Welcome to our office staff page! Here you can find out the "dirt" on all of the staff located at our Orange County, California Headquarters! And although we have two divisions (Value sells Tours & Cruises & Renaissance sells consolidated air tickets ) we all live in the same little "yellow submarine" and are one big happy family! (except when were arguing, yelling or tearing each others eyes out - like in any big family!)"

The last time we updated this page was 1995 – we were a company on the upswing – young and ambitious and full of hope – and we wanted to convey the spirit within our office at the time…a spirit of fun, excitement, and youthful energy…(see archives for that story!)…

"Well, it is now 10 years later…some of our cherished people have gone on to newer and better things…some of us have grown older, if not wiser together…and it was time to update this page – so here it goes - 10 years later! And still as “crazy as ever”

Samo Toplak
CEO/Product Development

2005: Still here, and like good wine – aging well (what else can we say – he’s the boss!?)! Everyone still calls him “Poppa” and he is still the same loud sales oriented obnoxious one…but now, we like to think he has mellowed out somewhat…as the lines on his face may show right? (NOT!) Since the last time we updated this page…his kids have grown to 16 and 12 respectively…his dog is 11 years old…and his wife and he will be celebrating 20 years of marriage March 18 this year (someone give the woman a medal!)

Samo’s special note to all: “WOW… at 46 I really AM old (as my kids would say) But then again, after all the chaos in our business - 1999 Bombing of Yugoslavia, 2001 Sept 11… - 2003 Iraq + SARS…2004 Avian flu…you name it…we have survived it all! So…I am absolutely delighted that we are still here and would like to thank all of YOU for your continued support, especially all of our office friends and OLD TIME TRAVEL PARTNERS - who have withered the good and the bad with us! As Spock would say…“MAY YOU ALL LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!”

1995: As a former executive of Yugotours, an internationally renown specialist in Eastern Europe, Russia and beyond, Samo has over 20 years experience?.so don’t let this old picture fool you! He speaks English, Serbian, Slovenian and by now quite a bit of Russian! Being the "loudest" of our bunch, he acts as the top honcho and "bad guy" - although he's really a pussycat! Affectionately referred to as "Daddy" our little family, he handles sales, marketing, product development and - signs our pay checks! Which is why we have to love him...! Speaks English, Serbian and Slovenian.

James Pierce
President/COO

2005: Since our last update 10 years ago, Jimbo finally tied the knot and on January 13, 2004 became a proud Poppa himself! Jeffrey is now 1 year old and is “smart like his Daddy and pretty like his Mommy”… and we could not wish a better man a better future! You GO Jimmy! Samo and Jim met on September 18, 1984 and 21 years later they are still together – best friends and partners - Wow…someone should write a book about this!

1995: With over 20 years in the business with various international airlines and Eastern European tour operators - Uncle Jimmy at age 4???? is the grandpa in our office?. He recently completed his 3 year studying Chinese (now he knows 12 words!) , a great quality in our crazy business! Jimmy oversees the overall company operations, reservations, airline relations and anything else for that matter... including signing our pay checks when Samo's not around! Gotta love him too! Fluent in English, dabbles in German (knows 7 words) and is studying Chinese... (12 words...).

Dejan Drobnjak
President, Renaissance Travel

2005: Another WOW! What a difference a decade makes! Dejan came to us in 1994 to merge his airfare consolidator company with our tour operator division! As a former soccer star he was single, wild, a true “Bon Vivant” …boy has he come a long way! From 350 K annually and one employee (Milica – see below), today he heads the largest revenue producer for air tickets to Eastern Europe and beyond, a staff of 8 full time employees and in the meanwhile, he married a lovely girl from Germany (Miliana) and is a proud Poppa of 2 kids! Way to go Deyan! …and, he even learned to speak English along the way!

1995: In charge of all air consolidation, airline contracts, air sales and the overall operation of Renaissance Travel, Dejan is also our rogue charmer and communicator extraordinaire! He speaks English, Serbian, Czech, Russian and, if it will get him a sale... Japanese is no problem either! Fluent in English and Serbian he is the best dresser of our lot he is our resident 'bon vivant" - a true gentleman and a scholar!

