Podcasts about Fredericksburg

Mentioned in this EpisodeConnect with the Podcast:Facebook: @texaswinepodInstagram: @texaswinepodEmail: texaswinepod@gmail.comShow notes and more: www.thisistexaswine.comHelp the Show:Subscribe to the newsletter.Donate virtual Texas wine or join the podcast membership at the Gold Medal, Silver Medal, or Bronze Medal Level!Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!Thanks to our sponsors:Monopole Labs: Visit TexasWinePOS.com. Winery software designed by a winery. One login. One ecosystem.Submit questions for the Marketing Minute to Martha Dixon at Clink!Mentioned in this Episode2026 Vintners Cup presented by Texas Monthly and Texas Department of Agriculture's Uncork Texas WinesKerryAnne Belanger for Houstonia: “Mason, Texas is the Hill Country's Best Kept Wine Secret”Jackrabbit Studio's Short Film on Mason “Hickory Sands: A Texas Wine Story”Follow Rolling Vineyards on Instagram at @rollingvineyardsTexas Wine Jam TICKETSTexas Hill Country Wineries Dallas Road Show is November 6Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival - October 22–25Texas Wine Auction presents: Tempra Tantrum! October 23Featured InterviewCarl Schulse, Kyle Allen and Russ Allen of Turtle Creek VineyardDecanter World Wine AwardsRuss and Kyle's Podcast: Brothers of the SerpentDemerit and Gold StarDEMERIT: none this episodeGOLD STAR:none this episodeSpecial ThanksNeed lodging in Fredericksburg? Check out Cork + Cactus!Find Cork + Cactus and many more great rentals at Heavenly Hosts.com!Thanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover. Don't forget to download the Texas Wine Lover app too!Podcast music is by Landon Lloyd Miller. Check out this music on Spotify HERE and see what's happening at Fredericksburg's Rockbox Theater.

Join this channel to get access to perks - custom emojis, member lives, and access to the auction listings:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJoP2q6P8mWkBUMn45pgyAA/join Jessica Hare - Hare Hollow Farm - Altus, OKHarehollowfarm.comMorph Market - https://www.morphmarket.com/stores/hare_hollow_farm/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Hare-Hollow-Farm-113861266980541Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hare_hollow_farm/Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@unmeinohiFriends of the Show:RAL - Vetdna.comUse code #sh!thappens to get $5 off a crypto panel.

Kevin Stoller sits down with Dr. George Hummer, Superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools, to explore his journey from special education aide to school district leader, and the district's ongoing effort to build its fourth high school. Dr. Hummer shares how his mother's career as a special education teacher and his own experience working with students with disabilities shaped his empathy-driven leadership style. The conversation dives deep into the mechanics of planning new school construction — including the critical difference between "design capacity" and "program capacity," how Frederick County builds community trust through transparent data, and why involving every stakeholder voice (parents, teachers, students, county officials) is essential to a successful bond and building process. Dr. Hummer also reflects on team-building, situational leadership drawn from his coaching background, and why investing in students must remain the non-negotiable priority behind every facilities decision. Takeaways: Program capacity vs. design capacity — A room's legal occupancy limit isn't the same as how many students it can actually serve well; specialized programs (special ed, ELL, CTE, kindergarten) mean real capacity is often much lower than code allows. Run schools at 85–90% capacity, not 100% — Like redlining a car engine, operating school buildings at full capacity year-round accelerates wear and leaves no room for enrollment shifts or new programs. There's no such thing as too many voices — Successful school construction requires input from county officials, principals, teachers, parents, and even students — genuine inclusion builds long-term community trust. Seek out your critics, not just your supporters — Dr. Hummer's willingness to sit down with a skeptical taxpayer and address misinformation directly turned an opponent into an advocate for the new high school. Situational leadership matters — Knowing when to encourage versus when to push for improvement (borrowed from his coaching background) is key to building strong, resilient teams.   About Dr. George Hummer: Dr. George C. Hummer began serving as Frederick County's Superintendent of Schools on January 30, 2023. He is a native of New Jersey who moved to Virginia in 1994. He graduated from Chancellor High School in Fredericksburg and received a bachelor of arts degree from Radford University in 2005. Dr. Hummer also holds a master's degree in educational leadership and special education from the University of Mary Washington as well as a doctorate in educational leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Hummer credits his mother, who was a lifelong special education teacher, with inspiring him to pursue a career in education. He began his career as a special education teacher, athletic director, and football and basketball coach at Battlefield Middle School in Fredericksburg. After serving in those roles from 2005 to 2012, Dr. Hummer was named assistant principal at Rodney Thompson Middle School in Stafford and served in that capacity for three years. In 2015, Dr. Hummer was named the Supervisor of Student Services and Special Education for Stafford County Public Schools. Four years later, he became Stafford County Public Schools' Executive Director of Student Services and Special Education. In 2022, he was named that school division's Chief Student Support Services Officer. As a teacher, Dr. Hummer was recognized with a Teacher of the Year Award and for improving the performance of his students. As a central office administrator, Dr. Hummer has spent countless hours supporting students, families and staff while working to develop better procedures to help bridge the achievement gap for all students. In 2021, the Virginia Council of Administrators of Special Education recognized Dr. Hummer with the Mary Lou Wall Award for Early Special Education Leadership. The award recognizes individuals who are in their first three years of leading a school division's special education services and exemplify five values: (1) Heart- the passion to serve, nurture and care; (2) Leadership by example; (3) Honesty; (4) Creative thinking; and (5) Collaboration. From 2018 to 2023, Dr. Hummer served as an adjunct professor of educational leadership and education at the University of Mary Washington. He has also been a featured speaker at several state meetings for the Virginia Department of Education. Dr. Hummer is proud to remain actively engaged in the Frederick County and Northern Shenandoah Valley communities. He currently serves on the boards of the Valley Health Foundation, United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley, Grafton School Foundation, and Frederick County Education Foundation. He is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Frederick County. Through these meaningful partnerships, Dr. Hummer enthusiastically supportsefforts that strengthen our students, education, health, opportunity, and overall community well-being throughout the region. Dr. Hummer, his wife, Charnell, and his step-daughter, Madison, live in Frederick County.   Episode 354 of the Better Learning Podcast For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

What can turn up when you open 15 boxes of Boy Scout memorabilia from collections around the country?In this episode of Scouting Hot Finds, I'm continuing to work through the mountain of unopened Scout collections in my warehouse. We uncover everything from hundreds of Order of the Arrow lodge flaps to Eagle Scout memorabilia, vintage merit badges, historic trail medals and an incredible piece of 1960 National Scout Jamboree history.

Join Chamber President and CEO Susan Spears on a journey as she interviews some of the top community leaders in this series. Susan and her guests share their insight and wisdom on making teams more effective, leveling up communication skills, and building the courage to lead during difficult times. The Leader2Leader series is about making the most of it all, with insights, advice, practical tips, and expertise to help you become the leader you desire to be.Today's Guest: Tom Scott, President of Virginia's Innovation Crossroads AllianceFor Tom Scott, some of the biggest moments in his leadership journey began with one simple decision: saying yes.In this episode, Tom joins Susan to reflect on more than 25 years of leadership and the lessons he has carried from banking and economic development to his role here in the Fredericksburg region. He shares how taking risks, stepping into unfamiliar opportunities, building meaningful relationships, and learning from others have shaped the leader he is today.“I'm a strong believer in invitations. When an invitation is given, I usually try to say yes.”Tom also shares why humility is essential to successful leadership, the importance of surrounding yourself with people you can learn from, and why great leaders should look for opportunities to recognize and develop the strengths in others.From having the courage to step into the unknown to becoming what Tom calls a “good finder” in the people around you, this conversation is a reminder that leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about continuing to learn, build bridges, add value, and having the courage to say yes.

Wine Country vs. Ampyr EnergyTexas Hill Country Road Show heads to Dallas.Sacrifice Vineyards opens tasting room in Brenham Texas.Formando Vineyards opens a new tasting room in Fredericksburg.GrapeFest People's Choice awards released..

Welcome to award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox talks with the people and organizations that make this one of Texas's most unique areas. In this award-winning podcast series, Tom Fox visits with Michelle Sanders about the upcoming 17th Annual Oktoberfest Kraut Run. The Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club hosts the 17th Annual Kraut Run. It takes place Saturday, October 3, 2026, featuring an 8K, a 5K, and a non-timed 5K walk, all beginning at 8:30 AM. But this event is about much more than running. From its finish at Oktoberfest to the scholarships, literacy programs, schools, and local organizations supported by the proceeds, the Kraut Run demonstrates how a community event can create an impact well beyond race day. Today, we will explore the story behind the Kraut Run, where the money goes, and its impact on Fredericksburg. Resources: Sign up for the Kraut Run https://www.athleteguild.com/event/fredericksburg-tx/2026-oktoberfest-kraut-run Follow and support the Fredericksburg Morning Rotary on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningRotary/ https://www.facebook.com/fredericksburgmorningrotary Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts Hill Country Authors Podcast Hill Country Artists Podcast Texas Hill Country Podcast Network Cover Art Nancy Huffman

The Fischer & Wieser Farmstead originated in 1928 when German immigrant J.B. Wieser planted a peach orchard in Fredericksburg, Texas. His son, Mark, cared for the orchard during school breaks. In 1969, Mark founded Fischer & Wieser's Das Peach Haus to sell the family's Hill Country peaches and handcrafted preserves. A decade later, a Case Fischer, a loyal worker, proposed to Mark to expand their offerings. They created Fischer & Wieser, a company that now produces over 150 specialty foods.The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com).  The Connected Table Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-connected-table-live--1277037/support.

The 20th Maine is remembered for its desperate stand and bayonet charge at Little Round Top, but its story stretched far beyond Gettysburg. Follow the regiment from its formation in 1862 through Fredericksburg, the Overland Campaign, Petersburg, Five Forks, and the final surrender at Appomattox.

Mentioned in this EpisodeConnect with the Podcast:Facebook: @texaswinepodInstagram: @texaswinepodEmail: texaswinepod@gmail.comShow notes and more: www.thisistexaswine.comHelp the Show:Subscribe to the newsletter.Donate virtual Texas wine or join the podcast membership at the Gold Medal, Silver Medal, or Bronze Medal Level!Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!Thanks to our sponsors:Bending Branch Winery: Contact Jen at bendingbranchwinery.com for all of your custom crush winemaking needs.Monopole Labs: Visit TexasWinePOS.com. Winery software designed by a winery. One login. One ecosystem.Submit questions for the Marketing Minute to Martha Dixon at Clink!Mentioned in this EpisodeTDA Trade Tasting in Dallas, Austin and HoustonCome Over OctoberStout's Signature Makes Best Winery Restaurant ListGuests can make a reservation at Stout's Signature by calling (830) 644–2710, opt. 3.Jessica Dupuy's Substack: Direct to PressAmy Beth Wright's Substack: Wine Flights by Amy Beth WrightAmy Beth Wright for SevenFifty Daily: “To Withstand a Tough Market, Vineyard Idling May Be the Solution”Annie Brown Verdin's Substack: Annie Brown VerdinAnnie Brown Verdin for Tribeza: “10 of the Best Texas Wines to Try Right Now”ExploreTXWine.com with Don HuseJesse Garrett Substack: JG Does WineOctober 11th Texas Wine Ambassador Certification in Kerrville at Schreiner University benefits Texas Wine Growers!Texas Hill Country Wineries presents: Texas Wine Month Passport! (October)Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival - October 22–25Texas Wine Auction presents: Tempra Tantrum!Featured InterviewKristen Nelson of Ab AstrisAndy Bilger of Adega VinhoRon Yates of Spicewood VineyardsDecanter World Wine AwardsDemerit and Gold StarDEMERIT: none this episodeGOLD STAR: none this episodeSpecial ThanksNeed lodging in Fredericksburg? Check out Cork + Cactus!Find Cork + Cactus and many more great rentals at Heavenly Hosts.com!Thanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover. Don't forget to download the Texas Wine Lover app too!Podcast music is by Landon Lloyd Miller. Check out this music on Spotify HERE and see what's happening at Fredericksburg's Rockbox Theater.

