Podcasts about Gaylord

ABOUT DINA TOWNSEND Dina's Linkedin Profile: linkedin.com/in/dinatownsendDINA TOWNSEND BIOAs Chief Sales Officer at Mamava, Dina leads the Sales Organization with energy, optimism, and a genuine passion for building connections. She is rooted in the belief that strong business acumen and a meaningful mission can be seamlessly intertwined. After a purpose-driven career pivot from Digital Signage Technology to Mamava, she channels her expertise into propelling sales for this mission-centric company. Beyond her professional endeavors, Dina is a former skydiver, a hobby homesteader, an avid college football fan, and a well-intentioned, albeit average, golfer.email: dinat@mamava.com | 802.347.2111 (o) Website: www.mamava.comSay yes to dignified lactation spaces! Be a hero—here's how you can help. SHOW INTRO:Welcome to Episode 82! of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast…In every episode we continue to follow our catch phrase of having “Dynamic Dialogues About DATA: Design, Architecture, Technology and the Arts.” And as we continue on this journey there will be thought provoking futurists, AI technology mavens, retailers, international hotel design executives as well as designers and architects of brand experience places.We'll talk with authors and people focused on wellness and sustainable design practices as well as neuroscientists who will continue to help us look at the built environment and the connections between our mind-body and the built world around us.We'll also have guests who are creative marketing masters from international brands and people who have started and grown some of the companies that are striking a new path for us follow.If you like what you hear on the NXTLVL Experience Design show, make sure to subscribe, like, comment and share with colleagues, friends and family.The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is always grateful for the support of VMSD magazine.VMSD brings us, in the brand experience world, the International Retail Design Conference. I think the IRDC is one of the best retail design conferences that there is bringing together the world of retailers, brands and experience place makers every year for two days of engaging conversations and pushing us to keep on talking about what makes retailing relevant. You will find the archive of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast on VMSD.com.Thanks also goes to Shop Association the only global retail trade association dedicated to elevating the in-store experience.SHOP Association represents companies and affiliates from 25 countries and brings value to their members through research, networking, education, events and awards. Check then out on SHOPAssociation.org Today, EPISODE 82… I talk with Dina Townsend Chief Sales Officer at Mamava a company whose mission is to create a healthier society through infrastructure and support for breastfeeding. And, along with partners who share in in their purpose of celebrating and supporting breastfeeding, Mamava is moving closer to creating a future where there is a dignified lactation space anywhere a parent may go. We'll get to my discussion with Dina in a minute, first though a few thoughts…*                     *                          *                          *A few episodes back I had Claire Coder founder and CEO if Aunt Flow on the show. That was an interesting conversation since we crossed what I think were a few boundaries (at least for me) and we talked quite candidly about menstruation. Not just about the biology of women's monthly cycle but about the fact that there are many women who have faced the scenario of getting their period unexpectedly and not have pads or tampons to meet them in their moment of need.Enter the company Aunt Flow who provides free feminine hygiene products in public restrooms, schools and other public buildings and to Fortune 500 corporate headquarters - for which tens of thousands of women are eternally grateful.This conversation with Dina Townsend, I guess you could say, falls in the Aunt Flow camp of subjects. Breast feeding moms was not a subject that I had on the list of things to address on the podcast. But here we are nevertheless with a subject that piqued my curiosity because the company Dina works for, Mamava, checks most of the boxes in our Dialogues on DATA: Design, Architecture, Technology and he Arts” catch phrase.First off…I did not know there was something called the “Pump Act”. For the curious out there, a little internet searching comes up with this:“…The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, enacted in December 2022, expands workplace protections for nursing employees by requiring employers to provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for pumping breast milk for up to one year after a child's birth.This law allows for legal action if employers fail to comply…”Now… Dina will contend that many employers do in fact provide such a space and also that a janitors closet with a folding chair would be in line with the requirements. Sure, a closet meets the description of a ‘private space' but it wholly underserves the needs of a nursing mother in terms of experience.I am aware that there are widely divergent views on the whole subject of breast feeding – we are not going to go there – except that I'll say that I fully line up behind my wife who breastfed our two sons.My discussion with Dina moves from the necessity to provide environments for nursing mothers to breastfeed their infants while in public places to the buying power of mothers who statistics indicate make an enormous amount of the buying decisions in households to how tying Retail Media Networks - RMNs – to Mamava pods serve a triple bottom line serving People, Planet and Profit. It's a way of shifting our thinking about business from “How much money did we make?” to: “Did we make money in a way that benefits society and the environment too?”Nielsen, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Harvard Business Review research tells us that Women drive 70–80% of consumer purchasing decisions in the U.S. and that is even for products they don't personally use.  And that their annual global consumer spending, is $20 trillionwhich, by the way, is a number projected to rise to $28 trillion. In many households, women make or heavily influence91% of new home purchases, 92% of vacation decisions, and 80% of healthcare choices says research by the Yankelovich Monitor, Marketing to Women Conference data.And Millennial and Gen Z mothers are even more influential: they control about $1 trillion in direct annual spendingand are primary decision-makers for food, home goods, education, and entertainment – says research by the Pew Research Center.So, women and moms are a force to be reconned with in terms of buying power and why Mamava pods are more than an economic discussion. The behavioral and psychographic aspects of them is important as well.Women increasingly valuebrands that support family life, caregiving, and inclusivity and so features like Mamava pods in retail locations or corporate HQs or parental-leave policies have brand-equity impact.We have known for some time that brands that are considered authentic exhibiting genuine empathic concern for their customer and employeesare major drivers in establishing brand affinity and purchase decisions. The BabyCenter “State of Modern Motherhood” report says that “ 9 in 10 mothers say they are more loyal to brands that “understand the challenges of motherhood.”And then there is mom's digital influence. Pew Internet studies explains that“80% of moms research products