Scott Dafferner
WebMaster and Design Guru

2005: Holy cow! Scott is still here! We met in 1883 working for others… and then, when Jim & Samo started our company (1992) – Scott founded One Touch Design – a company specializing in brochures, web design and similar! Its amazing to see that Scott is still with us, sharing our offices as an independent designer, but still handling all of our company letterhead, web, advertising and brochure requirements after almost 15 years! Now married with 3 delightful daughters… But jeepers…you really make us feel oooollllddd!

1995: Scott is our webmaster (uuu..!), brochure designer, marketing guru and overall artist and image maker! While he works as our in house consultant under his own company "OneTouch Design" - he has been with us since our inception and has designed every single piece of collateral from letterhead, company logo's, ad pieces and designed over 56 brochures over tha past decade (has it been that long already?)? - and now our web pages! So, if you have any comments and suggestions on how to improve our web site - send the good ones to us at cruise@valuecruises.net - but send all the bad ones directly to him at sdafferner@valuecruises.net! Fluent in English, English and 3 word of Russian!

Zoran "Jake" Jakosovic
Air Ticket Manager

2005: Heya, Jake the Snake! In 1989 Samo hired him as his Sales Manager while working for a competing company… Then Samo left and so did Jake…but only until their paths crossed again in 2000…and here he is 5 years later…our main Air and Reservations Manager…and another member of our family whom we call a friend! A fiend at air connections, he really excels at …cooking! We love his Humus and Mediterranean salads …but most of all we love his mustached smiling face, his “easy going” demeanor, his loyalty, hard work and friendship! (he just wishes that Diana would feel as deeply as we do –see 10

2000: Jake the Snake as he is popularly know, this ?old? geezard is a war buddy of Samo’s from the old days in the travel trenches! Joined our flock in 2000 he is an all around ?Jake of all trades?! Having lived around the world, he speaks English, Italian, Serbian and a little bit of French – so watch out ladies ‘cause he is also single and looking! Proficient in all three airline systems there is literally nothing he cannot do – including mixing up a superb humus Mediterrenean salad! In charge of group sales and anything else that falls in his lap!

2005: Now here, were we ever lucky! Two years ago, an International Intern agency contacted us purely by chance and offered us the services of a “young German Intern” willing to work for food and water! We could not refuse! Here came Diana, a dynamo of intelligence, energy, and information! Suffice it to say, within a year, she was promoted to our “Queen of Cabins” and our Operations Manager – she received her H-1 visa 5 months ago and at only age 27 is the “alpha and omega” of our office environment! Her only “weak spot”? She is a hockey groupie!

Berengere (Frerot) Cole
Reservations/Documents

2007: Summer of 2006 she married a US citizen, so it looks like she'll be staying in the country and continuing to send your tickets. Yeah! Mrs. Cole is a lot easier to pronounce.

2005: Following in Diana’s footsteps, we went looking for another Intern – and low and behold here came Berengere – a product of Viva La France - who spent a year in the US as a Foreign Exchange Student! We are glad to have her! Not only does she speak French (important for our Indo China Programs) but she is well organized in terms of mailing and handling all of our office requirements! Berengere is the first on the phones and we are truly glad to have this girl even for a year!

Sonja Metuleva
Reservations Agent

2005: “Makedonsko Devojce” – This gorgeous Macedonian gal is the newest addition to our Renaissance Travel Staff. A recent arrival to the US, her family won a Green Card Lottery and decided to take the plunge. As technology engineers, both her and her husband and 2 kids found out that the US could be a difficult place to make a living in their prescribed jobs – but thankfully for us – Sonja is not only a whiz at computers but is also a wonderful and gentle soul which our clients are coming to appreciate…and as Reservations Agent is the first person you will talk to when buying an airline ticket.

2005: Back in 1994, Samo was one of the first Americans that sailed into the formerly closed port of Nizhni Novgorod. During the walking tour, under an umbrella, he came up on an 18 year old student of English named Luba. He invited her to be a cruise director on one of VWT future Russian sailings – and the rest, as they say, is history. Luba Gribkova spent her first season of 1994 as a trainee – 10 years later, she is a married, proud Mom to 2 year old Sofia and now the Supervisor of all VWT staff and services for Russian Cruises. She sails on several chosen dates but more importantly makes sure that all the service are up to par as expected by our clients. We could not do it without her – Thank you Luba (& Denis and Sofia, husband & daughter who tolerate us taking Mom away for a few weeks every year!)

