Walk Into the Future

Category: Self Awareness

  • 2023 Virginia Beach 10-Miler

    VB3

    “Either you love Virginia Beach, or you are wrong”.

    (Anonymous)

    My first Virginia Beach adventure was to tackle the 2021 Rock N Roll Half Marathon. 

    I always heard how great Virginia Beach was and wanted to experience it for myself.  I enjoyed the race, beach, board walk and the people.  The plan was for the running tourist to make this an annual trip to tackle the Rock N Roll Half Marathon.  Turns out the city of Virginia Beach did not enjoy the partnership with the Rock N Roll folks and decided to cancel the race—they didn’t want an outside organization shutting down the streets or boardwalk over a long holiday weekend.

    I continued to research Virginia Beach races with an eye to return to the area at some point.  Really enjoyed my initial experience and wanted to get back and explore a bit more.  I signed up for the 2023 Shamrock Half Marathon in March but decided not to run since it was the same week as my Negril, Jamaica trip.  That would have been too much travel for me in one week.  I love to see different sights but that was a bit much for the running tourist.  LOL.

    The city of Virginia Beach and J&A Racing partnered up to host the Chartway Virginia Beach 10 Miler over the Labor Day weekend.  Decided this would be a great race for my return to Virginia Beach especially since it was over a long weekend.  Never ran a 10-mile race but viewed this as a great training run and an easy way to set a personal record (PR).  This distance fit my training schedule and allowed me to see Virginia Beach from a different angle.

    Live, Love, Run

    Flew out of Vero Beach on Breeze Airways for the first time.  I normally drive over to Orlando for a Southwest flight, but Breeze is new to the area and had direct flights to Norfolk.  No extra driving and airport parking is free in Vero.

    Arrived in Norfolk without any delay and made my way to the Enterprise Holdings rental counter.  Norfolk is a smaller airport so getting out of the terminal and then the parking garage was an easy journey.  Made my way over to Virginia Beach and checked into my hotel.  Decided to book my hotel early this time and stayed directly on the famed boardwalk and beach.  Staying directly at the beach allowed me to just park my rental and walk everywhere I needed to go while in Virginia.  The beach, restaurants, and live music were easily accessible from my hotel.

    The race EXPO was held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center which was two miles from my hotel.  Decided to walk over to the EXPO to get my race bib and gear.  Used this walk to stretch my legs the day before the 10-mile race.  Made a quick stop at a local farmer’s market to check out the goods—didn’t buy anything but got a good vibe for the Virginia Beach farmer’s market scene.  Lots of vendors and friendly people out and about the day before the race. 

    The EXPO was small—just a few vendors available and only one spot to get my customary EXPO photo taken.  Picked up my race bib and made my way to check out the vendors.  Didn’t need anything but wanted to see if I could pick up another race shirt but the selection was not great.  One of the vendors sold race bib magnets—some runners use magnets to hold their race bibs instead of safety pins.  Decided it was time for me to step up my game and purchased a set of magnets to use during the 10-miler.  Small investment but I will get a ton of use out of these magnets.  Carb loaded a bit more after the EXPO and headed back to sit on the beach before going to bed early.

    The race start line was only two blocks from my hotel and the finish line was directly below my hotel room on the boardwalk.  Got up early on race day so I could stretch and mentally prepare for the race.  I didn’t have a set finish time planned but wanted to run as fast as possible to test my fitness over a longer distance.

    I was assigned to Corral #2 and made my way towards the front of the waiting runners.  This was an opportunity for most of us to continue to warm up and get a few selfies of ourselves standing around in a race line.  Made sure to give myself some room to maneuver in case runners around me were not paying attention—didn’t want to trip with so many people in the corral.

    I wanted to run a clean race where I could ensure my pace was consistent and provide a good finish to the race.  My last race in Virginia Beach was a struggle at the end because I didn’t pace it out correctly AND there was a bridge crossing at the 11-mile marker.  NOTE:  we crossed that same bridge during this race, but I was physically and mentally prepared for it this year.

    My mile splits are below:

    Mile 1:  8:56/ Mile 2:  8.58 / Mile 3:  9:13 / Mile 4:  9:28 / Mile 5: 9:39 / Mile 6:  9:58 / Mile 7: 9:56 / Mile 8:  10:24 / Mile 9: 10:01 / Mile 10:  9:40 /Mile .06:  :33

    The highlight of the race weekend for me was the post-race party.  It was on the beach with live music, good pizza, and beer.  The best part of this scene is the post-race party was across from my hotel.  I got a chance to drink as much beer as I wanted without having to worry about how I was going to get back to my hotel.  I simply walked off the beach, got on the elevator and went up to my room when the music stopped.  A 3-hour nap awaited me!

