Monday Mailbag: August 1, 2011

Welcome to…

Location: Tennessee

Population: 6,300,000

Entertainment: hiking, sports, bike riding

Sports: Memphis Grizzlies, Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators

Famous Former Natives: Bill Belichick, Matt Cain, Johnny Cash, Kenny Chesney, Aretha Franklin, Morgan Freeman, Megan Fox, Al Gore, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley

Home to: Davy Crockett, the Grand Ole Opry, Beale Street (the birthplace of blues), the Appalachian Trail, Graceland, FedEx

Random Facts: was the last state to leave the Union and join the Confederacy at the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, and the first to be readmitted to the Union at the end of the war; Memphis was home to Sun Records where Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash began their recording careers; the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville is the longest continuously running live radio program in the world and has been broadcast every weekend since 1925

Monday Mailbag: July 25, 2011

Welcome to…

Location: South Carolina

Population: 4,600,000

Entertainment: the beach, whitewater rafting, hiking

Sports: no professional franchises

Famous Former Natives: James Brown, Andrew Jackson, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, Melvin Purvis, Ray Allen, Ben Bernanke, Chubby Checker, Stephen Colbert, Joe Frazier, Kevin Garnett, Brett Gardner, Orlando Hudson,

Home to: Sassafras Mountain, Clemson University, Happy Cow Creamery, Sonoco, Fort Sumter

Random Facts: first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation in 1778, first state to declare its secession from the Union in 1860, nation’s leading peach producer and shipper east of the Mississippi River, the walls of the American fort on Sullivan Island in Charleston Harbor were made of spongy palmetto logs which helped to protect the fort because the British cannonballs bounced off the logs

Monday Mailbag: July 18, 2011

Welcome to…

Location: North Carolina


Population: 9,500,000


Entertainment: rock climbing, the beach, hiking, skiing, camping, canoeing, spelunking, bike trails

Sports: Charlotte Bobcats, Carolina Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, NASCAR

Famous Former Natives: Michael Jordan, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Ben Folds, Andrew Johnson, Zach Galifianakis, Andy Griffith, Jermaine Dupri, Nicholas Sparks, Ryan Zimmerman

Home to: Lowes, Great Smoky Mountains, Krispy Kreme, Fort Bragg, the Biltmore Estate

Random Facts: the state was the site of the first successful controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air flight by the Wright brothers near Kitty Hawk in 1903; the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the first public university in the United States in 1795; Pepsi-Cola was first produced in 1898 in New Bern; Asheville was recently named “Beer City USA”; most experts believe the name “Tar Heel” got its roots from the fact that tar, pitch and turpentine created from the vast pine forests were one of North Carolina's most important exports early in the state's history

Monday Mailbag: July 11, 2011

Welcome to…

Location: Kentucky

Population: 4,300,000

Entertainment: Mammoth Cave National Park, horse racing, bluegrass music, steamboat races

Famous Former Natives: Abraham Lincoln, Steven Curtis Chapman, Nick Lachey,

Home to: Kentucky Derby, National Corvette Museum, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

Random Facts: Kentucky ranks 4^th among states in the number of automobiles and trucks assembled, the state is split between Central and Eastern time zones, home to the highest per capita number of deer and turkey in the United States, has the world’s longest cave system, and is the only US state to have a governor who was assassinated while in office (Goebel in 1900)

I've been to Kentucky twice this past year. I have to admit that I didn't do much exploring while here but given the chance I could rock a Kentucky Derby hat at Churchill Downs with the best of them! A visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum would also be much needed. I'll be headed back soon!

Get Me To the ... GREEK!

I love reminiscing about my college days...and some awesome travel opportunities with great friends. I had the privilege of traveling to Greece and Turkey two years ago during Spring Break on another International Business trip. Some creepy Greek men and a few crazy train rides were worth this awesome adventure!

My favorite city was the ancient city of Ephesus. This ancient city had a population of more than 250,000 in the 1^st century BC, the second largest city in the world during the time. The city was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed 550 BC) but was destroyed in 401 AD. It has been named one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Ephesus is one of the seven churches of Asia cited in the book of Revelation and was once home to the apostle Paul. The Basilica of St. John was built in the 6^th century AD over the supposed site of John the Apostle’s tomb. The ancient Greek city later became the second largest city of the Roman Empire during the Roman era. The ruins of this ancient city are absolutely beautiful. To walk the streets of Ephesus was the most incredible moment of the trip. Truly inspiring!

