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Normally, weekends are where I like to highlight some of the best small business marketing posts by other bloggers. However, Harry Hoover tagged me to play along on this meme, so here goes. See the end of the post for those I tagged. Spot On! will return next week.
#1 I was a prison guard.
My first real job out of high school was with the Texas Department of Corrections (since renamed). I was a corrections officer for three years. It was good money and good benefits for a high school graduate. After three years I tired of the internal politics and needed greater flexibility for my school schedule. Yes, I have stories.
#2 Wine is a big part of my life and my local identity.
I am a wine lover. In 2000 I co-founded the Heart of Texas Wine and Food Festival with a my friend Candace Mehaffey-Kultgen. (Side note: Candace also introduced me to my wife) We decided to do it while driving home from the Hill Country Wine Festival. It went something like: “Hey, Waco needs one of these.” And now the annual attendance is about 1000 while benefitting the Waco Humane Society.
As a result of starting that event, I hosted my own local radio show: The Waco Wine and Food Hour for three years. Which led me start a local chapter of The Wine Society of Texas with my good friend, and wine bistro owner, Gina Ford.
#3 I am a grandfather, but have no children of my own.
I never had children of my own. But my wife Carol has two grown daughters, Chelsey & Laci, and they each have a son. Braiden is 4 and Logan is 3 and they are an absolute joy. HInt: Girls, we’re ready for the next round of grandchildren. I also have a wonderful grandson from my first marriage; Vinsont, who is now a young man.
#4 I serve the Lord as best I can.
I am flawed man. And so I thank God for His grace and the sacrifice of my Savior, Jesus Christ. God has allowed me to serve Him in many ways. For seven years my wife and I taught our home church singles ministry, of which we are graduates. God has sent me on two amazing mission trips to Bangladesh and India thanks to my good friend and counselor, Doug Dwyer. I am currently awaiting God’s next assignment.
#5 I am seriously considering a run for Congress
It’s usually the beautiful, well-connected, wealthy people that seek political office. That’s probably why we have such a dismal Congress. Like most people, I’m weary of a Congress that thinks we serve them rather than the other way around. I’ll decide in the spring whether or not to pull the trigger.
#6 Every hour of college I have came while I was working full time.
My parents did not have the money to send me to college. So I went to work as a prison guard, taco maker, radio station & night club DJ, and tutor. After I got a two year degree in Telecommunications I decided I wanted a four-year degree. Finally at age 37 I graduated from Baylor University with a BBA in Financial Services and Planning.
7. I fantasize about moving to Reno.
It seems like the perfect place to me: Skiing at lake Tahoe, play poker whenever I want at the casinos, just a three-hour drive to the Napa & Sonoma wine country, plus an occasional trip to San Francisco. It will probably never happen because of proximity to grandchildren. But it’s fun to think about it.
But enough about me. What about you? Feel free to add a little know fact about you in the comments section. And now I’m tagging the following individuals (as is customary in blog memes):
Christina Kerley – A (clever) marketer, Twitter instigator, and author of CK’s Blog.
Brandilyn Collins – A Christian suspense novelist and author of the Forensics & Faith blog.
Lisa Trosien – Marketer, speaker and author of the Apartment Marketing Blog.
Steve Woodruff – Pharma Marketing consultant and author of the Sticky Figure blog.
Gary Cohen – Interactive web strategist and author of the Gary D. Cohen blog.
Eric Brown – Marketing mastermind behind Urbane Apartments and contributor to this blog his own Apartment Veteran blog.
Bryan Person – Founder of the Social Media Breakfast, Social Media Evangelist at LiveWorld, and author of his own Bryan Person blog.
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