Blog
Good News Monday — Building Character at Philmont
Today’s good news appeared in Sunday’s Roanoke Times. The highlight of the entire newspaper was this excellent article on a group of local scouts and leaders who participated in a high adventure program n New Mexico. The writer does a great job of describing how a big...
Good News Monday – “Sir will you run with me?”
Those of you who have been reading Good News Monday for a while could probably see this choice coming from a mile — or as much as five kilometers — away. This blog has written extensively about great stories of perseverance, role models, the achievements of young...
Tourism is non-partisan. Support Brand USA
Can we please all agree that tourism is non-partisan. Considering that tourism is among the largest industries in the world and that even in our sluggish economy, the travel and tourism sector is outperforming nearly every other sector, you would think there would be...
Good News Monday – The Jimmy V Award at the 2013 ESPYs
One of the few awards show I like to watch is the ESPY Awards on ESPN. Although I have written before in this blog about how America needs better role models than highly paid, bad boy athletes, the world of sports does provide some amazing moments. Sports offers some...
A Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip
I was pleased to see this great (Fair and Balanced) travel feature about the Blue Ridge Parkway on Foxnews.com. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a national treasure — the most visited unit of the National Park Service — so any time travel writers wish to rave about it,...
The Amazing Power of Great Brands
Do brands matter? Ask Coca-Cola. Their brand is estimated to be worth $77 billion. That's right, billion with a "B." That's more astonishing when you consider that a brand isn't something you can hold in your hands or stash in a safe...
Good News Monday — Chewbacca Continues to Battle for Justice
It would be easy to find discouraging news in today’s blog (like the fact that the TSA is totally out of control), but please don’t. After all, it’s Good News Monday. The important thing in his story is that common sense and justice ultimately prevailed. The 69 year...
Good advice that’s direct and to the point: Don’t be trite
I read an outstanding essay the other day and I just had to share it with you. I see this gentleman's writing frequently on LinkedIn as I think we have several groups in common. I enjoy reading his work and think you will, too. The author is Ed Burghard and his...
A Yankee heads south
Every year around this time, I think about that Memorial Day Weekend many years ago that I spent excitedly packing for my move from New Hampshire to Roanoke, Virginia. I remember how nerve-wracking it was thinking I'd forget to do something or notify someone...
The DMO that Followed Their Brand Strategy
This terrific article appeared in the May issue of Virginia Business Magazine. I was pleased for several reasons that they chose to write about our client. 1. I'm always happy when tourism and travel are recognized for the economic development engine that they...