online before buying and that 60% follow parenting or lifestyle influencers for purchase guidance.”When you combine these factors with the emergence of Retail Media Networks, RMNs, you have a value add to placing Mamava pods in places that do not actually take up any more space on the sales floors of a store than is already being occupied with stuff that does support the brand experience or selling anything.Use to be that when digital screens came into the retail world, we had kiosks as wayfinding devices. Then a proliferation of screens emerged in the market where walls were more digital wallpaper crowding the environment with content and, in my opinion adding little to experience, arguably creating a shopping experience with more visual distraction and diminishing the overall experience. Painting the environment with the broad-brush stroke of digital media is often ineffective in capturing and retaining attention and doesn't lead to the positive results we think it does.That said, well considered application of digital media like those found on Mamava pods creates an opportunity to provide messaging to customers that could be more like a public service announcement, like ‘get your flu shot here today,' or a focused marketing piece that invites customers to consider a particular product that they may not have thought of prior to arriving at the store.So, you might ask why this matters to retail designWomen and mothers aren't just your average everyday consumers, they're key decision-makers shaping the social expectations of brands and spaces. Retailers, airports, and workplaces that provide amenities like Mamava pods, family restrooms, or flexible shopping experiences are responding directly to data-driven insights like:Increased dwell time and spending when caregivers feel accommodated.Higher brand loyalty and word-of-mouth among mothers.Positive CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility - and inclusivity signaling which is important for both consumer and employee attraction.If you have recently traveled through an airport, you may have already come upon a Mamava pod or maybe you have seen their “bench” version in a retail store. Fed up with pumping in bathrooms and borrowed spaces—Mamava's co-founders, Sascha Mayer and Christine Dodson, applied their decades of expertise in design and brand strategy to solve a problem that was largely invisible: the lack of lactation spaces in workplaces and public spaces and as a result, the Mamava pod was born.Tying together the Mamava pod, and its various incarnations, and retail media needed some savvy about how to create an effective in-store media application that wouldn't end up as just another screen in an already overwhelming environment.Enter Dina Townsend.As Chief Sales Officer at Mamava, Dina leads the Sales Organization with energy, optimism, and a genuine passion for building connections. She is rooted in the belief that strong business acumen and a meaningful mission like the Mamava brand platform can be seamlessly intertwined. After a purpose-driven career pivot from the world of Digital Signage Technology to Mamava, Dina channels her expertise into propelling sales for this mission-centric company. ABOUT DAVID KEPRON:LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/david-kepron-9a1582bWebsites: https://www.davidkepron.com    (personal website)vmsd.com/taxonomy/term/8645  (Blog)Email: david.kepron@NXTLVLexperiencedesign.comTwitter: DavidKepronPersonal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidkepron/NXTLVL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtlvl_experience_design/Bio:David Kepron is a multifaceted creative professional with a deep curiosity to understand ‘why', ‘what's now' and ‘what's next'. He brings together his background as an architect, artist, educator, author, podcast host and builder to the making of meaningful and empathically-focused, community-centric customer connections at brand experience places around the globe. David is a former VP - Global Design Strategies at Marriott International. While at Marriott, his focus was on the creation of compelling customer experiences within Marriott's “Premium Distinctive” segment which included: Westin, Renaissance, Le Meridien, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels and Gaylord hotels. In 2020 Kepron founded NXTLVL Experience Design, a strategy and design consultancy, where he combines his multidisciplinary approach to the creation of relevant brand engagements with his passion for social and cultural anthropology, neuroscience and emerging digital technologies. As a frequently requested international speaker at corporate events and international conferences focusing on CX, digital transformation, retail, hospitality, emerging technology, David shares his expertise on subjects ranging from consumer behaviors and trends, brain science and buying behavior, store design and visual merchandising, hotel design and strategy as well as creativity and innovation. In his talks, David shares visionary ideas on how brand strategy, brain science and emerging technologies are changing guest expectations about relationships they want to have with brands and how companies can remain relevant in a digitally enabled marketplace. David currently shares his experience and insight on various industry boards including: VMSD magazine's Editorial Advisory Board, the Interactive Customer Experience Association, Sign Research Foundation's Program Committee as well as the Center For Retail Transformation at George Mason University.He has held teaching positions at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), the Department of Architecture & Interior Design of Drexel University in Philadelphia, the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (L.I.M.) in New York, the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Montreal and he served as the Director of the Visual Merchandising Department at LaSalle International Fashion School (L.I.F.S.) in Singapore.  In 2014 Kepron published his first book titled: “Retail (r)Evolution: Why Creating Right-Brain Stores Will Shape the Future of Shopping in a Digitally Driven World” and he is currently working on his second book to be published soon.  The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is presented by VMSD magazine and Smartwork Media. It is hosted and executive produced by David Kepron. Our original music and audio production is by Kano Sound. The content of this podcast is copywrite to David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design. Any publication or rebroadcast of the content is prohibited without the expressed written consent of David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design.Make sure to tune in for more NXTLVL “Dialogues on DATA: Design Architecture Technology and the Arts” wherever you find your favorite podcasts and make sure to visit vmsd.com and look for the tab for the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast there too.

Support the show: http://www.newcountry963.com/hawkeyeinthemorningSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support the show: http://www.newcountry963.com/hawkeyeinthemorningSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday - Who does the cooking in your home? We talk to Orlando Pride head coach Seb Hines ahead of their playoff match. Date Night Guide with Dani Meyering with date night ideas like yoga fest, EDC, a Maker's Faire, ICE at Gaylord and more. Attorney Glenn Klausman with the case of the Eggshell Neck for Colbert Court. Plus, the Froggers Football Forecast, JCS News, JCS Trivia & You Heard it Here First.