Germany may be the home of Oktoberfest, but luckily a few spots in the South make you feel Bavarian when fall arrives. Discover more about the Alpine village of Helen, Georgia; and the Texas Hill Country burg of Fredericksburg – and other German connections in the Lone Star State. The Y'all Show is a production of Yall.com and hosted by Jon Rawl.

Jim Mikula, President & CEO, Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce "From Hill Country Town to World-Class Destination" full 633 Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:38:14 +0000 CpcIcRjhejSv4xDQYCEunzMxz951o3ni business CEO Spotlight business Jim Mikula, President & CEO, Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce "From Hill Country Town to World-Class Destination" David Johnson CEO Spotlight 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Business

Mentioned in this Episode Connect with the Podcast: Facebook: @texaswinepod Instagram: @texaswinepod Email: texaswinepod@gmail.com Show notes and more: www.thisistexaswine.com Help the Show:Subscribe to the newsletter.Donate virtual Texas wine or join the podcast membership at the Gold Medal, Silver Medal, or Bronze Medal Level! Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! Thanks to our sponsors:Bending Branch Winery: Contact Jen at bendingbranchwinery.com for all of your custom crush winemaking needs.Monopole Labs: Visit TexasWinePOS.com. Winery software designed by a winery. One login. One ecosystem. Mentioned in this Episode Grayson College Rededicates TV Munson Memorial Vineyard Tom Capo for Wine Enthusiast: “Texas Wine Deserves All the Hype” Full List of Wine Enthusiast Ratings for Texas Wines Jennifer Kornegay for Good Grit Magazine: “Toasting the Tastemakers of Texas Wine” Texas Monthly Video Series: The Story Book Recommendation: Wine Pairing for the People by Cha McCoy 40th Annual GrapeFest - Sept 17–20 October 11th Texas Wine Ambassador Certification in Kerrville at Schreiner University benefits Texas Wine Growers! Texas Hill Country Wineries presents: Texas Wine Month Passport! (October) Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival - October 22–25 Texas Wine Auction presents: Tempra Tantrum! Featured Interview Tessa Butterfield, VP of Sales and Marketing at McPherson CellarsWomen for WineSense Wine and Health Resource Demerit and Gold Star DEMERIT: none this episode GOLD STAR: Becker Vineyards' new tasting room in the San Antonio International Airport! Terminal B! Special Thanks Need lodging in Fredericksburg? Check out Cork + Cactus! Find Cork + Cactus and many more great rentals at Heavenly Hosts.com! Thanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover. Don't forget to download the Texas Wine Lover app too! Podcast music is by Landon Lloyd Miller. Check out this music on Spotify HERE and see what's happening at Fredericksburg's Rockbox Theater.

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Leigh Parise talks with Wendy Tippett of the Palm Beach County (FL) Community Services Department and Meghann Cotter of Micah Ecumenical Ministries, Fredericksburg, VA, to learn how they use shared housing as part of a strategy to end homelessness in expensive housing markets.

Drop us a note about the podcast. When a culture calls itself “advanced” while children are being exploited and families are falling apart, something deeper than politics is broken. We start with Romans 5 and the blunt truth that cuts through our pride: we were “utterly helpless,” and Christ died for us while we were still sinners. That isn't a religious slogan, it's the center of the gospel and the only solid ground for forgiveness, righteousness, and peace with God.From there, we talk about real-world consequences when a nation turns away from God, including the horrific Huddersfield grooming gang case and what it reveals about moral collapse, public safety, and the loss of a high trust society. I share why I believe the deepest problem is not just “out there,” but in Christians pretending we don't need Jesus Christ, then acting surprised when chaos follows. We connect that pattern to the Old Testament and to the everyday ways pride shows up in modern life.We also bring it home with Proverbs on marriage and parenting: why clear expectations matter before marriage, why avoiding hard conversations does not build strength, and why discipline can be a form of love. Then we step into American Christian heritage with Alexis de Tocqueville's observations from Democracy in America, where he argues that religion and freedom in the United States were closely linked, and we ask what that means for liberty today.If you find this helpful, subscribe, share the show with someone you care about, and leave a review wherever you listen. What part of this conversation do you agree with, and what do you think we're missing?#AmericanPatriot#ChristianNation#DailyBible Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribeCountryside Book Serieshttps://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2 America's Christian Heritage Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2622483

Mentioned in this Episode Connect with the Podcast:   Facebook: @texaswinepod   Instagram: @texaswinepod   Email: texaswinepod@gmail.com   Show notes and more: www.thisistexaswine.com   Help the Show:   Subscribe to the newsletter.   Donate virtual Texas wine or join the podcast membership at the Gold Medal, Silver Medal, or Bronze Medal Level!   Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!   Thanks to our sponsors:   Bending Branch Winery: Contact Jen at bendingbranchwinery.com for all of your custom crush winemaking needs.   Monopole Labs: Visit TexasWinePOS.com. Winery software designed by a winery. One login. One ecosystem.   Mentioned in this Episode Jessica Dupuy for Decanter: “Texas Wine's High Plains Reckoning” Edward Deitch for VinePair: “8 of the Best Red Wines From Texas” Ray Isle for Food and Wine: “The History of American Wine in 25 Bottles” AmyBeth Wright in SevenFifty: “Why More Wineries Are Betting on High-Volume Wines” Hannah Howard for Wine Enthusiast: “The Future of American Wine Travel Is Less About Luxury and More About Ease” TEXSOM Conference is August 23–25 in Irving Jennifer Cernosek promoted to COO at Bending Branch Winery Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival - October 22–25 Texas Wine Auction presents: Tempra Tantrum! Texas Hill Country Wineries presents: Texas Wine Month Passport! (October) Enter Rodeo Uncorked! Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's IWC HERE Enter Vine2Wine Fort Worth Livestock Show and Rodeo's IWC HERE Featured Interview   Laura and Seth Martin of Perissos Vineyard and Winery   Soil Food Web   Demerit and Gold Star   DEMERIT: none this episode   GOLD STAR:   Reddy Vineyards' Texas wine placement at the World Cup matches held in Arlington, Texas!   Special Thanks Need lodging in Fredericksburg? Check out Cork + Cactus!   Find Cork + Cactus and many more great rentals at Heavenly Hosts.com!   Thanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover. Don't forget to download the Texas Wine Lover app too! Podcast music is by Landon Lloyd Miller. Check out this music on Spotify HERE

What does it look like to lead by creating opportunities for others to shine?In this episode of Leader to Leader, Susan Spears sits down with Dori Stewart, founder and publisher of Fredericksburg Neighbors, to talk about entrepreneurship, community and what Dori calls “servant leadership with a megaphone.”Dori shares her journey from high school engineering teacher to founder of Engineering for Kids, which grew from a local program into a global franchise, and how that experience shaped the leader she is today. She also opens up about mentorship, learning to lead without having all the answers and her belief that great leadership is not about being the smartest person in the room. It is about building the room and celebrating the people in it.Now, through Fredericksburg Neighbors, Dori is putting that philosophy into practice by creating platforms that connect people, tell local stories and champion businesses across the Fredericksburg region.Tune in for a conversation about taking chances, building confidence, lifting others up and using your platform to make an impact.

