About The CDV Family
The CDV Team... Truly Friends & Family!
It has been said that we are a motley crew of various nationalities that have come together to form a big family... Nothing could be more true! Our team is a wonderful mix of Italians, Americans, Portuguese, Croatians, and even Uruguayans... all with an incredible passion for what we do.
As you read through our bios, you will quickly see how we all came together first through family and friendship, and then began to work together. What's amazing is how each person's unique background - from Michael's tech CEO days to Paola's authentic Italian family connections, from Daniele's luxury hotel experience to Marta's Portuguese hospitality roots - all blended together to create something no one could have planned. This photo shows it perfectly: if you look closely, you will not only see the CDV team, but also many of the owners of places we visit... wineries, stores, mixed in with a few guests! This is because we truly make what we do one big family!
The best part? Our TripAdvisor Hall of Fame recognition across 7 countries proves that when you build a business on genuine relationships and authentic experiences, magic happens. But for us, the real magic is in the friendships - both within our team and with every single person we meet along the way.
Michael & Paola Kovnick - The Visionary Founders
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn
It all started in 2006 with an Italian villa and dream that they could give the kind of Italian experience they had always given their friends and family, to others. Michael was a dot.com CEO with 20+ years in network engineering, cybersecurity, and AI, and Paola was a CFO with something even more valuable - she's a native Italian whose family connections span multiple regions and centuries. That is, until the big tech crash, followed by 9/11. Not knowing where their next adventure would take them, they found themselves chatting over lunch, when Michael had one of his "hair brained ideas." Within a few months, what became CDV was born! Read their story about how it all started, or Michael's "My Life in Italy story" on the blog for their own (before the book) Under the Tuscan Sun story!
They went on to build the company from a small hobby of sorts into a TripAdvisor Hall of Fame operator (top 0.004% globally) spanning 7 countries and the largest direct-operating small group tour operator. All the while, never losing sight of the reason they started it all. Michael has multiple certifications with his 20+ years experience in travel, most notably CTIE (Certified Travel Industry Executive), and regularly publishes on the company blog, Medium, and various industry magazines, usually about how important personal connections are in travel. More importantly, Paola's authentic family - sister Carla (cooking instructor at our Tuscany & Umbria location), brother Sergio (who handles logistics in the same area), and "Mamma Eddarella's" traditional recipes - became the heart of what makes us impossible to replicate.
Nowadays they split their time between Italy and Florida. While in Italy, they are often out scouting new locations, spending time with friends, and popping in on groups. Don't be surprised if you are on a CDV trip, and stop in at a winery only to find Michael and Paola walk out of the owner's house. Or you may be at a restaurant, and they may be helping serve tables! That is quite simply because the places we go as a company are all about personal relationships we build, and those places you visit are usually dear friends. In fact, you are sure to find many extremely unique personal connections to Michael and Paola, as well as the rest of the CDV family. Because to us, this is about way more than business! As far as their role in the company, Michael is the CEO and Chairman, and Paola the CFO.
Daniele Pintaudi - Making sure everything is flawless
Connect with Daniele on LinkedIn
It all started in 2010 when Michael was in Norcia, Umbria for a day excursion from Soriano with one of our Alumni groups. He wasn't pleased with the restaurant they had chosen for lunch that day, and was looking for a new one. He walked into the Granaro del Monte restaurant, met the owners, and ended up checking out Palazzo Seneca. Soon after, he met Daniele, who invited him to come spend a few days in Norcia. Daniele was the Business Manager for the luxury hotel company - and he had the formal hospitality education from Università degli Studi di Perugia to back up his natural talent for making guests feel like family.
A friendship quickly developed, and they started planning our Norcia weeks, which were inaugurated in the summer of 2011. Since then, Daniele and Michael have remained friends outside of business, and have even gone on scouting trips together in other parts of the country. But here's what really proved Daniele's worth: when the devastating Norcia earthquake hit, and later when COVID turned the world upside down, Daniele kept everything running beautifully while taking care of every guest. That kind of crisis management with a smile? You can't teach that.
