Melissa A. Rarick has built a successful career in the travel industry, dedicating more than a decade to the field. She currently excels as a franchise owner with Dream Vacations, a home-based travel agency franchise that offers personalized vacation planning services, including cruises, resorts, and tours, through a network of independent travel advisers. In this role, Ms. Rarick specializes in marketing, sales management, and organizing diverse travel experiences, including luxury, family, and LGBTQ+-friendly vacations. Her role encompasses marketing strategies, advertisement creation, administrative duties, and vacation planning for clients.
Before her current role, Ms. Rarick served as a call center director at PNG Marketing from 2006 to 2010. In this capacity, she honed her leadership skills and gained valuable experience in customer service and operations management. Prior to that, she worked in phone tech support at IBM, where she developed technical expertise and problem-solving abilities.
Ms. Rarick’s educational background includes college coursework that laid the foundation for her career achievements. Committed to her professional development, she holds certifications in technical support and software programs, including Lotus Notes. She actively gives back to her community, volunteering at shelters where she prepares and serves food. Ms. Rarick has also contributed to the Special Olympics. Dream Vacations supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and is committed to backing military personnel and first responders, causes that align with Ms. Rarick’s values.
Reflecting on her path, Ms. Rarick has learned the importance of maintaining vigilance when it comes to her guests, as letting her guard down leaves her open to unexpected challenges. She believes in delivering high-quality work and holds herself to a standard of excellence. If she commits to something, she makes sure she does it right.
Ms. Rarick’s personal life is deeply enriched by her role as a mother of three. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with family, paddleboarding, and engaging in various water activities. Looking to the future, she aims to expand her knowledge and skills while growing her business. She is focused on refining her marketing strategies and taking additional courses to enhance her expertise in travel services. One of Ms. Rarick’s key goals is to deepen her understanding of visa requirements for various destinations to better assist clients. Ultimately, she plans to step back from the day-to-day operations of her business to spend more time with her husband and family.