AAA Western and Central New York has hired Ann Cardena as manager of the AAA Orchard Park Travel & Insurance Center located at Quaker Crossing (3475 Amelia Dr., Orchard Park, New York). Ann brings a wealth of knowledge to AAA with her 25-plus years in the travel industry.

A Western New York native, Ann moved to Southern California and worked as a travel agent before transitioning into the airline and cruise industries for companies like American Airlines, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean Cruises, which gave her a strong foundation in customer service. 

Ann worked for AAA in Southern California, where she found her niche in group travel, and she eventually created her own home-based travel agency. Upon return to Buffalo, Ann transitioned into the staffing and recruiting industry as a manager with Key Resource Group.

The depth of her experience will allow Ann to lead the AAA Orchard Park team, which provides a variety of travel, insurance, and membership services to the Western New York region.

“I’ve come full circle. This new role allows me to blend my travel experience with the operational side of things,” Ann said. “I’m excited to put my travel, sales, and HR knowledge to work in Orchard Park.”

Ann lives in Clarence with her husband, Al. They have two grown daughters and one grandchild.

In her free time, she enjoys traveling and hopes to plan a multigenerational trip to Mexico in the near future. When the weather is nice, you’ll find her outside gardening. Otherwise, Ann is busy in the kitchen cooking, a pastime she enjoys.

AAA is hiring for many positions! To see a full list, visit AAA.com/Careers.