John Riley first travelled to Ethiopia in 2008 when his wife, Dr. Margaret Gadon, accepted a job in northern Tigray with The Clinton Foundation. The couple settled in Mekelle and learned the local language. Within several months, John was volunteering with The Mekelle Institute of Technology. As the school’s director of business development, he created small companies and garnered contracts with the regional government for software development and educational programs for graduates of the region’s technical high schools. Soon after, the school’s major donor tapped him to lead one of the country’s oldest travel companies, Experience Ethiopia Travel. Several years later, John and his employees founded their own company, Walia Adventures.
Together with Nigusu Worku, the newly-appointed Regional Director of the Americas for Ethiopian Airlines, John will lead the discussion on Ethiopia as an emerging travel market, its 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, its cultural and religious cities and its unbounded opportunity for adventure.
Mr. Worku was recently appointed as the Regional Director of the Americas of Ethiopian Airlines, with overall responsibility for the American market and airport operations. After Attending Addis Ababa University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management, Mr. Worku joined Ethiopian Airlines in 2004 as a college trainee. He served in a variety of roles. Mr. Worku continued his education, earning a Master of Arts Degree in Marketing Management. He briefly served as interim country manager in Equatorial Guinea and in Canada, before being appointed Country Manager, Canada, in 2013. Today, Mr. Worku is thrilled to be in the United States and he is looking forward to meeting the challenge of growing the footprint of Ethiopian Airlines in our highly competitive airline business environment here in the states.
We would like to welcome Mr. Worku and Mr. Riley to the Chicago area.
Ethiopian Airlines has generously offered two round trip tickets to Ethiopia as prizes. (Please note: Only current members in good standing are
eligible to win.)
Location: The Drake Hotel
2301 York Road
Oak Brook, IL 60523
630-571-0000
Time: 5:30p-6:30p Registration and Networking
6:30p-7:30p Dinner
7:30p-8:30p Presentation
8:30p Drawing for Airline Tickets
Cost: $25 per person for Members
$32 per person for Non-members
Please Contact Lorene Flewellen:
630-234-3839
lorene@bluevistatravel.com
