TONJA LESMEISTER

Tonja and her husband are the founders of TAP. She went on her first service trip to Jamaica in 2008 and has done over 30 service trips since then. Tonja is a Social Worker that worked primarily with youth during her career. She is passionate about building community and providing opportunities for people to serve others. Aside from social work, she enjoys the outdoors, gardening, kayaking, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.  Tonja along with her husband, Troy, and youngest child, Neyo, are full time travelers living in their RV when not traveling to other countries.

Bethany Meachen

Bethany took her first TAP trip in February 2020 and has remained actively involved ever since. She has supported TAP through marketing, communications, and social media efforts, and has also been involved with multiple journeys to Jamaica. Bethany currently serves as President of the Board, where she is passionate about advancing TAP’s mission and expanding its impact.

Bethany lives in western Wisconsin with her husband and two teenage children. As an aviation family, they value the opportunity to travel and explore the world together. She believes deeply in the importance of exposing young people to diverse cultures, communities, and ways of life. TAP holds a special place in Bethany’s heart, as it uniquely combines global travel with meaningful service and purpose-driven connection.

Karri Colberg

Karri joined the board following her first TAP in 2023. She became involved with TAP through a partnership with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls(UWRF) providing teletherapy speech-language services to children at Robin’s Nest and Melody House. Professionally, Karri is a speech-language pathologist and Clinical Associate Professor at UWRF.  

Throughout her career, Karri has always had a passion for helping children and adults with significant communication challenges, with special interest in serving the needs of children with autism spectrum disorders. During her first TAP trip, Karri had the opportunity to to visit the Montego Bay Autism Center and immediately felt called to use her  skills to help support the needs of the children and families at this school. Karri has since expanded the UWRF teletherapy services to include children and families at the Montego Bay Autism Center.

In addition to this work, Karri is active in her community, volunteering and advocating for the  needs of individuals with disabilities. She enjoys spending time with her family, her dogs and being out in nature. Karri is excited to be a member of the TAP board of directors as she looks forward to fostering relationships and serving others on a global level.

TAYLOR FEUERHELM

Taylor joined her first Traveling with a Purpose trip in summer of 2023 after hearing about the opportunity from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic where she was currently attending graduate school. After the trip, Taylor felt called to further learn how to support TAP and our friends in Jamaica.

She currently lives with her family in a small Wisconsin town called Hager City. Currently, Taylor is working her first job as a Speech-Language Pathologist. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, taking her dog on walks and being outdoors. Taylor is excited to be a part of the board and help support TAP’s goals. 

jack tocho

Jack joined the board prior to his first TAP trip in January 2025. Jack has spent over a decade supporting various community service efforts such as affordable home building, back to school drives, free sports camps, and food drives. TAP aligns with Jack's current interests, serving not only at a national level but an international level as well.

Jack currently lives in Charlotte, NC, working professionally as an IT Project Manager. Prior to his current profession, Jack played professional football for 4 years. Jack enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and spending time with family and friends. With both parents being Kenyan, Jack looks forward to supporting TAP with providing sustainable improvements in communities all over the world.

heather hood

Heather made her first trip to Haiti in 2010 with Soles for Souls. Inspired to return she connected with an orphanage in Port Au Prince and started the first of her Project Grace dance camps. The camps grew into a nonprofit organization and made frequent trips to Haiti. The political climate has made travel there impossible since 2020 and while researching a Jamaican  location to continue Project Grace, the connection was made with Tonja and Travel With a Purpose. It is with excitement and anticipation of new adventures, Heather joins the board of TAP. 

In addition to running Project Grace Haiti with her daughter Jhane, Heather does freelance wardrobe work in the Theatre and is also a trained death doula. Heather currently  resides in Birmingham Alabama. 

stacy tri

Stacy joined the TAP Board in 2025 after being on two TAP trips in 2019 and 2025. On the most recent TAP trip, Stacy was able to use her skills as a pediatric occupational therapist to assess kids and give recommendations, education, and support to parents and teachers at the Montego Bay Autism Center and Robin’s Nest Children’s Home. She has a heart for service, both local and abroad.

In addition to TAP trips, Stacy has traveled to Tanzania and Kenya, serving local schools and visiting a hospital and an orphanage for children with disabilities. At home, Stacy works as an occupational therapist in a school and as a home health OT in the St. Paul, MN area. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, baking, reading, singing in a local choir, and traveling to visit her two children.

Nora Reid

Nora joined the TAP Board in 2025. Nora’s first TAP trip occurred in 2024. She loved it so much she went back again in 2025. Nora is a Speech Language Pathologist currently working at the University of Wisconsin River Falls as a Clinical Supervisor and Adjunct Instructor. Nora’s interests include language development, assessment, and treatment, Neurodiverse populations, and speech and swallowing issues for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. Nora served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations over the years and enjoys being of service to organizations focused on her areas of interest. 

Nora enjoys many things in her spare time including sewing and quilting and competing in dog sports with her 2 Standard Poodles. 

jill williams

Jill first connected with Traveling With a Purpose in January 2025 after meeting the founder at an event. Her first TAP trip left a lasting impact, giving her a deep sense of belonging and connection while allowing her to use her background as a school psychologist to support children and families at the Autism Center and Robin’s Nest.

Jill spent many years working as a school psychologist at a developmental evaluation center and currently works for a school district while also serving as an Integrative Health Practitioner. She is passionate about seeing the whole person, thinking outside the box, and helping others feel supported, capable, and understood.

A full-time traveler for six years, Jill loves exploring new places, staying active, and diving into nerdy health research. She believes in showing up with an open heart and an open mind — and living for the moments that take your breath away.