How does a used car saleswoman go from brand-new to the business to earning more than $225,000 in ONE year? "It's not about selling. It's about solving a problem." – Sady Ahmed In this episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, Sean V. Bradley sits down with top-performing salesperson Sady Ahmed of Koons Automotive to uncover the mindset, strategies, and customer-first approach behind her rise in automotive sales. "Every customer is different. You gotta be able to mirror them." – Sady Ahmed Sady has built a powerhouse business by dominating one of the toughest opportunities in the dealership: Special Finance and credit-challenged customers. But her success goes far beyond simply selling cars. She's built a system around trust, credit education, personal branding, referrals, repeat business, and turning customers who hear "NO" elsewhere into long-term relationships. "If you don't believe that you're the best, how are you going to get other people to believe that you're the best?" – Sady Ahmed Sean and Sady also explore how today's automotive sales professionals can leverage AI, ChatGPT, community involvement, social media, and smarter follow-up strategies to create more opportunities and separate themselves from the competition. "You want the community to support you, you've got to support the community." – Sean V. Bradley How did Sady build a $225K+ income without chasing a management title? What helped her reach a record-breaking 34 cars in a single month? And what can other salespeople learn from her approach to some of the most challenging customers in automotive? Find out how this used car saleswoman earns over $225K in ONE year and the strategies helping her build a career, customer base, and personal brand that continues to grow. If you're serious about selling more cars, generating more referrals, building your brand, and increasing your income in automotive sales, you need to hear this conversation! Key Takeaways: ✅ Credit Mastery: Understanding and mastering credit intricacies play a crucial role in closing deals with subprime clients. ✅ AI Utilization: Using AI tools like ChatGPT can streamline credit analysis and improve customer experiences by drafting dispute letters or enhancing credit advisories. ✅ Personal Branding: Building a personal brand through social media and community engagement is essential for long-term success in automotive sales. ✅ Partnership Opportunities: Collaborations with credit repair firms can be a strategic method to assist clients with challenging credit profiles. ✅ Client Education: Educating clients about credit improvement methods can lead to increased customer loyalty and repeat business.   About Sady Ahmed Sady Ahmed is a top-performing automotive sales consultant specializing in Special Finance at Koons Automotive of Fredericksburg. Since entering the car business in 2019 with no prior automotive experience, she has grown into a consistent 20-car-per-month producer, recently achieving a personal best of 34 vehicles sold in a single month. Known for her honest, relationship-first approach, Sady helps customers navigate challenging credit situations, build stronger financial plans, and find the right path to vehicle ownership. Her success comes from keeping it real, solving problems, and putting long-term customer relationships ahead of simply making a sale.     Unlocking the Potential of Special Finance in the Automotive Industry   Key Takeaways Understanding customer credit intricacies is integral for automotive sales success. Leveraging AI in credit analysis offers enhanced insights for customers with subprime profiles. Personal branding and community engagement are crucial for establishing a successful automotive sales career.   Navigating the Special Finance Ecosystem in Car Sales In the world of automotive sales, special finance remains a challenging but rewarding niche. As the conversation led by Sean V. Bradley with Sadie Ahmed highlights, excelling in this sector involves not just selling cars but mastering the intricacies of credit. Sadie's approach to her work exemplifies the seamless integration of credit counseling within automotive sales, recognizing the importance of being "on their side" for customers with subprime credit scores. Sadie's dedication to special finance stems from her genuine desire to assist people, particularly those deemed 'at risk' or subprime. "I just like helping people. So I feel like when I have a customer that comes to me and they are in that weird spot of like a 550 to a 650, that can change overnight," she asserts. For Sadie, automotive sales are less about pitching a sale and more about "solving a problem," a notion that echoes throughout the interview. This empathetic approach transforms what could be a high-pressure sales interaction into a supportive experience for her clients, setting a standard for the industry. Harnessing AI for Enhanced Credit Analysis in Automotive Sales Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing how dealerships manage special finance operations. Sean Bradley emphasizes the potential of AI tools like ChatGPT in scrutinizing credit reports to advise clients effectively. "You can use, whether it's Claude or it's Google, Gemini or Chat GPT, or if your dealership has its own internal knowledge base, you could actually help Yourself and the prospect by using AI to analyze the credit bureau," Bradley affirms. The integration of AI doesn't stop at just analyzing credit. Sadie elaborates: "I've been doing this for about seven years. So I've learned what banks are looking for…and I've learned the nuances of how to get banks to overlook certain red flags if I can provide just the right context." With AI, sales professionals like Sadie can automate parts of the credit advice process, enhancing their ability to serve clients efficiently and improving the overall customer experience. In a competitive industry where the minutiae of financial history can make or break a sale, leveraging AI for credit analysis is a game-changer. It empowers car sales professionals to not only meet but exceed client expectations by providing insightful and actionable credit advice. Building a Personal Brand for Long-term Success in Automotive Sales Personal branding emerges as a powerful driver for success. Sadie Ahmed's journey evidences the power of building a personal brand rooted in reliability and expertise. Her mantra, "You incorporated," underlines the importance of self-belief and self-promotion. By leveraging social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok, Sadie creates a persistent presence, ensuring she remains top-of-mind for potential car buyers. Beyond digital interactions, Sadie highlights the value of community involvement. "I do sponsor a bunch of local events. I've sponsored some golf tournaments, base local baseball teams…," she shares, demonstrating her commitment to establishing relationships and goodwill within her community. This extends her brand's reach and cements her reputation as a trusted advisor, not just a salesperson. The world of automotive sales demands adaptability and innovative thinking. As Sadie Ahmed showcases, blending effective customer credit management with a robust personal brand paves the way for sustainable success. This approach, underscored by strategic engagement with global tech advancements such as AI, keeps industry professionals ahead of the curve. Ultimately, embracing a comprehensive understanding of client financial situations and utilizing technology not only transforms the customer experience but also empowers sales professionals to thrive in an ever-evolving market landscape.       Resources + Our Proud Sponsors:   ➼ Podium: The AI Platform Powering the Modern Dealership. From instant lead response to seamless test drive scheduling, Podium's AI Employee Jerry works 24/7 to turn every lead into a conversion, so your team can focus on closing. Trusted by thousands of dealerships nationwide and proudly featured on the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast. Learn how Podium can help you sell more cars, book more service appointments, and grow your dealership. Discover how Podium's innovative AI technology can unlock unparalleled efficiency and drive your dealership's sales to new heights. Visit www.podium.com/mcs to learn more!   ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Automotive Sales Mastermind Facebook Group with over 29,000 automotive professionals worldwide. The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group is the go-to community for car salespeople, BDC agents, sales managers, general managers, and dealer principals looking to increase performance, income, and leadership skills. Inside the group, members collaborate daily on automotive sales strategies, lead handling, phone scripts, closing techniques, CRM best practices, dealership leadership, and accountability systems. Learn directly from top automotive trainers, industry mentors, and high-performing sales leaders who are actively winning in today's market. If you're serious about growing your automotive career, increasing car sales, and building long-term success, join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today! ➼ Dealer Synergy: Dealer Synergy is the automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm, with over 20 years of proven dealership success nationwide. We specialize in helping car dealerships increase sales, improve processes, and build high-performing Sales, Internet, and BDC departments from the ground up. Our expertise includes automotive phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, BDC workflows, Internet sales processes, management training, and accountability systems. Dealer Synergy partners directly with dealership leadership to align people, process, and technology, ensuring consistent results and scalable growth. From independent dealers to large dealer groups and OEM partnerships, Dealer Synergy delivers measurable performance improvements, stronger teams, and sustainable profitability. ➼ Bradley On Demand: Bradley On Demand is the automotive industry's most advanced interactive training, tracking, testing, and certification platform for car dealerships — built to develop top-performing teams across Sales, Internet Sales, BDC, CRM, Phone Skills, Leadership, and Management. In addition to LIVE virtual automotive training classes and a library of 9,000+ on-demand dealership training modules, Bradley On Demand now includes AI Phone Roleplaying and Coaching to help salespeople and BDC agents practice real dealership conversations before they ever get on the phone with customers. This AI-powered roleplay technology strengthens phone scripts, objection handling, appointment setting, lead follow-up, and closing skills, while providing measurable coaching feedback for continuous improvement. Bradley On Demand empowers dealerships to train faster, coach smarter, improve call performance, increase closing ratios, and sell more cars more profitably — all through structured, trackable, modern automotive training.

It started with a builder's deal gone south. It ended with one of the largest Islamic organizations in the country trying to buy the 47 acres and 40 cottages right next to Patriot Academy's training campus in Fredericksburg, TX, with plans for a boarding school that becomes a madrassa, then a mosque. Lance Wallnau talks with Patriot Academy founder Rick Green about how he caught the plan before it closed, and how Christian businessmen raised enough in just 8 days to shut down the auction. Rick has about 3 weeks left to finish the deal, and 9 cottages still need sponsors. In this episode: * How an Islamic organization nearly bought 47 acres and 40 cottages next to Rick Green's 130-acre Patriot Academy campus * The moment Rick found out the property was headed toward becoming a boarding school, then a madrassa, then a mosque * How Christian businessmen raised enough in just 8 days to stop the auction, and the 9 cottages still needed to close the deal * What Patriot Academy actually trains young leaders to do, from communication to constitutional governance ("the Navy SEALs of Civics") * Inside the replica Legislative Assembly where students learn to write bills, debate, and run for office * Why Charlie Kirk's death sparked a new wave of students wanting to get trained and get involved * Rick's answer to the "you can't legislate morality" argument, and why he believes America is in the middle of a real spiritual and civic resurgence Podcast Episode 2205: How Patriot Academy in Texas got Invaded By Islam | don't miss this! Listen to more episodes of the Lance Wallnau Show at lancewallnau.com/podcast

The A. Smith Bowman Distillery is Virginia's oldest operating whiskey distillery, founded in 1934 in Fairfax County just after the end of Prohibition. Now located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, it has become famous for it's award winning bourbons and it's association with Sazerac/Buffalo Trace. In the life of the podcast, we've never tasted or reviewed any Bowman product. However, in this episode we dive straight into the annual limited "cask strength" release. While we seldom see this bottle in our area - one of our community members (Kevin) sent us this bottle to review. So join us this week as we taste this highly sought after whiskey and the fellas roast Anthony and his recent trip to French Lick. -------------------------SocialsIG: https://www.instagram.com/themashupkyFB: https://www.facebook.com/themashupkyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themashupkyJoin our community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheMashUpBourbonPodcastPartnership(s)Visit Bourbonoutfitter.com and enter code THEMASHUP for a special discount or visit bourbonoutfitter.com/THEMASHUPMusic: All the Fixings by Zachariah HickmanThank you so much for listening!

If one were to open a Kentucky newspaper in the early nineteenth century, there's a good chance you would come across an advertisement for a runaway enslaved person. Between the 1780s and the end of the Civil War, thousands of these advertisements appeared in Kentucky newspapers, placed there by individuals and organizations seeking to reclaim their property. At first glance, these advertisements reduced enslaved peoples to little more than human property. Under the surface, however, they offer important clues about enslaved peoples and the ways they resisted slavery. Join us for a discussion with a historian who has combed through hundreds of these advertisements. Tim Talbott is the chief administrative officer for the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He formerly served as the director of education, interpretation, visitor services, and collections at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier in Petersburg, Virginia. Mr. Talbott received his MA in Public History from Appalachian State University, is the author of multiple articles, and contributes to Emerging Civil War. Hosted by Dr. Allen A. Fletcher, associate editor of The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society and coordinator of our Research Fellows program, which brings in researchers from across the world to conduct research in the rich archival holdings of the Kentucky Historical Society. history.ky.gov/khs-for-me/for-re…earch-fellowships Kentucky Chronicles is presented by the Kentucky Historical Society, with support from the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation. history.ky.gov/about/khs-foundation This episode was recorded and produced by Gregory Hardison, with support and guidance from Dr. Stephanie Lang. Our theme music, “Modern Documentary,” was created by Mood Mode and is used courtesy of Pixabay. To learn more about our publication of The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, or to learn more about our Research Fellows program, please visit our website: history.ky.gov/ history.ky.gov/khs-podcasts

Mentioned in this Episode Connect with the Podcast:   Facebook: @texaswinepod   Instagram: @texaswinepod   Email: texaswinepod@gmail.com   Show notes and more: www.thisistexaswine.com   Help the Show:   Subscribe to the newsletter.   Donate virtual Texas wine or join the podcast membership at the Gold Medal, Silver Medal, or Bronze Medal Level!   Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!   Thanks to our sponsors:   Bending Branch Winery: Contact Jen at bendingbranchwinery.com for all of your custom crush winemaking needs.   Monopole Labs: Visit TexasWinePOS.com. Winery software designed by a winery. One login. One ecosystem.   Mentioned in this Episode Regional reports on the 2026 harvest by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension V&E Program Harvest outlook by Texas Fine Wine members New Stonewall tasting room: Acquired Taste Wines New Fredericksburg tasting room: Chaparral Vin New concept for Serrano Wines: Highland House (San Antonio) TEXSOM Conference is August 23–25 in Irving Texas Results at Decanter World Wine Awards 2026 Maureen O'Hare on CNN: “The US has record-breaking year at the world's largest wine awards” James Tidwell MS on Decanter.com: “Region on the rise: Texas wines shine at DWWA 2026” Follow Bree Stock MW on Instagram HERE Enter Rodeo Uncorked! Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's IWC HERE Enter Vine2Wine Fort Worth Livestock Show and Rodeo's IWC HERE Featured Interview   Tom and Whitney Kilgore of 5 Fifty-Five Vineyard and Winery   Demerit and Gold Star   DEMERIT: none this episode   GOLD STARS:   Texas wine winners in USA TODAY'S 10BEST Awards:   Duchman Family Winery - #3 wine tasting room Texas Hill Country - #3 wine region Cottonwood Wine Tours - #7 in wine tours Grape Creek Vineyard - $5 winery tour Texas Wine Jam - #9 wine festival   Daniel Kelada for his message to buy more Texas wine! Special Thanks Need lodging in Fredericksburg? Check out Cork + Cactus!   Find Cork + Cactus and many more great rentals at Heavenly Hosts.com!   Thanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover. Don't forget to download the Texas Wine Lover app too! Podcast music is by Landon Lloyd Miller. Check out this music on Spotify HERE

