30 Heroes for 30 Years: Mark Furlan, Dream Vacations

As a young man Mark Furlan was drafted into the US Army to serve as a Chaplain’s Assistant in Vietnam for two years. The assignment worked for Furlan, who grew up with a strong faith background and a Catholic school education.

After his service in the Army, Furlan became a youth pastor. More than 20 years later, he retired from ministry. It was then that he and his wife Kathy decided they should start a business to help secure their financial future. After exploring several options, they decided to take their love of travel and open a Cruise One (later Dream Vacations) franchise to gain an income and help them travel at the same time. It was while planning cruise packages that Furlan picked up the nickname of ‘Captain.’  Since opening his business, they have traveled to more than 40 countries, including India, Israel, Germany, and even a return to Vietnam. One of his most memorable trips was being able to visit the battlefields of Normandy and pay his cemeteries filled with the fallen American heroes who fought on D-Day.

“One of the things that I learned in the military was that they don’t have managers. There are leaders. And leaders lead people. Managers manage things. As a business owner, it’s my job to lead people and work with them on a one-on-one basis,” said Furlan.  

In addition to still helping people plan their dream vacations, Furlan serves as the Corporate Ambassador for Veterans Affairs at Dream Vacations.

Dream Vacations is a 5-Star Premium VetFran member, and we are grateful for their continued support.

#30HeroesFor30Years