Thursday - Who does the cooking in your home? We talk to Orlando Pride head coach Seb Hines ahead of their playoff match. Date Night Guide with Dani Meyering with date night ideas like yoga fest, EDC, a Maker's Faire, ICE at Gaylord and more. Attorney Glenn Klausman with the case of the Eggshell Neck for Colbert Court. Plus, the Froggers Football Forecast, JCS News, JCS Trivia & You Heard it Here First. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Date Night Guide with Dani Meyering with date night ideas like yoga fest, EDC, a Maker's Faire, ICE at Gaylord and more. See the list here: https://www.orlandodatenightguide.com/things-to-do-22853/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Date Night Guide with Dani Meyering with date night ideas like yoga fest, EDC, a Maker's Faire, ICE at Gaylord and more. See the list here: https://www.orlandodatenightguide.com/things-to-do-22853/

Jonny has been learning about an obscure American car. Also in this episode, the Flintstones theme, being haunted by a Renault Estafette, an abandoned Allegro Vanden Plas and fly tipped Volvo, getting ambushed by Morris dancers, two-speed gearboxes, The Jonny Smith Automobilia Collection, a car called the Playboy, the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, the great Northern tradition of going out without a coat, being unable to whisper, and a Dodge Caravan for sale. For early, ad-free episodes and extra content go to patreon.com/smithandsniff To buy merch and tickets to live podcast recordings go to smithandsniff.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WhoBarry Owens, General Manager of Treetops, MichiganRecorded onJune 13, 2025About TreetopsClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Treetops Acquisition Company LLCLocated in: Gaylord, MichiganYear founded: 1954Pass affiliations: Indy Pass, Indy+ Pass – 2 daysClosest neighboring ski areas: Otsego (:07), Boyne Mountain (:34), Hanson Hills (:39), Shanty Creek (:51), The Highlands (:58), Nub's Nob (1:00)Base elevation: 1,110 feetSummit elevation: 1,333 feetVertical drop: 223 feetSkiable acres: 80Average annual snowfall: 140 inchesTrail count: 25 (30% beginner, 40% intermediate, 30% advanced)Lift count: 5 (3 triples, 2 carpets – view Lift Blog's inventory of Treetops' lift fleet)Why I interviewed himThe first 10 ski areas I ever skied, in order, were:* Mott Mountain, Michigan* Apple Mountain, Michigan* Snow Snake, Michigan* Caberfae, Michigan* Crystal Mountain, Michigan* Nub's Nob, Michigan* Skyline, Michigan* Treetops, Michigan* Sugar Loaf, Michigan* Shanty Creek – Schuss Mountain, MichiganAnd here are the first 10 ski areas I ever skied that are still open, with anything that didn't make it crossed out:* Mott Mountain, Michigan* Apple Mountain, Michigan* Snow Snake, Michigan* Caberfae, Michigan* Crystal Mountain, Michigan* Nub's Nob, Michigan* Skyline, Michigan* Treetops, Michigan* Sugar Loaf, Michigan* Shanty Creek – Schuss Mountain, Michigan* Shanty Creek – Summit, Michigan* Boyne Mountain, Michigan* Searchmont, Ontario* Nebraski, Nebraska* Copper Mountain, Colorado* Keystone, ColoradoSix of my first 16. Poof. That's a failure rate of 37.5 percent. I'm no statistician, but I'd categorize that as “not good.”Now, there's some nuance to this list. I skied all of these between 1992 and 1995. Most had faded officially or functionally by 2000, around the time that America's Great Ski Area Die-Off concluded (Summit lasted until around Covid, and could still re-open, resort officials tell me). Their causes of death are varied, some combination, usually, of incompetence, indifference, and failure to adapt. To climate change, yes, but more of the cultural kind of adaptation than the environmental sort.The first dozen ski areas on this list are tightly bunched, geographically, in the upper half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. They draw from the same general population centers and suffer from the same stunted Midwest verticals. None are naturally or automatically great ski areas. None are or were particularly remote or tricky to access, and most sit alongside or near a major state or federal highway. And they (mostly) all benefit from the same Lake Michigan lake-effect snow machine, the output of which appears to be increasing as the Great Lakes freeze more slowly and less often (cold air flowing over warm water = lake-effect snow).Had you presented this list of a dozen Michigan ski areas to me in 1995 and said, “five of these will drop dead in the next 30 years,” I would not have chosen those five, necessarily, to fail. These weren't ropetow backwaters. All but Apple had chairlifts (and they soon installed one), and most sat close to cities or were attached to a larger resort. Sugar Loaf, in particular, was one of Michigan's better ski areas, with five chairlifts and the largest in-state vertical drop on this list.My guess for most-likely-to-die probably would have been Treetops, especially if you'd told me that then-private Otsego ski area, right next door and with twice its neighbor's skiable acreage, vertical drop, and number of chairlifts, would eventually open to the public. Especially if you'd told me that Boyne Mountain, the monster down the road, would continue to expand its lodging and village, and would add a Treetops-sized cluster of greens to its ferocious ridge of blacks. Especially if you'd told me that Treetops' trail footprint, never substantial, would remain more or less the same size 30 years later. In fact, just about every surviving Michigan ski area on that list - Crystal, Nub's, Caberfae, Shanty Schuss - greatly expanded its terrain footprint. Except Treetops.But here we are, in the future, and I just skied Treetops 10 months ago with my 8-year-old son. It was, in some ways, more or less as I'd left it on my last visit, in 1995: small vert, small trail network, a slightly confusing parking situation, no chairlift restraint bars. A few improvements were obvious: the beginner ropetows had made way for a carpet, the last double chair had been upgraded to a triple, terrain park features dotted the east side, and a dozen or so glades and short steep shots had been hacked from the woods of the legacy trail footprint.That's all nice. But what was not obvious to me was this: why, and how, does Treetops the ski area still exist? Sugar Loaf was a better ski area. Apple Mountain was closer to large population centers. Summit was attached to ski-in-ski-out accommodations and shared a lift ticket with the larger Schuss mountain a couple miles away. Was modern Treetops some sort of money-losing ski area hobby horse for whomever owned the larger resort, which is better known for its five golf courses? Was it just an amenity to keep the second homeowners who mostly lived in Southeast Michigan invested year-round? Had the ski area cemented itself as the kind of high-volume schoolkids training ground that explained the resilience of ski areas in metro Detroit, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee?There is never, or rarely, one easy or obvious explanation for why similar businesses thrive or fail. This is why I resist pinning the numerical decline in America's ski area inventory solely to climate change. We may have fewer ski areas in America than we had in 