Sergei Ginzburg
Senior Cruise Director

2005: Sergei is our one of our oldest and most popular Cruise Directors. Not only has he guided Russian, Ukrainian and 6 Country European Cruises, he has developed our original Tips on Travel and since winning his own Green Card Lottery, has established a most successful school of English in his home town of Nizhni Novgorod and has started his newest successful venture of importing used cars from the US to Russia. A Man of all Seasons we use Sergei frequently, as our Cruise Director Emeritus!

1995: Originally from Nizhny Novgorod in Russia - but today a man of the world - Sergei is our Senior Cruise Director in charge of our cruise staff, excursions and services on board our Russian vessels. While spending his summers aboard the MS "Furmanov" - since winning his "green card" in last year's lottery (talk about lucky!) - he now prefers to spend his winters at our sunny and warm Southern California offices! So, whatever minuscule questions you have about cruising the Russian or Ukrainian waterways - call on him from November through May 15 - after that you'll have to buy one of our cruises to see him! Fluent in English, Russian and can flirt in French!

Voyin Minic
Senior Cruise Director - Europe

“On December 13, 2007, our dear friend and “Legendary” Cruise & Tour Manager, Vojin, died suddenly at the Young age of 59, in his home town of Belgrade, Serbia. As a career professional, Vojin handled thousands of our passengers over the past 15 years in destinations as far flung as Russia and Ukraine to most recently Our Danube Cruises from Vienna to Bucharest. With his regal bearing, his subtle charm and humor, Combined with his unlimited knowledge of history and customs of the regions he traveled, he regaled scores Of visitors with his stories, lectures and anecdotes. Survived by his lovely wife of over 30 years, Milica and 2 wonderful sons George and Andreja (both of whom work on our ships while finishing college) – he was a True “Scholar and a Gentleman” – and he will be sorely missed…. May you rest in peace, my friend”

Samo Toplak, CEO

2005: Professor Minic (as he is often addressed) is our primary Cruise Director on any and all cruises along the Southern reaches of the Danube! While running his own independent Travel Company – TTI Inc. – Voyin has been a friend and supporter of VWT since the early days of 1998. As a Major in History and Engineering, he is absolutely the best man suited for handling our Southern Europe Cruises which sail through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. All of our guests find his lectures not only entertaining, but enlightening! A great man on a great sailing itinerary! And when combined with Dushan, like Abbot and Costello, they make any of our sailings a truly memorable experience.

Dusan L. Kuljic
Cruise Director - Europe

2005: AH the Legendary DUUUSHHHAAANNN! Our resident Don Juan, Dushan was a member of our US Reservation staff from 1995 – 1997… until he decided to move back to Belgrade, Yugoslavia where he has since married and just become a new Father! Since we started sailings between Vienna and Bucharest (1998) and we needed a good Cruise Director – who better than Dule! Dushan today, is our Cruise Director (along with Vojin – see below) for all of our Southern European Cruise Programs. Totally charming, gregarious, and effervescent, anyone who meets him – loves him!

Sheila Ji Lan
Senior Guide & Cruise Director - China

2005: This amazing gal has been our Senior Guide and Cruise Director in China for most of the past 7 years! Petite in size she is a “giant” among Tour Directors regardless of weather escorting groups of 20 or 200! She is so popular with our clients that many return to China requesting only dates where she is guaranteed to escort! We have received so many complimentary letters about her over the years – that we had to purchase a separate filing cabinet just to store Sheila’s fan mail! Absolutely the greatest! “XIE XIE “ SHEILA!

Nancy Toussaint
Sales/FIT/Group Manager

2006: Nancy wrote to us, "I want to work for your company." Although we were not looking for anyone at the time, we simply could not ignore her energy, enthusiasm, and zeal for international travel. Along with 24 years experience in the travel biz, she has a love of river cruising and has personally sailed 4 of our major destinations “ Russia, China, Mekong and most recently, our Southern Danube cruise. So if there is anything anyone needs to know about any of these destinations - Nancy is the go to gal! Funny enough, along with Jim she increases our pure bred, American-born staff to - two! She enjoys writing and talking about travel, so give her a call at any time!

Eugene Sulyma
Air agent, Renaissance Travel

2006: A self proclaimed "nice guy," Eugene came from Ukraine a year ago, and while going to travel school came to us as an intern to gain hands-on experience! His Ukraine background fits nicely with our Ukraine cruises - so if you need details - give him a call!