Meet the Team

Susan Renke
Founder and Director
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From her first jobs at A&W Root Beer and Denny’s to working for The Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley, Susan has spent her entire career in the food industry she loves. Her current position as Promotion Director for the Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service allows her to continue that journey - working with food and agriculture, connecting farmers and chefs. As President & Founder of Food Marketing Resources, Susan specialized in foodservice business development and marketing for clients such as Driscoll's, USA Pears, Sunkist Growers and Women Chefs & Restaurateurs. Her passion is connecting those producing our food with the restaurant industry. The launch of Global Palate Adventures was a natural extension of Susan's interest in food, wine, agriculture, and global cuisine.

One of the constants in Susan’s career has been her opportunity to travel throughout the United States and abroad to experience firsthand how culture and food are intertwined. Susan has taken cooking classes in many cities throughout the world. She believes there is no better way to get to know a new country and to immerse yourself in its culture than to roll up your sleeves and learn from the local culinary experts.  Susan is excited to combine her love of food, travel, and agriculture through Global Palate Adventures. 

In addition to travel and cooking, Susan’s passions include learning about wine, textiles, interior design, architecture, and wildlife – all perfect companions to her culinary travel adventures. Susan has two amazing grown daughters and lives in the Pacific Northwest.
 Lowell Petrie, Assistant Guide & Tour Host
           LP Consulting - Founder
​Lowell retired as Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President at Real Mex Restaurants in 2012, where he led marketing, product and beverage development for nine casual-dining Mexican concepts, including El Torito, Chevys Fresh Mex and Acapulco Mexican Restaurants.  
Lowell previously was Vice President of Marketing for Mimi’s Café, a polished casual chain of 140 restaurants in 18 states. 
Lowell also headed marketing and product development at Denny’s Restaurants, headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina. 
Early in his career, Lowell worked at El Torito Restaurants during their national expansion and personally assisted in opening 25 restaurants in 13 states.  He later worked in field marketing and ultimately was director of marketing for the then 160 unit national chain.
​After retiring from the corporate restaurant world in 2012, Lowell established a consultancy working with company presidents, marketing and product executives and corporate chefs.
​Lowell has been an ardent traveler his entire life, but has picked up the pace in the last 4 years, visiting 32 countries on 6 continents.  There are still many worldwide locations on his bucket list.
Allison studied medieval literature at university and graduated with a degree in film making. She traveled around the country with her mother for work when she was young and fell in love with seeing every new corner of the world. During university she studied abroad in England, and then moved back for a few months once she graduated. She has directed, written, and produced multiple short films and television shows; but her passion lies in traveling and helping others to travel. In 2018 she organized a six month European road trip for herself and a friend. Her favorite countries she's been to so far include, Scotland, Croatia, Poland, Belgium, and Germany. Currently she resides in Portland, Oregon where she coordinates trade shows, and organizes travel excursions - planning trips all over the globe.
Allison Boyer 
Assistant Guide, Tour Coordinator & Social Media Manager