About Us
Team
About Us
Travel Café is your dedicated travel advisor for leisure and corporate travel as well as event planning. With 40 years in the industry, our team helps you navigate the details of your trip or event, avoid pitfalls, and secure the best pricing for a memorable, cost-effective experience.
Our experience spans the globe, but our service is local and personal. No matter where you are in the world, we are a phone call away, with a real person on the other end of the line ready, willing, and able to answer any question.
Billie Ruff President/CEO
406-259-0999
As the owner and CEO of Travel Café, Billie's love of travel spans the world with a passion for finding new places. Mexico, Spain, Italy, France and Ireland are some of her favorites. If you want to get her excited, ask about her stay in Ashford Castle! Billie graduated from Eastern Montana (MSUB). She started on a scholarship as a jazz drummer and finished with degrees in Spanish, French and International Business.
Billie always has her pulse on the hot, new resorts along with “fun in the sun” getaways. Although she has been all over the world, her current bucket list vacation is the Belmond Orient Express.
Certificates: CTC (Certified Travel Counselor), CTE (Corporate Travel Expert), ACC (Accredited Cruise Counselor)
Rhonda Feuerstein Travel Advisor - Billings
406-294-9205
Rhonda loves to experience new destinations. One of her favorite places is Ireland. As a travel professional, she has been able to travel extensively, however Italy is still on her bucket list.
A born and bred Denver Broncos fan, she will happily cheer on the Orange and Blue. During the summer, Rhonda loves exploring the Montana outdoors with her family. Rhonda's travel mantra is "Let’s travel the world!".
Certifications: Princess Cruise Line, Viking River Certified Specialist, AMA Waterways, Portugal, Barcelo, Ireland, The World of Hyatt, RIU Specialist, Switzerland Advisor, Sandals, Celebrity Cruises, Hawaii, Disney, Las Vegas, Uniworld, Tauck Tours
Brian Mathis Manager of Operations
406-259-0999
Brian has been known to use his wellness-day to eat as many Michigan hot dogs as he can get his hands on. When Brian is not dreaming up new ways to see the world, he is rooting for University of Michigan Football or Red Wings Hockey. Many weekends he is spending working on home projects or escaping to the family cabin in Wyoming. During his 20's, Brian lived in France and Germany as a Fulbright scholar and in the heart of Manhattan before making his way to Montana.
Specialties: Group Travel
McKenzie Carroll Accounting & Human Resources Manager
406-259-0999
McKenzie has had a love for travel for many years; Dubrovnik, Croatia is her favorite place that she has been. When not traveling she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, cats, and dogs. On the ski slope in the winter and at the lake in the summer, along with watching Michigan football are some of her favorite things to do are as she was born and raised in Northern Michigan. McKenzie and her family moved to the Billings area in 2022. McKenzie has her master’s degree in human resources management focusing on human and organizational development, she has a passion for working with people.
Stephanie Dvorak Travel Advisor - Billings
Call to make an appointment 406-294-9202
Stephanie loves Disney and everything Disney. Whenever she can she loves getting away to Hawaii or Mexico. She loves getting out in the summer and camping, hiking, or relaxing at the Chico Hot Springs getaway with her family. She is a dedicated Volleyball Coach and loves seeing her girls succeed on the court. Her current dream vacation is Australia or New Zealand.
Specialties: Disney, Mexico, Caribbean, Hawaii, Cruises, Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Specialist
Caitlin Pease Administration - Billings
CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT 406-294-9208
Caitlin is the Travel Cafe Administrative Assistant in the Billings office. She loves to go hiking, fishing, camping- overall enjoying nature. She likes gardening, photography, geocaching, and reading. She volunteers as a mentor for youth at MYCA and leads by example. Caitlin's travel endeavors have been visiting National Parks but her travel bucket list includes cruises, and visiting islands and different countries to experience the culture, food, and scenery.
Melissa Banco Travel Advisor - Great Falls
406-760-1888
Melissa's favorite travel destinations include Mexico, Hawaii, and Ireland. She just celebrated birth of first grandson in August 2022 and is loving time spent with her grandbaby. When she's not cheering on the Green Bay Packers, you will find her hiking, going to a lake, or just being outdoors in summer/fall months. Melissa also enjoys going to music festivals in the summer or watching outdoor concerts and hanging out with her dog, Zoey.