    There was a ton of live music available during the weekend and I made a point to get back out to check out the bands.  Virginia Beach has a cool vibe, and the folks up there are super friendly.  Made my way back to Catch 31 for great food and a nice view of the King Neptune statue.  The sound stage had a ton of activity, so this was the spot for me to kick back and enjoy my time in Virginia Beach.

    Looking forward to my next race weekend in Virginia Beach—just got to figure out which race I will tackle up there next.

    Irie!

  • Poetic Flow / The Time

    shallow focus of clear hourglass
    Photo by Jordan Benton on Pexels.com

    The Time

    Watching Time

    Tick Tock, Tick Tock

    Time slowly moves on,

    You must use it wisely.

    Express yourself.

    Let your thoughts flow,

    Inform all who do not know

    Share life lessons learned

    With this you cannot go wrong.

  • House updates

    Resized_Resized_2(2)~3

    “Home is the nicest word there is”.

    (Laura Ingalls Wilder)

    The Walk into the Future adventures continue to move forward daily.

    I closed on my townhouse in Fort Pierce back in May.  This was something I wanted to do when I first moved here but things and conditions did not align for me.  Things happen for a reason and in due time—a bit cliché I know but this fits my home buying journey.

    I looked for a townhouse to purchase for a little over two years but did not get serious with a real estate agent until Summer 2022.  We looked in several areas, but I never got comfortable with prices and/or locations during the early stages.  We kept moving forward with the search and the prices started to come back down in early 2023.  Worked with my agent to hone into a more detailed search and we began viewing townhouses that fit my stated budget and in areas I wanted to live in.

    Found my townhouse less than three miles from where I was living in Fort Pierce.  This was a bit ironic because I looked in a lot of other areas but never checked out my own neighborhood.

    We made an offer within a week and accepted the small counter offer the following week.  Things went quickly once we made the offer, and my agent guided me through the process, and I felt comfortable the entire time.  Fast forward and we closed in the early part of May, and I was suddenly a homeowner again.  My apartment lease was not due to expire until October but there was a provision in the lease that would allow me out early with a one-time penalty.  This was a welcomed provision since I did not have to rush my move and this extra time allowed me to make some upgrades.

    Floors

    The living area in the townhouse came with tile floors.  This was a nice look for the property but both bedrooms and closets had carpet.  I’m not a fan of carpet and knew this was going to be removed before I moved in.  My realtor connected me with several flooring specialists so I could get quotes to pull up the carpet and install wood laminate floors.  Wanted to get this upgrade completed before moving into the townhouse.  My flooring guy provided me with a ton of samples to choose from and we agreed on floor color, date of installation and pricing.  Took him two days to complete the flooring overhaul and the new look made the place feel bigger and I didn’t have to worry about what the old owners left in the carpet.

    Painting

    The best time to paint is prior to moving in with furniture.  Decided to change the paint scheme throughout the townhouse to brighten it a bit and put my touches on the new place.  Got painter recommendations from friends and interviewed two painters.  Selected my painter and headed to Home Depot to pick out my paint.  The townhouse came with a black accent wall—yes, you read that correctly.  There was no way I was keeping the black accent wall.  LOL.  Picked out a nice and refreshing blue paint for the NEW accent wall and a natural (sand) color for the rest of the townhouse.  Left the paint with the painter and got out of his way to upgrade the paint scheme for me. 

    Appliances

    This move-in provided me with an opportunity for a complete reboot of the inside.  Purchased the townhouse with appliances but wanted to start fresh.  My realtor shared that Home Depot has fantastic appliance sales in conjunction with the 4th of July holiday.  I thought she was overstating the sale, but it turns out Home Depot appliance sale is just as great as she stated.  Decided to purchase a complete kitchen package and remove the old appliances prior to my official move-in.  My new appliances are all under the same warranty and should provide me with years of enjoyment.