1995, but we have a lot more good ski areas now than we did 30 years ago (and, as I wrote in March, a lot more overall ski terrain). Yes, Skyline, 40 minutes south of Treetops, failed because it never installed snowmaking, but that is only part of the sentence. Skyline failed because it never installed snowmaking while its competitors aggressively expanded and continually updated their snowmaking systems, raising the floor on the minimal ski experience acceptable to consumers. That takes us back to culture. What do you reckon has changed more over the past 30 to 40 years: America's weather patterns, or its culture? For anyone who remembers ashtrays at McDonald's or who rode in the bed of a pickup truck from Michigan to Illinois or who ran feral and unsupervised outdoors from toddlerhood or who somehow fumbled through this vast world without the internet or a Pet Rectangle or their evil offspring social media, the answer seems obvious. The weather feels a little different. Our culture feels airlifted from another planet. Americans accepted things 30 years ago that would seem outrageous today – like smoking adjacent to a children's play area ornamented with a demented smiling clown. But this applies to skiing as well. My Treetops day in 1995 was memorably horrible, the snow groomed but fossilized, unturnable. A few weeks earlier, I'd skied Skyline on perhaps a three-inch base, grass poking through the trails. Modern skiers, armed with the internet and its Hubble connection to every ski area on the planet, would not accept either set of conditions today. But one of those ski areas adapted and the other did not. That's the “why” of Treetops survival. It was the “how” that I needed Barry Owens to help me understand.What we talked aboutLast winter's ice storm – “it provides great insight into human character when you go through that stuff”; record snowfall (204 inches!) to chase the worst winter ever; the Lake Michigan snowbelt; a golf resort with a ski area attached; building a ski culture when “we didn't have enough people dedicated to ski… and it showed”; competing with nearby ski areas many times Treetops' size “we don't shy away from… who we are and what we are”; what happened when next-door-neighbor Otsego Resort switched from a private to a public model in 2017 – “neither one of us is going to get rich seeing who can get the most $15 lift tickets on a Wednesday”; I attempt to talk about golf and why Michigan is a golf mecca; moving on from something you've spent decades building; Treetops' rough financial period and why Owens initially turned down the GM job; how Owens convinced ownership not to close the ski area; fixing a “can't-do staff” by “doing things that created the freedom to be able to act”; Treetops' strange 2014 bankruptcy and rebuilding from there; “right now we're happy” with the lift fleet; how much it would cost to retrofit Treetops' lifts with restraint bars; timeline for potential ski expansion at Treetops; bargain season passes (as low as $125); and Indy Pass' network power.What I got wrong* I said “Gaylord County,” but the city of Gaylord is in Otsego County.* I said that Boyne Resorts, operator of 11 ski areas, also runs “10 or 11 golf resorts.” The company operates 14 golf courses.* I said that Michigan had a “very good” road network and that there was “not a lot of traffic,” and if you live there, you're reaction is probably, “you're dumb.” What I meant by “very good road network” is this: compared to most ski regions, which have, um, mountains, Michigan's bumplets sit more or less directly alongside the state's straight, flat, almost perfectly gridded highway network. Also, the “not a lot of traffic” thing does not apply to special situations like, say, northbound I-75 on a July Friday evening.* I said that Crystal, Nub's, Caberfae, and Shanty Creek were “close” – while they're not necessarily all close to one another, they are all roughly equidistant for folks coming to them from downstate.* I said that Treetops was “the fifth or sixth place I ever skied at,” but upon further review, it was number eight (which is reflected in the list above).Podcast NotesOn the ice stormAn ice storm hammered Northern Michigan in late March of this year:On the lightning strike on Treetops' golf courseOn the Midwest's terrible 2023-24 ski seasonSkier visits cratered in the Midwest during the 2023-24 ski season, the region's worst on record from a snowfall point of view. Weather - and skier visits - settled back into normal ranges last winter:This is a bit hard to see with any sort of precision, but this 10-year chart gives a nice sense of just how abnormal 2023-24 was for the Midwest:On Michigan's ski areasMichigan is home to 44 active ski areas - more than any state other than New York. Many of them are quite small, operate sporadically, and run only surface lifts, but Treetops is close to a bunch of the better lift-served outfits, including Boyne Mountain, Nub's Nob, and The Highlands (the UP ski areas may as well be in another state). It helps Treetops that so many of the state's ski areas have also joined Indy Pass:On Otsego ResortFor decades - I'm not certain how long, exactly - Otsego Resort, right next door to Treetops and with roughly double the vertical drop and skiable acreage, was private. In 2017, the bump opened to the public, considerably amping up competition. Complicating the matter further, Otsego sits a bit closer to Michigan's Main Street - I-75 - than Treetops.On Snow OperatingOwens mentioned working with “TBL” – he was referring to Terrain Based Learning, Snow Partners' learn-to-ski program. That company also runs the Snow Cloud operating system that Owens refers to at the end.On Treetops' rough period I quoted this Detroit Business News article at length in the interview. It goes deep on Treetops' precarious early 2000s history and the resort's broken employee culture at the time.On people being nice at ski areasYeah I'm super into this:On the hedgehog conceptOwens mentions “the hedgehog concept,” which I wasn't familiar with. It sounded like a business-book thing, and it is, adapted by author Jim Collins for his book Good to Great and described in this way on his website:The Hedgehog Concept is developed in the book Good to Great. A simple, crystalline concept that flows from deep understanding about the intersection of three circles: 1) what you are deeply passionate about, 2) what you can be the best in the world at, and 3) what best drives your economic or resource engine. Transformations from good to great come about by a series of good decisions made consistently with a Hedgehog Concept, supremely well executed, accumulating one upon another, over a long period of time.More:On safety-bar requirements in New York and New EnglandThis is kind of funny…That's my 8-year-old son, who's skied in a dozen states, taking his first ride on a lift with no safety bar, at Treetops last December. Why such machines still exist in 2025, I have no idea - this lift rises about 30 feet off the ground. In the East, all chairlifts are equipped with bars, and state law mandates their use in New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont (and perhaps elsewhere). I don't advocate for rider mandates, but I do think all chairlifts ought to have bars