Our team combines over 40 years of experience in hospitality, travel & tourism, marketing & communications, fundraising, philanthropy and global activism. From negotiating hotel, airline and cruise contracts, to ordering meals for up to 2,000 people, we’ve covered the entire spectrum of the travel and hospitality industries. With backgrounds as diverse as magazine writing, translation, international sales and human resources, our staff shares the common goal of using the power of travel to make the world a better place.
Brian Van Wey is principal and co-founder of The Forward Motion Group. Van Wey has 25 years experience in brand management, training and development, project management, event production and consumer marketing. He has provided counsel and served as strategist to a variety of corporations, associations and non-profit organizations including: The Mark Travel Corporation, IGLTA Foundation, Thrivent Financial and The Center for Victims of Torture.
Van Wey holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Development and Communications from the University of Minnesota. A passionate traveler, he has worked in Italy, France and Switzerland and has operated programs in over 40 countries. But he’s currently happy to call Minneapolis home.
Jeff Gundvaldson joined The Forward Motion Group in March of 2013 with more than 20 years experience in business management and customer service and also has a background in project management and extensive experience in large event planning. He held positions at RSVP Vacations, American Express Brokerage, Minneapolis Public Schools and EZ Stop Convenience Stores.
Gundvaldson oversaw the operations of the tour operator RSVP Vacations as Director of Reservations and most recently as President. Throughout his tenure at RSVP he was responsible along with his team for planning and executing full ship cruise charters for up to 3100 guests. Previously he served as Director of Tax Services for American Express Brokerage overseeing a team of thirty, providing tax related customer service to brokerage clients. He also spent four years as a paraprofessional instructing high school students with special needs.
Gundvaldson earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from National College in Rapid City, SD. He resides in Edina, MN with his husband and together they have traveled extensively and enjoy many outdoor activities together and with their son Brock. They also enjoy spending time with their “little brother” Jonathan a young man with special needs.