    Furniture

    My original plan was to enter the townhouse with all the furniture I owned.  Quickly determined my new place required a furniture upgrade to make it feel complete.  My TV console was fine in my old apartment but was too small for the larger space of the townhouse.  Also, my dining room table was adequate for the apartment but did not fit the style or feel of my new place.  Made a trip to City Furniture and Rooms 2 Go to begin the process of figuring out what I wanted for the new place.  Rooms 2 Go had a better selection that fit me so made my large purchases there.  The bonus was the free delivery they offer.  Still looking to upgrade some of my shelves but very happy with my new furniture and how it looks in the townhouse.

    I still have a few more home modifications I want to make in the bathrooms but happy with my progress so far.  The townhouse is slowly becoming home for me.  Enjoy having a place of my own to come back to after work or a road trip.

    What makes your house a home?

    Irie!

    “A house is made of bricks and beams.  A home is made of hopes and dreams”.

    (Unknown)

  • 2023 Celebration of Running 5k

    WP1

    The 2023 running season kicked off with the 2023 Celebration of Running 5k in Winter Park.

    I have run this race three years in a row and love the experience.  It’s August in Florida so the heat and humidity are high, so this adds to the challenge.  I don’t run a lot of 5ks but this one remains on my list because it is flat and provides a training gauge for the year.

    I never set out to run a PR here but want to test my physical and mental stamina.  The race crowd is not too large, so this helps when trying to avoid other runners at the start.

    Decided to line up closer to the front pack of runners to give myself room to operate without having to dodge folks.  Still amazing that I know runners from when I lived in Oviedo.  It’s almost like they don’t know I’ve been gone 9 years now.

    My race goal was to go out and find an even pace.  The secondary goal was to run faster than last year.  I met both of my goals and enjoyed the race from start to finish.

    I found a couple of runners with great paces and decided to hitch a ride with them to challenge myself.  This was a fun activity since I train by myself.  It was great having others around to inspire me to find another gear.  Felt good enough at the end to leave my running companions and put in a good kick to complete the 5k.  Crossed the finish line in 28:50. 

    Collected my medal, water, and banana before making my way to the beer garden.  Yes, we drink beer at 8:30 am after races.  We eat donuts too!  LOL.

    This was week 2 of marathon training so needed to get additional miles in after the race.  Headed back over to the Seminole Cross Trail to complete my training with 6 miles there.  Got a total of 10 miles completed on the day.

    Made my way back to the hotel to shower and find some real food.  Wanted breakfast so went by First Watch close to UCF for a huge pancake, eggs, and bacon.  Favorite meal when I eat there.

    Feeling good about my training so far and look forward to a fantastic running season.  Heading to Virginia Beach again for the 2023 Virginia Beach 10-miler over the Labor Day weekend.  Should be fun getting back up to Virgina.

    Will ramp up my marathon training when I return from Virginia.  Time to lock in mentally and physically to prep for my 26.2-mile challenge in December.  😊

    What are you looking forward to?

  • Why do I run?

    VB 10 Miler

    “Running is my private time, my therapy, my religion”.

    (Gail W. Kislevitz)

    The Walk into the Future blog continues to roll along and provides me space to share a small portion of my world with readers.  Yes, this is a simple concept but one I take seriously to find new content to share with others.

    Running is a huge part of my life and I am happy to be at this point of the journey.  I started running as a small hobby to get in more cardio, but it has morphed into a lifestyle that energizes me daily.  Who knew I would enjoy going to bed early so I could wake up before the sun comes up for a run?  Well, that’s what I do now, and love every minute of it—even in the south Florida humidity. 

    So, why do I run?  That’s a great question and I will provide some context to why with this post.

    Solitude

    The ability to go out for a run without having to coordinate or schedule the activity is appealing to me.  There is a level of peace for me when I’m out for a run.  I lace up my running shoes and just put one foot in front of the other until I hit my mileage goal for the session.  The solitude comes in handy on days where I don’t feel like running faster—I can just move forward at my own pace without worrying about slowing someone else down.  Also, I can enjoy my music and sing out loud when I want to.  Not many folks come out at 5 am to hear my bad singing but it helps me when the miles get tough.  The solitude of my run is a highlight for me and one of the main reasons I’m still out putting in the work.

    Time to think

    The solitude of my runs is great, and it provides me with a lot of free time to think and change the world—hyperbole here!  LOL.  The space and time to think are enjoyable aspects while I’m out training.  This time has helped me come up with solutions to work problems, generate new ideas for the Walk into the Future blog and new topics for my leadership consulting side hustle.  There are times when I just run without thinking about ways to change the world but running provides me with a platform to simply think and be me.  Sounds simple but this keeps me lacing up my running shoes and logging the weekly miles.  Who knows, there may be another blog article coming from my next running session. 

