Oct 16, 2012 | root_ks8kzico

Stephanie Kowacz

Job title: Chief Operating Officer (COO) Worked at Holbrook Travel since: 1992 Born: Florida 
Stephanie holds a degree in accounting from Webster University. She and her two daughters and husband Daniel love spending family vacations in Costa Rica. She says she has a special love for countries of Central America because there is so much diversity to discover - so much that she could spend her whole life exploring and still not see everything. One of her most memorable travel experiences was when her colleague Laurie McLaughlin was chased by a large male seal in New Zealand. Stephanie still hopes to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda or Rawanda one day to see one of the few remaining mountain gorillas. Her hidden talent is creative writing, and she dreams of writing a novel.

Up Next...

A sea turtle uses its fin to grasp onto another turtle in the water.
Photo of the Month: September 2026
On a pelagic trip off the coast of Huatulco in Mexico’s Oaxaca state, we saw numerous seabirds, but I hadn’t expected to encounter so many adult sea turtles. Most would sense the boat and quickly dive
Read More
Close-up of a king protea flower in bloom
Photo of the Month: August 2026
Both of these photos were taken on a trip based on Holbrook’s “South Africa: Gardens, Parks, Wine Country and the Wildflower Super Bloom!” arranged by Sandy Schmidt. The trip was timed for the spring
Read More

Why choose Holbrook?

We’ve been
coordinating travel
programs since 1974.

What makes us different?
Custom-Tailored Trips
Safety & Security
24/7/365 Service
Knowledgeable Staff
Expert Guides
Rich Content

Want to hear about upcoming trips?

Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest updates on upcoming trips, deals, and more. 

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
A Galapagos Penguin mid-jump over volcanic rock and seawater.
A llama stands on a path with the stone walls of an archaeological site in the background.
A woolly monkey balances in the branches of a tree, its limbs outstretched and tail wrapped around a branch overhead.
A group of Holbrook staff members pose and smile at the camera outdoors.
Multiple people on a forest trail look through binoculars and scopes at something outside the frame.
Side view of an adult hippo and calf partially submersed in water.
An elevated walkway surrounded by low trees and shrubs with a lake in far background and blue sky with puffy clouds.
Staff member Jamie DeVoe poses on an overlook with a volcano and town in the background.
Office building with elevated deck and tiered landscaping.
Selfie of staff members Kevin Van Dien and Sandy Schmidt smiling.
A motmot perches on a tree branch.
Upward view of 12 people standing in a circle, smiling down at the camera, with an ornate ceiling above them.
A Geoffroy's tamarin sits on a tree branch with its mouth open.
A golden lion tamarin sits on a tree branch.
Close-up of a king protea in bloom.
Staff member Jill Hays standing behind a conference table decorated with Holbrook-branded signs and handouts.
Selfie of Holbrook guide Iván Castillo in the rainforest.
A sea turtle uses its fin to grasp onto another turtle in the water.
Underwater shot of a person snorkeling near a large school of fish.