The TMG Hospitality Trailblazers welcomes the latest addition to the series, Kim Wootteon, Sr. VP of Commercial Strategy at Kampgrounds of America, Inc. to discuss the outdoor hospitality landscape and how artificial intelligence and technology are playing a key role in connecting different generations of travelers to the KOA vast portfolio of properties. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in and we check out what’s trending in hotel marketing. I’m your host, Ryan Embree. Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. This is your co-host, Ryan Embry. Cassady Quintana: And I’m your co-host, Cassady Quintana. Ryan Embree: We’re excited to have you here with us for another edition of our TMG Hospitality Trailblazers series. We’ve been running this series for quite a while, paving those management companies, individuals that are paving a way into the future for hospitality, which feels like is changing on a weekly basis. I’ve been really looking forward to this episode. A familiar face and voice with us. It’s the first time you’re joining us virtually. Kim Wootteon, Senior Vice President, Commercial Strategies at Kampgrounds of America. Kim, thank you so much for joining us back on The Suite Spot. Kim Wootteon: Yes, it’s great to see you both. Thanks for having me today. Ryan Embree: Yeah, we’re gonna have a super fun conversation. You have an incredible brand. We can’t wait to jump in. But before we start talking about Kampgrounds of America and KOA, I wanna start because we missed it when we were in Arlington at the Digital Transformation Summit of getting a little bit about your hospitality background and journey that led you to such a cool position at KOA. Kim Wootteon: My kind of career path has been quite interesting. It’s really led to the role I have today. So the first 12 years of my career was spent in retail. And for all of you millennials, I started with PacSun. I was an OG, skate and surf lifestyle fanatic. And I worked in retail for 12 years and really learned operations, marketing, and quite frankly, leadership. PacSun was a really great people-centric company. And it’s really where I got my foundation for leadership and my drive for results. And then I transitioned for retail into the more traditional hospitality sector and worked for four years with Marshall Hotels and Resorts, leading sales, marketing, and diving into revenue management. And then was recruited by a company called Bluewater Development, who was really pioneers within the outdoor hospitality industry and very traditional owners in the indoor hospitality industry. So great experience. I was introduced to KOA with them and the entire glamping and camping sector of hospitality, which was super exciting. And then also got to work with some really great brands such as Marriott and Hilton and IHG and independent properties, independent campgrounds. It was quite an eclectic mix of properties, that I got to support in sales, marketing, and revenue. And I joined KOA about five years ago, leading marketing at the local level. And in 2022, we established the commercial strategy team at KOA, and, I now oversee revenue management, local marketing or field marketing, retail, distribution, and sales across the entire KOA portfolio, both our owned assets and our franchise locations, and support for KOA, Inc. as well. Ryan Embree: So this is why I love this question so much, because we get such an eclectic melting pot of backgrounds of hospitality professionals, maybe starting in retail. I hear F&B a lot recently. And then you go from the brands, you go, outdoor hospitality, and you get this big melting pot, and it kinda defines who you are as an industry professional, but also gives you, I think, an appreciation of some of those other places that you’ve been or even properties which can span from the giant resorts that we’ve seen all the way to, maybe it is a campsite where it’s a lot more local and kinda community and, and tight-knit feeling. Kim Wootteon: Absolutely. Absolutely. I’ve enjoyed my journey. It allows me to bring perspective to the work we do every day that is unique. And we’ve done a really great job at KOA of hiring a team of leaders and a team of people, in the field with really diverse backgrounds, which I think is a great compliment to the diversity across our portfolio. Cassady Quintana: Yeah, I think it’s interesting because you talk about this new team that you guys have created at KOA and the things that you’re developing and introducing into this outdoor hospitality. But for our listeners who may not know too much about KOA, we have a lot of hotel listeners. So if you can just give us a little bit of background about the brand and how it’s found its way to becoming one of the number one outdoor hospitality leaders. Kim Wootteon: So KOA was founded in 1962 by Dave Drumm in Billings, Montana. He saw this surge of travelers heading to the world’s fair in Seattle, and he opened the Billings Campgrounds, on his property along the Yellowstone River. And today, Kampgrounds of America is the largest system of privately owned campgrounds across the US and Canada with over 500 locations. We have 50 locations that are owned and operated by KOA, and 450 plus locations that are franchised. It’s a really interesting segment or vertical within the hospitality industry. Incredibly diverse portfolio, incredibly diverse guests. And we’re really fortunate to be the leader within this segment of the industry. Ryan Embree: And we mentioned at the top of this episode, this is our TMG Hospitality Trailblazer series. Now, I don’t think there is a much more fitting brand than KOA as far as being a trailblazer when you, when you think about that term, but I’ve been surprised to learn from getting to know you and the KOA brand of the different modern way that we kind of talk about trailblazers in our industry. And so, Kim, you and your team have been doing some incredible work. We’re gonna mention it in this episode, but what do you think makes the Kampgrounds of America brand a true embodiment of trailblazers and trailblazing in our industry right now? Kim Wootteon: It starts really with our vision at KOA. And our vision is to be the world leader in defining and advancing the business and experience of outdoor hospitality. And that’s been a focus for our company for years. We have taken a really unique approach to, I’d say, the traditional hospitality industry. We understand camping, we understand hospitality, and we are really committed to being the leader within not just the outdoor hospitality space, but the overall hospitality space in general. And it really starts with knowing our guest. And we are fortunate. We have tons of first-party guest data. We have years and years of history. And we’re known in our segment of the industry for the research we do to really better understand our guest and how our guest changes and what they expect. So it’s a really unique advantage. And the research we provide is not just for KOA and our franchisees, but it’s for the entire industry. And trailblazing shows up in a variety of ways, almost every decision that we make as a brand. So from the guest experience standpoint, we’re launching a new koa.com website that’s really powered by AI and focused on personalization and trip planning and flexible cancellation policies and the guest’s ability to manage reservations. So some of the more traditional things that you would see in the hospitality industry, but with some unique features that are custom to how guests like to camp. From an organizational structure standpoint, we have a commercial strategy team, which we really are the only one in the industry that has a full commercial strategy arm. And we have an AI team. We built our AI department at the beginning of this year, and that team continues to grow and really focus both internally and externally on how we can use AI to enhance the employee experience and the guest experience. And then within outdoor hospitality, technology has kind of always been a little bit of an opportunity. We don’t necessarily follow some of the mainstream tech choices that you see in indoor hospitality. So our focus has really been how do we align with what works well within indoor hospitality? We’ve been exploring OTA integrations and an RMS integration and enhanced text messaging capabilities and housekeeping modules to help operations be more efficient. It’s about really how can we be the first in the outdoor space to align most closely with what works in indoor hospitality, and then try to address the points of friction where we can that are really unique to outdoor hospitality. Cassady Quintana: I love that you mentioned this balance of outdoor hospitality and what that means to people, but also finding those opportunities for technology because that is the trend these days, right? Is AI this, AI that, and how can we bring in that technology? And we know that KOA has built such a recognizable brand in outdoor hospitality. So how do you guys find that you’re balancing and maintaining what Dave built back in the ’60s, that trusted legacy of what KOA is with continuing to try and attract a younger generation or maybe people that have never been camping before? Kim Wootteon: It is a really fine balance that is not easy. We truly work at it every day and we’re really, really fortunate to have such a legacy brand and such a trusted brand. And so it’s really this balance of how do we stay rooted in our core values and our mission with connecting people to the outdoors and each other while meeting guest expectations for who the camper is today? And so, we see participation in camping across all generations, which is really fascinating. In 2025, participation among adults, 65 or older, reached its highest level in eight years. So we’re seeing this rebound in the boomer population. 25% of all new campers in 2025 were boomers. And at the same time, younger generations, particularly millennials, continue to make camping a really meaningful share of their leisure travel. So it’s this ongoing challenge of how do we attract and retain campers? It’s the same challenge everybody has in our industry. And then keeping existing campers and getting new ones to come back. It’s really that frequency question. We’ve seen some shifts in frequency over the past several years. Our more legacy campers used to take two, three, four trips a year. And we’re seeing that frequency diminish slightly. New campers come and experience it. And maybe don’t, maybe don’t camp again in the same year. It may take one camping trip a year. So that’s a unique challenge our industry is navigating. But we do a lot of research to understand what inspires each generation to camp, and we work really hard to deliver memorable experiences to keep them coming back. But I think the thing that is consistent across all generations and what really matters most to campers, whether they’re new or they’re legacy campers, there’s some core foundational items that we really pride ourselves in across the KOA system. So safety and security is one, cleanliness and quality. We have a really rigorous quality assurance program, and we visit every single campground every single year to ensure each campground is meeting quality assurance standards. And we’re okay to say goodbye to those campgrounds that maybe aren’t meeting our standards. Campers are looking for some self-guided recreation. So if they want to be in the outdoors and really utilize their time as they see fit, the amenities and the recreation continue to play a critical role in that decision-making process. Pet friendliness is really critical and so many people in outdoors love to camp with their pets. And so it’s vital that all of our properties be really pet-friendly. And we have pet-friendly accommodations, pet walks, and camp canine parks. Pets are, are really an extension of our guest base, truly. And then basics like clean laundry, clean restroom facilities, clean laundry facilities, all the essentials that are needed for a great camping experience. Ryan Embree: You definitely have the advantage of a memorable experience on your end, right? I think that has been the knock on the indoor hospitality space, is that sometimes it’s your hotel stay or experience there might not be the most memorable part of a trip versus camping feels like something, if done right, and the quality is there, that is a memory that’s not just gonna stick with you for a year that you might just tell a couple people about, but maybe decades. Maybe it becomes a family tradition, and I’m sure you have some incredible stories to share there. But as I mentioned at the top of this episode, Kim, we had the pleasure of meeting you in Arlington, Texas at the Digital Transformation Summit and Hospitality and Hotels. And again, from what I knew about Kampgrounds of America then and what I know now, it was like kind of one of those spaces where I was like, “Well, I wonder, I wonder what KOA is doing in this space.” And then I got to hear your keynote and I was blown away. But it was also one of the most fascinating conversations I had at that event because of the relationship with technology where some of your guests might be looking for an escape from that technology while others kind of see it as this is the baseline and maybe WiFi isn’t a tech- technology to them. Maybe that’s just a standard for them. So it’s so interesting. It’s fascinating. I’m sure it’s that balance what you’re talking about, Kim, but you also have to balance between the guest and you also have 450 franchisees out there, right? And you’re an owner yourself of 50 properties. So I wanna get into both of those kinda spectrums. One is, what are you seeing the guests, their relationship with technology when it comes to KOA? And then maybe you can speak to the owner side of it, of are you hearing owners wanting to implement more technology or are they kind of resisting that when you’re saying, “Hey, let’s start to look at these new kind of maybe fancy technological updates.” I know there’s a packed question there, so. Kim Wootteon: Yeah, no. And lots to unpack within that question. So let’s start with the guest first and really the unique expectations that come from our campers. And while historically, camping has been a way of a form of leisure travel where you can kind of disconnect from everything that’s going on in daily life and really spend time in the outdoors, nearly half of all campers, about 47% site wifi as very important. So we have learned over the years that wifi is a utility. It is not an amenity anymore. It is a price of admission expectation for campers. Technology and remote work is still shaping camping behavior. And then Gen Z is the most likely to work while camping. So, we cater our experiences to every generation. And so Wi-Fi becomes a critical, critical component. While we’ve seen a slight decline in work camping, with people going back to the office and those just individual changes, it’s still really important. And it, what’s really unique is new campers, and again, kind of new campers, 25% of all new campers last year were boomers. So when we think about new campers, they are more likely than experienced campers to prioritize connectivity. So about 50% of new campers versus 43% of experienced campers. So access to technology directly influences length of stay and the experience. So we have focused heavily on tech and not just wifi at the campground, but how technology is used throughout the guest journey. Have we made it really easy for them to book and find the campground that meets their experience expectations? What’s the communication with the guests look like pre and post, or pre-during, quite honestly, and posts say through text messaging or, or other forms of technology? How easy can they find their site? Just all of those simple things where tech is a really great way to create efficiencies in operations, still have really, really connected touchpoints, relationship-wise, because I think that is, one of the most critical pieces of outdoor hospitality is the relationship our owners build with their campers. And then can they connect while they’re on site? And for those who don’t want to connect and really wanna disconnect during their stay, have we effectively marketed those sites that are best for them to stay in? Have we created connectivity zones where if they do choose to connect, there’s a place on the campground that is best for that, and the rest of the park could be more of a disconnection zone. So really thinking about how a camper is using the space. On the flip side, our owners, this has been an interesting challenge and journey. Just like our campers, our owners are incredibly diverse as well. We’re really blessed. And I think this kind of lends to the success of our legacy brand. We have legacy owners within the KOA brand. We have franchisees that have been in the system for 50 and 60 years. They’ve been here since the beginning, and that ownership has passed down through generations, which is really rare to find across our industry today. We have a lot of individual owner operators that, they gave up their careers as nurses and as architects, and they follow their passion for the outdoors, and they built and own, decide to buy a campground and and be entrepreneurs. And then we have a lot of investors coming into our space, that are diversifying their portfolio. They have hotels, like that public storage and outdoor hospitality is just a natural transition in their portfolio diversification. So the diversity amongst our owners is a unique challenge when it comes to technology. And then across multiple, age demographics as well. So from a wifi standpoint, we make it a requirement. It is now part of our quality assurance. We incentivize our owners to deliver really great wifi. We have a wifi royalty incentive program, and they can receive reduced royalties for a select period of time if their wifi meets certain standards. We believe it’s that important to the guest experience. And then really from tech adoption, I think that’s where we see some of the larger pieces of friction as our industry evolves and we’re constantly trying to balance the expectations of the guests with the needs of our owners and operators. Things like a couple years ago, we were getting ready to launch online reservation management. Okay, I can, I can book, I can change, I can cancel my reservation all on my phone through the app or otherwise. And then was faced with quite a bit of resistance because it was different and it was new and it took some of the control out of the hands of the owner. And so different components of