available for those who want them. Owens and I discuss the resort's plans to retrofit Treetops' three chairlifts - CTEC machines installed between 1984 and 1995 - with bars. The cost would be roughly $250,000. That's a significant number, but probably a lot less than the figure if, say, someone has a heart attack or seizure on the lift, falls off, then sues the resort. Besides, as Owens points out, chairlifts must be equipped with restraint bars for summer use, which would open new revenue streams. Why are bars required for summer activities, but not winter? It's a strange anachronism, unique among the ski world to America.On “Joe from SMI”I mentioned “Joe from SMI” offhand. I was referring to SMI Snowmakers President Joe VanderKelen, who appeared on the podcast back in 2022:On potential expansion Owens discusses a potential expansion looker's left of Chair 1, which would restore lost terrain and built upon that. This 1988 trailmap shows a couple of the trails that Treetops eliminated to make way for its current top-to-bottom access road (trails 1 through 4):The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

This episode features a conversation with Matt Herrero, Joel Chapman, Weston Gaylord, Ken Savage, and Jessia Hoffman about their musical GRAVITY: A Newtonian Musical. When physics prodigy Sophie is accidentally catapulted back in time, her meet-cute with 23 year-old Isaac Newton prevents him from discovering gravity—trapping Sophie in 1666. To return home, Sophie must restore history and navigate the Enlightenment, where Natural Philosophers are the pop stars of their day. Along the way, she encounters historical luminaries such as up-and-comer Edmond Halley, Isaac's rival Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, and the unknown author Margaret Cavendish, who is embroiled in her own quest for fame and scientific recognition.  GRAVITY is a hilarious romantic comedy, smashing together madcap time travel mayhem and delightfully remixed history. This episode features the songs, “I Wanna Be Mad” performed by Matt Herrero and “En Route” performed by Taylor Iman Jones and Matt Herrero. Connect with GRAVITY: A Newtonian Musical: Website: www.gravitythemusical.com Instagram: @gravity_musical Connect with Matt Herrero: Website: www.mattherrero.com Instagram: @mattherreromusic Connect with Joel Chapman: Website: https://www.joelchapmanmusic.com Instagram: @joelchapmanmusic Connect with Weston Gaylord: Website: https://www.westongaylord.com/ Instagram: @westongaylord Connect with Ken Savage: Website: https://www.kensavageproductions.com/ Instagram: @krsavage12 Connect with Jessia Hoffman: Website: https://www.jessiahoffman.com/ Instagram: @jessiajessiajessia Connect with New York Theatre Barn: Twitter: @nytheatrebarn Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn  Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn nytheatrebarn.org  Pauls's personal instagram: @paulsmacs Teresa's personal instagram: @terijoyeaux Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ABOUT CHRISTIAN DAVIES:Christian's LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/christian-davies-fcsd-3728a513Websites: https://www.bergmeyer.comemail: cdavies@bergmeyer.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianthdavies/ Christian Davies Bio: Davies brings 30+ years' experience as a creative leader, working with brands across the globe, from disruptive startups to the very top Fortune 500 contenders in retail, experiential, beauty, fashion, hospitality, technology, luxury, and more. His veteran status includes over 100 national and international design awards (15 of which earned top honors for Store of the Year Awards), including a five-time winner of design:retail's Retail Design Influencer as well as a coveted Retail Design Luminary award.  As a Chief Strategy Officer for Bergmeyer, strategic innovation and design leadership define Davies role, stemming from a robust background in creative direction and design thinking. His approach harnesses the power of diverse, interdisciplinary teams, developed through hands-on experience in various roles across a wide variety of companies throughout his career. As Chief Strategy Officer, steering the business strategy and our passion for innovation encapsulates my daily mission.Prior to Bergmeyer, Davies served as Managing Director of the Creative Marketing Group at Verizon, Creative Vice President of Global Design and Innovation for Starbucks, Executive Creative Director of the Americas at Fitch, and Vice President/Managing Creative Director at FRCH Design Worldwide.Also See: https://www.bergmeyer.com/people/christian-davies SHOW INTRODUCTION:Welcome to Episode 81! of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast…What started at a pivotal moment during the COVID pandemic in early 2020 has continued for seven seasons and now 81 episodes. This season we continue to follow our catch phrase of having “Dynamic Dialogues About DATA: Design, Architecture, Technology and the Arts. In the coming weeks we have some terrific conversations that are both fun and inspiring. They are going to include thought provoking futurists, AI technology mavens, retailers, international hotel design executives as well as designers and architects of brand experience places.We talk with authors and people focused on wellness and sustainable design practices as well as neuroscientists who will continue to help us look at the built environment and the connections between our mind-body and the built world around us.We'll also have guests who are creative marketing masters from international brands and people who have started and grown some of the companies that are striking a new path for us follow.The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is grateful for the support of VMSD magazine.VMSD brings us, in the brand experience world, the International Retail Design Conference. The IRDC is one of the best retail design conferences that there is bringing together the world of retailers, brands and experience place makers every year for two days of engaging conversations and pushing us to keep on talking about what makes retailing relevant. You will find the archive of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast on VMSD.com.Thanks also goes to Shop Association the only global retail trade association dedicated to elevating the in-store experience.SHOP Association represents companies and affiliates from 25 countries and brings value to their members through research, networking, education, events and awards. Check then out on SHOPAssociation.org Today, EPISODE 81… I talk with Christian Davies. We actually recorded this discussion months ago and Christian wondered if publishing it now was still relevant.I assured him it was, since Christian tends to unearth issues that are future forward - things to be mindful about should we want to address the issues we all face as individuals or societies or as architects and designers making places and things as we serve as our clients creative sherpa guides bringing ideas into the built world. Now… Christian has been sitting atop the heap of 80 conversations as the most listened to episode since we recorded our first talk a couple years ago. So, I thought, well why not do Christian Davies 