This went on for several years until Daniele told Michael and Paola he was looking for a change. Daniele was already family, so it was instantaneously offered that Daniele come aboard CDV as our COO running all operations over what became 7 countries. Several years later, Splendido Vacations, CDV's legal entity in Italy, was formed with Daniele as a managing partner. As a true member of our family, Daniele finally became a full principal shareholder in Culture Discovery Vacations, bringing his 2 decades of operations experience with him.
Marta Marques - Iberia and Beyond
Connect with Marta on LinkedIn
Until 2018, CDV had always focused on Italy, but in our horizons began to expand and Portugal unexpectedly came onto our radar. This is when we met Marta. At the time, she ran a company called Wild Douro in Porto - and with her Hotel Management degree, extensive experience, and natural talent, she was already earning Wine Travel Awards nominations. Something felt incredibly right. Our families instantly became friends, and Marta truly embraced everything that made us who we are.
In 2019, we did our first tour in Portugal in partnership with Wild Douro as a test run, and it was a huge success. That CDV feeling was just as strong in Portugal as it had always been in Italy, thanks to Marta, her family and friends. We clicked perfectly. Then Covid hit, and when the CDV family bonded with all of our partners and guests through our regular live-streaming, Marta was always right there, and there was a deep sense that she was not just part of our family, but always had been.
When travel started up again, our Portugal vacations started up as though they had always been a part of CDV. In the four years after that, Marta and her family would regularly visit us in Italy and we would regularly go to Portugal. By 2024, she'd even earned the prestigious Terravino Lifetime Achievement Award - recognition that celebrates people who've truly shaped Portuguese tourism. There was an overwhelming sense that Marta was not Wild Douro... She was part of the CDV team.
By 2023 we began to talk about making it official, and it just made sense. She was CDV, so in 2024, Wild Douro merged into CDV, and Marta became our CSO and fourth principal shareholder. Wild Douro was renamed to Culture Discovery Destinations, and came under the CDV umbrella.
Carla - The General of the Kitchen
Carla is Paola's sister. Like Paola, she grew up tugging at Mamma Eddarerlla's sleeves in the kitchen while soaking up all the family knowledge. Carla is in charge of teaching our Soriano cooking classes, and handles all of the food-related logistics in Central Italy. She is a fantastic cook. In fact, she rivals Paola in the kitchen. If you are on our Wine & Cooking Under The Tuscan & Umbrian Sun trips, she is often the one teaching your classes. You will never stop laughing as you fall in love with her charm. More importantly, she has a way of teaching that you will adore... even if it includes her chasing you around the kitchen with a rolling pin! In addition to her kitchen prowess, she is also a partner of Splendido Vacations, our sister-company in Italy that handles all of our in-country logistics and legalities.
Linda - The Hostess with the Mostest
Or should we say "Leeeeeeenda"? A local "Viterbese" from just over the hill, Linda hosts many of our vacations. She has been with us since 2013. One day, she showed up at Michael and Paola's villa prepared for a traditional interview, handing a resume to Michael. Without a glance at it, Michael set it aside and told her there could be nothing on the resume that could apply to who we are and what we do. As she learned what we are about, the relaxed expression spoke volumes, and what started as a stiff interview ended in hugs. She was instantly a member of the family.
From the moment Linda began working with us, it was clear that she was indispensable. Her charm is addictive to the point that within minutes of meeting her, absolutely everyone falls in love with her.
Linda's English is much better than she believes it to be, and as such she is always a bit self-conscious about it. So she carries a book with her everywhere she goes, jotting down new words and colloquialisms that she learns along the way. As many of our guests pick up on this, she often learns some more "interesting" phrases. Considering that we have guests from The USA, Canada, The UK, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, etc., don't be surprised by some of the more unique phrases Linda knows!
