The People Behind Blue Dot
Blue Dot is built by industry veterans. And while not all of our owners are actively working day to day in our operations, they all have a significant background in educational travel and provide guidance and support and were fundamental in the creation of our company.
Matt Wertz
Matt began his career as an IT consultant in 2001 before joining Explorica, where he served as CFO and later CEO, leading the company through its most significant period of growth. He went on to become Chief Business Officer at WorldStrides, overseeing more than $700 million in revenue across multiple business lines. As a Blue Dot Founder and Advisor, Matt brings rare range—deep financial and technical expertise, sharp analytical thinking, and the ability to break down complex problems fast. Grounded, loyal, and always pushing for better, he helps shape both the big picture and the details that make it work.
Rich Beekman
Rich has worked in educational travel since 2000, helping thousands of teachers bring international programs to life. He served as VP of Sales & Marketing at Explorica and later led International Group Tours at WorldStrides. A creative problem-solver with a strategic view of the business, Rich is known for his drive and grounded leadership style. He’s passionate about building a culture where people can be themselves, do great work, and take pride in what they’re creating together.
Pat Coraccio
Pat spent more than a decade at Explorica, where he served as Lead Software Engineer and a go-to collaborator across departments. He played a key role in developing and improving many of the systems that supported the business—from enrollment to operations—and was known not just for his technical skill, but for his big-picture thinking, reliability, and the trust he earned company-wide. At Blue Dot, his fingerprints are on nearly every core system, and his work ethic, curiosity, and generosity of spirit have helped shape the culture as much as the technology.
Jatin Bhagat
Jatin has spent over a decade leading technology and infrastructure teams, with deep experience in educational travel and enterprise systems. He held senior roles at Explorica and WorldStrides, where he was known for his strategic mindset, technical depth, and ability to bring people together around a problem. As a Blue Dot Founder, Jatin blends sharp negotiation skills with thoughtful leadership and a collaborative spirit. He’s the teammate everyone wants in the room—smart, generous, always smiling—and a trusted voice in shaping how we work, what we build, and the culture we’re building along the way.