James Knight, the virtual production director for AMD, has made a wealth of critical contributions to the film industry throughout the course of his truly remarkable career. Known for his outstanding visual effects work, Mr. James Knight has made his mark through the use of performance capture while working on films like I Am Legend, Avatar, Hulk, 2012, Prince Caspian, and The Amazing Spiderman, just to name a few. A versatile and passionate professional, Knight has also utilized him immense visual effects skills while working on video game projects that include Gotham Racing, Scene It, Batman: Arkham City, and Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Due to his extensive professional experience and expertise, Mr. Knight is one of the industry’s most sought-after professionals and is considered an important voice in all matters concerning performance capture and visual effects. As a result, Mr. Knight has taken on an active role with several professional organizations, including the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), the Visual Effects Society, and The Academy’s Scientific and Technical Achievement Committee. In his role on the board of directors with the Los Angeles chapter of BAFTA, Mr. Knight has worked diligently to secure widespread support for BAFTA-LA’s education and outreach programs.

Although the majority of Mr. Knight’s work is based out of Los Angeles, the performance capture and visual effects expert travels frequently to work on film projects all over the world and seeks inspiration for his work from the diverse surroundings he encounters while on location. Despite the extensive travel schedule often required of him, Mr. Knight continues to routinely take advantage of the travel opportunities that exist outside of his professional work and has returned from his international adventures feeling refreshed, invigorated, and eager to tackle the challenges of a new film or video game project.

1. What is your favorite thing about traveling?

Whenever I travel to a new and entirely unique location, I feel tremendously energized by my surroundings. This is obviously beneficial for professional reasons, and it certainly makes working on a project feel much more akin to recreation rather than work.

2. Is traveling a hobby or a lifestyle for you? How did you get started?

I’d call traveling a lifestyle for me, and I was fortunate to have a family that was curious about the rest of the world and wanted to experience it firsthand.

3. What is the most beautiful place you’ve been to?

The South Islands of New Zealand are absolutely stunning, but it is not easy to rank all of the beautiful places I have been fortunate enough to visit over the years.

4. Do you have any exciting travel dates planned for the future?

My upcoming schedule does not include anything at the moment, but that will probably change quite soon.

5. What are some travel tips you’d give to someone inexperienced?

I’ve met a lot of people who have a negative view of traveling for work purposes, and I think everyone should be much more open-minded about travel opportunities regardless of the reason behind traveling.

6. Where would you like to go?

I’ve heard some wonderful things about the Pyrenees mountain range, so I’d like to visit that region sometime in the future.

7. Where would you like to revisit?

Maine in the summertime is especially relaxing, and I’d certainly like to revisit England.

8. Do you travel alone? Why?

I usually travel with a fairly sizable group of people when on assignment, which is why I prefer to travel alone for recreational purposes. I enjoy both, but your perspective tends to change when traveling alone.

9. If you could pick the top 3 places every person should go, what would they be?

Michoacan, Mexico; London, England; the South Islands of New Zealand.

10. Do you travel light or do you pack up the house?

It depends; if I’m traveling for work I have to pack a ton of equipment, but if I’m traveling for recreation I prefer to bring just a few necessities.

The founder of a popular travel blog, Kim Dao’s entrepreneurial ascent began as something of a happy accident. Searching for a way to document her first journey to Japan for posterity’s sake, Kim Dao created her blog as a digital journal she could share with friends and family at home in Australia. Once her writing began to draw increasingly widespread interest, she added a YouTube channel in order to provide a visual medium for her growing base of followers to enjoy.

Kim continues to run the Kim Dao Blog as well as her YouTube channel, but she has expanded her subject matter to include topics associated with fashion and makeup to go along with her extensive travels. Kim has also expanded the mediums through which she interacts with her followers, frequently sharing through social media platforms like Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr, and many others.

The initial trip to Japan inspired Kim to move to the country for an extended period of time, allowing her to continue to write for her blog and produce videos for her YouTube channel while exploring the region as often as possible. Kim, a graduate of the University of Western Australia, has always been interested in Japanese language and culture, and she holds a degree in Japanese as well as a degree in psychology.