My favorite landmark was the famous Parthenon in Athens. This ancient temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena sits atop the modern-day city of Athens on the Athenian Acropolis. Construction began in 447 BC. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece. The majority of the temple’s destruction occurred from a Venetian mortar fired from the Hill of Philopappus in September 1687 when the Venetians attacked Athens. Structural restoration has been taking place since 1975. The view of the modern-day city of Athens from atop the Acropolis is amazing!

This trip included planes, buses, and boats. The Aegean cruise was one of the best parts of the trip and lasted for 4 days. My favorite island was Santorini. The beautiful Greek island is the remnant of a volcanic caldera and is surrounded by 980 feet-high cliffs on three sides. The island is characterized by whitewashed buildings and blue roofs overlooking the Aegean. We had to take small boats from the ship to get to the edge of the island. There are only two ways up: the tram or the stairs. There are 588 steps, meaning you can walk or ride, and by ride I mean my new best friend Barthole-mule the donkey! It was such a cool experience to ride the donkeys up the steps to the top of the island. It was also extremely scary as the ledge is less than two feet high and the donkeys are very stubborn!

We had some great moments on this trip! I would love to go back someday and take a longer trip to the islands. Definitely worth it!

Other cities we visited include Delphi, Mykonos, Patmos, Rhodes, and Crete.

Monday Mailbag: June 27, 2011

Welcome to…

Location: Georgia (the Peach State)

Population: 9,700,000

Entertainment: Six Flags over Atlanta, Appalachian Trail, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Motor Speedway, The Masters Tournament

Famous Former Natives: Dwight Howard, Evander Holyfield, James Brown, Jason Aldean, Usher, Jimmy Carter, Ray Charles, Paula Dean, J.D. Drew, Jermaine Dupri, Jeff Foxworthy, Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee, Brian McCann, Terrell Owens, Tyler Perry, Mac Powell, Buster Posey

Home to: 1996 Summer Olympics, CNN World Headquarters, Turner Entertainment Network, The Weather Channel, Chick-fil-A, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, The Home Depot, UPS, Aflac

Random Facts: Atlanta metropolitan area claims over 50 percent of the state population at 5,200,000 residents, Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world’s busiest passenger airport, General Sherman’s March to the Sea in December 1864 during the Civil War destroyed much of the area between Atlanta and Savannah and served as the historical background for the 1936 novel Gone with the Wind, Ray Charles made “Georgia on My Mind” famous and state legislature voted it as the state song in April 1979

I made two trips to Georgia this year, one in late September and one in April. One word I would use to describe the state of Georgia is...hot! They don't call Atlanta "Hot-Lanta" for nothing! Atlanta is a cool city to visit, especially when you get to see the city from the 25th floor of The Coca-Cola Company's World Headquarters! I love the southern charm of this state and will be headed there again soon.

Ciao Bella!

I can't believe it's been three years since I had the awesome opportunity to travel to Italy with some great friends on an International Business trip for school. This trip was my first outside the United States and definitely worth all of the jet lag and showerless first day!

My favorite city was Venice. It is absolutely unlike anything I could have imagined. First, you have to take a ferry to get there. In case you didn't know, Venice is known as the "City of Water" and "the Floating City". The city is stretched across 117 small islands along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy. The city is connected by 409 bridges and formed by 177 canals. The island is home to more than 60,000 residents. The Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark's Square, is the public square of Venice. A visit to Venice is not complete without a gondola ride through the Grand Canal!

My favorite attraction was the Colosseum in Rome. It is one of the most breathtaking pieces of architecture. The Colosseum was the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire with construction of the famous landmark starting in 72 AD. The colossal structure seated 50,000 spectators and was used for gladiator contests and public spectacles such as executions and re-enactments of famous battles.

One of the most unique cities we visited was Pompeii. The city, along with Herculaneum, was destroyed and completely buried during a volcanic eruption from Mount Vesuvius that spanned two days in 79 AD. The city was buried under 4 to 6 meters of ash and pumice, and was lost for almost 1700 years befor it was accidently rediscovered in 1749.

