In the Beginning There was Fear

I would like to start this blog post with a simple sentence. I am scared. I am scared because I am starting something new. I am scared because I am venturing into a different domain, one that I am not familiar with or have any idea about. I am scared because I do not know what to do…and I love it!

This is the first blog post I am writing for Dayton.com and I want to start by telling you a little bit about myself before we get into the good stuff. My name is Cory D. D. Miller and I am a 28-year-old Daytonian. I went to Carroll High School, home of the Patriots, which was a stone’s throw away from the next chapter in my life at the University of Dayton. During my junior year of college I began interning at C.H. Dean and was hired on full time upon graduation, and where I am currently the Corporate Relations Manager. That is roughly 14 years packed into one paragraph. If anyone knows if the Cliff Notes company is hiring, please pass them my resume.

As many of you may know, I am pretty active in Dayton. I love what this city has to offer and I am always out seeking my next big adventure for getting involved in the community. That is what this blog is all about. Getting started is always hard and that’s where I hope I can help shed some light or at least provide a few “Pro Tips” from what I have learned over the course of my eight years with C.H. Dean.

Pro Tip #1 – Fear is a necessity for advancement.

I feed off the fear of doing something new or getting involved. Being uncomfortable pushes me to get outside my bubble and experience new situations that I may have otherwise missed. When your fear is not present, you have the possibility of becoming set in your ways, doing the same routine, and becoming stagnant to the world. Don’t sit idle; let the fear motivate you to overcome and push to new levels.

With that said, I am excited to share my adventures and my stories with you. If you have any questions please or would like me to address something specific feel free to contact me on any of my social media networks or email me any questions!

5 Things I do in the Morning that Don’t Involve Coffee

View fullsize

It’s morning time, again.  The snooze alarm has been hit about four times and it feels as though you have been sleeping for years.  You are groggy and grumpy and don’t want to leave that oh so comfy bed, but you have to.

I have been told I am a morning person, but a fun fact about me is that I have never had a cup of coffee in my life.  Now don’t get me wrong, I have tried a couple of sips here and there, but it is just not for me.  I love the smell of coffee though.  I wonder if there is a market for selling bags of coffee-scented air? (Note to self for next blog post.)

Anyway, back to being a morning person.  I don’t know why I am always chipper and excited to start the day, I just am.  So I thought it might be fun to write a post that incorporates what I do daily that gets me going, and in which coffee is not involved.

1.       No Time for Snoozers – I mentioned earlier about hitting the snooze alarm several times.  I stopped hitting that button a long time ago.  A friend of mine actually gave up hitting the snooze alarm for Lent and so I gave it a try.  I found out that to get going in the morning I needed to just GET GOING.  You Snooze, You Lose!

2.       Educate Yourself Daily – In my job I have flexibility with my tasks that need to be done and the time frames in which they need to be completed.  When I get to work I try to read and catch up on what has happened overnight or over the past couple days that I may have missed.  I take an hour to read news articles from CNBC, Bloomberg, LinkedIn, and Social Media as well as share them.

3.       Take a “Coffee Break” – Before you think I am being a hypocrite, just keep reading.  After I spend an hour in self-education, I need to walk around a bit and grab a drink.  I simply replace the coffee with either green tea or ice cold water.  Both give a great morning shock to my system and I love that first sip.

4.       When you “Coffee Break”, be sure to Coffee Chat – I always try to grab a P.I.C. (Partner In Crime) when I take my “coffee break”.  I do this because it helps me to get to know others in my office as well as stimulate my brain with some good ol’ fashioned conversation.  You don’t want to end up like Tom Hanks talking to Wilson do you?

5.       Stay Busy With Tasks – Every morning I try to create a list of top to do projects.  Within that list I break it down in to types of lists. One being “At Desk Projects” and the other being “At Large Projects.”  When I start to feel a bit tired or doze off, I switch to an at large project which gets me mobile and moving around.  When I get bored at large I switch back.  My list is crucial every morning.

