris Brewer

Vice President of Engineering

Chris Brewer

Vice President of Engineering

Growing up in Northern California, my earliest memories are of hiking through the redwoods and giant sequoias. After graduating from California State University Sacramento, I embarked on a career in technology that has allowed me to travel around the United States and abroad and do the thing I love the most: building amazing technology for amazing people.

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Christopher Pitman

Digital Marketing Specialist

Christopher Pitman

Digital Marketing Specialist

While you won’t find lions roaming the streets in a hurry, safari trips are a breeze growing up in South Africa. I’ve been fortunate to frequent the world’s best national parks and travel overseas with my family. After graduating, I switched gears from my advertising day job and started travel writing from a condo in Thailand. When I’m not traveling or writing about my travels, I’m flipping through comics, fiddling with music production software, and competitive gaming.

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Denise Chambers

Photo Editor

Denise Chambers

Photo Editor

As a travel photographer, I've been fortunate to explore most of America's top cities as well as several international destinations. When I'm not traveling, I can be found hiking around Pikes Peak with my family or enjoying a bottle of wine with friends. Perpetually in search of new experiences, I am most at home somewhere I've never been.

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Doug Weissman

Lead Travel Writer

Doug Weissman

Lead Travel Writer

I took a year abroad in college to Florence, Italy, without ever having been out of the country before. I craved adventure, excitement, people, and above all else, food. I found it all, and I have been to 45 countries since. As someone with an overactive sense of fantasy, I always love when the world surpasses my imagination.

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Dylan Neumann

Partnerships Manager

Dylan Neumann

Partnerships Manager

I’m just a typical Colorado ski junkie who loves the outdoors and has an unhealthy obsession with sports. I’ve been to over 25 countries with countless experiences that make me who I am today. When I’m not working, you can usually find me on a trip while simultaneously planning my next adventure.

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Jessica Ming

Project Manager

Jessica Ming

Project Manager

I am a Bay Area native who loves all things Disney! My lifelong dream is to visit all Disney parks, and so far, I have visited seven of the twelve around the world. One of my most memorable travel destinations is Tokyo, Japan, as I am fascinated by their diverse culture and food.

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Keith Munro

Vice President of Marketing

Keith Munro

Vice President of Marketing

I grew up in western Canada, spent some of my youth in Southeast Asia, and am now on my second stint in the USA having moved from Vancouver to Austin, TX with my family. I’ve been lucky enough to visit nearly 60 countries, work in diverse places, and enjoy so many enriching cultures. Leading brand and marketing is my professional interest, but travel is my passion!

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Lisa Turturici

Payments Specialist

Lisa Turturici

Payments Specialist

I've always said, "I work to travel." To me, there is nothing like exploring a new region. I'm enthusiastic about food, especially Italian food, architecture, and culture. I enjoy hiking, yoga, and spending time with my family and pets.

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Lynsey Powell

Software Engineer

Lynsey Powell

Software Engineer

Growing up on the Puget Sound, I've traveled and lived in many different places before settling in Colorado, where I spent eight years having fun in the mountains before moving to Denver. I love combining creativity and math in programming and designing knitwear, especially if I can do so from abroad.

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Maciel Hernandez

Content Specialist

Maciel Hernandez

Content Specialist

I grew up exploring the beautiful mountains and beaches of Chile and now live near the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. I love a good adventure, and my favorite experiences come from culture and nature. I love to capture my adventures through video and photos to relive the moments, which motivates me to travel and explore more.

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Marci-Beth Maple

Senior Traveler Care Manager

Marci-Beth Maple

Senior Traveler Care Manager

After years spent living abroad with my husband and sons, we are back in the USA with days full of football, soccer, paintball, hockey, and more. With 20 countries explored together, our travel list overflows with plans for our next trip always in motion. Time away is spent outside, reading great books and playing with our Icelandic Sheepdog, Tryggur.