One of the weirdest structures I've ever seen was the Leaning Tower

of Pisa. It is the freestanding bell tower of the cathedral of the city of Pisa and sits just behind the cathedral. The height of the tower is 183 feet from the ground on the lowest side and 186 feet from the ground on the highest side. Prior to restoration that took place between 1990 and 2001, the tower leaned at a 5.5 degree angle. Currently, the tower leans at an angle of 3.99 degrees. It took 177 years to build the tower, starting in 1173. The tower began to sink after construction had progressed to the second floor in 1178 due to a thin foundation set in weak, unstable subsoil. Because of continual battles for a century, building was halted. It was announced by engineers in 2008 after the removal of 70 metric tons of earth that the tower was stabilized and had stopped moving for the first time in its history. The tower is expected to remain stable for at least 200 years.

Other cities we visited include Verona, Florence, Assisi, Sorrento, and Capri. It was such an amazing trip!

Monday Mailbag: June 20, 2011

Welcome to…

Location: Florida (the Sunshine State)

Population: 18,800,000

Entertainment: the beach, sporting events, amusement parks

Sports: Major League Baseball Spring Training (2/3 of teams), Florida Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning, Daytona International Speedway

Famous Former Natives: Wayne Brady, Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke, Wesley Snipes, Ernest Hemingway, Lil’ Wayne, Flo Rida, Jim Morrison, Johnny Damon, Hulk Hogan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Chipper Jones, Chad Ochocinco, Deion Sanders, Amar’e Stoudemire, Tim Tebow

Home to: the Everglades, Kennedy Space Center, Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, Daytona International Speedway, Carnival Cruise Lines, Burger King, Bacardi, US Century Bank

Random Facts: discovered by Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513, most hurricane-prone state, operates under 2 time zones (Central for the panhandle and Eastern for the peninsula), tourism and the elderly drive the economy, and Miami serves as the headquarters of Latin American operations for more than 1400 multinational corporations

This is definitely a fun state to visit but a tough one to drive! I spent two weeks in Florida, one in September and one in March. Needless to say, I put a lot of miles on my rental car during those weeks, especially when I forgot my credit card in Tampa and was on my way to Orlando! Doubling back was not fun at all. During my trips I was able to visit over 15 states from St. Augustine to Miami. I look forward to returning this fall!

Monday Mailbag: Monday, June 13, 2011

In the middle of our crazy fall travel schedule, we were blessed to attend the 2010 SIFE World Cup in Anaheim, California. The SIFE National Champion Team from 39 countries competed to determine which team had the most impact in their community through their educational outreach projects. What a great competition! The cultural fair allowed all the teams to showcase their unique customs and cultures and get to know their fellow competitors. It was an amazing experience to see all of the students come together to celebrate their achievements in making a difference in the world. I’m truly blessed to have such an amazing job! Belmont University of Nashville, Tennessee represented the United States and placed 3^rd overall. Here’s a highlight video showcasing a great week!

For more information about the SIFE World Cup, visit http://www.sife.org/worldcup/.

The SIFE USA Staff wrapped up the week by going to Disneyland!

Monday Mailbag: Monday, June 6, 2011

I have been blessed with some amazing opportunities while working for SIFE. Several of my colleagues and I traveled to Bentonville, Arkansas for the annual Walmart Shareholders Meeting held at the University of Arkansas in the Bud Walton Arena on Friday, June 4.

I didn’t really know what to expect, but was more than pleasantly surprised! Not only did we get to experience the Walmart culture with numerous store associates and home office employees that included delegates from several different countries, but we also got to hear from many of the company’s leading executives on new initiatives the company is undertaking. We also had some great entertainment! Will Smith was an amazing MC. Alicia Keys and the Black Eyed Peas were incredible live. We had a blast, even if I was completely exhausted from getting up at 3 a.m.!

Monday Mailbag: May 30, 2011

What a year it has been! Here are some of my favorite moments from my first travel season:

Weirdest Meeting Place: Brittany and I went to meet with a few students who wanted to restart a team on their campus. Our meeting place: a fraternity house. Bahaha. It was interesting!

