Our Team

The Culturismo team--Cam, Lilian, Gaby, Jan, Minerva and Cyrus

The Culturismo team in Las Terrenas —from L to R Cam, Lilian, Gabi, Jan, Minerva and Cyrus

Group of five smiling women sitting close together inside, with plain wall background.

The girl bosses find a moment to relax—Minerva, Lilian, Gaby, Cam

Culturismo’s team has quite a bit of experience leading group tours overseas.

Cyrus has organized trips of Bentley undergraduates to Cuba and Ecuador in addition to the Dominican Republic (twice) and has also led larger MBA groups to Vietnam and Greece.  He speaks English and Dominican Spanish.

Lilian was co-leader of an Elderhostel trip to Cuba and accompanied Bentley students on trips to the Dominican Republic.  She’s a bilingual Dominican.

For her senior thesis at Hampshire College, Gabriela went “underground” to interview workers at one of Punta Cana’s all-inclusive resorts.  Gabi’s encyclopedic knowledge of the culture and idiosyncrasies of Dominicans makes her a committed ambassador of dominicanidad.  Gabi speaks Spanish, English, French and is learning Dutch.

Minerva works in higher education, studied abroad in Chile while at Mt. Holyoke, and is brilliant at logistics. She speaks English and Spanish.

Jan has worked in the hospitality industry in Holland for over a decade and is currently a manager at a beach resort in the Hague. He speaks Dutch, English, German and is quickly acquiring Spanish.

Cam is tropical by birth having grown up in Sarasota, Florida. She is an aficionado of Caribbean music and knew about Bad Bunny way before the Kardashians did. An econ major, her financial skills are legendary. A native English speaker, Cam is learning Spanish.

You can get to know the team better below.

People gathered outdoors under cloudy sky, some wearing hats and headscarves, smiling and facing the same direction.

Gabriella Blanco Bobea

“I really love seeing the Dominican Republic through the eyes of new visitors and sharing the best parts of our country with them.”

Co-Founder
A woman with curly gray hair and large hoop earrings sitting at a table in an urban outdoor setting with tall glass skyscrapers in the background, wearing a black tracksuit with white stripes.

Lilian Bobea

“Having the opportunity to share with others the historical, cultural and human richness of my country makes me a very proud Dominican.” 

Co-Founder
An older man with gray hair and sunglasses standing outdoors near a historic stone building with arched windows, surrounded by a small group of people and greenery.

Cyrus Veeser

“You learn lots on a Culturismo trip, but you have plenty of fun, too. Knowing about the DR actually makes the trip more enjoyable.” 

Co-Founder
A woman standing on a rock with arms raised, next to an intricate stone formation, against a dark background, smiling.

“Though I’ve been coming to the DR my whole life, each new trip is special and I always learn something new. I’m grateful to be able to share that experience with others.”

Minerva Veeser-Bobea

Co-Founder
A man with a beard and a mustache wearing a wide-brimmed hat, gray shirt, beige pants, and a black shoulder strap, sitting at a table inside a tropical-themed restaurant with decorative hanging objects, a flag, plants, and woven baskets in the background. 
Marketing Director

Jan Schaap

“I am very excited to help others have as great a time in the Dominican Republic as I did the first time I visited the country.”

A woman wearing sunglasses and a blue T-shirt with red trim, standing in front of a brick wall with a sign that reads 'Feliz' and 'Mexican' around a yellow circle. 
Financial Director

Cameron Graham

“The Dominican Republic is a truly special place, and I feel so lucky to get to share my experience of falling in love with this island with others.”

Partners

  • Woman smiling and holding a coconut with a small umbrella in it on a boat, with a body of water and forested hills in the background.

    Camilla

    Ground Logistics

  • An elderly man with white hair and beard, wearing a checkered shirt, is speaking or giving a presentation in a rustic setting. There are two glasses of water on the table in front of him.

    Kin Sanchez

    Historian

  • Two men are on a boat with a scenic background of green trees and cliffs, and a cloudy sky. One man is steering the boat, wearing a black cap and sunglasses, and the other man is sitting next to him, wearing a dark blue shirt and a lanyard. Part of a person’s face with sunglasses and a red life vest is visible in the foreground.

    Rafael

    Captain and Guide