The Grand Western Tour team is comprised of carefully chosen professionals who have experience working with a diverse group of personalities. The health and well-being of our students and staff and fostering a sense of community among the group are priorities.​

We maintain a ratio of one staff member for every 13 students, which enables our team to provide personal attention and really get to know the students.

Experience you can trust.

Mary Barnett Hale, Owner
Mary is an alum of the Grand Western Tour who has always cherished her trip across the county in 1981. On that trip, Mary developed many lasting friendships that remain intact today. After graduating from St. Mary’s College and UNC, she married and raised three children in Greensboro, NC. Her youngest daughter went on the tour in 2018 and reignited her passion for the Grand Western Tour. Mary and her husband Scott purchased the Grand Western Tour in 2019 and look forward to carrying on a tradition that played such an important role in Mary’s life.

Glenn Jordan, Tour Director 
Glenn is serving as tour director of the Grand Western Tour for the 15th consecutive year. A middle school teacher for more than 25 years, Glenn considers the tour one of the highlights of his year. He enjoys history, music, politics, sports, and gazing at Kansas wheat fields through a bus window — but not always in that order.

Josh Madison, Counselor
Josh is taking part in his second trip on the Grand Western Tour. A graduate of Appalachian State, he is currently a 7th grade science teacher in Madison, NC. Josh coaches football and baseball, and serves as a digital learning coach, energy specialist and member of the school’s crisis team. In his spare time, he enjoys relaxing in his Eno, watching sporting events and playing video games.

Haley Kidd, Counselor
This will be Haley’s second trip on the Grand Western Tour. A graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, she is currently a 7th grade social studies teacher in Knoxville. Haley is trained to work with students on enhancing their self-esteem, developing positive character virtues and social skills, and reducing discipline problems.

Ashlie Martin, Counselor
Ashlie is excited about embarking on her first trip on the Grand Western Tour. She recently received a master’s degree at Appalachian State and is currently working as a media coordinator at a Winston-Salem high school. She previously worked in the airline industry and loves embarking on travel adventures. Ashlie and her husband have enjoyed taking their three children on a variety of travel experiences in the United States and abroad.

Ray White, Bus Driver
Ray is a full-time motor coach driver who was recently honored as Holiday Tours’ 2019 Driver of The Year for his outstanding performance. A North Carolina native, Ray has been driving a motor coach since 1985 and is directing the Grand Western Tour charter bus for the second time. He logged more miles (66,000) than any other Holiday Tour driver in 2018.