Most Frightening Moment: Brittany and I were on our way back to North Carolina after visiting some campuses in South Carolina. It was really late and we were extremely tired. The GPS had us turned around and we ended up making a giant circle around a small town trying to find our hotel. When we arrived, there were four police cars sitting at the entrance and we noticed there were police officers walking around the hotel. We asked what had happened when we got inside. One of the hotel guests’ said there was a man who had a gun that was walking around the hotel but he had since left. We were freaked out! We got to our rooms and immediately locked ourselves in. A few minutes later we found out they caught the guy at the only other hotel in town. One of our neighbors on the hallway said he had heard someone knock on his door and opened it only to find a guy with a gun. He slammed the door shut and called the front desk, prompting the guy to flee the hotel. It was hard to sleep that night and I definitely checked every possible hiding spot in my room to make sure I was safe!

Most Awkward Moment: I was staying at a hotel in South Carolina. I got off the elevator to head to my room when I looked up and saw a man standing in his underwear right outside my door. He looked at me, smiled, and moved to the door across from mine. I had a good laugh!

Most Unique City: I love southern charm, so it’s no surprise that my favorite city to visit this year was Charleston, SC. It’s absolutely beautiful and historic. I loved the southern charm of this city. I look forward to going back and exploring some more!

Most Embarrassing Moment: I was at a campus visit in Georgia. A student asked me what other teams were in Georgia, so I pulled out my list and started to read the names. I mentioned their school and immediately the team started laughing. I asked what they were laughing about and one of the students said, “You just mentioned our team.” Woops! Needless to say I felt like an idiot!

Best “Off the Clock” Moment: Everyone knows I’m a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan. It just so happened I was in Florida for some campus visits at the beginning of Spring Training. I got to watch the Cards take on the Astros. It was an extremely short game but so much fun! I hung out at the practice fields before game time. I’ll definitely be going again!

Pitchers Kyle Lohse & Jamie Garcia

Most Random Adventure: I was staying in Nashville over Halloween and had an evening off.  Nashville is the perfect city for some live music. I just so happened to find that Rascal Flatts was performing at the Grand Ole Opry that night and tickets were still available! I jumped at the chance. The concert was a blast. I even got to sit right in front of the stage! After the show I took a tour of the Opry. It was fun, but completely random as I’m not even a country music fan! At least, not fully.

Best Shopping: Almost all of my states has at least one really good outlet shopping center, most of which are the Premier Outlets. The one in Orlando was huge and had some awesome stores. I found some good deals!

Worst Car Rental: I’ve had my fair share of rental cars, none of which have been as bad as the Nissan Versa. Not only was it a tiny car that looked like an insect, but it was royal blue! I stopped at a gas station. A little old farmer pulled up next to me and said, “I don’t usually like blue cars. That one is…interesting.” Hahaha. I died laughing! Everytime I see a Versa I bust out laughing.

Monday Mailbag: May 23, 2011

The song that fits this Monday Mailbag perfectly...

Welcome to the beautiful town where I grew up:

Location: Salem, MO

Population: 4,854

Entertainment: 100 Acre Wood Rally, Current River, Montauk State Park, Salem City Park, Salem Senior High sports, Salem Bowling Center

Home to: Southwest Baptist University Salem Center, Montauk State Park, Ozark National Scenic Riverway, US Foodservice Distribution Center

Random Facts: The Battle of Salem was fought December 3, 1861, where 6 Yankee and 16 Confederate soldiers were killed; the Confederates retaliated by burning the county courthouse

It may be a small town, but it was a fun place to grow up! There wasn't a lot of things to do, so you had to make up your own entertainment. From Friday night football games to floating the river, I'll never forget this place!

Monday Mailbag: May 16, 2011

In the words of Johnny Cash, "I've been everywhere, man. I've been everywhere." What a crazy year it's been! The 2011 SIFE USA National Exposition has come and gone, and so my first travel season as a Program Manager comes to a close. I wanted to take a look back at all the places I've been this year and share with you what it really looks like to never be home! It's been an awesome year. I'll be sharing about some of my experiences in the weeks to come. Some are downright hilarious, others are completely weird. Nevertheless, it's been a year to remember! Here's a summary of my travels thus far. Make sure to listen to the perfect theme to my travel season here!

Since August 28, 2010 I've:

Traveled to 15 states from coast to coast

Flown on 47 airplanes through 21 airports

Driven 17 rental cars for 21,000 miles

Stayed 91 nights in over 50 hotels

Spent 105 days away from Missouri

Worked 15 events from Training Conferences to the SIFE World Cup

Visited 90 teams on college and university campuses

I couldn't ask for a better year! I've spent time with some of the most amazing and inspiring students who are impacting their local communities and those all around the world. These are the future leaders of our businesses, schools, and government agencies. I couldn't be more proud of them or more excited for what lies ahead!!!