These are just five simple  things I do each morning.  Let me know some of your tips and what you do.  Tweet them to me using #CorysCoffee or share a picture via Instagram.  My handle is @CoryDDMiller for both.  Don’t forget to connect via Facebook as well.

Cory Miller Named Daytonian of the Week

I am extremely honored to have been named this week's Daytonian of the week!  Extremely surprised and happy to have been thought of.  Below you will find a snippet of the article as well as a link to the article in its entirety.

View fullsize

One of my favorite spots:  Woodland Cemetery with an amazing view of the Dayton Skyline

If you were to look up "energy" in the dictionary, chances are you'd find this up-and-coming Daytonian’s photo.

Cory D. D. Miller spends much of his energy working with charitable organizations involved in the promotion of Dayton. Currently, he serves as the President of the Dayton History Bell Board, Membership Chair of the Dayton Ballet Barre, past President of Beavercreek Young Professionals and is a board member of the Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce.  Here, he took some time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions.

What is your occupation?

I’m the Corporate Relations Manager at C.H. Dean. I’m involved with the community through active participation with local organizations as well as one-on-one interactions among all professionals in the area.

How old are you?

Currently 28 years young and counting!

Where do you live (neighborhood or city)?

After living in Dayton for 25 years, I moved out to Beavercreek to be closer to work.My goal, within the next three years, is to have a house right back in Dayton!

If you could be a super hero, what superpower would you love to have?

I would like the power of super intelligence, which would allow me to move items with my mind.I feel like I need to become a bit smarter and to be able to move something with my mind would just be fun.I would never lose at a game of HORSE again!

CLICK HERE for the full article at Dayton.com!  Be sure to get all your up to date going ons in Dayton by following all of their social media!

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Top 25 Tweeters in the Dayton Region

View fullsize

Dayton is beginning to elevate its social media game.

Almost two years ago Olivia Barrow published a list of 25 accounts to follow on Twitter of influential Daytonians. But about half the accounts on the list don't tweet about local Dayton issues, so she has recently edited and revised the list to represent locals with a strong following or a strong voice.

I am extremely honored to be named one of these 25 accounts.  I have a passion for all things Dayton and like to share what I can with everyone in the surrounding areas.  The links below will allow you access to the article as well as the list of accounts.  If you haven't already be sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram with the handle @CoryDDMiller (or by clicking on the hyperlinks) and you can also find me on Facebook or connect with me on LinkedIn 

Top 25 Tweeters in Dayton Article

Complete List of the Top 25

Why Complaining About the Weather NEVER Changes the Weather

I woke up this morning to find that it was cold outside.  Let me rephrase that; I woke up this morning to find that it was so cold (How cold was it Cory?); It was so cold that the snowman outside was next to a fire trying to warm up.  Alright, comedy may not be my forte, but I tried.

This morning on Facebook, I saw a post from a friend of mine (Jordan Hanely) that I thought was pretty thought provoking.  Jordan said, “An interesting study found that 100% of people complaining about the weather didn't change the weather at all.”  I thought this was brilliant.  Every time there is some sort of winter storm or cold weather or if it is extremely hot, my social feeds fill up with pictures of car temperatures from their dashboards or complaints.  What does that do to help change the weather?  Nothing.

I can relate this to everyday life.  I am apart of a few different boards and committees around the Dayton area and have noticed a common factor with people who complain about either a city or how operationally items are run.  That commonality is that those complainers do nothing to fix the problem, and truly believe complaining helps.

Now don’t get me wrong, sometimes you need to have someone complain to have an item or concern brought to attention, but if the roles were reversed and I was the one complaining, I would want to see it through to the end and get involved with creating a solution. It is easy to say something, but to do something is a completely different experience.

