Work + Wander

What does vacation ownership look like today, and how is the industry continuing to evolve? On this episode of  Work + Wander , Jay Cocorullo and Jessica Badlam welcome Jason Gamel, President and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), as their first guest from outside Travel + Leisure Co. Jason shares a behind-the-scenes look at ARDA's role in supporting the vacation owners...

In this episode of  Work + Wander , Jay and Jessica sit down with Larry Lee, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Club Wyndham Glacier Canyon and recipient of Travel + Leisure Co.’s 2026 CEO Impact Award. Larry shares his journey from sales rep to award-winning leader, his approach to building successful teams, and why putting people first makes all the difference. Plus, memorable family trave...

What does it mean to put people first as a leader? On this episode of  Work + Wander , Jay Cocorullo and Jessica Badlam sit down with Rob Shepard, Area Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Tennessee at Travel + Leisure Co. Rob reflects on a career that began as a sales representative in Williamsburg and the lessons that have stayed with him as he’s grown into leadership, from listening before...

What happens when the vacations you grew up taking eventually become part of your career? On the Season 2 premiere of  Work + Wander , Jay Cocorullo and Jessica Badlam sit down with Billy Owens, Owner Onboarding Specialist at WorldMark Indio. Billy shares how growing up vacationing with WorldMark helped bring his family closer, how those experiences now shape the way he connects with new owners, a...

One year, 29 episodes, and a lot of career stories and dream destinations later, it’s time to celebrate the end of Season 1 of  Work + Wander ! Jay Cocorullo and Jessica Badlam look back at some of the conversations, career lessons and travel stories that have stuck with them most from the first year of the podcast. They revisit a few recurring themes, reveal some surprising Suitcase Sprint stats...

What does it take to build a successful career in sales and help others do the same? On this episode of  Work + Wander , Jay Cocorullo and Jessica Badlam sit down with  Trina Miller , SVP of Sales Training, Development and Programs at Travel + Leisure Co. Trina shares her unexpected journey from human resources to timeshare sales, the lessons that shaped her approach to leadership, and why strong...

What goes into creating the digital experiences that help travelers make the most of their vacations? On this episode of  Work + Wander , Jay Cocorullo and Jessica Badlam sit down with  Summer Rollins , Director of Consumer Platform Strategy and Outcomes at Travel + Leisure Co. Summer shares how her team transformed a blank slate into the award-winning Club Wyndham app, why curiosity is one of the...

Episode 26: The Ripple Effect with Adria Van Blarcom What happens when one conversation changes the course of your career? In this episode of  Work + Wander , Jessica and Jay sit down with Adria Van Blarcom, Director of Travel at Travel + Leisure Co. and a 2025 ARDA Award winner, to talk about the unexpected path that led her into learning and leadership. From building impactful training programs...

Some hidden gems don't show up on a map. They show up in the people who bring them to life. In this episode, Jay and Jessica sit down with Cypress Tucker-Wachholz, Guest Services Associate at Worldmark Clear Lake and ARDA Resort Operations Team Member of the Year. In eight and a half years with Travel + Leisure Co., Cypress has gone from housekeeping to launching a gift shop that blew past its...

What if the career you're meant for isn't the one you planned? In this episode of Work and Wander, Kim Marshall, Chief HR Officer at Travel + Leisure Co., chats with Jay and Jessica about how a special project changed the course of her career and led her from public accounting to HR leadership. Along the way, she shares advice on building relationships, staying curious, taking risks, and r...

We're kicking off a special Work + Wander series celebrating Travel + Leisure Co.'s outstanding associates recognized at this year's ARDA Awards. In this episode, Jay and Jessica sit down with Dan Williams, Director of the Human Resources Service Center and recipient of the ARDA Human Resources Professional of the Year award. With more than 37 years at the company, Dan reflects on the...

Leah Rossi's career has taken her from an internship in Puerto Rico to leadership roles across the Caribbean, Texas, and South Carolina. Now preparing for her next chapter in Williamsburg, she joins Jay and Jessica to share the experiences that shaped her approach to hospitality and leadership. Leah reflects on leading through back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes in St. Thomas, the importance of...

