Client Spotlight – Juanita Gilmore of Sunnyside Travel

Sunnyside Travel is more than a business to Ms. Juanita Gilmore, it is a passion. She is a double alumnus of Roosevelt University, receiving both her Bachelors Degree in Sociology and Psychology and her Masters Degree in Education and began her career as a 2nd grade teacher. While in college, she became a member of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Mu Chapter, an international association for professional educators, and is still an active member as the treasurer for the local chapter. As time progressed, she began taking travel classes at the City Colleges of Chicago and visited local travel agencies. She worked part time as a travel agent while still teaching and made the full-time jump into the travel industry in 1979.

Sunnyside Travel specializes in group vacation packages and cruises, as well as individual airline reservations. Her clients range from corporations to small businesses and professionals and she has booked travel to all corners of the world. Her favorite and most popular destination is Jamaica, which she travels to about 4 times a year. Employing 3 independent sales representatives, she organizes more than 35 group trips and handles the travel arrangements for a multitude of individuals every year.

She has passed on her knowledge of the travel industry by joining the adult education staff of Harold Washington College. During her 6 years there, she created the first Travel and Tourism Class and taught a few nights a week. Although she has taken a break from teaching, she looks forward to getting in front of the classroom again to spread her expertise.

She has excelled in both her personal and business activities. Most recently, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame at her high school alma mater, Wendell C.