Kim, who is of Vietnamese descent, was born in Australia and has expressed an intention to settle down in the country of her birth sometime in the future. Although she plans to eventually return to Australia, Kim is extraordinarily content to continue living and working in Japan, especially since her experience in Japan has led to so many opportunities to work with major brands, including Liz Lisa, Etude House, and Amore Pacific, not to mention the countless others that have benefited from Kim’s talents as a brand ambassador and social media influencer.

1.  What is your favorite thing about traveling?

Since I love to study other cultures, my favorite thing about traveling is the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge to pair with what I had already learned.

2. Is traveling a hobby or a lifestyle for you? How did you get started?

It’s a lifestyle, particularly since it was traveling that made it possible for me to move to Japan and to earn a living by documenting my travel experiences.

3. What is the most beautiful place you’ve been to?

So far, Kyoto is the most beautiful place I’ve visited, but there is still so much more I would like to see.

4. Do you have any exciting travel dates planned for the future?

Yes, I’ll be visiting my family and friends back in Australia quite soon.

5. What are some travel tips you’d give to someone inexperienced?

I’d tell inexperienced travelers to learn as much as they possibly can before making travel plans, and, once the plans are made, to trust their instincts and have a good time.

6. Where would you like to go?

I’d like to visit Western Europe sometime soon.

7. Where would you like to revisit?

I had a wonderful time in Okinawa just recently, and I would certainly like to return as soon as I am able.

8. Do you travel alone? Why?

Yes, I tend to travel alone. I find that I am more likely to enjoy a more authentic and immersive experience when traveling solo rather than traveling with family or friends.

9. If you could pick the top 3 places every person should go, what would they be?

Just about any destination in Australia, Japan, or Vietnam is worth visiting again and again.

10. Do you travel light or do you pack up the house?

I pack up the house every time I travel. Even though it can be inconvenient at times, I like to have lots of fashionable options available to me and I’ve always been willing to go the extra mile for the sake of my personal style.

In the time since joining Metropolitan Development Group as executive vice president of land development, Marty Stallone has been a principal reason behind the broad-based land development company’s continued success and expansion. Specializing in a wide variety of development project ranging from single-family residential properties to commercial and industrial properties, MDG has rightly earned it reputation as one of the most outstanding and versatile land development companies in the industry.

Previously serving in professional roles with Hamilton Consulting and Meridian Capital Markets before taking his current position as MDG’s executive vice president of land development, Mr. Stallone has effectively leveraged his unique professional background and Ivy League education to guide the decision-making process that has led to such immense success that MDG’s development footprint is readily apparent in counties throughout Eastern Pennsylvania.

Working out of the company’s principal offices, Mr. Stallone has made a point to visit MDG’s many ongoing development projects on a regular basis and frequently travels abroad in an effort to better serve MDG clients wherever they happen to be. This level of commitment is part of the reason why clients value the company’s services to such a significant degree, but Mr. Stallone would surely be quick to note that it is the effectiveness of MDG’s services that will always define the company’s success.

Mr. Stallone, a graduate of Cornell University and a National Merit Scholar, has been recognized for his exceptional professional insight in a number of ways, including through the constant requests for appearances at conferences and seminars relating to the many subjects falling within his vast area of expertise. Despite a busy schedule that includes frequent travel requirements, Mr. Stallone has worked diligently to share his knowledge as often as possible by regularly accepting these speaking engagements.

What is your favorite thing about traveling?

The opportunity to learn something new or unexpected is certainly among my favorite things, and I always feel energized when I arrive and again when I depart, especially when it is a particularly enjoyable destination.

Is traveling a hobby or a lifestyle for you? How did you get started?

It’s a lifestyle due to my professional responsibilities, and the increased frequency really began after I started in my role with MDG as executive vice president of land development.

What is the most beautiful place you’ve been to?

I’ve been to quite a few beautiful locations over the years, but I was truly surprised by how stunning Vancouver, British Columbia is regardless of the season.

Do you have any exciting travel dates planned for the future?

I tend to travel throughout the Northeast — and especially Eastern Pennsylvania — so I like to maintain enough schedule flexibility that I can spontaneously depart from any location if the circumstances are ideal for doing so. This is why I rarely have plans made well in advance for travel outside of the Northeast.

What are some travel tips you’d give to someone inexperienced?

Spontaneous travel is not necessarily ideal for everyone, and the same is true of advance or well-planned travel, so I’d advise a new traveler to consider their individual personality traits in order to determine what style best suits their unique needs.

Where would you like to go?

