OUR TEAM
Molly Williams
Chief Executive Optimist (she/her)
Molly's Story
A lover of exploration for as long as she can remember, Molly’s priorities have always been experiencing new places and meeting new people. In college, Molly studied abroad in Europe, which opened her eyes to the excitement and inspiration of international travel planning.
Molly’s 20s were spent pursuing her love of travel, from bartending in London to managing a mobile marketing tour for Major League Baseball. It was there that she got her first taste of the international world of live music production. In the 10 years that followed, she gave her passport a workout, working as a production coordinator, tour manager and road manager on tours with a variety of artists, including Linkin Park, Rage Against the Machine, Britney Spears, Ricky Martin, Janet Jackson and The Jacksons.
Molly founded Smart & Savvy Travel in 2012 as a way to evolve the work she was passionate about: organizing travel for entertainment groups on the road. For eight years, she and her team moved thousands of travelers around the world servicing theatre, arena and stadium level tours, as well as leisure and corporate travelers.
In the wake of the industry collapse in 2020, Molly was faced with the decision of whether or not to close up shop. But a true roadie at heart, she led with resilience and chose to be optimistic, believing that both the travel and entertainment industries would rebound stronger than ever. She and her team spent the year investing in innovative systems to make life easier for their clients. In 2021, The Optimists was born with a vision to put people first, because everyone needs an Optimist in their corner!
Molly and her family live in the Minneapolis area.
Florence Tse
(she/her)
Florence's Story
Flo’s first job out of college set her up nicely for a career in the music industry: she was Janet Jackson’s personal assistant. She quickly fell in love with travel and learned she had a knack for logistics and scheduling.
For the next two decades, Flo worked across the spectrum of tour management and production coordination, working with artists such as *NSYNC, Justin Timberlake, Backstreet Boys, The Cure, Bonnie Raitt, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears. Her favorite full-circle moment came when she got the job as Janet Jackson’s tour manager 15 years after serving as her PA. For the past 10 years, Flo has worked on the management side with Britney Spears, Aerosmith, DJ Pauly D and others. She loves coming up with creative solutions to common issues such as touring on a limited budget, solving logistical quandaries and making sure even the most exacting client is satisfied.
Flo lives in Nashville with her husband Brian, daughter Noah, dog Bailey and cats Junior and Jeffrey.
MARY Frame
(she/her)
Mary's Story
For as long as she can remember, Mary has loved trying new things. When she was 21, Mary moved from Northern California to Los Angeles and took a SABRE training course at Santa Monica College. After graduating, Mary took a job as an assistant for an onsite travel management company at a talent agency. Her love of all things travel & entertainment blossomed from there.
Mary has managed entertainment and corporate travel for talent & sports agencies, movie production and music touring companies, and planned many a celebrity luxury vacation. Through this varied experience, Mary realized music touring was her passion because she loves to make all of the details work together.
In 2016, Mary moved from Los Angeles to Nashville to build a new branch office for an entertainment travel agency. After the office was up and running efficiently - and surviving the pandemic - it was time for a new adventure. Mary moved to the Optimists in March of 2023 and is excited to be utilizing her knowledge of entertainment travel and agency operations to further strengthen the agency.
Mary lives in Nashville, TN with her 3 furry kids – two cats, Cash & Bulleit, and puppy, Roadie.
Bobbie Jenniges
(she/her)
Bobbie's Story
Bobbie wanted to be in the travel industry from a young age, inspired by her aunt who was a flight attendant. She studied travel management in college and started working in the travel industry at 19 years old.
Back when Northwest Airlines was around, if you were trying to book a flight and needed help, there’s a good chance you talked to Bobbie. She loved going the extra mile to solve problems for customers and ease any inconvenience they were experiencing. This commitment holds true today. Bobbie’s expertise in booking flights through the GDS is unparalleled and she is an invaluable member of the team.
Bobbie and her family live in Marshall, MN.
Kris Van Dover
(she/her)
Krissy's Story
Krissy is a music lover at heart. Her first job was in St. Louis, Missouri, printing concert merchandise for over nine years with Westover Graphics. Then she transitioned into the travel industry, learning the GDS and booking flights for corporate clients, while staying connected to the music industry by selling merch and working as a runner for many arena shows in St. Louis. Not only adept on land, she has also sold merch at sea with the Monsters of Rock Cruise and Cruise to the Edge, while also assisting in production or VIP meet and greets.
Throughout her 20+ year career in the travel industry, Krissy has become an international flight booking expert, supporting tours and individuals as they travel the globe. She loves the details and making sure travelers have what they need.
Krissy lives in Nashville, TN and hopes to move to Destin, Florida in the near future.
Cory stelzman
(she/her)
Cory's Story
Cory always knew she wanted to work in the music industry. In college, she explored a variety of career options through internships at a concert venue, management company, record label and summer festival - live entertainment was the standout.
After graduating, Cory continued to work for an arts organization that put on a summer festival operating at multiple venues. She remained there as a production coordinator for a few years before feeling the itch to go on the road. In 2018, Cory entered the touring world as a production coordinator/assistant tour manager.
After the pandemic and birth of her daughter, Cory wanted to transition to a more stationary role. Working as a travel manager for artists on the road seemed like a great fit. Cory finds joy in supporting bands on tour and remaining connected to this part of the industry while also being able to stay home with her family.
Cory lives in Allentown, PA with her husband John, daughter Margo and dog, Goat.
sara caroline
mills
(she/her)
Sara Caroline's Story
Sara Caroline grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and moved to Nashville in 2014 to find a role in the music industry. She studied music business at Belmont University and realized she wanted to play a part in putting together tours for artists. Her passion was put on pause during the pandemic, so she worked in retail management until live touring started its comeback. She was finally able to put her love for live music and touring to work in 2022 with a job at an entertainment travel agency. Sara Caroline excels at putting all the little pieces together to make sure the artist and crew can travel comfortably throughout their tour.
Sara Caroline lives in Nashville with her boyfriend, Wes, their cat, Spaghetti, and dog, Meatball.
megan mosto
(she/her)
Megan's Story
After completing her MBA from Pepperdine University, Megan decided to embrace adventure and spent a few years traveling the world. From horseback riding through Colombia to hot air ballooning in Laos to elephant tracking in Zimbabwe, she’s experienced some of the most exceptional adventures around the planet.
Megan put her extensive knowledge of international travel to use professionally and in 2015 began booking adventures for clients who wanted a cultural experience without sacrificing comfort. She makes complicated itineraries look easy and loves making travel accessible for anyone.
Megan lives in Denver with her fiancé Vinny and their crazy dog Bomber.
Our Optimists live out our values everyday
Optimism
A can-do, solution-oriented attitude
Empathy
Willingness to see things from another’s perspective
Expertise
Deep knowledge and resourcefulness
Integrity
Committed and accountable
Productivity
Ability to get the job done with thoroughness and efficiency
Passion
A love for people, the culture of serving clients and making someone’s day better
In addition to serving the travel industry, we are committed to making a positive impact in our local and global communities.
We believe in actively supporting the work of social justice, human rights and sustainability through organizations that are making a measurable impact.
“I couldn't have done this without The Optimists’ solid support and deep knowledge of how the touring industry works. I thank you for all you did for us. Your team nailed it. You are deeply valued.”
— Cat Mihos, production coordinator, Soundgarden