About Us
American Travel Consulting, LLC specializes in organizing safe, stress-free group travel for students and adult groups alike. American Travel Consulting (ATC) was founded in 2013 by Stacy Goss, former Albertville High School band director and local icon. With a distinguished career in music education, Stacy led the Albertville High School Band to three appearances in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and earned numerous Grand Championships at festivals across the country.
Stacy Goss opened doors for student musicians, taking them to new heights both on and off the stage. In 2013, after retiring from his career in music education, Goss founded American Travel Consulting in Dallas, TX. Built from Goss's unique understanding of the challenges of coordinating trips for band programs, ATC quickly became a trusted partner in group travel, offering unmatched expertise and service.
In 2015, Goss teamed up with Chris Lindley, a successor of the Aggie Band, who shared his vision for empowering student musicians to travel with confidence and perform at their peak. With Lindley at the helm, ATC has continued to evolve, while remaining dedicated to supporting bands, choirs, and orchestras. The ATC team combines music educators and travel specialists, whose decades of experience in organizing performing arts trips brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges that come with group travel for student musicians.
In 2020, following significant growth, Lindley moved the company to Alabama and took primary control. When Goss passed away in June of 2023, ATC embarked on a rebrand that honors Stacy Goss's legacy and continues to offer unparalleled travel solutions for students, educators, and adult groups. This rebrand centers on the company's core values, reflected in their new logo and the slogan “Always Travel Confidently”—a promise to their clients that with ATC, every detail is meticulously handled so they can focus on enjoying their journey. Whether helping a school ensemble navigate their first major performance trip or arranging seamless experiences for seasoned travelers, ATC ensures every client has the confidence to explore new places, broaden their horizons, and embrace the excitement of travel.
Meet the Team
Chris Lindley became President of American Travel Consulting in January 2021. He retired in July of 2021 after teaching band in the public schools of Alabama for twenty-five years, most of that time at Albertville High School. During his career as a band director, he participated in the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2007) in New York City, and led the Albertville Band in the Rose Parade (2011, 2018) in Pasadena, California, as well as many other parades in cities such as Chicago, Philadelphia, Gatlinburg, and Washington DC. Through these experiences, Chris gained a unique insight into student travel planning, having participated in parades/performances across the country as a band director. In 2018, Chris was the recipient of the Phi Beta Mu Bandmaster of the Year Award for Alabama. In 2019, he directed the Alabama Bicentennial All-Star Band in the Alabama Bicentennial Parade and was inducted into the Jacksonville State University Alumni Hall of Fame through the School of Education in 2020.
“We at American Travel Consulting pride ourselves on providing the best travel experience possible for your group. Our team is comprised of retired music educators with decades of experience in group travel and we are ready to put that experience to work for you!”
Curtis Burttram joined the American Travel team after an outstanding thirty-four year career as a band director in Alabama public schools, much of that time at Albertville High School. Curtis led the Albertville High School Band in the 2007 Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and participated in the Hollywood Christmas Parade (CA), National Cherry Blossom Parade (Wash DC), and the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade in Chicago. In addition, Curtis’ bands have performed in the Fiesta Bowl Parade (AZ), the Fiesta Flambeau Parade (TX), and in Nassau, Bahamas.
“We at ATC truly enjoy helping our clients plan the perfect trip. We have worked with bands, choirs, and other school groups from fifty to five hundred. Are you a middle school teacher looking for a great trip to Washington D.C. for your eighth-grade classes? No problem! Perhaps you are looking for insight into how to build your band’s resume to be considered for the national parades. We at ATC can provide that unique perspective because each member of our team has done just that. We are ready to take your group on its next adventure!”
Haley holds a Bachelors degree in Business Management with concentration in Entrepreneurship from Jacksonville State University. She has traveled extensively through her band experiences and brings a unique perspective to the travel industry. Haley enjoys meeting new people and discovering new places, and looks forward to working with your student group to plan the perfect trip!
"I am blessed to be on a team of veteran music educators/tour professionals whose passion is student group travel! I can't wait to help put that experience to work for you!"
Sidney has been in the group travel industry for over 20 years, primarily working with school music groups. From Lexington, SC, in addition to working with ATC, Sidney and her husband Jerry also founded the Charleston Music Festival which has been hosting high school and middle school bands, orchestras, and choruses in Charleston, SC since 2013.
"A group travel company founded and run by music educators makes ATC a uniquely qualified company for your student group travel. Our staff knows first-hand what it takes to make your trip run as smoothly as possible, and our goal is for every trip to be seamless for the directors, students, and parents."
Debbie Baker is excited to join the American Travel team and continue to share her many years of student travel knowledge with teachers. Debbie had an outstanding 30-year career as a band director in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. She traveled with bands to New York City, Indianapolis, Hawaii, and the French Riviera. Her bands also performed at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, OrlandoFest, Six Flags Over Georgia, and Carowinds Band Festival. By combining her teaching career and knowledge of travel, Debbie brings the ability to create a once in a lifetime trip for your students.
“I am excited to join the American Travel Team. Together we will build a trip that brings value to your program, to the students, and to your community. ATC has the integrity and commitment we all look for in a company.”