Sherrie Ortiz

Sherrie Ortiz serves as tour guide, owner, and operator of Just One Day Travel Tours based in Kansas City, Missouri. With six years in the tourism industry, she designs and leads a variety of themed experiences including walking tours on gangsters, ghosts, true crime, art and garden, foodie tours, barbecue tours, bus tours for conferences and military reunions, streetcar tours covering overall Kansas City history, and visits to sites such as the Nelson-Atkins Museum, the Plaza, the City Market, the World War I Tower Museum, and the Truman Library. Prior to entering tourism, she spent 20 years in retail followed by 18 years operating a home-based bakery in the wedding cake industry after her children were young. Inspired by her widowed mother's enjoyment of senior bus tours, Ortiz researched and developed her own niche in Kansas City-focused tours without formal certification requirements. She participates in professional organizations including the Kansas City Chamber, Meeting Professionals International, the Global Business Travelers Association, and the LGBT chamber.

In her personal time, she engages with social networking groups and supports causes related to veterans. Ortiz attributes her success to strong family support, particularly from her husband, along with networking and friends who help her refine ideas. She emphasizes values of authenticity and honesty in her tours, aiming for natural, conversational experiences that encourage visitors to explore further, while noting the post-COVID challenge of motivating people to get off the couch and be intentional with their time.