Specialties: All Inclusive Resorts, Ireland, Italy
Christie QuarlesOffice Grandmaster
call to make an appointment 406-587-1188
Christie, the newest member of the TC crew, graduated from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT and then left the state to pursue work in Austin, TX. After figuring out that the extreme heat wasn’t for her, she moved around a bit more until she made her way back to Montana – in Bozeman, this time. Christie is a mom to an adorable 2-year-old son, a 130lb Great Pyrenees, and countless numbers of plant babies that she likes to keep happy and healthy in her spare time. She caught the travel bug back in 2009 when she was able to go to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. In addition to travel, her passions lie in music, horticulture, animals, rock hounding, beachcombing, and camping.
Holly Coleman Travel Advisor - Bozeman
call to make an appointment 406-587-1188
Through the years, Holly has loved sending clients on their honeymoon and special family vacations that build lifetime memories! As an experience traveler she loves returning to some of her favorite places such as Maui, Kauai, Italy, and European River Cruises. She is looking forward to working with you on your next memory making getaway!
Certifications: Princess, Uniworld, Viking Certified Expert, AMA Waterways, Delta Vacations, Australia Tourism, ASTA Verified Travel Agent, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Sandals, Disney
Ciretta Green Travel Advisor - Bozeman
call to make an appointment 406-587-1188
Ciretta has over 44 years of experience in the travel industry. She specializes in international travel, but is happy to help with any aspect of travel, domestic or international. She was born in Iceland to an Icelandic mother and Italian father and has been to many countries worldwide. She is happy to assist with independent travel, organized tours, cruises or specialized custom trips to Europe or anywhere in the world. She would love to go on a European river cruise next. Her hobbies include reading, gardening and walks on the trails near her home in Bozeman.
Kim Lewis Travel Advisor - Missoula
406-540-1890
If Kim could pick the perfect place to vacation, she would look for a sunny destination such as the Caribbean, Florida or Hawaii. Kim has been sending travelers all over the world since 1982, with specialization in Hawaii and Mexico and expertise in both International and Domestic air travel. Born and raised in Missoula, Kim loves taking her family to the lake and enjoying a glass of wine by the water. She is a University of Montana and a Green Bay Packer fan and you can find her cheering on her teams.
Lindy Plakke Travel Advisor - Missoula
406-540-1890
Just a few months into retirement, Lindy realized she missed working with Travel Cafe travelers. We are so glad to have her back for her years of expertise, industry knowledge and the friendship she brings to our team. When Lindy is not assisting travelers, she enjoys spending time with her family or planning her next adventure.
Carol Bokum Groups
Carol Bokum has done everything an agent can do. While semi-retired, she still manages a portfolio of clients and groups that is impressive. More impressive still, she manages to surprise and delight everyone from clients to coworkers. No one knows more about how to execute group travel anywhere in the world but Carol loves Mexico groups most of all. Carol loves to cook, give little gifts and making people happy. Carol adores her cats and dogs.
Amanda Smith Travel Advisor- Bozeman
Amanda grew up traveling with her family and has been to most U.S. states. In the last few years, she started traveling to other countries. Amanda’s goal is to visit one new place every year. Morocco and Spain are her favorite countries to visit so far. When she is not traveling, she enjoys spending time at the gym lifting weights or going for long walks around Bozeman. She graduated from Montana State University and is a Montana native. Amanda loves plants and has many under her care at home along with a few outdoor flowers. Going to Billings or another nearby city for concerts is also something she thoroughly enjoys doing when she has the time.
Mark Hebert Technology
Mark has been in the information technology business for over 30 years and has moved on from that into the travel business. He likes to spend spare time out on his property, taking his wife on Harley rides, and bouncing around on a dirt bike. Mark's time in the military provided experiences into traveling the world and this has infected him with that travel bug. Traveling has always been a desire for him and hope the future will provide more opportunities to see more of our beautiful world.
Karlie Snell Marketing
Karlie oversees the marketing department at Travel Café. She recently graduated from MSU Billings with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and completed an internship at Travel Café. Growing up on a farm in Montana instilled a love for agriculture in her. She adores her cats and Golden Retrievers. Karlie recently completed a study abroad trip to Portugal and loved her time there. Her dream vacation is to see the Northern Lights in Iceland.