This also reminds me of a story I heard on the radio last week.  They gave an example of a person in a restaurant who placed an order that had some complication to it.  The server can react one of two ways.  The first being to complain about how hard the order is, how much of an inconvenience the order has been added to her day, and also complaining throughout the entire guests dinner and doing the minimum amount of effort required.  The second being that the server can accept the complication and say, “You know what, thank you for giving me this challenge.  You are allowing me the opportunity to show you how I can earn my tip for this meal.”  There may be frustration along the way, but in the end the server did something productive rather than complain and be negative.

I challenge you to not complain, rather be the vehicle for change.

3 Reasons Why You Should be a Mentor

Over the past academic year I have had the opportunity to become a mentor to a student at the University of Dayton.  I will be honest; I was scared.  For those who know me, I can be quite silly.  I was extremely nervous about the fact that I would be helping a student, who is in the midst of their college journey, decide what they want to do with their life and how to attack the real world.  That is a heavy load, but one that was quickly lightened after I met Emily.

Emily is my mentee who is hands down, one of the brightest, outgoing, and determined individuals I have met in a long time.  Emily has recently decided to continue her education even further by attending law school.  Her drive is incalculable and second to none.  I am extremely thankful as well to UD for creating this program which allowed me to meet her.  So why should you become a mentor?  Three reasons:

1)       We all make mistakes, but can help others before they make them – We all, at some point in our lives, have made a stupid decision that resulted in some restless nights or headaches.  The great thing is that we learned from the experience and can help keep others from following that path and guide them in a more positive direction.

2)      Creating New Friendships – I know it sounds corny, but it is true.  One of the many things I have gotten from this mentorship program is a new friend.  Emily is hilarious and I enjoy the time I spend with her.  It is amazing to connect with a person whom I may have never met and start to form that friendship.  I am excited to see the next stage in her life and what she can achieve.

3)      Giving back feels GREAT! – I have an extremely busy schedule.  It seems like I am usually in some meeting or at a networking event every day.  This doesn’t allow me time for some of the things that I want to do with regard to service or community involvement, but I’m very glad I made time for this.  It is easy for anyone to simply write a check, but is that enough?  Participating in the Mentor program has not only let me impact a fellow Flyer’s career, but gives me a warm feeling knowing that I helped make a difference.

Being a mentor is not a quick and easy task, but the benefits from a mentorship are amazing.  I would highly encourage everyone to get involved with this type of program at some point in their life.

The Impact of Dayton's Forty Under 40

People, in general are amazing.  The amount of thinking power and drive the average person has truly is incalculable.  Determination, fortitude, and willpower are all outstanding attributes that the average person has the ability to harness and utilize on a daily basis.  The choice on whether or not to use these attributes falls on the person themselves, and the winners each year of the Dayton Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 certainly choose to make the most of those qualities.

For a little under two decades, the Dayton Business Journal has reached out to the Dayton community for help with identifying the Young Professionals who embody these characteristics and are making a direct impact in the Dayton region.  Not just anyone is allowed to become a part of this elite group.  This intense nomination process can have hundreds of individuals nominated by local business owners and community leaders.  These nominees are then reviewed by a committee to see how their community and regional efforts have benefited the Dayton Area.

Carol Clark, Publisher of the Dayton Business Journal, told me, “Our annual Forty Under 40 Awards honors young professionals who not only continue to advance their careers, but also work to make Dayton a better place for all of us through innovative injection of regional improvement ideas and considerable community service.  For 17 years now, the list of winners each year is impressive and we continue to consider them rising stars and people to watch.  Many of our former winners have become some of the city’s top leaders."

In 2014, I was honored to be announced as one of the winners of the Forty Under 40 award.  I believe this was a direct by-product of the initiatives I helped create, as well as participate in, within the region.  At first I did not truly understand at the time what an achievement this truly was.  I was a 27 year old who thought, “Wow, this is pretty fun.”  Then I started to read the bios and learn about the other winners who were in my class, and began to realize how amazing it was to be thought of as an equal to any of these community leaders.

