Advisory Board - Education

Heidie Henriksen has over two decades of experience in the short-term rental (STR) industry, beginning as a host in the early 2000s. She has held leadership roles in sales and marketing for a luxury property management company and developed a SaaS-based tech program for vacation rental hosts.

In 2020, Heidie co-founded ASTRHO, which provides resources and support for STR homeowners. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of VRNation, where she drives innovation and advocates for best practices in the industry, focusing on collaboration among stakeholders and promoting sustainable practices. Throughout her career, Heidie has been dedicated to advancing the interests of STR hosts and property managers, setting high standards for excellence in the field.

Matthew Tesdall has been a successful businessman since he graduated from the University of Nevada -

Las Vegas. He owes his success to his personality, drive and family values. His background in finances

and hosting large groups drew him to the leisure rental market. Currently, Matt is the Co-Founder(with

his wife Angela) and CEO of Family Time Vacation Rentals. He currently operates out of S. Utah and

Central Oregon. He started his business in 2007 with one property not knowing a recession was

beginning. In spite of this, word of mouth and referrals from satisfied customers and property owners

quickly grew his business during a time when the economy was facing challenges. Today, he currently

manages over 190 properties and welcomes vacationers back year after year. 

He understands having a strong team at the local level that connects with the guests as well as the owners is key to creating personal relationships. He interacts with his team in the same fashion. Instilling passion and

drive for ingenuity creates an environment for excitement and growth. He believes the ability to engage

with the customer to find out what they truly desire in a vacation, along with being personal and having

outstanding customer service is what makes his business a leader in vacation rentals in S. Utah,

Central Oregon and Idaho. Whether the vacation is a high energy skiing vacation or a luxurious weekend in the

woods to escape the heat, Matt has the ideal property that is sure to please.

Matt is a current board member of VRNation and has served as an ambassador for the VRMA. He has also held multiple advisory board positions. He enjoys networking with other businesspeople and is always looking for

ways to better not only his company, but the vacation rental industry as a whole. He prizes innovation

and technology and has been operating his multi-million-dollar business remotely for nearly a decade, while still providing personalized service.

While not working, Matt enjoys spending time in his home in Sherwood Oregon with his wife of 32 years

and five children. He enjoys coaching his kids’ youth basketball. As well as an avid golfer, enjoys visiting

wineries, making craft beer and is up for a travel adventure to any part of the globe.