Portugal is a country that has always intrigued me as a destination, but I haven’t had the opportunity to visit just yet.

Where would you like to revisit?

Australia is a favorite destination of mine, and I’m looking forward to the next opportunity in which I can visit for an extended period of time.

Do you travel alone? Why?

I don’t have a preference either way, as it typically depends on the individual situation.

If you could pick the top 3 places every person should go, what would they be?

If I could pick the three best places to visit, I’d pick Sydney, Australia, Dublin, Ireland, and Galicia, Spain.

Do you travel light or do you pack up the house?

I always strive to pack light, but sometimes it is just not possible to do so. My preference, however, is to travel as light as possible.

 
As president of Filippini Wealth Management, Ian Filippini is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the financial planning and wealth management firm’s operations, particularly as it relates to the development and implementation of specific strategies for delivering consistently exceptional outcomes for clients. Located in Montecito (Santa Barbara) and Westlake Village, California, Filippini Wealth Management has enjoyed tremendous growth under Filippini’s leadership and has earned a reputation for providing a truly comprehensive approach to wealth management.

Mr. Filippini currently resides in Santa Barbara, California, a central coast city whose Spanish colonial heritage is readily apparent and strikingly framed by the Santa Ynez Mountain Range. Given his history of travel to destinations throughout the world, it should come as little surprise that Mr. Filippini elected to put down roots in the Santa Barbara area. With a Mediterranean climate and an atmosphere that is both cultured and bohemian all at once, Santa Barbara possesses many of the qualities Mr. Filippini seeks in a vacation destination.

Since starting as president of Filippini Wealth Management, Mr. Filippini has found it necessary to incorporate business into his regular travels abroad due to the insight and expertise regarding the innovative strategies utilized by his wealth management and financial advisement firm. Mr. Filippini has expressed a willingness to share these strategies with his industry peers — even those in direct competition with Filippini Wealth Management — out of a simple desire to act in the service of what he perceives as the greater societal good.

With years of experience as the president of Filippini Wealth Management, Mr. Filippini has built a company that has quickly grown into a respected and innovative firm. Mr. Filippini attributes the company’s success to its simple focus on providing client-centered services that cover all aspects of one’s financial life.

1. What is your favorite thing about traveling?

There is something about a change in scenery that is so energizing, and I certainly enjoy the opportunity to exchange ideas and principles with my peers in the field during my regular travels abroad for business

2. Is traveling a hobby or a lifestyle for you? How did you get started?

Traveling is something I enjoy as though it were a hobby but pursue as though it were a lifestyle, and my passion for travel began many years ago with a trip to Sweden.

3. What is the most beautiful place you’ve been to?

The British Virgin Islands possess a remarkable and pervasive beauty.

4. Do you have any exciting travel dates planned for the future?

I have a few brief business trips planned that will take me through the Pacific Northwest of both the US and Canada, but I don’t have any vacation travel planned for the next few months.

5. What are some travel tips you’d give to someone inexperienced?

I travel for both business and recreational reasons, so I have found that I derive greater joy and meaning from a trip if I begin by defining a specific purpose for the trip right from the outset.

6. Where would you like to go?

I’ve been curious about various countries recently, so I think I’d like to head to Switzerland, Italy, and Norway sometime soon.

7. Where would you like to revisit?

I’d love to return to Sweden within the next year or two.

8. Do you travel alone? Why?

I tend to travel alone because I like to maintain the flexibility to act spontaneously during a trip, but I still enjoy traveling with groups large or small.

9. If you could pick the top 3 places every person should go, what would they be?

In no particular order, I’d pick the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Sweden.

10. Do you travel light or do you pack up the house?

Traveling light is the most convenient way to travel and, in my opinion, it ensures that you never neglect any critical travel necessities when going from location to location.

 
Arturo Alvarez-Demalde is an internationally renowned venture capital and private equity expert whose academic and professional endeavors have allowed him to enjoy immersive cultural experiences throughout the Americas and much of Western Europe. These truly enlightening and enriching experiences helped to further reinforce Alvarez-Demalde’s belief in the importance of making a difference in the lives of people all over the world, especially those who are disadvantaged in any way, shape, or form.
Beginning with an example set in the private sector, Alvarez-Demalde has worked diligently to bring about meaningful change through the use of public works as well. The private equity expert has lent his experience and expertise to a wide range of critical causes, with a particular emphasis on education. Through his work with Harvard University’s David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies as well as with ARIS (Asociación Civil de Apoyo a la Rehabilitación e Integración Social), Alvarez-Demalde has helped create educational opportunities for those who would not otherwise have access to such outstanding academic programs.