2.0?Christian does not disappoint - never has – over a couple of decades, Christian has consistently drawn audiences and colleagues into conversation, sometimes challenging, and always brilliant and things that drive design thinking. His matter-of-fact English attitude to the world of design is sometimes a ‘no holds barred' reality check that makes you think twice about the truths you have held dear. His drive towards excellence is irrepressible. That makes him, some may say, demanding because I think he expects that we all give a damn about what we are brining into the world. And why not? We all share space on this little blue dot and, we had better get it, and soon, that we are part of a vast ecosystem of interdependencies.We cover a lot of ground in this open-ended conversation – I'd not expect less from Christian - And here is a few thoughts on subject areas we touch on…1. Entropy:Entropy is a scientific measure of disorder, randomness.Astrophysicist and other cosmologists have postulated that our universe is continuing to expand to a maximum state of entropy from a moment in time, the beginning of the Universe that they have called The Big Bang.There's lots of great content that you can certainly dig up on what happens when the universe finally expands to maximum entropy and all particles are spread out evenly within the unimaginably large space of the universe. It's suggested that of course this maximun expansion will take something like 10 to the 36 or 37 power years in other words trillions and trillions of years. A very very long time….But for now, the way I try to think of it is things will expand and eventually slow down as they all spread out to be evenly distributed throughout the universe… seems reasonable…It's kind of like imagining the initial moments after a massive explosion. Things spread out pretty quickly from the epicenter of the explosion and as they're flung far and wide, particles eventually slow and if you think of it in terms of entropy they all reach maximum randomness.I kind of think that right now, today, considering that the scientists think that the universe has only been around for 14 1/2 billion years or so, that we're kind of right at that very beginning stage of the explosion and things are moving faster and faster away from the epicenter of The Big Bang. This is interesting if you think that the universe will continue to be expanding for a few trillion years so right now yeah, we're kind of sort of in the one second after the explosion time frame. Anyway I am not an astrophysicist and some of these enormous ideas still leave me scratching my head…If we look at today, and everything around us, it certainly seems that things are speeding up and becoming more distributed, more random.I know I've talked about the whole idea of the pace of change in a number of episodes but I find this really interesting because, as I discussed with Christian, it's really hard to design into a future state when you consider that the sands beneath your feet are always shifting.How do we know which step is the right one? How do you know when we step on solid ground or drop forever into a bottomless void…I think the challenge here for designers is that, at least for a time, we need to have a sense of stability and order. The challenge is, I think, is that we're moving to an increasing rate of change where stability and order might be elusive to say the least.2. Moments of human connection make experiences great:I think as we speed along and never ending sea of change perhaps one of the things that we can hang on to, a stake in the ground if you will, will continue to be our ability to maintain our relationships.Change has a funny way of, well… changing people. And, one of our jobs will be to keep up with changing expectations of brands and their customers. One thing is sure, as we scream along this ever changing path, relationships will remain as one of the fundamental qualities of great experiences. Both brand experience architecture and the means with which we engage with brands will change to meet evolving expecations but, my expectation, (or maybe it's just my hope) is that humans still stay at the center of it all - Since at least for this short little time that humans have been in existence, we have relied on the empathic connection between individuals to help create meaning and connection to the world around us as well as the things well as the things we simply buy.And I, like Christian, believe that in the end, when you look at successful projects in our long design careers, the good ones, I mean the really good ones, we're not just because we received a great brief with an inspired client who had a vision of changing up the world,but that the teams we were connected to both on the consultant and client sides were also great. There was something that clicked. There was a gel in communication, respect and collaboration that drove these projects forward.Some may have heard me say before projects will come and go but the relationships are really what make the work great. I'd rather lose a project than trash the relationships…3. Three things that facilitate success stories in the world of retail place-making:So, if you're going to look at success stories over a career full of projects, when you look back at what really made them great was, of course that they were successful from a financial point of view, that they drove increase customers and deeper brand relationships and better revenues all those things are important indicators of success but that there are things that are required to make all of that happen. One would be that there's a big idea someone at the helm of a brand or business that has a thought about doing something different breaking out of a traditional way of bringing goods or services to market, of serving a customer in a different way and technology is often being a facilitator of that.There was coffee long before Starbucks. There was getting from A to B lby horse, camel, richshaw, long before Uber. There were places to stay along the Silk Road before Airbnb. And if you had a shaman in your village you could likely find out where you ame from and where your future was going to be long before there were anything like 23&Me or ancestry.com. In some ways the goods or services have not really changed. How we get them in the hands of customers has changed and that has often been facilitated with new technologies.4. AI – as a new tool for ideation and the ‘why' behind design:One of those technological advances of course that everybody is talking about these days is artificial intelligence.AI it's both causing a lot of excitement about what it sees has to offer in the short term, becoming a new tool in the architect and designers toolbox for ideation as well as causing a lot of concern about what happens to humankind when we finally get to general AI or super artificial intelligence.I am both excited and increasingly aware of influences that it will have on the job market, delivery of goods and services and other parts of the ecosystem like education and manufacturing etcetera etcetera.But if we just for a moment set some of the anxieties aside and simply look at as a tool for imagination and engagement with clients fostering the collaborative