Meet Our Team

Mike Ard (Corporate Controller) joined the VENT team in December 2013. Mike brings 18 years of corporate finance and accounting experience in the mid-sized business segment in both CFO and Controller roles, as well as management consultancy. His concentration has focused on organizational financial management, process improvement, accounting operations, and business infrastructure enhancement in order to afford organizations the economic and structural capacity to drive growth. Mike holds an MBA from St. Edward’s University and a BA in economics from The University of Texas at Austin. When away from his work, Mike enjoys cycling, running, and enjoying the city of Austin with his wife, Lisa, and sons, Austin and Adam.

Sean Bibby (Assistant Operations Manager) joined VENT in May 2024. Sean’s background combines building customer relationships and retail & nonprofit community outreach, blending together with a passion for traveling and the natural world. VENT offers Sean the opportunity to help others see the world, a longstanding passion. In 2009, Sean moved to New Zealand for over a year, with a focus on epic backpacking trips. Later he traveled overland throughout South and East Africa, relishing the wildlife, food, and especially the people found on that great continent. Sean has lived in Austin for 14 years and is proud to raise his son as a die-hard Austin FC fan. Family time is usually spent at local splash pads, or gardening in the backyard.

Celeste Dillon (Tour Operations Manager) grew up in Germany, immersing herself in the country's rich historical culture, stunning architecture, and, of course, indulging in delicious Belgian chocolate. A passionate traveler, she loves exploring new cultures and languages. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, cooking, and getting lost in a good book.

Peter English grew up birding with Victor Emanuel and other tour leaders and was one of the inaugural camp leaders at the influential VENT youth camps. He went on to lead roughly 150 VENT tours in the US, Central America, and South America over the following 25 years. Peter earned his PhD studying mixed-species bird flocks in Amazonian Ecuador and has been both a Fulbright Scholar and a Watson Fellow. He has produced and published several bird call CDs with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Peter has been involved in rainforest conservation for most of his life, has built and managed ecotourism lodges in South America, has consulted on international ecotourism and conservation initiatives, and has lived or worked in 28 countries. Since his return to Austin, he has been a professor at the University of Texas teaching ornithology and other biology courses while simultaneously serving as the executive director of a large professional society. Peter has brought all that experience to help VENT continue to be the leader in birding and nature tours.

Debi Evans (Assistant Operations Manager) joined VENT in October 2024. In her adult years, she was fortunate to enjoy a variety of professional and personal activities, including designing software training materials, teaching pre-school and dance, working as a full-time actress at a children’s theater, raising three amazing children, and supporting her fabulous husband. Most recently, she spent eleven years as a Customer Support Supervisor for Expedia, working to improve customers’ experiences. For as long as she can remember, she has been passionate about nature and animals. She first became particularly interested in birding after spotting a pair of quetzals in Costa Rica. Her other loves are dance, travel, languages, cycling, scuba diving, restoring coral reefs, fostering dogs, music, friends, and community. In her lifetime, she hopes to play some small part in helping to save our natural world and the animals who live in it.

TäV Garvin (Director of Marketing and Publications) has spent the last 33 years assisting Victor Emanuel and coordinating VENT’s marketing efforts. Before joining VENT, she worked in the semiconductor sales industry and in emergency operations for the state of Texas. In addition to some wonderful human beings, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo helped spark her interest in birds and nature in 1983. When not in the office, she enjoys birding in Austin and Central Texas and observing all forms of wildlife.

Erik Lindqvist (Tour Operations Manager) is a graduate of Pepperdine University who joined VENT in 1997. A travel veteran, Erik has over 30 years of experience in the industry including stints in operations management, training, and marketing. He enjoys bicycling, outdoor activities, live music, and spending time with his wife, Lisa, and sons, Brad and Karl.

Barry Lyon’s passion for the outdoors and birding has its roots in his childhood in southern California. During his teenage years, he attended several VENT/ABA youth birding camps, which ultimately led to his future involvement with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours. He holds a B.A. from the University of Arizona at Tucson where he studied history and political science, with an emphasis on environment and development politics. Barry joined the VENT team as a tour leader in 1995 and embarked on a travel-based career that has taken him to an array of worldwide destinations. He has lived in Austin, Texas since 2004 when he joined our office staff as an administrative assistant. In 2014 he was named Chief Operating Officer (COO), reflecting his increased experience and responsibilities. In 2023 Barry ascended to the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Although Barry still leads two or three trips a year, these days his work is geared almost entirely toward business, customer relations, and the management of the company. Barry’s background and his knowledge of natural history have provided him with a strong interest in conservation. He is a former board member and past president of Travis Audubon Society, which emphasizes conservation through birding and outdoor education for children. Barry resides in South Austin with his wife, Brooke Smith.

Catherine Mock (Receptionist-Staff Assistant) has been a receptionist/administrative assistant for more than 15 years. She joined VENT in April 2024 and is excited to have the opportunity to learn new skills while utilizing her previous experience. Her diverse background includes work in the financial and construction industry. At the beginning of her career, Catherine worked as a pharmacy technician and also as a hairdresser, where she gained her impeccable people skills and work ethic. Catherine is looking forward to her future with VENT!

Ben Reynolds (Director of E-commerce) balances a wide array of projects, including digital and social media marketing, SEO optimization, Google analytics, and specialty assignments to enhance business operations. With a BA in philosophy from UT at Austin, and more than seven years of business and e-commerce experience, he’s focused on system design through storytelling and technology to create surprisingly simple and effective solutions. When he isn’t working, you’ll find Ben with his family, birding, and out in nature.

Penny Saydah joined VENT as a Tour Operations Manager in March 2022. She began her diverse career in corporate travel in 1992 and spent many successful years as a vacation and leisure advisor. Penny helped create travel packages, and then booked the winners’ trips for the T.V. show, “The Price is Right.” Working steadily in different capacities, Penny brings a long understanding of the ever-changing travel industry. Working at VENT combines her love of travel and nature. After her first international trip to Sweden at age five, Penny knew she wanted “travel” to be part of her job description. She has maintained a deep and abiding interest in travel and the insight and understanding that it brings to both Penny and her family. Penny has traveled to every continent except Antarctica, but she knows she will get there eventually! Originally from Northern California, Penny has lived in Austin, Texas since 2014 with her husband, Jeff; son, Wyatt; Max the turtle; and their dog, Poppy.

Patrick Swaggerty (Tour Operations Manager) joined the VENT staff in 2004. He began his career in 1984 organizing and leading adventure tours throughout Colorado for a family-based sports company. Warmer climates led him back to the island of Maui, Hawaii where he describes his lifestyle there as warm and easy. After traveling much of the world, Patrick and his partner, Ted, eventually relocated to Austin, Texas. Patrick enjoys experiencing new things but says that he will always consider Hawaii his home.