that have kind of made it out to the public, and then there are some key components that have not quite made it out yet. So it’s really that balance of how do we meet guest expectations and owner expectations? But at the end of the day, we do have the responsibility to ensure our brand stays profitable and our owners are profitable. And so sometimes we do have to make those decisions that may not be as favorable to our owners, but are truly the best decision for the business. And it comes down a lot to training and education and really making sure they understand. So we have a great learning and development team, great communications team, a great project team that really ensures all of these initiatives come to fruition in the way they need to be successful. Ryan Embree: Well, and you also have, like you said, 50 properties that you own and manage, which I’m sure is a great kind of sandbox that you can play before you roll something out across the entire brand. But to put this in perspective for our listeners, you just mentioned that maybe there was some resistance to the online bookings that you were talking about, all the way to the owner that you were talking to me. I had to bring this up again, that there was drones bringing firewood to campsites at your property, right? So, I mean, that is the spectrum that you’re talking about. And I think that also is on the guest side. And that’s why probably, you and your team do such a great job of keeping your ear to the ground with these guests and constantly staying. I thought it was a fascinating stat that you talked about, Kim, where you’re saying that the first time campers are expecting more tech than maybe your returning campers or campers that have done that before. And I think that is a, it’s a telling statistic of, “Hey, we’re gonna try this for the first time. We’re gonna go camping.” And they’re coming to the camping site and being like, “All right, well, where’s the plugs and where’s the, the wifi and all that stuff?” Versus the campers that have been there have been like, “Oh, you, you’re camping. What are you talking about?” So interesting. Kim Wootteon: It’s a fun challenge. Cassady Quintana: I’m glad you mentioned that because when I think about it from a marketing perspective, you’ve talked about the different types of guests. You also have diverse owners, but you have diverse guests. When you think about hotels in the hotel industry, a lot of them have their niche and what they expect their demographic to look like when they come visit them. And so they can kind of cater that marketing a little bit better. But you have people ranging from children all the way up until boomers, and so they’re all expecting something different and they all want it to be exactly what they want. So when I think about it, I’m Gen Z, and this outdoor hospitality thing has really started to become a big thing for us. Like, whether it is because we wanna fully disconnect everything is too technologically advanced now, or I want a little bit of the best of both worlds. I wanna feel like I’m in nature, but also I can check my Instagram later if I really need to. So when you guys think about that from a marketing perspective, what do you think is driving that Gen Z interest, but also how do you develop a marketing strategy so that you can connect with those new campers and that, that younger generation? Kim Wootteon: Oh, my gosh. It’s a nonstop kind of everyday challenge that our teams work through at both the national level. How do we really connect the brand to people? I mean it’s so much of the success of our brand, and really camping and outdoor hospitality in general is built off of some, like, this emotional connection to nature and this desire to be outdoors. And how do we be part of that journey? And how can we be a catalyst to creating that experience for people, whether it’s their hundredth time camping or their first time camping? And there’s so many different tactics and strategies, within the marketing space that are available to us now. And it’s constantly evaluated with AI. We are traditionally rooted in SEO, and now we’ve got GEO to adapt to. But the Gen Z population within our camper mix is about 13% of all of our campers, as of 2025, and had been up to about 25% of our camper mix in 2022. So a really significant portion of all of those people that are participating in camping are in that Gen Z demographic. And it really comes down to doing a lot of research and understanding, what motivates people to connect to a brand, what’s important to them, whether it’s sustainability or looking at the health benefits from being outdoors, whether it’s the thrill of trying something new and really adventure-seeking, whether it’s we camped with our parents as kids, and we wanna try it again as adults. And the value proposition for, especially Gen Z is not to that point in life where you’re fully invested and you have a ton of disposable income. And so camping has always been a really affordable way to travel and leisure travel and experience and see things. So it’s this balance of how do we connect with each generation on the right channel? Social media plays a really critical role in our marketing strategy, having a presence across multiple platforms, Facebook, which tends to cater to a little bit more of our Gen X and baby boomer population, TikTok, Instagram, other channels for Gen Z. So social media plays a really key role, and we’ve seen a huge insurgence of social media conversions in our marketing strategy over the past several years. And then the technology piece of some of our generations like to pick up the phone and call and ask questions about their stay. And then others really just wanna be 100% booked online, make all of their change, and make all of their choices without any human connectivity. So finding that balance. But the, the Gen Z demographic is really fascinating. And I love watching how they use campgrounds. We see a lot of Gen Zers use campgrounds as that hub for all of their outdoor adventures, really wanting to spend time in nature and are utilizing a campground to facilitate that experience. Ryan Embree: This question is certainly resonating with me. I’m a little bit older millennial. I have a two and a five-year-old. And I remember camping as a kid. I wanna take my kids, but I also do not want to just maybe stay in a tent and not have any sort of. So, I want, I want that, that nice little balance of, yes, we are camping, but we might be going into a nice air-conditioned cabin or lodge, and we might be able to still watch a little TV. But I think it’s fascinating what we’re talking about, because that’s exactly it. And Gen Z, they’re great storytellers. Let me tell you about marketing. They’ll do most of your marketing for you if you put them in the right position, especially on Instagram and TikTok. Kim Wootteon: I’m really fortunate on my team. We have a really diverse team as well. And I have, I have kind of boomers and I have a ton of Gen Zers on my team. And so it’s great just to watch those generations meld and figure out how we, how we best connect to our owners and our audience. We spend a lot of time in the outdoors just as a team, when we have meetings and stuff like that. And I just love what comes from it. And then we take those best practices and really implement them with our guests because it’s, it’s the same. We all camp. Most of us in our team, we love spending time in the outdoors. So it’s like what’s gonna be attractive to us? We are our own demographics, right? Ryan Embree: There you go. Well, I wanna shift gears and congratulate you and your team, the entire KOA team, recognized as one of the top 50 most profitable franchises by Franchisee Business Review. What do you think Kim, I mean, obviously, when we talk about franchises and we look at the ROI, but I think there’s probably a different type of reward that comes with having a KOA franchise, being obviously we look for that, that financial one, but also from kinda to build something meaningful. You talked about the legacy of some of your franchisees and that being a family business. We’ve talked about the close connection and memories that you get from camping. Well, first of all, congratulations, but what do you think you and your team did to kinda make that list? Kim Wootteon: Thank you. We’re really, really proud of this recognition. And I think it speaks to just the uniqueness of the brand. So we have a unique mix of brand standards and entrepreneurial spirit. KOA is a franchisor unlike no other, you know? And I’ve worked with a lot of the big franchisors, especially in our industry. I’ve worked with the Marriott brand and Hilton and IHG and Jellystone and Sun Outdoors. But what I think I love most about KOA, which makes it such an attractive business opportunity, is, we’re hyper-focused on quality. We’re hyper-focused on our brand position consistency. We have three brand positions within the KOA brand. We have the KOA journey, the KOA Holiday, and the KOA Resort to really help campers identify and connect with the experience they’re looking for. But what I love the most about our franchise that is different from a lot of others is that each location is truly unique to space and place, which fuels the creativity and the pride of our owners. So there are certain things that you will find very standard across the KOA portfolio, and there, there’s an expectation campers have with KOA, but every single location is unique. And that’s what makes the system of campgrounds truly special. You’re not gonna get the same overall experience at any two locations. And our owners take an immense amount of pride in understanding the market that they’re in, understanding their campers, and building an experience that drives them to come back and stay with the KOA brand and book again, and at the same time, is quite profitable. So that unique blend of uniqueness and standards is what really sets us apart. And I will say to you, I remember this, if I didn’t shout out just the incredible support that KOA offers its franchisees. Again, I’ve kind of worked with many franchisors, but the support that KOA offers is quite unique. I’m very, very proud to be part of that. We have an amazing field operations team, franchise operations team. We have a team of just passionate, dedicated franchise business coaches that are working with our owners every single day to help them truly grow their business and optimize their investment in the KOA brand and then their campground. We have a whole coaching team within commercial strategy focused on marketing and revenue, and how to maximize revenue and optimize profitability. And then multiple other departments across the organization that really, their customer is the franchisee. And so I think this is a really adequate representation of the hard work our team puts in to support our owners on a daily basis. Ryan Embree: Yeah. I mean, with a, such a complex ecosystem that we kind of talked about throughout this episode, it’s a true testament to the work you and your team are putting in to be recognized. So again, congratulations to you and your team on that. We’re gonna shift gears. This is the rapid fire portion of our episode. I love doing this and I was looking forward to your portfolio specifically. You’re no stranger to travel, Kim, you’ve already mentioned. So we’re gonna get to list a series or a series of questions to get to know you and the KOA portfolio a little bit better. So let’s start with favorite view at one of your properties. Kim Wootteon: Yeah. So, and just for the record, so I have been to well over 100, almost 200 KOAs across our systems. I’ve been really fortunate to see a lot of our portfolio with some amazing, amazing properties and experiences. But I was just recently at the campground in Fredericksburg, Texas, which is under construction. We are building it and it’ll be introduced to the KOA system this fall. But the view from The Overlook, which is sort of our main building in the back part of the campground with all of our food and beverage and our meeting space and our pool and our lazy river, the view is absolutely spectacular overlooking the entire campground. The sunsets are great, and it was just, it was a really magical moment. Cassady Quintana: Awesome. Ryan, write that down. We gotta take a look at when that one opens up. Ryan Embree: Yeah, for sure. Kim Wootteon: You’ve gotta come experience it. And, and Ryan, we do have some amazing glamping accommodations, so you’ll get all of the amenities of home and a really cool outdoor setting. Ryan Embree: Love it. Best both worlds, for sure. Cassady Quintana: All right, Kim, favorite fun fact about one of your properties? Kim Wootteon: Oh my gosh. There’s so many options because we have such a diverse portfolio. But one of the things we learned as we were prepping for America 250 and just kind of learning our history is the Mystic KOA campground in Connecticut has a house on property that wasn’t built in the United States. It actually existed before the United States existed. It was brought over as settlers have founded that area. And it’s still standing on our campground today. And there’s a lot of history with that property. Ryan Embree: So it’s one of my favorite questions to ask, just because you get to learn these, these stories that you would have no idea about. Very, very cool. What about favorite guest experience or amenities at one of your properties, Kim? Kim Wootteon: So, the Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch has a rodeo, like a full-on rodeo. So that’s a crazy thing to experience. The campground in South Padre Island is right near SpaceX, and we just built these beautiful, RV sites, along this peninsula on the water, so you can see the SpaceX launches. And then there’s simple things like blueberry picking in covert and just amazing hiking near some of our National Park properties. Cassady Quintana: Awesome. Something for everybody. There’s something for everybody at every different property. Yeah. So kind of with that in mind, what’s one of your favorite locations of your properties? Kim Wootteon: So it’s funny. So I am a camper myself and I love to spend time outdoors. And I have kind of this unique mix of properties that I love to visit because, every time I camp, I look for a different experience. So I love, like, Lake Placid, KOA, it’s just that, like, quintessential camping experience, really, really wooded and nature-driven. If I’m looking for just incredible beauty with really, really amiditized recreation, I love the Astoria KOA on the Oregon Coast. If I want a tropical resort retreat, I go to Sugarloaf KOA or Fort Myers KOA. So it’s just, it’s. I don’t know. I can’t pick one. I love too many of them, which is my problem and why I’m always on the road and traveling. . Cassady Quintana: It’s a good problem to have. Kim Wootteon: Exactly. I know, right? Ryan Embree: That’s what I was gonna say. . Well, we appreciate you playing along with us. As we wrap up today, we always have kind of a tradition to, especially, with some of our industry leaders that we get the opportunity to speak to multiple times. You teased back in March, you had working on that revamped website that we talked about you formed a new AI team. What’s the status of those projects? And then maybe just looking into the future, what’s your vision for, for KOA as we wrap. Can’t believe I’m saying this. Wrap up 2026 and go into 2027. Kim Wootteon: Oh, my gosh. Yes. We, we are really hyper-focused on 2027 right now as a leadership team, which is crazy. I’m like, we’re all happy through 2026. But yeah, we ha – we’ve had a ton of really large projects this year as a brand, and really in, in that vein of trying to modernize our brand to meet the guest expectation, the owner expectations, and stay that, brand of choice. Both of our projects, the development of our AR team and the rebuild, redesign, and launch of our new website, as well as campground landing pages and a new content management system are going incredibly well. We are on track to launch in Q4 with a slew of continued enhancements throughout 2027. A lot of really AI-focused efforts for koa.com, specifically in trip planning and just communication on a site, as well as personalization. We know that that’s so important. How does a guest land on the site and how is everything really customized and tailored to what they’re looking for and what their needs are and how they’ve came to before? So those two teams have been really, really critical in, in the rollout of this project. And selfishly for me, the AI team does a, a lot of work with our internal teams, and how do we impl – improve the employee experience? So the work they’ve been doing just, I mean, so many efficiencies for my role and so many other roles across the organization around really quick access to data within our KOA ecosystem. Like every bit of data I could ever want to access is available through our AI platform. I am able to ask questions quickly, research things quicker, and really get to an end result, which makes the analysis of our business so much easier in identifying trends and opportunities. So those two pieces are just really game changers, not only for our brand, but in the industry right now. And 2077 is stacking up to be a pretty, pretty insane year as well, with just really double down focusing on how do we continue to attract guests, retain guests, really strong focus on that short-term leisure RV camper, and kind of that mash of how do we take all of our legacy campers and all of these new campers and really just exceed expectations to grow the business next year. Ryan Embree: Wel like I said, a true embodiment, a brand that is truly trailblazing in hospitality. So wish you luck with all of those projects. We’ll have to keep a close eye on which campgrounds we’ll do an onsite. I still haven’t given up on that dream of doing – Kim Wootteon: No, we’re, we’re gonna get you outdoors, Ryan. Ryan Embree: Let’s do it. I’m, I’m looking forward to it. I can’t, I can’t wait. So, Kim, we know you’re busy. Thank you so much for taking the time to join me and Cassady here on The Suite Spot. Kim Wootteon: Yes, thank you both. It’s a pleasure. Cassady Quintana: Thanks, Kim. Ryan Embree: All right. Thanks, everyone. And thank you for listening to Suite Spot. We’ll talk to you next time. To join our loyalty program, be sure to subscribe and give us a five-star rating on iTunes. Suite Spot is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell with cover art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host, Ryan Embree, and we hope you enjoyed your stay.