Forty Under 40 is an amazing honor to receive.  I highly encourage you to nominate someone today if you have not already done so.  Simply click the link below to nominate.  It has changed my life for the better, and wouldn't you like to be the catalyst of change for someone else in the community, helping them continue their pursuit to make the Dayton Region the best it possibly can be.

Nominate HERE

A Selfie is Worth a Thousand Words

View fullsize

The Holidays have been in full swing and we are only about a week away from Christmas. I wanted to take the time to wish everyone I know, a safe & fun-filled Holiday Season.  I am glad I have met so many new people this year and have had many amazing adventures.  Thanks to all who have helped me make the most out of every second this year!

This goofy picture to the left was the holiday card I sent out this year.  No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you.  That is me, taking a Selfie with my dear friends Mike & Alysa DiMarco in Rochester, New York, just after they kissed and made their marriage official.  I was in the wedding party and at that moment thought, "You know what... this is a great Holiday Card opportunity...Let me take a selfie".  They were great sports and were very surprised when the card came in the mail.  I still can't believe that I timed it just right.  

The fun part is that this picture taught me a few things:

1)     Have fun no matter where you are in life.  From time to time we tend to get caught up in our crazy lives.  It seems that at every recent networking event I have attended, when I am chatting with someone and asking them how things are going, the response is usually something along the lines of, “Busy!” or “I do not really know because I have just been running around.”  As a frequent user of these lines, I have told myself, I need to have some fun no matter what, and this picture reminds me of that every day.

2)     Horace said it best: CARPE DIEM (seize the day)!  If you have a chance to do something great or make a positive impact in your life or another’s… DO IT! Just as this picture reminds me, I saw a moment that I was going to remember forever and I seized it.

3)     Loosen up the tie and slouch a little.  Usually at weddings everyone is decked to the nines in beautiful dresses or suits.  At this wedding there was that, as well as yours truly in a tuxedo.  There are always rigid rules a person has to follow and no one really wants to color outside the lines, but doing the same thing day in and day out, in addition to following the same pattern, can become dull and tiring.  One day, try being the ram (leader) and not the sheep (follower).

Again, to everyone I know, Happy Holidays!

Creative Minds for a Creative City

View fullsize

Catapult Creative and I after they just WON the 2014 Dayton Business Journal's "Rookie Business of the Year" Award

Do you know the feeling of driving in your car with the windows down during the middle of July?  It is the magic hour with the sun setting, temperature perfect, and the one & only song you know every word to comes on the radio.  This is truly a pure and beautiful moment, and such a moment is captured rarely in life.  It seems to be highly elusive and when the moment presents itself, you only hope to have enough battery life in your phone to record the moment forever, or at least until you can post it to Facebook.  The folks over at Catapult Creative live for that moment daily and seem to always capture it.

Catapult Creative is a full-service creative agency that caters to a range of businesses from small to large.  Catapult offers an array of strategic solutions for marketing, advertising, branding, web development, SEO, video, online services, graphic design, and more. The company’s scope is wide, but extremely focused on surpassing the desired results for their clients. Through their broad network of contractors they have also been able to successfully develop technology based products for clients that integrate seamlessly with their in-house services.

The agency started on January 1st, 2013, with 4 partners who possessed a diverse set of skills focusing on website development, video, graphic design and endless networking.  About 4 months in, they joined forces with Pure Web Results, which allowed them to further expand their online marketing capabilities. Today they remain 4 partners (though one has replaced an original partner) and have added 2 full-time employees.  These partners are:  

• Matthew Sliver (CEO and Idea Services Manager) is the fearless leader of the group.  There is a strong chance that if you have attended a recent networking event within the Dayton area you have seen him.  Matt’s focus is providing exceptional quality service to all customers.  
• Daniel Rizer (Creative Director and CFO) is the cosmetologist who makes all of this look beautiful. Having worked in the industry for 15 years, he is also the seasoned veteran at Catapult.  An expert on branding, design and marketing solutions, he makes sure their work is always of great quality.  
• Josh Boone (Strategist and CTO), formerly of Pure Web Results, puts all of the pieces together and helps Catapult see the bigger picture. He is an expert in online marketing, SEO services and website architecture. He is also the go-to guy when modern solutions to technical problems are needed.  
• Max Spang (Video Production Manager) has a strong expertise in coordinating beautiful and narrative video productions that effectively convey their client’s viewpoint in a professional and unique manner.  Max is the video department of Catapult.

