your hosts at sea.
Jeff & Lisa travel with each group as active participants — creating the warmth, introductions, and tone that make every voyage genuinely special.
Lisa Shumas
Born and raised in New Jersey, Lisa spent her early years as a social studies teacher before choosing to be home for her family in their hometown of Johns Creek, GA. As the kids grew up (Andrew - 20 and Avery - 16), and the house started to get quieter, she was ready for something more — partnering with Jeff's sister Marci, and diving headfirst into the cruise industry at McClelland Travel, an official Explora Journeys partner agency, passed on from Jeff's late mother Dale and handed off with care by his dad, Dennis, who still serves as honorary and knowledgeable advisor. Lisa knows this world inside out: the comfort, the pacing, and the thoughtful details that make travelers feel genuinely cared for.
Jeff Shumas
A Penn State graduate and technology leader, Jeff built his career in solution consulting, spending significant time at various companies including ServiceNow, Verizon, and Accenture. He also took a break from corporate a few years back to launch a meal preparation store franchise. Now taking his most exciting step yet — leaving the corporate world behind (for a 2nd time) to build something truly special with Meridian. Along with launching the brand, community, and sharing his authentic experiences through the Meridian Journal, Jeff develops the thematic layer of each voyage: the conversations, the focus, and the ideas that add real meaning without ever turning the trip into a conference.