Elizabeth Johnson has spent 20 years with Travel + Leisure Co. — and somewhere along the way, a podcast in a school pickup line changed everything. In this episode, Liz joins Jess and Jay to talk about her journey from Fairfield Resorts to frontline sales, and the passion project nobody asked for but everyone keeps signing up for: "The Happy Class". Plus, Park City ski runs, a $249 trip...

For the first full Work + Wander episode on location, Jess and Jay head to Myrtle Beach to sit down with Aaron Evans, Director of Sales & Marketing. Aaron shares the story of how a $50 interview outfit turned into a life-changing career — and how he now helps others do the same. From leadership to mindset to unforgettable travel moments, this episode is all about what’s possible when you bet o...

We took Work + Wander on the road. Recorded on location in Myrtle Beach, this episode marks the start of our new “On Location” series. Jay and Jessica are joined by Angela Small for a quick, unscripted conversation covering travel, career, and a fast-paced Suitcase Sprint — all recorded just feet apart for the first time. A short episode, and a preview of what’s to come.

In this episode of  Work + Wander , hosts Jessica Badlam and Jay Cocorullo sit down with Louis Acosta, Senior Vice President of Sports, Entertainment, Event Marketing and Sales at Travel + Leisure Co. From launching his career on the beaches of Cozumel to leading large-scale, best-in-class events across the industry, Louis shares how a passion for hospitality turned into a career built on creating...

Sales manager  Faizzan Sadruddin  joins  Work + Wander  to share how he went from a new sales agent to a team leader at Travel + Leisure Co. and why referrals, mentorship, and a positive culture make all the difference. Faizzan also shares stories from his honeymoon adventure across Africa, including gorilla trekking in Uganda, a safari in Kenya, and time in Zanzibar. It is a conversation about ca...

Join us as we explore Tatum Diamond’s journey from guest services to general manager at Marble Falls in Texas. Tatum shares the leadership lessons she’s learned along the way, the impact of working across different resorts, and how small moments with guests can shape unforgettable experiences. She also talks about building strong teams, creating a culture where employees and guests thrive, and how...

Join us as we explore Jim Kidd’s 20-year journey in talent acquisition at Travel + Leisure Co. As Senior Director of Talent Acquisition, Jim has helped shape the strategy behind hiring top-performing sales talent across the organization. In this episode, we discuss his leadership lessons, how recruitment strategies have evolved over time, what separates good candidates from great ones, and why vac...

Jeff Weiss joins Jess and Jay to talk about the people behind the vacation and what it takes to build teams that deliver memorable, hassle-free guest experiences. As Talent Acquisition Manager for Resort Operations Recruiting at Travel + Leisure Co., Jeff shares how strong service cultures are built, why the smallest details often matter most, and how recruiting in unique and remote destinations s...

Miranda Mayer is helping shape what’s next as Brand Manager for  Eddie Bauer Adventure Club , one of Travel + Leisure Co.’s newest and most exciting brands. In this episode of  Work + Wander , Miranda shares her non-linear career journey, how creativity and brand storytelling intersect, and why stepping outside your routine — through travel, nature, and new experiences — fuels both personal and pr...

In this episode of Work and Wander, hosts Jay Cocorullo and Jessica Badlam welcome Candice Gholston, the new area vice president of sales and marketing for the South Florida region. They discuss Candice's journey from a sales rep in Williamsburg to her current leadership role, emphasizing the importance of team culture, personal growth, and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation a...

In this special holiday episode of  Work + Wander , Jay and Jessica trade career stories for cozy conversations about holiday travel. From Christmas markets and winter wonderlands to warm-weather escapes and unexpected destinations, they share what’s trending — and what’s personally inspiring — this season. It’s festive, fun, and full of wanderlust to close out the year.

Careers, like travel, aren’t about shortcuts. In this episode of  Work + Wander , Petru Binzari shares lessons on leadership, growth, and the experiences — both on the job and along the way — that help you see further than your current role and think differently about what comes next.

In this episode of  Work + Wander , Jay and Jessica sit down with Christine Allen, Senior Vice President of Talent Acquisition & Corporate HR at Travel + Leisure Co. Christine shares her 11-year journey with the organization, from her early days in HR and recruiting to leading enterprise-wide talent strategy. They discuss leadership, building strong teams, how travel shapes perspective, and wh...