Can AI plan a realistic RV camping trip for a family? In this episode of RV Small Talk, PJ and Lindsay test AI as an RV trip planner using real travel requirements, including two RVs, young kids, full hookups, shaded campsites, a four-to-five-hour driving limit, and a nearby town with restaurants, shopping, and family activities. AI recommends two Texas RV camping destinations: Garner State Park near Concan and Fredericksburg with Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park. PJ and Lindsay compare the campgrounds, nearby attractions, river activities, museums, shopping, campsite types, pull-through sites, and family-friendly things to do. They also discuss how to use AI for RV trip planning, what information you should include in your prompt, what details still need to be verified, and why AI may be better for destination ideas and flexible itineraries than booking a specific campsite. Whether you are planning your first RV road trip, searching for Texas campgrounds, organizing a family camping vacation, or looking for RV travel tips, this episode shows what AI gets right, what it gets wrong, and whether it can actually help plan your next camping adventure.

On this exciting episode of Fishing the DMV I have on Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources biologist John Odenkirk for an in-depth Lake Anna fishing report covering largemouth bass, northern snakeheads, striped bass, hybrid stripers, Saugeye, crappie, chain pickerel and the lake's forage populations. Anglers fishing Lake Anna, the North Anna River, Pamunkey Creek, Contrary Creek and the greater Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County area will get a detailed look at why this Virginia fishery continues to improve.Lake Anna's largemouth bass population is producing historic survey results. During DWR's latest standardized electrofishing survey, biologists collected an average of 138 bass per hour and 122 adult, stock-size bass per hour—both new records for the lake's long-term sampling program. John explains why those numbers are so impressive for a large, clear-water reservoir and how submerged aquatic vegetation, water willow, woody cover, abundant forage and a productive watershed have helped Lake Anna move far beyond its old “Dead Sea” reputation.We also break down the return of hydrilla and other aquatic vegetation, the difference between today's limited grass carp management and the massive stockings of the 1990s, and why healthy vegetation matters for bass habitat, shoreline protection and nutrient control. John discusses wake-boat concerns in the narrower portions of the lake, harmful algal blooms, drought conditions and the potential effects of future water demands and data-center development within the North Anna watershed.Beyond largemouth bass fishing, this episode covers the future of Lake Anna's northern snakehead population, DWR's striped bass and hybrid striped bass stocking strategy, and the major success of the saugeye program. John explains why pure stripers grow slowly at Lake Anna, why hybrids may be better suited to the reservoir and where anglers may find saugeye during the winter. We also discuss rising crappie numbers, chain pickerel in the upper Contrary Creek area, the difficulty of measuring blueback herring and threadfin shad, and other improving Virginia bass fisheries such as Nye Reservoir, Occoquan Reservoir and the tidal Rappahannock River.In this episode, we cover:Record-setting Lake Anna largemouth bass survey resultsHow hydrilla, water willow and aquatic habitat support bassNorthern snakehead population trends and possible future regulationsStriped bass, hybrid striped bass and saugeye stocking updatesCrappie, chain pickerel and Lake Anna forage populationsProductive areas of the North Anna and Pamunkey armsGrass carp management, wake boats and shoreline erosionNi Reservoir, Occoquan Reservoir and tidal Rappahannock bass fishing Please support Fishing the DMV on Patreon!!! https://patreon.com/FishingtheDMVPodcastFishing the DMV now has a website: https://www.fishingthedmv.com/ If you are interested in being on the show or a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to me at fishingtheDMV@gmail.comNorthern Snakehead: https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/snakehead/#:~:text=Any%20unusual%20fish%20needs%20to,804%2D367%2D2925). Report snakehead: 804-367-2925Virginia Department of Natural Resources website: https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/ Jake's bait & Tackle Website: http://www.jakesbaitandtackle.com/ Link to Tactical Fishing Company: https://tacticalfishingco.com/ Fishing Pro Tech: https://www.facebook.com/FishingProTech Phone Number: (757) 566-1278 Email: lin@fishingprotech.us Fishing Pro Tech Address: 7812-A Richmond Road, Toano, VA, United States, 23168 Flint Financial Planning: https://www.flintfinancialplanning.com/ FITT Lures: https://bit.ly/4w5lgHtSupport the show

Before Abraham Lincoln could take office, conspirators were already plotting to kill him. From a covert escape through Baltimore to the first cannon blast at Fort Sumter, this episode plunges into the tense, violent opening of the Civil War. Follow Lincoln's election, the collapse of the Union, the chaos of Bull Run, Grant's brutal victory at Shiloh, Lee's invasion of Maryland, and the bloodshed at Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. Along the way, Lincoln confronts failed generals, staggering casualties, and the defining decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, transforming the war from a fight to save the Union into a battle for freedom. GLENN'S SPONSORS: American Financing: American Financing can show you how to put your hard-earned equity to work and get you out of debt. Dial ⁠800-906-2440⁠, or visit ⁠https://www.americanfinancing.net⁠. Chapter: When it comes to Medicare, Chapter puts you first. Dial #250 and say the key word "Chapter." FreeSpoke: With Freespoke premium, you get a completely ad-free experience that keeps you focused on what matters. Download it for free at get freespoke.com/beck and use promo code “Beck” for 20% off. Mercury One: Learn about the REAL history of America. Become a Founding Member of the Sacred Honor Society at the American Journey Experience for $17.76 TODAY! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*Tim Kaine embraces Democratic Socialists? *Fauci was indeed a mega-monster *Never forget Covid and the attack on freedom *Remember what Kaine said during Covid? *Spanberger ushers in a sanctuary state. Homeland Security begs her for help *Talarico says prisons are violence? and Pollution? *Musk no longer a trillionaire? *Social media exposes the worst of people *Richmond wants 1% tax for schools *Fredericksburg gun buy back program And more!

