For more than a century, the American Automobile Association (AAA) has inspired members with captivating travel, automotive, and lifestyle content. Today, Auto Club Enterprises (ACE), the largest AAA club, reaches more than 9.8 million households across 21 states with the quarterly Westways and AAA Explorer magazines, weekly Traveling with AAA podcast, monthly email newsletters, and online coverage.
From savvy travel advice to deep dives on fascinating destinations around the world, ACE’s content is the most used AAA source for obtaining travel and leisure info by members.
Editor-in-Chief
Westways and AAA Explorer
Jim leads editorial operations of Westways and AAA Explorer. Before joining ACE, he worked as an editor at BBC Travel and AOL, and he co-founded the online travel magazine World Hum, which he led through acquisition by the Travel Channel. Jim’s writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Outside, Men’s Journal, and National Geographic Adventure, and his Westways story about the music scene in Dakar, Senegal, was featured in the 2021 edition of The Best American Travel Writing anthology. At his home in Southern California, he subsists mostly on tacos.
Senior Features Editor
Westways and AAA Explorer
Derrik is a Lowell Thomas Award-winning writer, editor, and producer who has covered travel and culture for more than 15 years. He was previously lifestyle editor of Shondaland and senior editor of American Airlines’ American Way. Derrik spent 12 years as an entertainment journalist at The Associated Press, interviewing celebrities ranging from the Beach Boys to the Beastie Boys. At ACE, he oversees national and international features for Westways and AAA Explorer as well as the Traveling with AAA podcast. Fun fact: He once played himself in an episode of All My Children.
Sr. Digital Content Strategist
Michelle manages ACE’s paid content programs. She works closely with corporate and travel partners to develop unique content that resonates with members, including crafting highly detailed stories for ACE's popular email newsletters.
Personally, Michelle is a passionate traveler who is always in search of new adventures around the world. She dreams of one day exploring the wonders of New Zealand, Thailand, and the Galápagos Islands in hopes of finally checking them off her travel bucket list.
