John Swatridge

Job Description

I set up itineraries and the required bookings for destinations all over the world. Generally these are places I have already visited and enjoyed so I am excited about taking people there and also confident in their safety and comfort. I then escort the groups to the destinations which include everywhere from New York City to Vietnam/ Cambodia. As well, I sell imported wines to primarily restaurants. The funnest part is chatting while I have them taste new wines. I could also discuss my teaching, brokering and sales/sales mgt jobs and discuss how education is a lifelong exercise!

Relevant School Subjects

• Business
• Canadian and World Studies
• Health and Physical Education
• Social Sciences and Humanities

Areas of Expertise

• Admin/Business
• Catering/Hospitality
• Education/Training
• Financial/Insurance/Banking
• Leisure/Sports/Tourism
• Media/Print/Publishing

Career Story

It is an extensive story as I went to university on a music scholarship but aimed for law. After the computer messed up my timetable I took a Physical Education course and ended up majoring in Kinesiology. I worked at a racquet club upon graduation but it went bankrupt so I went to Teacher's College in Phys-ed and Economics. After graduation I applied and interviewed for teaching jobs but none of the 3 positions I was offered seemed right so I went into publishing sales in Toronto. A year later I was in Edmonton with the same company and 2 years later I was in sales becoming National Sales Mgr. a year later. Subsequently, after some frustrations I started to take my Investment Broker's license while still managing sales. Then I became a broker in Kitchener. After 3 years I started to teach high school but was hired to teach in disciplines I had no formal education in so I completed a Geography degree in about 2.5 years while teaching and coaching. After 26 years teaching I retired to trips and wines with my eye on some other business ventures very soon.