From Classroom to Calling: The Offices That Built JMart Travels

Jason Martin
4 minutes ago
3 min read

A few days ago, I put together a short video showing the different offices I’ve worked in over the past 25 years. What I didn’t say in that video… is how much each of those spaces changed me or how clueless I was about how all of this would unfold throughout the coming decades.

Where It Started

My first office was a classroom. I was a young teacher and athletic director, still figuring things out, trying to find my footing yet also responsible for molding the minds and lives of middle school students.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was learning something far more important than lesson plans or curriculum. I was learning how to take care of people. How to listen. How to guide. How to show up consistently, even on the hard days.

Those lessons would follow me everywhere.

Learning to Lead

While navigating the ups and downs and emotional roller coaster that is being an educator, I also grew into leadership roles at Holiday World. Those years were full. Long days. Big responsibilities. Real pressure. Tremendous pressure (lightning duty anyone?). But they also shaped me.

I learned how to solve problems. How to lead teams. How to stay steady when things didn’t go according to plan. Most importantly, I learned that serving people well isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about being willing to figure things out alongside them.

The Quiet Beginning

Eventually, my “office” became a desk in my home. No ribbon cutting. No grand opening. Just an idea… and a willingness to try.

That’s where JMart Travels began. It wasn’t polished. It wasn’t certain. But it was real.

And little by little, it grew.

Building Something of My Own

At some point, the idea turned into a vision. I didn’t just want a place to work—I wanted a space where people felt comfortable. A place where they could sit down, talk through their plans, and know they were being taken care of.

So I built it.

From sketches…to construction…to finally opening the doors. Day by day. Month by month. Back and forth with the designer and the contractor. The process took far longer than I ever imagined but the end result far exceeds my expectations.

And now, it’s here and it's real. When I spoke with the building commissioner about the need for residential vs commercial zoning I told him that I would be thrilled to have even one client meeting a week in my new office. I thought that was a lofty goal. Here we are a year later and most days of the week there is at least one client or potential client making a visit.

What This Space Means

Today, this office isn’t just where I work. It’s where I meet people who are planning once-in-a-lifetime trips. It’s where we help families, couples, and friends turn ideas into real experiences. It’s where conversations turn into memories that haven’t even happened yet.

Just recently, a client told me he never would have figured out his excursions without our help. And that stuck with me. Because that’s exactly why this exists. This space isn’t just for me.

It’s for them.

Looking Back—and Forward

Every office I’ve had mattered. Each one taught me something. Each one prepared me for what I’m doing now. But this one? This one feels different. This one feels like purpose.

And the best part is—we’re just getting started.