I have had the privilege of getting to know the people at Catapult Creative over the past few months and have thoroughly enjoyed seeing them grow and become a company within the Dayton region that not only invests in its community, but helps change it for the better.  Be sure to check out all their up-to-date information via Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.  If you are down on Ludlow Street look for the window with Batman standing in it, and be sure to stop in and say hello!

Pass the Baton

The idea of running in a baton race is already making my heart start to pump as I sit here & type (guess my doctor was right about getting more cardio in my life), but the idea of it is simple and pure.  Think about it, you have a team of people whom you care about, know and trust.  As you complete your own portion of the race, you pass the baton on to another.  This is the idea and vision that creator Jordan Hocket had when the Dayton Baton came to fruition. 

Hocket wanted to do something positive for the Dayton area and after attending his first TEDxDayton he was inspired to start the Baton after much contemplation.  After running the idea in front of members of the group New Media Dayton as well as the creative geniuses of Catapult Creative (Recent DBJ Rookie Business of the Year Winners), he knew he was onto something amazing.

The main purpose of the Baton is to showcase the positive elements of Dayton and make those little gems known to the Dayton area.  It is a platform for the community to gain exposure for events, local business, non-profits, you name it.  You, the follower, get to see Dayton through the eyes of everyday people in your community.

The great thing about the Baton is that anyone can run it.  “Average Joe” who lives down the street or the CEO of a local Dayton company both have equal opportunity to showcase their slice of Dayton.  Some notable runners have been ABC22 / FOX45, Dayton City Paper, Rue Dumaine, and even the UD Flyers during the First Four and Dayton Hoopla events.

So how does it work?  Visit www.DaytonBaton.com to view the calendar and fill out the form with your preferred date.  Then once your day arrives, you’ll receive an email with the login information and a link to the “Runner’s Guide.”  Then you share your day with everyone using the Dayton Baton Instagram account which will be shared on Facebook, Twitter, and the website too!

I am honored to be running the Baton on November 12, 2014,  and I challenge you to do the following:

1.       Follow the Dayton Baton via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

2.       Sign up for a day to run the Baton

3.       Share your Dayton story with everyone in the area!

Shoutout to Jordan Hocket (Twitter: @_JHock) for taking the time to chat with me and give me some additional info about the Baton!

4.5 Reasons Why Dayton is my Birthday City of Choice

This is how my office looked today when I arrived at work.  I love my job and I love this City!

On this day, 28 years ago, I was able to start my life here in the Dayton area.  Ever since then I have spent almost every birthday here in town.  With that said, I thought it would be cool to share 4.5 reasons why Dayton is an amazing city in which to have your birthday!

1) Local Dayton Eateries

Do you know how many local Dayton restaurants we have in this city?  This is not a rhetorical question; I really would like to know because I have lost count of how many amazing places there actually are.  I have been blessed each year to try a new restaurant that has popped up and also to revisit some of my favorites (I am pretty fond of Coco’s Bistro mainly because that’s my nickname – “Coco”).  In a matter of minutes you can have a slice of Flying Pizza, or try and bite off a piece of the “Monster Grilled Cheese” from The Dublin Pub.  Either way, each year has always been a success!

