ATA Leadership Transition: New Roles, Shared Vision
Earlier this year, ATA marked a significant milestone with a leadership update. Mark Lenhart, a long-time leader at CET Academic Programs, stepped into the role of President of Academic Travel Abroad. Mark brings a wealth of experience in educational travel and a clear vision for the organization’s continued growth.
Alongside Mark, Kate Simpson now serves as Chair and CEO, focusing on strategic direction and stewardship, while Chase Poffenberger has taken on the role of Vice Chair and Executive Director of Educational Travel, continuing to oversee client partnerships and program development. Together, Kate, Mark, and Chase have worked side by side for more than 30 years and remain the sole owners of ATA. To learn more about their new roles and what this means for ATA’s future, read our blog post.
Collaboration and Innovation with Fellow NTA Members
Last month, ATA hosted the National Tour Association’s Owners’ Network Marketing & Operations Meeting in Washington, DC. The Owners’ Network is a group of 22 tour operators that has gathered twice a year for the past two decades to discuss shared challenges and solve problems together. Many sectors of the travel industry are represented in the Network—retail, wholesale; LBGTQ+ focused; senior, experiential.
In addition to the Owners, the Marketing and Operations teams from member companies now meet annually. This year’s agenda spanned travel marketing trends, AI adoption, evolving customer expectations, and professional development. The ATA team is grateful to be part of a community that values collaboration and peer-to-peer learning—and we left the meeting energized by the ideas and insights exchanged.
Meet Our 2026 Impact Coordinators!
Each year, ATA hires two staff who take on additional responsibilities in support of ATA’s corporate priorities in the areas of Sustainability and Inclusion and Belonging. The coordinators, who each serve for one year, set goals, direct learning efforts, and promote accountability across the organization. Meet our 2026 Coordinators!
Sean McGlynn is Institutional Relations Manager for the Northeast US for CET Academic Programs, ATA’s study abroad division. In his role as Coordinator, he serves as the main liaison with ATA’s Decarbonization Fund, Cool Effect; leads the company’s activities during Earth Week; shares ATA’s progress externally through its commitment to the Glasgow Declaration; hosts “Food for Thought” conversations about green topics, and manages the DC office’s composting program.
Kate Bohan has been CET’s Manager of Finance and Scholarships for the last seven years. She has been profoundly impacted by the scholarship applications she regularly reads from students who intend to study abroad, and is passionate about amplifying their voices. In her role as Coordinator, she oversees ATA’s community volunteering program with The Fund for Education Abroad; sets goals and selects projects for the year; and conducts an annual company-wide audit.