Let's Dish! This week on Dishing with Buff Faye, Buff Faye and Giovonni D. Diamond are back with another hilarious episode filled with travel stories, outrageous banter, and one of Charlotte's brightest new drag stars. Buff kicks things off by sharing adventures from Texas after appearing in the Pageant Queens Live Revue in Dallas, visiting family, and hosting a fabulous bachelorette party in Fredericksburg. Meanwhile, Gio continues proving he knows the most random facts about absolutely everything. The pair debate whether Gio looks more like Jelly Roll or Teddy Swims, while Buff jokes about being mistaken for Taylor Swift—and, for years, Ginger Minj. Naturally, Gio can't stay long because there's a two-for-one flip-flop sale calling his name. Then it's time for the main event. Joining Buff in the studio is Venus Vixen, the reigning Charlotte's Next Drag Superstar and newly crowned Miss Hideaway At Large, one of Buff Faye's former titles. Less than two years into her drag career, Venus is already making a name for herself with towering looks, fierce performances, and dreams of competing on the national pageant stage. Buff and Venus talk about her rapid rise in Charlotte's drag scene, building a memorable brand, her background in kinesiology and fitness, finding confidence through drag, and the importance of continuing to grow as an entertainer. Buff also shares why she loves supporting and booking emerging talent, helping the next generation of queens find their spotlight.The episode wraps up with a shady and hilarious game of YASSS QUEEN or NOT TODAY SATAN, where the opinions are fierce and the tea is piping hot. Don't miss this celebration of Charlotte's next generation of drag excellence. Hit play, get into the fantasy, and start Dishing with Buff Faye. Eat It Up!

Meet Ron and Barbara Abler: Proof That RVing Has No Age LimitRon is 87. Barbara is 82. And right now, they're probably somewhere on the road, planning the next trip.In this episode, Mike Wendland sits down with longtime friends of the RV Lifestyle community, Ron and Barbara Abler, to talk about what it actually takes to keep RVing in your 80s. Ron retired three times, from Penn State University in 1995, the Association of American Geographers in 2002, and the International Geographical Union in 2016. Barbara spent her career as a professor of geography at the University of North Carolina before retiring from the federal government in 2005. They bought their first RV, a Roadtrek Clas B, in 2018, and haven't slowed down since, traveling this past year from their home in Sheboygan, Wisconsin all the way to California, with stops at RV Lifestyle rallies in Fredericksburg, Texas, St. Augustine, Florida, and Empire, Michigan.They talk candidly about the health scares and mechanical breakdowns that come with life on the road, how their travel style has changed since 2018, and what they'd tell any retiree who thinks they might be getting too old for another adventure.Jennifer is off this week recovering from knee replacement surgery, we hope to have her back at the mic soon.Also in this episode: Mike shares the new RV Maintenance Tracker app, plus listener questions on flat towing versus tow dollies and choosing between solar and a generator for boondocking.Got a question for a future episode? Send it through the CONTACT link at https://RVPodcast.com.Sign up for the free RV Lifestyle newsletter: https://RVLifestyle.com/newsletter Check out the RV Maintenance Tracker: https://RVLifestyle.com/maintenance

In this episode, Soren speaks with Russ York, Head of the Ambleside School in Fredericksburg, TX. Russ shares about his journey from public schools to Charlotte Mason philosophy, emphasizing the importance of a formative education rooted in humility and Mason's three principles of education: atmosphere, discipline, and life. Thank you to the sponsor of today's episode: History 250. Visit their website to delve deep into America's rich and complex history: https://www.history250.org/ References: – For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay – Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

*Texas has the worst cotton crop in the nation.  *There are two competing bills in Congress that would stop the twice-yearly time change.  *Global wheat production is dropping. *The Texas High Plains cotton crop is facing some challenges.  *Tax policy discussions are underway at the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting.  *USDA and the Small Business Administration are working together to provide a government-wide shield against lawfare.  *The Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers annual meeting gets underway today in Fredericksburg.  *The summer heat can cause heat stress in your horse. 

In this episode of the Chamber's We Are Business podcast, Susan Spears sits down with Dr. Christopher Newman, CEO of Mary Washington Healthcare, and Dr. Troy Paino, President of the University of Mary Washington, to discuss how regional collaboration is shaping the future of healthcare in the Fredericksburg region. From workforce development and a proposed medical school to innovation and economic growth, discover how these partnerships are helping build a stronger future for our community.

Grace Center is a shelter for battered women located in Fredericksburg, Texas

It was the evening of June 4, 2024, when authorities responded to a 911 call in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The caller had informed dispatch of one deceased male, but as police made their way through the home, they shockingly located two more victims. The manhunt for the killer would lead police to a suicide note, a second cell phone, and, ultimately, to the monster intent on murder.Instagram: @CousinsonCrimePodcastEmail: CousinsonCrime@gmail.comTheme Music by AleXZavesaFor Bonus Content, Join our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/CousinsOnCrimeCheck out our merch store! https://cousinsoncrime-shop.fourthwall.com/?Sources:https://www.aetv.com/articles/alyssa-venable-killed-3-roommates-crime-in-progresshttps://gunmemorial.org/2024/06/04/robert-john-mcguirehttps://open.spotify.com/episode/2tO7GuM9QMD49hzXTNx0FH?si=ygL8zWBrQwCcHxNGz7sY9whttps://open.spotify.com/episode/1sC6rkBRDi6W9kirgCpdnO?si=I3gLOuGpSn6408weuzpkpQhttps://youtu.be/p1f2EG4mFjU?is=dGHutR2-wXLH38dchttps://youtu.be/h4CCQsC7m2k?si=YbQQfejXS5etICBH

Ronald White, guest author, explains that the 20th Maine's early service was defined by the grim realities of warfare, from the massacre at Fredericksburg to a debilitating smallpox outbreak caused by defective vaccination serum within the camp. By June 1863, the regiment was forced on grueling 30-mile marches toward Gettysburg under oppressive summer heat. On the second day of the battle, Chamberlain received desperate orders to hold the far left of the Unionline at Little Round Top "at all cost." Facing superior Confederate numbers and having exhausted his unit's ammunition, Chamberlain executed a legendary bayonet charge that broke the enemy assault. During the chaotic melee, he personally confronted a Confederate officer at gunpoint, taking his pistol as the position was secured. Though he suffered from malaria following the victory, his leadership at Gettysburg cemented his reputation as a tactical hero who saved the Union flank. On Great Fields: The Life and Unlikely Heroism of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (3)1863 LITTLE ROUNDTOP

Episode 250, FULL SHOW -- The Nationals history versus the Tampa Bay Rays hasn't been favorable, and despite three competitive games, that would continue as the Nats lost 2 of 3 at Tropicana Field over the weekend. Tobi Altizer & Grant Paulsen breakdown how bullpen struggles held the Nats back from continuing their series win streak. Plus, how valuable has Brad Lord been to the Nationals pitching staff? And has CJ Abrams officially showed us he can avoid his cold streaks of the past? Then, Grant details his impressions of top prospect Gavin Fein as he visited the Fredericksburg Nationals over the weekend. And we preview a huge division series as the Phillies are in town this week.

Episode 250, FULL SHOW -- The Nationals history versus the Tampa Bay Rays hasn't been favorable, and despite three competitive games, that would continue as the Nats lost 2 of 3 at Tropicana Field over the weekend. Tobi Altizer & Grant Paulsen breakdown how bullpen struggles held the Nats back from continuing their series win streak. Plus, how valuable has Brad Lord been to the Nationals pitching staff? And has CJ Abrams officially showed us he can avoid his cold streaks of the past? Then, Grant details his impressions of top prospect Gavin Fein as he visited the Fredericksburg Nationals over the weekend. And we preview a huge division series as the Phillies are in town this week.

*Texas cotton planting is running slightly behind schedule.  *The state is offering a free online course to expand the number of certified screwworm inspectors in Texas.  *Some have a sense of relief now that the screwworm is finally here. *Several institutions in Texas are getting funding to help fight the screwworm.  *The high value of cattle involves more than just steaks and ground beef.  *There have been big changes over the past three decades in how beef is processed.  *Over 900 people showed up for a New World screwworm meeting in Fredericksburg.  *Allergies are common in horses.  

Elon Musk became the first-ever trillionaire when SpaceX stock launched its IPO. Would you invest in SpaceX? The FBI disrupted an alleged plot targeting the "UFC Freedom 250" fights at the White House. The suspects were allegedly in Signal chats discussing preoperational plans, according to court documents, with some of those involved in the plot allegedly traveling to Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 12 or 13. UFC President and CEO Dana White publicly condemned Josh Hokit after the undefeated fighter sparked controversy with comments about former First Lady Michelle Obama. In a text message to TIME magazine, White criticized Hokit for bringing family members into public attacks. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meghan Jackson is joined by Charles Cheek, Eddie Howard, and Meghann Cotter to share about the CCD work that is being done in Hampton Roads, Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg. They also share about their Go & Sees they're hosting in October and how they're beholding God with and in their communities.Don't miss the CCDA Conference in Richmond, Virginia, this October. Get into town early and experience one of the full-day Go & Sees happening on October 7th!Learn more about CCDA and how you can get involved at ccda.org. Connect with CCDA on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Follow CCDA on YouTube.