2) Delicious Brews

This has been more recent.  I really enjoy the Dayton Brewing scene.  Let me rephrase by saying, I LOOOOOOOVE the Dayton Brewing scene.  One of the best places I truly enjoy is Warped Wing.  From the beers to the atmosphere it is truly an amazing experience, and it is just a short walk from Toxic Brew Company and the Fifth Street Brew Pub (of which I am proud to be a member).  Not only do you taste delicious beer, but you are having an amazing time by supporting Dayton local companies.

3) Outdoors Anyone?

I love the fall and I love having a birthday in the fall even more.  One of the main reasons is the ability to get out and hit up some of my favorite Five Rivers Metro Parks trails.  In most years the color changes are absolutely breathtaking.  Oh by the way, did I mention it’s a great form of exercise?

4) Local Flavor

The local flavor within the city is hands down top tier.  You genuinely get to experience another person’s or company’s true passion.  You get to feel all the emotions and sweat equity that they put into their business and support Dayton.  Local and small businesses here in the city are something special and I encourage you to try and patron as many as possible.

4.5) Cost of Activities

You may have read in other articles about Dayton that the cost of living is amazing here in the city.  That definitely goes towards the local flavor.  In some cases there is no cost associated with the activity.  Take for example the Dayton Art Institute or even the National Air Force Museum.  Total entry fee $0.00!  The Eateries, Delicious Brews and Outdoor Activities are also extremely reasonably priced. 

Why Dayton? Why Not Dayton!

Image taken from http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3024340

On May 22nd, 2014, I was honored to be named one of the Dayton Business Journal’s Forty under 40.  I honestly could not believe that I was even thought about for this award.  The class I was a part of had many significant community leaders and figures, and in my eyes I was at the bottom of the ranks.

During the evening there were comments, speeches, and of course awards given out to many individuals.  One speech caught my ear and has changed my way of thinking ever since.  A good friend of mine, Olivia Barrow, was asked to give her comments on Young Professionals and the Dayton Area and one of her comments has echoed in me ever since then.

She said, “When I first moved to Dayton from North Carolina, many people kept asking me why I moved to Dayton.  This is completely the wrong attitude to have towards people coming to our city.  We should be yelling out, ‘WELCOME TO DAYTON!  We are so glad you are here; let me show you around to all that Dayton has to offer’.”  Now, that may not have been verbatim what she said, but it was pretty darn close.

Ever since I heard Olivia say those comments, my entire thought process and thinking about Dayton has changed.  I wish more Daytonians carried this idea with them.  We need to welcome and embrace new residents and companies by saying “Welcome!” instead of “Why?”  On what planet would we think starting off a positive, new relationship with a negative comment would ever be appropriate?  Be proud of the city you are a part of.  Show it off, talk it up, and speak out!  Below are some twitter accounts I would suggest following for all your up to date Dayton information.  Sadly these are only a few of the many accounts that speak highly of Dayton!  This is only the tip of the Dayton Iceberg for information as well!

@DaytonInspires

@DaytonBaton

@DaytonCVB

@DowntownDayton

@DaytonMostMetro

@DayBalletBarre

@DaytonGram

@NewMediaDayton

@UpDayton

@ForLoveOfDayton

@CityOfDayton

@GemCityPodcast

7th Annual Michael’s House Event

Imagine walking into the back parking lot of Elsa’s in Kettering to find yourself surrounded by gigantic inflatable bounce houses, carnival style games and attractions, clowns, and even our city’s lovable minor league mascot, Heater from the Dayton Dragons.  On Sunday, August 24, 2014 I had the pleasure of attending Michael’s House 7th annual Family Fun Day & Cookout. 

Dedicated in December 2008, Michael’s House is named in honor of Michael Mercurio, who passed away unexpectedly on July 4th, 2007, at the age of 37.  Mike was an amazing man with a huge heart who believed in the safety and well-being of all children.

Michael’s House, located in Fairborn, Ohio provides a warm and welcoming environment for children who are suffering from all forms of abuse.  It provides a single place for multidisciplinary, multijurisdictional investigations to occur.  The center is comfortable, private and most of all, child friendly. 

