Meet the Team
Explorer X was founded in 2017 by Michael Bennett and Jake Haupert with a simple but powerful belief: Travel, when done intentionally, has the power to change how people are living — and through them, the world. What began as a shared passion for exploration has grown into a mission-driven travel design company rooted in the idea that travel is a catalyst for learning, growth, deeper human connection, and more purposeful and mindful living. At our core, we are explorers — curious at heart, lifelong learners, and passionate advocates for meaningful connection. We don’t just plan trips; we design experiences that shift perspectives, deepen understanding, and leave a lasting imprint long after travelers return home.
Michael Bennett, Ed.D. | Co-Founder & CEO
Seattle, Washington
Once described as “a disarmingly earnest combination of spiritual guru and travel designer with a strange obsession with Joseph Campbell,” Michael is a seasoned traveler, speaker, consultant, educator, and entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to inspiring, guiding, and supporting others in becoming the Hērō of their own story. He believes that through travel, we all embark on our own Hero’s Journey of exploration, discovery, learning, and growth — and that doing so unleashes our creativity, cultivates our curiosity, and invites us to live healthier, more intentional, and more courageous lives.
Michael is a recognized thought leader in the travel industry and has been quoted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Seattle Times, Forbes, AFAR, National Geographic Traveler, Skift, Vox.com, USA Today, and CNBC, among other publications.
Michael earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and his MBA and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Pepperdine University. He is also one of the Co-Founders of the Transformational Travel Council.
Most Recent Travels: Slovenia, The Faroe Islands, Spain
Jake Haupert | Co-Founder
Seattle, Washington
Jake is guiding travelers and the travel industry toward a more meaningful, regenerative, and equitable world, striving to maximize the potential of tourism. His calling is to positively transform how we live our lives, how we are with others, and how we relate to our planet. He believes the time is now to disrupt the status quo of travel for good.
Jake believes that travel is too often devoid of intention, integrity, and meaning, resulting in personal experiences lacking their full potential. An unintended consequence of this is adding to rising inequities, overtouristed communities, and severe climate impacts.
Too often, travel reinforces boundaries, worldviews, and practices rather than stretching and evolving them. Meaningful journeys begin from the inside out. Jake's work is helping travelers and tourism professionals create favorable conditions for transformation in a regenerative system by applying universal design principles.
Jake, co-founder and CEO of the Transformational Travel Council, is also the Co-Founder/Strategic Advisor for the following conscious travel organizations, including ROAM Beyond, EverGreen Escapes, and Explorer X.
Favorite Destinations: Australia, Tanzania, and wherever he is now :)
Melissa Burnside | Travel Designer
Boise, Idaho
Melissa has over 15 years of experience in organizational leadership and project management, but she has always known she wanted to see and experience the world. After years of the corporate grind, Melissa went on a solo trip and changed her life in the process. That intentional and mindful travel experience made a profound impact and sparked an insatiable desire for exploration and personal growth. Truly believing that the right adventure can uncover a deep sense of gratitude and meaning, she joined Explorer X to encourage others to develop, grow, and experience the life they seek through travel. In her free time, Melissa enjoys camping, paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking, and exploring with her family in Idaho.
Favorite Destinations: Switzerland, Canada, Ecuador
Carrie Culp | Travel Designer
Seattle, Washington
Carrie’s fascination with Africa began with a book about African wildlife that she read in her elementary school library. As kids, she and her best friend “practiced” running away to Africa in the woods of Southern New Jersey. While this plan never came to pass, she did get there eventually and fell in love with Africa on her first visit. She went back to train as a Level 1 Field Guide (safari guide) the very next year. There is something about taking steps on African soil that makes her feel at home and connected to the earth. She has traveled to the African continent thirteen times in many years, and loves to share its beauty with first-time travelers and those who have caught the bug the way she had.
In 2014, she could no longer resist the feeling or her need to give back to the people and wildlife there. She founded the Endangered Canid Project, a not-for-profit organization that benefits the research and conservation of the African Wild Dog and other endangered species. The organization’s mission is to connect college students to real-world projects that enhance their education and benefit research and conservation. The organization’s flagship current project is with Washington State University for the design and construction of an affordable research drone for conservation.
Favorite Destinations: Botswana, Namibia, Antarctica
Robyn DeVoe | Travel Designer
Bozeman, Montana
Robyn caught the travel bug at a young age while exploring Europe with her parents and was officially hooked while studying ecotourism in Fiji and Australia. Her professional career in the travel industry has taken her to places near and far, from soaring over Arches National Park in a Cessna to snorkeling with sea turtles in the Galápagos.
Travel has given her new perspectives, instilled in her a sense of gratitude and wonder, and overall shaped her into an independent and empowered woman. Today, Robyn finds true fulfillment in being able to help her clients unlock the trip of their dreams and ultimately spreading appreciation and support for communities and environments around the world through responsible tourism.
When Robyn is not crafting itineraries, you can find her wearing her health coaching hat, helping her clients live their best lives, while she does the same, recreating in the mountains around her home in Bozeman, Montana.
Favorite Destinations: Tanzania, Peru, Mongolia
Curren Hamlet | Operations Manager
Curren has loved traveling from a young age; from visiting family across the US to exploring the natural world through camping and hiking. These lifelong passions led Curren to pursue a degree in Recreation Management and Leadership with a focus on Stainable Tourism, graduating from Western Washington University in 2021. During his time at WWU, Curren partook in a summer-long internship with Explorer X which led to him joining the Explorer X team post-grad.
Curren continues to love supporting global exploration mindfully and sustainably by sharing his vision for a green future. Outside work, Curren enjoys connecting with family and friends through skiing, backpacking, photography, and world travel.
David Jones | Travel Designer
Austin, Texas
David Jones is a seasoned travel designer and industry veteran who has dedicated his career to transforming how people experience the world. Currently a Travel Designer at Explorer X, David brings a wealth of expertise in crafting highly personalized, immersive journeys that go beyond typical sightseeing to foster genuine human connection and personal growth.
Now based in Austin, Texas, David continues to champion the philosophy of mindful exploration at Explorer X. He specializes in designing "trips of a lifetime" that emphasize sustainable design and slow travel. Whether navigating iconic destinations or under-the-radar hidden gems, David’s work is defined by his belief that travel is a catalyst for transformation and a more purposeful way of living.
Favorite Destinations: Italy, Egypt, Georgia
Kelly Studer | Travel Designer
Asheville, North Carolina
Kelly caught the travel bug at 17 during a family ski trip to Ischgl, Austria. The new and unexpected experiences captivated her, sparking a lifelong passion for exploring the world— 36 countries and counting. She thrives on adventure, believing that stepping into the unknown sparks personal growth. For her, traveling to unfamiliar places is the perfect way to ignite that journey of discovery.
With over 20 years in the corporate world and experience as a career and leadership coach, she’s now using her talents for intuitive inquiry, relationship building, innovative thinking, and meticulous planning to create truly personalized travel experiences that spark joy, courage, and wonder. Her mission is to design journeys that illuminate the magic and aliveness in life.
Kelly leads a life of intentional simplicity, filled with what brings her joy —meaningful conversations, good food and wine, drumming, and loving on her dog. She’s known for her playfulness, sense of style, and finding “just the right thing.” She currently lives with her husband in Asheville, NC, but remains a California girl at heart.
Favorite Destinations: France, Japan, Italy