    Physical wellbeing

    An obvious outcome of my running program is the physical wellbeing it brings.  I leverage running to help me maintain my weight without having to count calories.  I practice intermittent fasting daily but can eat whatever I want because of my running program.  Running is also a great way to build up leg strength and muscles.  The development I have in my legs rivals muscle growth I saw when I was more active lifting weights (squats, leg presses, etc.).  Again, the physical aspects of running leads to a better mental outlook as well.

    So, there you have it—I run for solitude, time to think and physical wellbeing.

    Why do you run?

    Irie

  • Favorite Sunsets

    “My favorite color is sunset”.

    (Unknown Author)

    My Walk into the Future allows me multiple outlets to explore passion, interests, and new hobbies.

    One area I continue to expand, and grow is my love for beautiful sunsets.  I always joke with friends that I’m not a huge fan of sunrises—this is simply because I never get up early enough to see them too often.

    The sunset has a magical feel and pull for me.  I’m always amazed when the colors in the sky change and reflect differently over water than over land.  The reflections add a new dimension and provide a level of awe for me.  I get my phone ready whenever there’s an opportunity to take a shot of the sky.  I share a lot of these pictures on my Instagram feed and send some of the best ones to my tree branches. 

    Decided to compile some of my favorite sunset pictures and share with my Walk into the Future readers:

    Sunset NC

    (Duck, North Carolina)

    (Negril, Jamaica)

    (Fort Pierce, Florida)

    Sunset Disney Springs

    (Disney Springs)

    Which one is your favorite?

    Irie!

  • My Reading Progress

    “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies…The man who never reads lives only one”.

    (George R. R. Martin)

    My Walk into the Future provides me with the flexibility to add new adventures daily.  I continue to view this life I lead to engage my mind, body, and soul.  This blog gives me a space to highlight what I am doing, thinking, or getting ready to accomplish. 

    Goal setting remains a huge part of my success in life, and I look for ways to leverage my goals to help me continue to move forward.  I review my goals daily to ensure my energy and focus are consistent to meet or exceed them.

    I set reading goals each year in January with intent to read something daily.  My daily readings center around Proverbs and a few companion books by Joel Osteen.  I started reading Proverbs daily when I lived in Warner Robins, Georgia and this Atomic Habit remains strong.  Joel Osteen created a 31-day Proverbs companion book which I utilize when completing my daily Proverbs readings.  This little book has helped me understand more and brings Proverbs to life with language for my current Walk into the Future.

    My larger reading goal is to read 1 book monthly.  There were years where I would be super aggressive with this goal but decided to create a reading goal that provides me an opportunity to stay on track.  Please note, just because it says 1 book monthly does not mean I can’t read more, and I do.  I am an avid reader and love to sit on the beach with a good book and cold beer to practice this hobby.  My love for reading started in middle school and it has not slowed down except when my schedule gets in the way. 

    The books I select range from leadership, communication, and inspiration topics.  These are topics of interest for me so stick to areas I seek growth.  I have a couple friends who inquire about my reading selections and have started to read the same books—you can say we have an informal book club going.  We discuss the books after everyone has completed them and look for ways to incorporate the content into life and the work environment. This little book club motivates me to stay on track and focus on my reading.  It has also provided me with access to books I may have missed on my own.  I tend to stick to authors I know but the book club expands my focus and challenges me to explore other authors to enhance my Walk into the Future.

    The following books were referred by book club members:

    • Disruptive Thinking / TD Jakes
    • Wisdom of the Bullfrog / Admiral William H. McRaven
    • 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication:  Apply Them and Make the Most of your Message / John C. Maxwell

    FYI—this was my first TD Jakes book, and I was pleasantly surprised by the content and enjoyed reading his thoughts on Disruptive Thinking.  It is something we can all practice daily, but it was great gaining new insights on how to move forward in life daily. 

    I have read multiple books by Admiral McRaven and his wisdom comes through within the context of leadership and helping teams get better.

    Lastly, John Maxwell communication strategies can be leveraged in most work settings and enhance overall operations for the team.

    I am on pace to meet my stated reading goals and continue to seek additional books to add to my library.  This will continue and help me to Walk into the Future.

    How are you doing on meeting your goals?  What books are you reading in 2023?

    Irie!

