Origins:
1980
Catholic
Travel Centre’s beginnings date back over 25
years, when the company’s founder, Scott Scherer,
decided to use his business skills to help fundraise
for the Catholic Church.
Marketing
expertise:
After
graduating from Duke University in 1981, Scott was
recruited to the Marketing Department of a Fortune
100 company. However, he soon sensed that his fit
would be better elsewhere, outside the world of corporate
marketing.
Organize
pilgrimages:
Scott
soon left the corporate world to work for a small,
southern diocese. While living at a local retreat
center and still fundraising for the Church, Scott
began to organize pilgrimages. He quickly discovered
his passion for pilgrimage - a passion shared by
his mentor, the Reverend Msgr. John Wall, a diocesan
priest, who tutored Scott on the spiritual dimension
of pilgrimage.
Scott’s
passion:
For
the next seven years, Scott’s business grew
as he fostered his passion for pilgrimage, leading
groups with Fr. Wall throughout Europe and the Middle
East.
Throughout his journeys, Scott perceived a need within the religious
group travel market -- a need for a pilgrimage company whose spiritual
understanding matched its travel professionalism.
Learning
from the best:
In
1991, Scott moved to Los Angeles to share his passion
with Henry Avakian, a veteran in religious group
travel. Thirty years his senior, Henry taught Scott
the essentials of managing a successful group tour
company.
Founding
of CTC:
Together
they founded Catholic Travel Centre. In 1994, Henry
passed away, leaving Catholic Travel Centre to Scott’s
leadership.
Scott’s VISION:
In Scott’s words, the vision of Catholic Travel Centre is a melding of the influence of his two beloved mentors, Msgr. John Wall and Mr. Henry Avakian. Because of the tutelage of these |