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Maria Silva

Traveler Care Specialist

Maria Silva

Traveler Care Specialist

Born and raised in the bustling city of Buenos Aires, I've always enjoyed re-discovering my own hometown and traveling abroad. Having worked my whole life in the hospitality industry, this is my first job in the travel realm, and I absolutely love it! When I'm not traveling, I enjoy dancing, catching up with my childhood friends, and petting every dog I encounter.

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Nick Prendergast

Software Engineer

Nick Prendergast

Software Engineer

Hailing from the Southeast of the USA, I've traded southern charm for the faux Bavarian allure of Leavenworth, WA. I’ve spent most of my adult life traveling in the pursuit of climbing and trekking, and have explored everything from the European Alps to the limestone cliffs of Mexico. These days, you'll likely find me closer to home exploring the iconic volcanoes or swimming in an alpine lake here in the Pacific Northwest.

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Olena Rudenko

Senior Partnerships Coordinator

Olena Rudenko

Senior Partnerships Coordinator

To follow my dreams, I embarked on a decade-long journey aboard cruise ships as a professional photographer and traveled to more countries than I ever thought possible. Today, I enjoy living in Ukraine and Serbia, calling both countries my home. And after all these years, travel remains my biggest passion as I chart a course towards new horizons.

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Quincy Bouchard

Senior Traveler Care Specialist

Quincy Bouchard

Senior Traveler Care Specialist

I’m a small-town Colorado girl with an undeniable passion for adventure, travel, and everything outdoors. I find nothing more invigorating than immersing myself in foreign cultures and exploring unfamiliar lands. Alpine lakes, tikka masala, and waking up to fresh snow on a Saturday morning are a few of my favorite things.

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Rica Tsampra

HR Manager

Rica Tsampra

HR Manager

A Greek who now calls Austin, TX, home, where I live with my family of four. I’m a traveler at heart, and I’ve been lucky enough to explore over 20 countries and 25 US states thus far. When I’m not at work, you’ll find me spending time with my husband and our two boys! We love making memories together, and unless we are planning our next traveling adventure, we’ll probably be playing games inside or going on a bike ride outdoors.

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Riccardo Pasquin

Senior Partnerships Manager

Riccardo Pasquin

Senior Partnerships Manager

Born in a small village near Venice (the Italian one), I started exploring Europe and the rest of the globe as soon as I could. So far, I have learned five languages, but I still find it difficult to speak without moving my hands. I have been kidnapped in Bolivia, blessed by an elephant in India, and on my passport, I have stamps of countries that don't actually exist. I never travel without my Italian style "caffettiera," and cannot wait until my next trip.

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Satoko Kinoshita

Data Scientist in Engineering

Satoko Kinoshita

Data Scientist in Engineering

Travel to Europe, North and South America, Australia, and Southeast Asia opened my eyes to different cultures. As much as I enjoy traveling, I love numbers even more and work to reveal the trends of travels with data to help our travelers have the best vacations.

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Stacey Sullivan

Vice President of Partnerships

Stacey Sullivan

Vice President of Partnerships

Growing up in California, early travels meant backcountry camping and fly fishing trips. These adventures, combined with trips abroad, ignited a search for authentic experiences around the world. After 12 years of working in travel, I still revel in the thrill of arriving for the first time in a completely foreign place!

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Stephen Durkin

Traveler Care Specialist

Stephen Durkin

Traveler Care Specialist

Born and raised in Boston, MA, I'm now growing some roots in Denver, CO. I've been lucky enough to bounce around the globe to over 40 countries and 49 of 50 states here in the USA! Diving into new cultures and destinations overflows my cup with the good stuff. Outside of traveling, I love spending time with my family, skiing, cooking, and transforming my apt into a full-blown jungle - I’m a big plant guy.

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Tom Skalka

Director of Traveler Care

Tom Skalka

Director of Traveler Care

Born and raised in Arizona, I knew that I wanted to be a part of the travel industry from a very young age. Working in luxury hotels for over a decade allowed me the opportunity to travel, meet amazing people, and have unique experiences. I enjoy spending time with my beautiful wife and daughter, exploring the outdoors, and looking for that next fantastic destination to visit.