  • Navy SEAL Museum (teambuilding)

    “No one can whistle a symphony.  It takes a whole orchestra to play it”.

    (Booker T. Washington)

    My Walk into the Future continues to expand and grow tree branches.

    I am always looking for ways to enhance organizational growth and find opportunities to thrive.  I am still active with my consulting projects and this work expands my ability to develop new ways to inspire my team to meet organizational goals.

    Teambuilding activities have been the springboard towards enhanced communications, better work production and overall success.  This is an ongoing process, there are more opportunities for the organization to grow, and teambuilding will be a driving force towards this goal.

    The national Navy SEAL Museum is in Fort Pierce, Florida.  This is a fun fact, and most people ask why.  The shores of Fort Pierce were utilized as a prime World War II training location to prepare troops for beach invasions.  The underwater demolition program was a key component of the training program and was a precursor to the Navy SEAL program we know today.

    What does this have to do with teambuilding?  Great question!

    Many folks on my staff knew the Navy SEAL Museum was in Fort Pierce but only a few had been to the museum.  I went for the first-time last year with a student organization and enjoyed the experience.  I shared this with a few folks at work and we discussed a team visit to share the history and do some team bonding.  It took a bit of scheduling and adjusting calendars, but we agreed on a date and time for the team visit.

    I did not have a preset idea of how many folks would come to the museum but was happy when 10 folks showed up with smiles on their faces.  This was a voluntary outing for the team, and they took time out of their weekend for team bonding—I was impressed!

    We got an introductory briefing by the museum staff, and this set the stage for the team to explore the multiple displays and artifacts within the museum.

    I did not know how the team would respond to being in a military museum, but they were very active learning the history of the Navy SEALs and campaigns they fought in.  The ability to touch the equipment and sit in an actual helicopter allowed the team an interactive experience while touring the museum.

    The museum has displays outside as well: boats, statues, and monuments.  We got some great pictures of one of the combat boats that was larger than most of us thought it would be.  The obstacle course was popular with other tour groups present but we only tried a few of the obstacles.  I tried the rope swing but sunk quickly into the sand—I traveled 3 feet before my momentum was broken.  Think we all had a good laugh at my lack of movement on the rope swing.  A few others took a turn on the rope swing, and they had better outcomes than I did.  I may have to go back to the Navy SEAL Museum to redeem myself on the rope swing.

    The visit to the Navy SEAL Museum is another step towards making our team stronger.  It was a great way to highlight the ultimate team (Navy SEALs) and how they come together to complete missions.  The importance of teamwork on mission outcomes was a great reminder for my team as we look for ways to get better daily.  Always looking for ways to get 1% better daily.

    What are you doing to become 1% better today?

    Irie!

  • Marathon training

    Marathon training

    (Image by CoupleStyle from Pixabay)

    My marathon training program begins again next week.  Decided to stick with the 18-week training program I used last year.  This program provides a gradual mileage build-up and allows me flexibility to train and still get normal life activities completed.

    The 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon will provide another mental and physical test for me to continue to challenge myself to get better daily.  I feel like a veteran this time around since I got my initial marathon under my belt last year.  I’m excited for the opportunity to train and improve my race outcome this year.  There were several lessons from 2022 that will help me with my journey this year.

    Exercise bike

    I mistakenly believed I could replace running miles with miles on my exercise bike.  Numerically the miles are equal but there is a difference between hard work on an exercise bike and outside miles in Florida.  There is a time and place for the exercise bike, but I will not lean on this form of training as much as I did in 2022.

    Speed work

    I concentrated on building up my mileage base in 2022 but not as much on speed work.  I did several sessions on the local track to work on tempo and speed but know I will need to work pace runs in more this year.  My training plan has several tempo runs inserted and I will do a better job of following the pace days as outlined.  The tempo runs will help me convert my physical fitness into a better race day pace.

    Heat and humidity

    My weekday training runs were completed with 5 am training sessions.  I started my runs at 5 am to beat the heat and completed them prior to my workday during the week.  My weekend runs started around 7:30 am to get out and back before the south Florida heat kicked in.  This was a solid plan, but I did not log many miles in the heat of the day.  Sounds like a smart training plan but the second half of the Palm Beaches Marathon is run in direct sunlight with minimal shade.  It was not overly hot in December, but the sun was on me from the 18-mile marker until the end of the marathon.  I did not handle this part of the race well since I avoided running in/with the sun during my training phase.  I will SMARTLY look for ways to incorporate more training to leverage the south Florida heat and humidity to enhance my training program.

