Meet our Team

Chris Lindley

Chris Lindley became President of American Travel Consulting in January 2021. He retired in July of 2021 after teaching band in the public schools of Alabama for twenty-five years, most of that time at Albertville High School. During his career as a band director, he participated in the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2007) in New York City, and led the Albertville Band in the Rose Parade (2011, 2018) in Pasadena, California, as well as many other parades in cities such as Chicago, Philadelphia, Gatlinburg, and Washington DC. Through these experiences, Chris gained a unique insight into student travel planning, having participated in parades/performances across the country as a band director. In 2018, Chris was the recipient of the Phi Beta Mu Bandmaster of the Year Award for Alabama. In 2019, he directed the Alabama Bicentennial All-Star Band in the Alabama Bicentennial Parade and was inducted into the Jacksonville State University Alumni Hall of Fame through the School of Education in 2020.

“We at American Travel Consulting pride ourselves on providing the best travel experience possible for your group. Our team is comprised of retired music educators with decades of experience in group travel and we are ready to put that experience to work for you!”

Curtis Burttram

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Curtis Burttram joined the American Travel team after an outstanding thirty-four year career as a band director in Alabama public schools, much of that time at Albertville High School. Curtis led the Albertville High School Band in the 2007 Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and participated in the Hollywood Christmas Parade (CA), National Cherry Blossom Parade (Wash DC), and the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade in Chicago. In addition, Curtis’ bands have performed in the Fiesta Bowl Parade (AZ), the Fiesta Flambeau Parade (TX), and in Nassau, Bahamas.

“We at ATC truly enjoy helping our clients plan the perfect trip. We have worked with bands, choirs, and other school groups from fifty to five hundred. Are you a middle school teacher looking for a great trip to Washington D.C. for your eighth-grade classes? No problem! Perhaps you are looking for insight into how to build your band’s resume to be considered for the national parades. We at ATC can provide that unique perspective because each member of our team has done just that. We are ready to take your group on its next adventure!”

Ken Bodiford

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Ken Bodiford has taught in the public schools of Virginia and Alabama for thirty years and is currently in his twenty-seventh year as Director of Bands at Jacksonville State University. Ken led the JSU Marching Southerners in the 1996 Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as performances in the Lord Mayor’s Parade in London, England, the World Peace Parade in Rome, Italy and has performed as part of the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. He joined the ATC team in 2018 and brings a wealth of knowledge in student travel planning to our clients. Ken is a 2019 inductee in the Jacksonville State University Alumni Hall of Fame through the School of Education. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Alabama, as well as degrees from East Carolina University and Jacksonville State University. Ken was selected as the 2016-2017 Director of the United States Army All-American Marching Band based in San Antonio, TX.

“At ATC, student travel planning is our passion. Having traveled extensively throughout our careers, our team understands just how important travel is to a student’s well-rounded education. Travel provides students real world experiences not available from a textbook and offers learning opportunities on an enhanced level. From elementary school groups headed to Atlanta for a weekend trip to marching bands flying to California for the Rose Parade, our team is ready to help plan your perfect trip!”

Haley Lindley

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Haley holds a Bachelors degree in Business Management with concentration in Entrepreneurship from Jacksonville State University. She has traveled extensively through her band experiences and brings a unique perspective to the travel industry. Haley enjoys meeting new people and discovering new places, and looks forward to working with your student group to plan the perfect trip!

"I am blessed to be on a team of veteran music educators/tour professionals whose passion is student group travel! I can't wait to help put that experience to work for you!"

Sidney Gatch

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Sidney has been in the group travel industry for over 20 years, primarily working with school music groups. From Lexington, SC, in addition to working with ATC, Sidney and her husband Jerry also founded the Charleston Music Festival which has been hosting high school and middle school bands, orchestras, and choruses in Charleston, SC since 2013.

"A group travel company founded and run by music educators makes ATC a uniquely qualified company for your student group travel. Our staff knows first-hand what it takes to make your trip run as smoothly as possible, and our goal is for every trip to be seamless for the directors, students, and parents."

Debbie Baker

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Debbie Baker is excited to join the American Travel team and continue to share her many years of student travel knowledge with teachers. Debbie had an outstanding 30-year career as a band director in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. She traveled with bands to New York City, Indianapolis, Hawaii, and the French Riviera. Her bands also performed at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, OrlandoFest, Six Flags Over Georgia, and Carowinds Band Festival. By combining her teaching career and knowledge of travel, Debbie brings the ability to create a once in a lifetime trip for your students.

“I am excited to join the American Travel Team. Together we will build a trip that brings value to your program, to the students, and to your community. ATC has the integrity and commitment we all look for in a company.”