Meet the Team
Our tours are led by any combination of our talented team. Owners Rynn & David Caputo, Chief Curation Officer Kyle Carter, Curata team members, members of the Caputo Brothers Creamery cheese team, and occasionally a guest chef or two!
Rynn Caputo
Owner
Cheesemaker with a passion for fermentation. Businesswoman with a drive to save dairy farms and a love of all things Italy and travel!
From the beginning, Rynn knew that she wanted to share her knowledge of traditional, cultured Italian cheese with the world.
After attending culinary school in Calabria, Italy with husband David, she has led the growth of Caputo Brothers Creamery from a small creamery in their home to a state-of-the art facility with nationwide distribution.
David Caputo
Owner
David is an Italian-American, born and raised in New Jersey.
He grew up watching his Italian grandmother cook food that impressed upon him the values of family meals. Her love for cooking defined his passion for food at a very early age, only rivaled by his love for Italy, baseball and the Mets!
Together with Rynn they create a dynamic duo of business woman and artisan, running Caputo Brothers Creamery & Curata Travel!
Kyle Carter, CTA
Chief Curation Officer
A Certified Travel Associate, Kyle manages all aspects of Curata Travel, from administration and team management, to customer care to hotel and excursion bookings, trip research to tour leading!
Kyle joined the original Caputo Brothers Creamery team in 2013 after a career in nonprofit fundraising in Baltimore and Washington, DC.
Mutual friends led her to Rynn & David, and her love of food and travel led her to head up Curata Travel!
Brianna Geesaman, CTA
Experience Curator
After earning her degree in International Business and Italian Studies, people asked Brianna how she was going to turn that into a career. Unsure of how to respond at first, she is now able to say that Curata Travel is the answer.
Her skills in business, her love of working with guests, and the passion for Italian culture she developed while studying in Italy create the perfect addition to our team!
At Curata Travel, she focuses on all aspects of restaurant and excursion booking, working closely with travelers, and creating content for social media.
Chris Althouse
Experience Curator
As an Italian-American, Chris has always been surrounded by the Italian culture and language ever since he was young. Whether it’s traditional southern Italian meals or Italian words and phrases spoken by his grandfather, they are important aspects of his background. All of this pushed him to study abroad in Bologna, Italy and travel around the country for a year and a half.
The experiences he had abroad mixed with his background and deep love for travel prepared Chris for his position as Experience Curator with Curata Travel, where he works with travelers, social media content, and bookings!
Martina Bartolozzi
Senior Tour Leader
Martina is a licensed tour leader, born and raised in Tuscany, with a passion for local, authentic, regional foods.
After learning how to carve meat with her stepfather, Tuscan butcher Dario Cecchini, she traveled all over Italy and halfway around the globe, learning about different cultures through their culinary traditions.
In 2021 she was selected as one of the top 20 Women in Food of the year by Corriere della Sera, one of Italy's most read newspapers since 1876.
She writes regularly about Italian food for various publications, and posts handy tips on her Instagram.
Romina Diaz
Tour Leader
Romina, a Filipino-Italian residing in Florence for two decades, is driven by a profound love for food rooted in her multicultural heritage and global travels. To her, food embodies the ultimate language of love, meant for sharing and comprehending the lives of those devoted to its creation. Romina's career in hospitality, events, and food & beverage has afforded her the privilege of collaborating with exceptional professionals. Her deep exploration of Italy reflects her commitment to understanding its culture, people, and cuisine. Her expertise in Italian food anthropology has nurtured a profound admiration for the essence, stories, and recipes woven into the country's culinary tapestry. Romina champions the belief that food serves as a conduit for shared connections, reflecting her dedication to engaging with individuals who've dedicated their lives to the culinary arts.
Guest Guides
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On any given trip, we may welcome a guest guide to join in on the fun!
This could be one of our chef partners, a cheesemaker from Caputo Brothers Creamery, a food blogger, a local producer, or one of our Italian culinary or hospitality partners.
We like to bring on partners with different areas of expertise and knowledge as a way to enhance your traveler experience!