Meet the Members
PRESENTED BY
Hilmar Cheese Company Visitor Center
HILMAR, CALIFORNIA
NTA contact: Kody Stevens,
communications and tour specialist
NTA member since: 1999 past viewing windows, where guests can
watch our employees package the big
cheese. Meal options including Hilmar’s
famous cheese chowder with a cream
cheese brownie or cheese pie, which is
better than cheesecake, are available.
Why is touring your attraction such a
cool experience for travelers?
It is the only place in the world where
you taste our famous Hilmar cheese
chowder and can see the “big cheese,”
a 640-pound crate of cheese, being
packaged. Free cheese samples and
fresh cheese curds called Squeakers
also make everyone smile. What other special programs and
touches do you add for groups?
We have ice cream-making and cheese-
making activities for student groups,
though we have learned all ages enjoy
these activities! We also have a fun gift
basket-making activity. Plus, we recog-
nize the tour directors and drivers with
a special gift.
What do your guests see when they visit?
They can step aboard our behind-the-
scenes driving tour to see the world’s
largest cheese and whey factory and
watch the milk trucks unload. Our
guided tours in the visitor center go How long have you been in the travel
industry?
I worked at the Hilmar Cheese Company
as a tour guide during college and
am excited to be back. I help Denise
Skidmore book and manage the tours.
Office phone: +1.209.656.1167
Website: hilmarcheese.com
What travel destination do you most
want to visit?
Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry
What is your favorite movie or TV show?
“This is Us”
For more information, contact Stevens
at [email protected].
Moostash Joe Tours
FREMONT, NEBRASKA
NTA contact: Joey Spellerberg,
president and CEO Both are motorcoach tours that leave
from Nebraska.
Office phone: +1.402.721.7944 Tell us about your mystery tours.
Our mystery tours range from one to
three days. Customers have no idea
where they are going until we arrive.
Our mystery tours are fun, spontaneous
and include some very cool attractions,
hotels and restaurants.
Website: mjtours.com
NTA member since: 2013
Moostash Joe Tours is a family-owned
company. How did it get started?
In 1975, my father, “Moostash Joe”
Spellerberg promoted a tour to
Oktoberfest in Germany with his polka
band. More than 300 people signed
up for the tour. After that, a business
was born. In 2018, we will operate more
than 125 different motorcoach tours,
cruises and international tours, serving
customers in Nebraska and the Midwest.
Throughout our 40-plus-year history, we
have taken over 100,000 reservations
and served over 35,000 customers.
What are a couple of your most
popular tours?
Our 12-day Autumn in New England
Tour and six-day Mackinac Island Tour.
48
March 2018
I like my job because …
It allows me to help our customers
experience the majesty and wonder of
God’s creation through travel. We have
the most amazing tour directors, staff
and customers. They are a pleasure to
serve and be around.
What’s your favorite vacation
destination?
Destin, Florida. It’s my family’s favorite
beach spot.
What do you like to do when you’re
not hard at work?
I love spending time with my wife and
daughters. I enjoy being outdoors and
playing golf when time allows.
For more information, contact
Spellerberg at [email protected].