Tyler Anbinder discusses the significant role of the Irish in the American Civil War, particularly the 69th Regiment. Many joined for military training to eventually liberate Ireland, but they fought enthusiastically for the Union out of gratitude to their new home. Heroes like James Kavanaugh demonstrated extraordinary bravery at Antietam and Fredericksburg, though they often returned to menial work after the war. The segment also addresses the intense anti-Irish and anti-Catholic prejudice of the era, exemplified by Judson Saus, a ballroom teacher who felt compelled to hide his Irish identity to achieve professional success. (5)1863 DRAFT RIOTS NYC

Episode Overview In this episode of the John Kitchens Coach Podcast Experience, John sits down with Tammy Pack for a powerful conversation on real estate investing, creative financing, and why agents need to stop just watching opportunities pass them by. Tammy shares how she went from trial lawyer to boutique owner, vacation rental operator, brokerage owner, investor, and real estate leader in Fredericksburg, Texas. Her message is simple: Agents have access to opportunities most people never see. The problem? Most agents don't know how to structure the deal. This episode breaks down how creative financing, private lending, seller carrybacks, market knowledge, and confidence can help agents buy more real estate, help more clients, and build long-term wealth. Key Topics Covered Why Creative Financing Matters Tammy explains why the biggest thing stopping most buyers and agents from investing is not the price or the rate. It's the down payment. She breaks down how agents can use creative structures to solve that problem and open up more opportunities. The Agent Advantage in Investing John and Tammy discuss how agents have insider access to deals, market shifts, seller motivation, and opportunity. But access is only valuable when you know what to do with it. Buying Real Estate with Little to No Money Down Tammy shares real examples of how she bought investment properties using: Private lenders Seller carryback financing 80/20 structures 100% financing Strong relationships Proven market knowledge The Buckhorn Cabin Story Tammy walks through how she bought a Fredericksburg cabin, turned it into a high-performing vacation rental, refinanced it, pulled cash out, and later sold it for over $1 million. The lesson: Know your numbers. Know your market. Know when to hold and when to sell. Why Reputation Is Everything Tammy explains how years of doing what she said she would do created trust with her private lender. At some point, investors are not just betting on the property. They are betting on you. Risk Tolerance and Smart Investing Tammy makes a powerful distinction between reckless risk and smart, calculated risk. Her rule: Stay inside what you understand deeply. She focuses on properties in proven, blue-chip locations where demand is clear and long-term value is strong. How Agents Can Build Confidence Tammy and John unpack why agents must know their market better than anyone else. Confidence comes from: Studying the numbers Understanding demand Knowing rental income Learning deal structure Practicing the language Getting reps Selling Yourself as the Expert Tammy shares sales lessons from retail, real estate, and investing. Her message: Stop projecting insecurity. Clients often ask surface-level questions just to make conversation. Your job is to guide the conversation with confidence. Lessons from Sales Tammy shares powerful examples about how sales is really about creating confidence and experience. Whether it is quilts, boots, diamonds, or real estate—the principle is the same: Know your product. Answer with confidence. Move the client forward. Building Wealth in Big Chunks One of Tammy's biggest lessons from her mother: You don't build serious wealth by nickel-and-diming your way there. You build it through smart real estate moves, long-term ownership, and strategic exits. Resources & Mentions Tammy Pack's book: Stop Waiting to Die BiggerPockets Rich Dad Poor Dad Carlton Sheets: No Money Down Tax Smart Real Estate Investing Podcast Tammy Pack on Instagram: @tammypacktalks Tammy Pack on TikTok Final Takeaway Real estate agents are sitting on opportunity every single day. The question is whether you know how to recognize it, structure it, and act on it. Creative financing is not magic. It is skill. It is confidence. It is relationships. It is knowing your market so well that when the right deal shows up, you can move. As Tammy reminds us: "You've got to know when the deal is so good that you better go find a way to buy it." Connect with Us: 7 Figure Audit: 7figurecall.com Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

He gave his life to Jesus on a mountaintop in 1971 — and he's been reproducing his faith every single year since. He's in his 70s now. An auto mechanic by trade. No seminary, no title, no platform. And he has no intention of slowing down.I didn't sit down with Jim Albert to teach. I sat down to get challenged — and to learn from a man who's been making disciples longer than I've been alive.Jim spent the Cold War running missions out of Vienna into the Eastern Bloc. Today he's leading men into the hardest-to-reach places in India and discipling guys one-on-one in a Fredericksburg coffee shop. We talked about why discipleship is simple but not easy, the difference between making Jesus your Savior and your Lord, the "ABCs" of a quiet time he learned 50 years ago, why so many churches keep majoring on the minors — and the one verb in the Great Commission that most of them quietly ignore.If you've ever felt too unqualified, too under schooled, or too far along in life to make disciples — Jim is living proof that's a lie. This is exactly the kind of ordinary man this whole thing is for.

Mentioned in this Episode Connect with the Podcast:   Facebook: @texaswinepod   Instagram: @texaswinepod   Email: texaswinepod@gmail.com   Show notes and more: www.thisistexaswine.com   Help the Show:   Subscribe to the newsletter.   Donate virtual Texas wine or join the podcast membership at the Gold Medal, Silver Medal, or Bronze Medal Level!   Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!   Thanks to our sponsors:   Bending Branch Winery: Contact Jen at bendingbranchwinery.com for all of your custom crush winemaking needs.   Brunch Agency: Contact charlotte@brunchagency.com and say you heard it on This Is Texas Wine podcast to get actionable tips for improving your website and digital sales strategy.   Mentioned in this Episode Texas Hill Country Wineries Presents: Hill Country Wine Camp 2026! North Texas Wine Jam at Lost Oak Winery on Saturday, June 6! Drink North Texas on May 30 in Dallas. TICKETS Texas Hill Country Wineries' New Summer Season Pass Texas Hill Country Wineries' Barrels & Bites TEXSOM Conference is August 23–25 in Irving My interview with Mark Fusco of WineWorldTV on YouTube Italianity: The Culture of Italian Wine by Jessica Dupuy and Andrea Lonardi, MD - Order here! Featured Interview   Garrett Strickler, Vineyard Director, Salt Lick Vineyards & Wine Director, Salt Lick Cellars   Follow Local Customs on Instagram HERE   And don't miss Salt Lick BBQ too!   Demerit and Gold Star   DEMERIT: none this episode   GOLD STARS:   St Mary's School of Law Graduation Address by Ron Yates!   Special Thanks Need lodging in Fredericksburg? Check out Cork + Cactus!   Find Cork + Cactus and many more great rentals at Heavenly Hosts.com!   Thanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover. Don't forget to download the Texas Wine Lover app too! Podcast music is by Landon Lloyd Miller. Check out this music on Spotify HERE

Fredericksburg, Virginia police are searching for someone who was spotted in a "Pink Panther" costume. They were allegedly following children on May 14, 2026, and the case went viral after a local realtor captured him on video along Lafayette Boulevard, amassing over a million TikTok views and drawing national attention. Try our coffee! - www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Become a Patreon member -- > https://www.patreon.com/CrimeWeekly Shop for your Crime Weekly gear here --> https://crimeweeklypodcast.com/shop Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CrimeWeeklyPodcast Website: CrimeWeeklyPodcast.com Instagram: @CrimeWeeklyPod Twitter: @CrimeWeeklyPod Facebook: @CrimeWeeklyPod ADS: https://www.OneSkin.co/CrimeWeekly - Use code CRIMEWEEKLY for 15% off! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Avery is joined by Short Term Shop agent Stacey Lancaster to explore the current state of short-term rental investing across Texas Hill Country and the Austin area. Stacey explains why the market currently favors investors who are willing to negotiate, create memorable guest experiences, and look beyond turnkey properties to add value through design and management. They also discuss how continued population growth in Texas, future developments like Fredericksburg's incoming Waldorf Astoria, and shifting market conditions could shape demand in the years ahead. Connect with an agent: agents@theshorttermshop.com Connect with us: The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/ https://stsplus.com/ Follow Avery Carl on Instagram Follow Avery Carl on TikTok Join the Short Term Shop Facebook group Check out the Short Term Shop on YouTube   For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery's books: Smarter Short Term Rentals - Buy it on Amazon Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties – Buy it on Amazon

Busy season is exactly when most bridal seamstresses stop investing in themselves… but what if that's the moment you actually need it most?In this Six Figure Friday episode of Secrets of a Bridal Seamstress, Nadine shares why continued education, community, and in-person connection are essential for long-term growth as a seamstress and business owner.She also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Bridal Summit in Fredericksburg, Virginia — a two-day event bringing bridal seamstresses and stylists together to talk client experience, communication, business growth, and the power of learning from each other.Whether it's attending a live event, taking a course, or simply staying curious, this episode is your reminder that the seamstresses who continue growing are the ones who continue thriving.In this episode:Why learning shouldn't stop during busy seasonThe power of community in a lonely industryHow education impacts your client experienceBehind the scenes of the upcoming Bridal SummitWhy six-figure seamstresses stay open to growthBridal Summit: June 15th and 16th, join Wendy Rivera and Nadine Bozeman at Ava Laurenne Bridal in Fredericksburg, VA for two days of refreshing trainings and connection. Learn to elevate your client experience with Speak Bride methodology, and freshen up your fitting flow with Secrets of a Bridal Seamstress. https://buy.stripe.com/8x2eVe9I8eXE7vPcV82B209Connect with Nadine:Check out the exclusive private podcast series, Fitting Packages 101: https://enchanting-sun-77080.myflodesk.com/privatepodcastBecome a member: https://secretsofabridalseamstresspodcast.com/membershipInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretsofabridalseamstress/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nadinebozemanYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@secretsofabridalseamstress

Texas Man Chases The ChupacabraJoin my Supporters Club for $4.99 per month for exclusive stories:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-if-it-s-true-podcast--5445587/supportA Texas Musician who grew up hunting in rural Oklahoma and considers himself hard to scare, describes two strange encounters in Texas. The first happened in July 2015 in DeWitt County while he was driving his young son and daughter on a quiet gravel road near an overgrown creek. A bipedal creature stepped out of tall grass about 40 yards ahead—mottled gray with sparse bristly hair, a long snout and tall ears like a kangaroo, and tiny arms held close to its body. It moved with an awkward wobbling gait and crossed into the grass without reacting to the vehicle. He briefly grabbed his pistol and started after it for a closer look, but stopped when he realized his kids were alone in the car and he didn't know how the animal might behave.He believes the first animal was a real, physical creature—possibly a mutation or escaped exotic animal—neither aggressive nor afraid, and maybe increasing in number as development pushes wildlife around. His second encounter came in February 2019 after leaving a late-night performance at Luckenbach near Fredericksburg. Driving home around 2 a.m., his headlights caught two huge pale-yellow eyes about ten feet above the road at the treeline by a creek. The figure moved, revealing a massive, dark-haired, humanoid form with no visible neck and unusually long arms; it then dropped lower into the brush while watching him pass. Chris kept his speed steady out of fear it might react, then accelerated once he'd put distance between them, and later returned in daylight but found nothing that could explain what he saw.

5. The Fighting 69th and the Struggle for Acceptance Irish immigrants joined the "Fighting 69th" militia for military training and to show gratitude toward the country that provided them security. During the Civil War, Captain James Cavanagh displayed extraordinary bravery at the Battle of Antietam, vowing to hold his position until the "last one of us" was killed. Despite heroic service at Fredericksburg, the Irish still faced pervasive religious and racial prejudice. Some, like dance teacher Judson Sauce, changed their names to hide their Irish heritage. After the war, veterans often returned to humble manual trades, though some eventually secured stable civil service positions as recognition of their service. 52899 BALHOOLY