As a national model for child advocacy, it is designed, furnished and staffed to promote healing.  Michael's house features specially equipped rooms for child forensic interviews, a playroom that safely accommodates a variety of age groups and reflects the cultural diversity of our community, a mock courtroom to help children feel more comfortable in upcoming trials, as well as offices for mental health treatment and a medical examination room.

The multidisciplinary team includes representation from law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, mental health, medical victim advocacy and children’s advocacy center staff.

The success of Michael’s House is only possible through the joint efforts of numerous partner agencies and organizations as well as countless volunteers and donors. This regional resource is especially grateful for its partnerships with, and support from Greene County Children Services, Prosecutor’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Commissioners and local law enforcement agencies.

For more information on supporting and learning more about Michael’s House, click the link below.

http://www.michaelshousecac.org/index.php

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Roughly Translated Means “Bucket of Ice”

For weeks I socially hid from the ALS Ice bucket challenge.  I started seeing it pop up all over social media.  Twitter hash tags read #ALSIceBucketChallenge , #IceBucketChallenge , #StrikeOutALS .  Facebook videos started to appear as mini movie series within my feed of friends and family pouring cups, pints, gallons, and even tractor loads full of icy cold water over their bodies in support of this life crippling disease.  Then… I was challenged.

As with any popular trend you have your supporters as well as the “Negative Nancys”.  I started reading articles that said, “You are not a Philanthropist if you pour water on your head.  Stop wasting ice and water and start writing checks.”  This made me think.  With all these videos of people dumping water on themselves, is alsa.org attaining contributions?

I did some investigative reporting and started messaging my friends and family who have taken the challenge.  I found out an astonishing fact.  Not only were they doing the challenge, spoiler alert, but they were also donating to the cause.  Shocking… I know (are you picking up on my sarcastic tone yet).  Now granted, there were a handful of people who said they did not donate due to economic reasons or they just didn’t want to, and some even ended up donating to other worthy local and national organizations.

The big picture point I am trying to get across here is that with one simple idea, one person started a trend that within about a month and a half, gave national recognition to a terrible disease as well as raised double digit MILLIONS of dollars for a worthy cause and also sparked donations for other reputable organizations.  For that, I tip my hat and dump a bucket for the cause.  Check out my video below:

www.alsa.org

2nd Annual Young Professional's Cup

An idea that started four years ago has not only come to fruition, but has also begun to form its own tradition.  Young Professional activities within the Dayton region have, within the past five years, started to gain a lot of traction.  Cities, towns, chambers of commerce and even devoted individuals have started to realize a need for these types of unique networking groups.  It truly is amazing to know the depth and variety of Y.P. groups in the Greater Dayton Area.

The Young Professional’s Cup is based on the idea of bringing all Y.P. groups in the region together for an interactive day of networking & philanthropy, as well as a day of fun.  Started in 2013 by the Beavercreek Young Professionals, the Y.P. Cup is hosted by a local Y.P. group.  That group selects the charity, tournament format (i.e. sport and rules), location, and gathers sponsors from the area.  Being a part of the Beavercreek Young Professionals, we were very blessed to have partnered with the folks over at Franklin University – Beavercreek Location.  They have been a huge supporter of Y.P.s in the area and have helped advance the tournament to what it is today.

In 2013, eight groups (UpDayton, Young Professionals at Austin Landing, Beavercreek Young Professionals, Springboro Young Professionals, Generation Dayton, H.Y.P.E., Junior Force Council, and Xenia Area Young Professionals) participated in a softball tournament held in Beavercreek.  This past Saturday, the Y.P. Cup was able to add two new groups (Middletown Young Professionals & Dayton Area Board of Realtors) and hold a Kickball tournament at the Athletes in Action fields in Xenia.  This is such a fun event and I love being a part of it.

The Xenia Area Young Professionals were the ones who carried the torch this year.  Who will be next?