    Here’s the 18-week training program I will launch next week:

    Marathon Training

    I will document my training progress again this year with updates on how I’m doing with mileage, nutrition, and thoughts.  Excited to Walk into the Future again and tackle the 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon.  Looking to run substantially faster than 2022 and cross the finish line again with a smile on my face.

    Irie!

  • National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2023 Annual Conference

    NACE23

    “Continuous personal and professional development is your key to the future”.

    (Brian Tracy)

    The NACE22 conference was held in Portland, Oregon last year.  I chronicled my experience traveling out to Portland for the conference in a previous Walk into the Future article.  This was my first time in Portland so was excited to venture out and take in the sights.  NACE22 was also part of my professional development as I served as Co-Chair on the Mentoring Taskforce.  The role allowed me to present during the conference to share the activities the taskforce had worked on during the academic year.  FYI, we redesigned the NACE mentoring program to modernize how we recruit and onboard new mentors.  I was excited for the opportunity to network with my peers and share the hard work the taskforce completed to enhance our organization.

    Fast forward to 2023 and NACE23 was held in Orlando, Florida at the Disney World Swan, and Dolphin resort.  My travel itinerary was a lot less of a hassle than catching multiple connecting flights to get out and back to Portland.  My school saved a bunch of money by not having to fly me all the way to the west coast and back this year.

    Another bonus for me is I did not have to present this year, so I got a chance to enjoy myself while networking with friends from around the country.  The Career Services world is a tight knit bunch of professionals, and it was great getting a chance to see folks again.  The NACE conference provides a great platform for networking, and I made a point to talk with everyone I could.  Please note, this level of networking is needed for future growth within the organization.  I served on the Mentoring Taskforce because the NACE past-president reached out and asked me to Co-Chair because this was his passion project.  The incoming president made sure I knew she needed help with an upcoming committee and spent the week recruiting me to join her project as well.  It took a few follow-up meetings and calls, but I agreed to serve on one of her committees for the 2023 – 2024 year.  My end goal is to get a seat on the NACE Board of Directors soon and it helps to be connected to the right people.

    I’m not a huge Disney person but made sure to explore the Disney Boardwalk area for food, drinks, and night life.  I took advantage of the workout facilities located on the Swan side of the resort and got in a few training runs while on the property.

    Several of the NACE23 vendors host afternoon and evening networking sessions to connect with Career Services professionals.  These sessions are paid for by the vendors and they routinely provide food and drinks for all attendees.  Nice way to get a free meal, drinks and enjoy time with friends.  Yes, I made my way to as many of these networking sessions as possible. LOL.  

    A true highlight of the trip for me was a visit over to Disney Springs.  One of the vendors hosted a large event in an Irish Pub in Disney Springs.  I left one event with friends, and we decided to ride over to Disney Springs to enjoy the night life and hit the party at the Irish Pub. 

    Chef Art Smith’s Homcomin Restaurant is in Disney Springs and is world renowned for great food and atmosphere.  I need to make a full confession to my readers.  Art Smith is a world-famous chef and has cooked for Oprah Winfrey and a host of others.  Very impressive resume!  Also, Art is from Jasper, Florida which is my hometown.  He moved back to Jasper a few years back and is our most famous resident.  Where am I going with this?  Great question.  I texted Art before heading over to Disney Springs to get a reservation at his restaurant and he was great at getting me and three friends in on short notice.  Thanks Art!

    https://www.chefartsmith.com/

    The Homcomin menu has a ton of great options and I highly recommend making your way there when in the area.  I had Art’s Famous Fried Chicken and Sweet Tea moonshine.  My friends tried other items on the menu, and we all agreed this was the best food we had while in Orlando.  We got a treat with the Signature Sampler which has 3 of the best desserts you can find anywhere.  All were fantastic but the Hummingbird Cake is my favorite and will get that when I visit again.  Stop and see my friend Art when visiting Disney Springs—you will thank me for the recommendation!

    http://www.homecominkitchen.com/pdf/Homecomin-Menu.pdf

    http://www.homecominkitchen.com/pdf/Homecomin-Dessert-Menu.pdf

    NACE24 will be in Phoenix, Arizona next year.  I anticipate being on the agenda again to present to my colleagues.  I’m sure there will be great networking opportunities out there and looking forward to great food there too.

    What networking opportunities are you pursuing this year?

    Irie!