Given Alvarez-Demalde’s own exceptional academic background, it should be no surprise that Alvarez-Demalde has championed numerous causes dedicated to the expansion of educational opportunities to reach those lacking in access to these critically important opportunities. Alvarez-Demalde possesses firsthand knowledge of the opportunities created through academics, and he took full advantage of his own academic experience that began at the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires. Alvarez-Demalde then went on to earn a degree in economics from the University of Buenos Aires before completing his MBA at Harvard Business School.

Alvarez-Demalde has consistently demonstrated exceptional executive leadership capabilities throughout a professional career that includes previous experience with Siemens AG and Leadgate. As a manager with Siemens AG and a partner with Leadgate, Alvarez-Demalde possessed a strong track record of success and his wealth of specific expertise in matters involving due diligence, LBO, financial structuring, mergers, and valuation proved to be a remarkably beneficial resource.

1. What is your favorite thing about traveling?

I’ve lived all over the world — Argentina, Germany, the United States — so traveling makes it possible to visit and reconnect with friends and family.

2. Is traveling a hobby or a lifestyle for you? How did you get started?

It is a lifestyle that began with the opportunity to work with Siemens AG in Germany and study at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

3. What is the most beautiful place you’ve been to?

Argentina — whether it is Buenos Aires, the Andes, the grasslands of the Pampas, or the glacial lakes — will always be most beautiful in my eyes.

4. Do you have any exciting travel dates planned for the future?

I’ll be heading to Germany to visit some old friends I have not seen in quite some time.

5. What are some travel tips you’d give to someone inexperienced?

If possible, take advantage of any opportunity to be completely immersed in another culture. This is the best way to learn a new language and gain a new and valuable cultural perspective.

6. Where would you like to go?

I’d like to see the Far East — Japan especially.

7. Where would you like to revisit?

It has been a while since I last visited the Northeastern part of the United States, so I’d like to revisit New England as soon as possible — but hopefully during the autumn months.

8. Do you travel alone? Why?

Most of the time, yes, I do travel alone. I tend to prefer extended travel experiences, which is not necessarily convenient for most people.

9. If you could pick the top 3 places every person should go, what would they be?

Buenos Aires, Argentina; Munich, Germany; San Jose, Costa Rica.

10. Do you travel light or do you pack up the house?

It depends on the length of the trip, but I rarely bring much more than a single carry-on bag.

Reed Gusmus, the director of marketing at QASymphony, brings a passionate, creative, and analytics-driven approach to the executive role in which he is responsible for the development and implementation of highly effective digital marketing campaigns. A thoughtful and ambitious professional right from the start, Mr. Gusmus demonstrated a wholly unique skill set that — combined with his vibrant entrepreneurial spirit — allowed him to gain vital experience as a freelance digital marketer while still working toward the degrees in management and marketing he earned from Kennesaw State University’s Michael J. Coles College of Business.

As a freelancer, Mr. Gusmus established an extensive client list that included companies from all over the United States. Striking a balance between his academic responsibilities and his burgeoning digital marketing career, Mr. Gusmus showcased a unique ability to create highly specialized marketing campaigns designed to produce a very specific outcome for the client. A versatile professional even at this early stage, Mr. Gusmus achieved a great deal of success while focusing on marketing strategy, web design, photography, videography, SEO and PPC.

Upon graduation from Kennesaw State, Mr. Gusmus’ dynamism earned him positions with BestPickReports.com, ClickMedia, and PGI. Mr. Gusmus consistently focused on expanding his skill set and continued to earn a reputation as an innovator and pioneer in the field of digital marketing, ultimately leading to his current role with QASymphony.

The expert B2B digital marketer has thrived in his executive leadership role with QASymphony, and he has already sparked tremendous interest in the test management tool company’s expansive product offerings, including the JIRA test management platforms that are now available to software development teams in need of a platform capable of simple integration. The interest generated by Mr. Gusmus’ marketing campaigns has resulted in demonstrable business growth and has had a positive impact on QASymphony’s top- and bottom-line revenue.

