Salary: $48,700

Age: 56

Years on the job: 8

How she got started: Twenty years ago while finishing up an associate's degree in business administration at the Community College of Baltimore County, Terry Walter took a job there as a secretary in the English department. She worked in that position for eight years, then became administrative assistant for the college's director of admissions.

Walter moved to the travel studies office 10 years ago, first as an administrative assistant; about two years later, she became the office coordinator.

Typical day: As coordinator, Walter works to oversee, plan and organize all trips offered through the college's travel studies office. The national and international trips are open to the public as well as to students, who can receive credit.

Walter works with one other person in the travel studies office, a part-time international trip coordinator.

She estimates they offer 20 to 25 day trips per semester and two or three international trips. The sizes of the groups vary, but they typically have up to 50 people on the day trips and about 20 for the international trips.

Much of Walter's time is spent researching, including contacting vendors and exploring travel options. She also handles all logistics, including transportation, hotel stays, tour guides and restaurant reservations.

About two weeks prior to a trip, she'll write and send out a reminder letter with all the itinerary details. Often, she'll hand out articles and additional information about where participants are headed.

Once they arrive at their destination, she must see to it that the trip runs smoothly and on schedule. Often a tour guide will accompany the group, but other times Walter will lead the way.

"About 90 percent of the time, things go smoothly," Walter said. "I'm flexible, and I've learned over the years to go with the flow."

Although the campus office takes the reservations and payments, Walter is responsible for the budget and ensuring vendors, bus companies, hotels and others are paid on time.

She must also market the trips, including writing descriptions for the college's spring and fall travel publications. She's there to answer questions the public or students might have about the various trips and will send out surveys and evaluations that help determine future destinations.

Traveling: Walter goes on almost every excursion.

Next up: On March 1, she'll take a group to the Philadelphia International Flower Show.

Looking forward to: This spring Walter will lead an eight-day trip to the French Riviera.

Favorite trip: A few years ago, she visited the Christmas markets of Germany and Austria. Another trip is scheduled to those countries in December; this time, it's a cruise on the Danube.

The good: Meeting people. However, Walter adds, "coordinating the details of the trip and planning the trip is just as much fun as going on the trip."

The bad: Taking care of the money and making sure her vendors are paid on time. Also, "when you're on the trip, you are responsible for the busload of people."

Philosophy on the job: "Know how to deal with people. And being very flexible, because you never know what's going to happen on a trip."