Joanne Hartobey
Product Manager - Sales, NJ Office
I am observant enough to notice the chaos, patient enough to survive it, and secretly amused by how ridiculous life can be.
When I Joined ETA & What I Love About Working Here
Professional Background
Joanne Hartobey is an experienced program coordinator with a strong background in hospitality, travel, and student-focused experiential learning. She brings a unique blend of organizational expertise, cultural curiosity, and educational insight to every program she develops and leads.
Joanne began her career in the hospitality industry as a hostess and server and steadily worked her way up to manager and eventually, event coordinator. Through this progression, she gained hands-on experience in guest services, team leadership, and operations before taking on responsibility for planning and executing events. In her role as an event coordinator, she managed complex logistics, coordinated vendors, oversaw timelines and budgets, and ensured seamless guest experiences. This career path sharpened her attention to detail, adaptability, and ability to lead under pressure, skills that continue to shape her professional work.
Building on this foundation, Joanne transitioned into educational travel and student programming, where she has designed and led domestic and international trips focused on history, culture, social justice, and the arts. She has extensive experience creating itineraries that balance structured educational content with opportunities for reflection and engagement, ensuring meaningful learning experiences for students of all ages. Her programs emphasize historically significant sites, immersive storytelling, and experiential learning beyond the classroom.
Throughout her career, Joanne has remained deeply committed to education that is accessible, experiential, and transformative. Whether coordinating events, leading student travel programs, or developing curriculum-based experiences, she approaches her work with professionalism, empathy, and a passion for lifelong learning. Her background in hospitality, combined with her dedication to education and travel, allows her to create programs that are both exceptionally organized and deeply impactful.
Fun Facts About Joanne
Interesting Facts
I read 50+ books a year, mostly horror.
Favorite Place Traveled:
I just went to Portugal last year and I loved every minute. I can’t wait to go back. The food, the people, the wine, everything, was fantastic. What an amazing experience.
Favorite subject to study in school:
History. I’ve always loved history.
Most Recent Passport Stamp:
Portugal.
Most unexpected moment while traveling:
NKOTB Member, Donnie Wahlberg, helped me stow my bag on a flight from Chicago to New York.
Window seat or aisle seat?
Aisle bc bathroom.
Dream destination (not yet visited):
Greece.
Go-to travel snack:
Cheezits. I don’t know why but I must have them.
One thing I hope students gain from traveling:
I hope students gain a curiosity and confidence from traveling.