1. What is your favorite thing about traveling?

Traveling makes it possible to really step back and evaluate one’s point of view through an entirely different lens.

2. Is traveling a hobby or a lifestyle for you? How did you get started?

It is a hobby that has evolved into a lifestyle, especially after having so many wonderful experiences traveling abroad.

3. What is the most beautiful place you’ve been to?

Norway’s north country offered spectacular views of both the fjords and the Northern Lights.

4. Do you have any exciting travel dates planned for the future?

I plan to visit Queensland, Australia, with the hope of seeing the Great Barrier Reef.

5. What are some travel tips you’d give to someone inexperienced?

Organized tours and travel guides are a great way to become familiar with a new location, but the best experiences are often spontaneous and completely unexpected.

6. Where would you like to go?

I’d like to see New Zealand as well as Australia, so I am hoping to have ample time to experience both countries when I travel to Queensland.

7. Where would you like to revisit?

would like to go back to Norway and perhaps travel throughout all of Scandinavia on an extended trip.

8. Do you travel alone? Why?

I’m always willing to travel alone since I love to meet new people in new places, but I certainly enjoy having company as well.

9. If you could pick the top 3 places every person should go, what would they be?

1. Norway

2. Vancouver, British Columbia

3. Fiji

10. Do you travel light or do you pack up the house?

I think traveling light is always best. I enjoy setting out on a trip with nothing more than the basics.

As an internationally renowned expert on sustainable design and clean energy finance, Marlon Kobacker has traveled all over the world to offer his insight and expertise through speaking engagements and also while working in an advisory capacity on an endless array of sustainable building projects. Mr. Kobacker is the director of Sustainable Future Group, where he offers technical advice regarding the various strategies and funding options available for removing the capital cost barriers associated with improvements in sustainability performance.

Mr. Kobacker is also a principal with the sustainability design team for Clean Energy Corporation Australia (CECA), where he contributes to making a wide range of critical clean energy services available, including the design and delivery of solar photovoltaic systems and the creation and implementation of an Ecologically Sustainable Design (ESD) strategy specifically geared toward improving the sustainability performance of both new and existing assets. In addition to his roles with Sustainable Future Group and CECA, Mr. Kobacker is currently serving as a sustainability advisor for EarthRights International while working on an internal project.

As the very first graduate of the world’s first undergraduate program in photovoltaic engineering, Mr. Kobacker began his professional career with an eye on innovation. After earning a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of New South Wales — the latter of which being a Master of the Built Environment in Sustainable Design — Mr. Kobacker stayed on as a faculty member at UNSW while developing and teaching “Solar Architectural Technologies.”

Over the past decade, Mr. Kobacker has shared his vast expertise in the service of the clean energy and sustainable design industry by accepting countless invitations to lecture at conferences held all over the world. At these international conferences, Mr. Kobacker often speaks on the subjects of cost-efficient sustainable design and whole-of-life optimization, both of which were featured as topics in his recently published book, “Removing the Capital Cost Barrier to Sustainable Design.”

1. What is your favorite thing about traveling?

Since I travel so often for professional purposes, my favorite aspect of travel is the opportunity to exchange new ideas with my industry peers.

2. Is traveling a hobby or a lifestyle for you? How did you get started?

Traveling is most certainly a lifestyle. I have always been an avid traveler, but I began traveling much more extensively after I started speaking at conferences about clean energy finance and cost-efficient sustainable design.

3. What is the most beautiful place you’ve been to?

Fiji, especially the Lau Archipelago.

4. Do you have any exciting travel dates planned for the future?

Yes, I actually have several trips lined up for the future. The one I am most excited about is a trip to France later on this year.

5. What are some travel tips you’d give to someone inexperienced?

I like to make a loosely outlined itinerary so I can make the most of the time I have in a particular location.

6. Where would you like to go?

Even though I live relatively close to it, I’ve never been to the fjords of Milford Sound.

7. Where would you like to revisit?

Lyon, France.

8. Do you travel alone? Why?

I almost always travel alone, but only because of the nature of my work.

9. If you could pick the top 3 places every person should go, what would they be?

Fiji; the Okavango Delta in Botswana; Chile

10. Do you travel light or do you pack up the house?

I travel with nothing more than the bare necessities, so traveling light is definitely my preference.