Claudia - Star of The Amalfi Coast
Back in 2012, when we opened on The Amalfi Coast in Italy, Claudia brought us into her family and stole our hearts. As a company that is all about family, it wasn't long before much of her family became ours as well. Her husband teaches our cooking on the Amalfi Coast, her mother, father and brother are heavily involved, and even her daughter as grown us join us as a host! that you may find all over Europe. Claudia is our location manager for The Amalfi Coast and much of southern Italy, and when everything there goes ofd without a hitch, she's the one to thank!
Inês - Host & The Other Side of that Email
Inês was in the office at Wild Douro, and soon began to host some of our tours in Portugal. Before we knew it, she was hanging out with our team in Italy, and showed an interest in hosting there as well, and so it was. She moved to CDV before Wild Douro was technically CDV. Again, we were really just one big family! Before we knew it, to add to hosting, she became one of the people helping guests before their trips. So if you email us, there is a solid chance Inês is at her screen replying to you!
Massimo - My Dear Bro
Michael and Massimo go way back to 2012, when Massimo reached out to him about Sicily. He is from Ragusa, Sicily, and managed a beautiful hotel there at the time. Nothing happened at the time, but they became friends! In 2014, when considering possible tours in Eastern and Southern Sicily (we already did the west coast of Sicily), Michael visited and he and Massimo started to see what they could put together. It wasn't long before Massimo was looking for a change, and Michael and Daniele offered for him to join the CDV Team. Massimo went on to become a host and to manage our locations in Sicily!
Lorenzo - Let's Hike!
Lorenzo is a native-born Tuscan from Pitigliano, and joined our family several years back. He is one of the kindest, most caring people you will ever meet, and hosts many of our tours throughout Italy.
His absolute passion is hiking, so guests asking us for private hiking trips will almost always find themselves with Lorenzo at the helm!.
Larisa - Are you understanding me?
What can be said about Larisa other than OMG Crazy !?!?! Seriously, she has more energy than the rest of us combined, and it shows! If we had a dime for every time a guest told us they want to take Larisa home with her, we would have another booming business. In a nutshell, Larisa is pure joy!
Filomena (and Antonio) - The Queen (and King) of Amalfi
Claudia's mother... You have never felt more welcome, more honored, and more heard until you have met Filomena. Don't let that British accent fool you, she may have grown up in England, but spent almost her entire life on the Amalfi Coast! It never ceases to shock us how she remembers every name and every detail of every guest she has ever met... and she stays in contact with them forever. Her husband, Antonio, is the king of the kitchen in Amalfi, and don't you ever forget it!
Marina - Oh that wine!!!
Back in 2014 when we opened up our location in Barolo (Northern Italy), Maria taught one of our cooking classes. Primarily a winemaker who makes some of the best wine we have ever had, she is a goddess in the kitchen. As time went on and we got closer and closer, she and her daughter Monica became more and more the central focus of our Barolo trips, and eventually she came to be the person that manages the location. Did we mention how amazing her wine is?
Peppe - Master of Pizza!
On our Amalfi Coast vacations, all of our cooking classes are taught by Peppe, who is not only an accomplished chef that everyone falls in love with, but Claudia's husband!
Camilla - CDV NextGen
We literally watched Camilla grow up, so she was part of our family before she joined us. Camilla is Claudia and Peppe's daughter, and hosts many of our vacations in Italy.
Marika - CDV NextGen
Like Camilla, we watched Marika grow up before our eyes, so she was part of our family before she joined us. Marika is Katia's daughter, and hosts many of our vacations in Italy.
And the rest...
Above are just a few key members of our AMAZING team of over 50 people. We are truly a giant family between Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Spain, and The United States. Possibly the best way to get a feel not only for who all of our family is, but how deeply bonded we are, is to watch this video we produced that tells the story of how we got through the Covid pandemic. Toward the end, you will see nearly everyone that is CDV! More importantly, you will get a true sense of how we are not just a "company."