Monday Mailbag: May 9, 2011

This week I’m in…

MINNEAPOLIS! It’s time for the 2011 SIFE USA National Exposition! Over 4,000 students, faculty, and business executives will travel to the Twin Cities to name the 2011 SIFE USA National Champion! 

Location: Minneapolis, MN

Population: 382,500 (3.2 million in the metro area)

Entertainment: Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves, Mall of America, Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Famous Former Natives: Minnesota Supreme Court and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Alan Page, actor Josh Hartnett, musicians Bob Dylan and Prince, co-founder of Pillsbury Company John Pillsbury, former US vice presidents Walter Mondale and Hubert Humphrey, wrestler and former Minnesota State Governor Jesse Ventura

Home to: Target Corporation, U.S. Bancorp, Xcel Energy

Random Facts: Billy Graham started his ministry in Minneapolis, 63.8 percent of the gross state product for Minnesota comes from the Twin Cities, nicknamed the “City of Lakes” for its more than 20 lakes and wetlands, once the world’s milling capital, currently serves as the primary business center between Chicago and Seattle, the Mall of America is the size of 78 football fields

I am excited for a great week in Minneapolis. It's supposed to rain all week but I'm extremely thankful for the skyways!!

If you're interested in following the 2011 SIFE USA National Exposition, you can view information and results here.

Monday Mailbag: May 2, 2011

Since I travel so much with my job, I found it appropriate to have a designated weekly posting about my adventures on the road called the “Monday Mailbag”. If you haven’t read my “About Me” section, I’ll go ahead and fill you in on exactly what it is that I do.

“Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) brings together a diverse network of university students, academic professionals, and industry leaders around the shared mission of creating a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business. By contributing their talents to projects that improve the lives of people worldwide, SIFE participants are demonstrating that individuals with a knowledge and passion for business can be a powerful force for change.” There are more than 48,000 students on 1,400 teams in 39 countries today that are executing projects under the name of SIFE in order to improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need. (Visit SIFE Worldwide for more information).  I serve as a Program Manager for the Southeast United States, representing the states of Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. I have the awesome privilege of working with SIFE teams in the Southeast to help them find ways to improve their teams, projects, and ultimately have a long-lasting impact on the lives of people in their communities.

This week I’m in the ever-exciting city of…

Location: Springfield, MO

Population: 159,000 (437,000 in the metro area)

Entertainment: Springfield Cardinals, Discovery Center, Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts

Famous Former Natives: Brad Pitt, Bob Barker, and John Goodman, Stan Musial (St. Louis Cardinals), Ryan Howard (Philadelphia Phillies), Payne Stewart (professional golfer), John Ashcroft (US Attorney General)

Home to: Bass Pro Shops, John Q. Hammons Hotels and Resorts, BKD, Assemblies of God, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

Random Facts: featured in The New York Times for cashew chicken popularity (no seriously, here’s the link: Missouri Chinese: Two Cultures Claim This Chicken), nicknamed the Gateway to the Ozarks, birthplace of historic Route 66, site of the Battle of Wilson’s Creek during the Civil War on August 10, 1861, home to the nation’s first and only one-on-one pistol quickdraw duel shootout on July 21, 1865 between Wild Bill Hickok and Davis Tutt

You may not find this to be exciting, but being in Springfield means I’m home for the week! SIFE’s World Headquarters makes its home in the heartland of the United States. When I’m not on the road, I’m working at our office. This week we’re gearing up for the 2011 SIFE USA National Exposition being held next Tuesday through Thursday. Over 4,000 students, academic leaders, and business professionals will travel to Minneapolis, MN to discover which of the 163 competing teams will be named the 2011 SIFE USA National Champion. The team named as champion will represent the United States at the 2011 SIFE World Cup this October in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! Needless to say, we are very busy at HQ! We will spend much of our week prepping the competing teams, finalizing logistics and materials, packing and shipping all materials, and hopefully finding time to sleep! We’re excited for a great Expo event! For more information about the 2011 SIFE USA National Exposition or to view results, visit SIFE USA National Exposition.