MARILYN J. KOPKE / President

A graduate of Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas with a BA Degree in Business Administration.  She has been actively engaged in the day-to-day growth of the business since 1972 and has also personally hosted travel experiences throughout the world during this time.

Marilyn is also active in her community, serving as an officer and board member of multiple civic organizations, including Past President and current board member of Pilot Club with an emphasis on assisting brain damaged individuals of all ages.  During her tenure as Membership Chair and President her leadership and resulting membership growth resulted in the Great Bend organization being recognized as one of only two clubs in the world (the other in Tokyo, Japan) for having created the most outstanding membership development programs.  She also currently serves as a board member of the Golden Belt Community Concert Association. 

She is the mother of two daughters and one grandson.  Her husband is Larry.

PAULA AXMAN / Vice President

As officer and co-owner, Paula utilizes her 21 years of travel experience with Please Go Away™ Vacations to oversee the daily operations of the corporation and to manage multiple specially-created "private label"  departures throughout the world for various private organizations; as well as the personally-hosted groups division of Please Go Away™ Vacations itself.  She has been recognized nationally by multiple professional travel organizations for her innovative capabilities and the effective management procedures she has developed. 

Her pleasant personality and uncanny ability to retain multiple factoids of useful information have also made her a favorite personal hostess on numerous group travel experiences she has personally escorted throughout the world.

Paula is a native of Hoisington, KS and attended Barton County Community College.  Residing in Olmitz, KS, she and her husband, Kenneth, have 3 adult children and 3 (soon to be 4) grandchildren, including a set of twins.

 LAURA BOXBERGER

Laura is the newest member, and a most welcome addition, to the team.  She is  a native of Gorham, KS and has experience in business management and event planning in the bridal catering field.  She also has experience in group travel business incentive operations, with an emphasis on cruising.

Her background and pleasing personality blend nicely with our committed personal service business credo of “Small Town Caring – Worldwide."  In addition to relieving the increasing work loads of other team members due to expanding business growth, she will also head up our Destination Weddings travel department.”

Laura and her husband Tim reside in Great Bend. 

 LARRY KOPKE / Secretary-Treasurer

Born and raised in Pawnee Rock, KS, Larry earned his AB Degree in Political Science from Fort Hays State University and his Doctor of Laws Degree from Washburn University School of Law.  An active practicing attorney for numerous years heading his own firm, he retired from the practice in the mid-70s to enjoy full time his passion for travel and the creation and development of successful business opportunities after his wife, Marilyn, had purchased a tiny travel agency.

Working primarily behind the scenes of daily front office operations, his efforts are directed toward working in the creation and promotion of successful travel programs for multiple organizations, resulting in membership benefits packages and monetarily rewarding programs for the organizations themselves.  As he has developed, and actually participated in, travel programs on all 7 continents and all the oceans of the world for these organizations, Larry has pioneered the concept of “win-win” relationships utilizing his personally developed “3-Legged Stool” concept of promotional programs and service.