process of ideation, it has extraordinary potential to change the game of how we designers and architects work with our clients and create ideas about bringing their goods and services to market.There's a lot of opportunity and uncertainty about what happens when you turbocharge the creative process with AI tools.In the end though, at least for now, the question remains - is that there is a human at the helm of prompt curation?The output is only as good as the input that I'm able to suggest as a prompt. If not… garbage in – garbage out.This of course is interesting because it puts the initial burden still on people to be able to articulate their vision in language and use AI tools to refine the visualizations and other content that emerges from using them.As we use these tools they make things faster but I also sometimes wonder about whether they simply make us lazy and remove our thinking from the process.So Christian does talk about the idea of the drawings or images being very compelling but also needing to ask, and answer, the question of ‘why this particular approach or output is relevant and connected to the brand or customer that we're trying to serve?In the end it's not about the ‘what' of things that make solutions to design challenges great but more and more about the ‘why' you're doing certain things.It's about the process by which you got to the solution rather than simply the solution itself.Don't get me wrong the solutions to the challenges are sometimes very satisfying but what I'm ultimately interested in is the thinking process that led you to along this pathway… it's the journey not just the destination that's important in the creative process….And I think it's ever more important to our clients in the design world that they're looking for people who are not just production oriented but who are also focused on guiding them through an uncertain future5. B-Corporations:And this in a way leads us to the part of our my discussion with Christian about how his company Bergmeyer has recently become a B-Corp.A B-Corporation is a for profit company, but it is certified by the non-profit  B Lab Global and the whole idea is that it seeks to meet high standards for social and environmental performance and accountability and even more so transparency in the ways that they are doing business in support of being good stewards of our environment.In the changing sands that we're all standing on, as entropy increases and uncertainty continues to unfold in front of us, there is certainty that our planet is also in peril as climate change continues to wreak havoc on environmental systems. These B-corporations are seen as a force for good who work to balance profit with a commitment to both people and our planet. What differentiates them from other traditional companies is that they prioritize the social and environmental impacts of their business while at the same time not discounting the fact that they still are in business - that they are accountable to stakeholders as well as shareholders.The stakeholders can be considered as all of us because as companies continue to pull resources out of the ground and push the byproducts of industrialization into landfills and oceans all of our lives are at stake.All right then that's a not so brief summary of some of the ideas that Christian and I riff on in our conversation…Let's dig into some of the details…ABOUT DAVID KEPRON:LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/david-kepron-9a1582bWebsites: https://www.davidkepron.com    (personal website)vmsd.com/taxonomy/term/8645  (Blog)Email: david.kepron@NXTLVLexperiencedesign.comTwitter: DavidKepronPersonal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidkepron/NXTLVL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtlvl_experience_design/Bio:David Kepron is a multifaceted creative professional with a deep curiosity to understand ‘why', ‘what's now' and ‘what's next'. He brings together his background as an architect, artist, educator, author, podcast host and builder to the making of meaningful and empathically-focused, community-centric customer connections at brand experience places around the globe. David is a former VP - Global Design Strategies at Marriott International. While at Marriott, his focus was on the creation of compelling customer experiences within Marriott's “Premium Distinctive” segment which included: Westin, Renaissance, Le Meridien, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels and Gaylord hotels. In 2020 Kepron founded NXTLVL Experience Design, a strategy and design consultancy, where he combines his multidisciplinary approach to the creation of relevant brand engagements with his passion for social and cultural anthropology, neuroscience and emerging digital technologies. As a frequently requested international speaker at corporate events and international conferences focusing on CX, digital transformation, retail, hospitality, emerging technology, David shares his expertise on subjects ranging from consumer behaviors and trends, brain science and buying behavior, store design and visual merchandising, hotel design and strategy as well as creativity and innovation. In his talks, David shares visionary ideas on how brand strategy, brain science and emerging technologies are changing guest expectations about relationships they want to have with brands and how companies can remain relevant in a digitally enabled marketplace. David currently shares his experience and insight on various industry boards including: VMSD magazine's Editorial Advisory Board, the Interactive Customer Experience Association, Sign Research Foundation's Program Committee as well as the Center For Retail Transformation at George Mason University.He has held teaching positions at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), the Department of Architecture & Interior Design of Drexel University in Philadelphia, the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (L.I.M.) in New York, the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Montreal and he served as the Director of the Visual Merchandising Department at LaSalle International Fashion School (L.I.F.S.) in Singapore.  In 2014 Kepron published his first book titled: “Retail (r)Evolution: Why Creating Right-Brain Stores Will Shape the Future of Shopping in a Digitally Driven World” and he is currently working on his second book to be published soon. David also writes a popular blog called “Brain Food” which is published monthly on vmsd.com.  The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is presented by VMSD magazine and Smartwork Media. It is hosted and executive produced by David Kepron. Our original music and audio production is by Kano Sound. The content of this podcast is copywrite to David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design. Any publication or rebroadcast of the content is prohibited without the expressed written consent of David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design.Make sure to tune in for more NXTLVL “Dialogues on DATA: Design Architecture Technology and the Arts” wherever you find your favorite podcasts and make sure to visit vmsd.com and look for the tab for the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast there too.

Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier radio show and podcast. Co-hosts John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are celebrating 10 years of traveling the great state of Michigan.On this episode:They talk about fall time being the best time visit Michigan.They take you to Snowbelt Brewery in Gaylord, which is celebrating its 9th anniversary.Stop at Gun Lake Casino Resort and Hotel in Wayland where everyone is excited about The Oasis, an escape looking for summer time fun in the cold winter months.And introduce you to the fall fun you cal have at Treetops Resort in Gaylord.Behind the Mitten airs on 22 radio stations across the state of Michigan every weekend. Learn more at amyandgonzo.com.

Episode 495 / Jim GaylordJim Gaylord is a New York based artist known for his abstract, sculptural reliefs made from cutout paper. He earned an MFA from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BA from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. His work has been exhibited internationally and is in the permanent collections of the Berkeley Art Museum, the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum and The Museum of Modern Art in New York. He has received fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Joan Mitchell Foundation and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation. He has completed residencies at MacDowell, Yaddo and the Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program. Jim is represented by Sperone Westwater in New York, where his work is currently on view in the group exhibition, "Sperone Westwater: 50 Years." His second solo show with the gallery will open in early 2026. 

Our guest on this week's episode is Sean Daley, director of sustainability consulting at Sphera. Among the many changes happening in Washington is a reprioritizing of environmental issues. The Environmental Protection Agency is among many of the government agencies that has undergone dramatic policy changes. Our guest discusses those changes and how to prepare for shifting EPA regulations.  The world has been experiencing America's new trade policies and the rollout of tariffs for nearly seven months now and we are starting to see their effect on imports, including some creative ways that some companies are adapting, including the use of "B2B2C" shipments.Accelerated growth in China's mobile robotics market over the past 10 years is giving way to globalization strategies as Chinese companies face growing economic pressures at home. Many of these Chinese mobile robotics companies are trying to expand their reach to customers in Europe and North America, in particular. Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:SpheraU.S. recession not imminent but, economic momentum is clearly slowingReport: China's mobile robotics vendors go globalVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comThis podcast episode is sponsored by: Duravant Integrated SolutionsOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYJoin the Logistics Matters team at CSCMP EDGE 2025, October 5-8 at the Gaylord in Washington, D.C. Go to CSCMP.org to find out more.

Listen as Coach Rick Gaylord joins Jeff and Mikki to discuss his passion for coaching youth, his athletic background and professional experiences. Including the tension and interplay of Power and Technique, how they may differ in women's and men's athletic development. Cross Training and Single Sport focus and their respective effects on athleticism, Raising and coaching a multi Sport National level, State Title winning athlete, Character development, "Travel ball syndrome" and more.Episode Highlights: 1. 1:41 How Athletic and professional history can contribute to a passion for coaching2. 4:52 A football injury leads to becoming a throwing athlete3. 5:57 Power & technique, "Brutes & Dancers", focus, attention to detail and refinement4. 8:36 Athleticism is at a turning point5. 11:02 Cross-Training and complimentary sports for both boys and girls6. 12:27 Coaching High School, observations on the growing gaps in athleticism7. 13:59 Performance: Raising and Coaching a successful athlete8. 18:32 Breaking the "Cycle of Doom"9. 19:12 Challenges relating to single sport athletes with isolated experience and perspectives10. 20:47 Multi Sport Athlete dominance and Parent education11. 22:43 Travel Ball Syndrome12. 25:00 Embedding an understanding of a path to a healthy life13. 26:57 Passing It On14. 32:30 Contributions: Develop a great squat or a great person?15. 34:54 "A Daily Intensive in Human Interactions"16. 40:32 Crafting the message and setting expectations17. 48:38 Teach the technical aspects of the gym itselfLinks:https://thebrandxmethod.thinkific.com/collectionshttps://www.instagram.com/thebrandxmethod/https://www.instagram.com/theacn.app/#highschoolathletics#highschoolcoaching#trackandfieldsport#highschoolthrowingsports#thebrandxmethod#YouthStrengthTraining#TeenFitnessTraining#TheAthleteCoachNetwork

Our guest on this week's episode is Kathy Fulton, executive director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). Twenty years ago last month, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, leaving in its wake an estimated $125 billion dollars of damage and countless lives changed. It was during this catastrophe that a group logisticians had an idea - and ALAN, the American Logistics Aid Network, was born. Our guest shares the work of ALAN and reflects on the organization's past 20 years of service to the world during times of crisis.The changing trade landscape that supply chains have experienced this year are continuing to impact where around the world products are manufactured and then sourced into the United States. And now it seems that small businesses are playing a larger role when it comes to sourcing, as companies continue to deal with the ups and downs of tariffs. This is according to a report from sourcing solutions provider Supplier.io, released this week. New research shows that e-commerce is swiftly becoming more complex than just the classic image of using your laptop to order from a website and have a product shipped to your home. Geopost, a large French last-mile and parcel delivery firm,  surveyed customers across 22 European countries for an annual study on e-commerce trends. They found that sector is changing fast, in large part because of the influence of Gen Z consumers. We tell you what differences this generation is making on online shopping.Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN)Report: Tariffs reshape sourcingGen-Z consumers drive change in e-commerce patternsVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comThis podcast episode is sponsored by: Duravant Integrated SolutionsOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYJoin the Logistics Matters team at CSCMP EDGE 2025, October 5-8 at the Gaylord in Washington, D.C. Go to CSCMP.org to find out more.

Amy Sherman guests on the Mike Austin Show on WILS-AM (1320) in Lansing where she talks about the new "Oasis" concept bar and pool at Gun Lake Casino Resort in Wayland. Mike Austin also debuts a new Amy Sherman theme song.Amy Sherman is co-host of Behind the Mitten, which this weekend will feature Gun Lake Casino, Snowbelt Brewery in Gaylord and the popular progressive dinners at Treetops Resort.Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premier travel radio show and podcast. It airs on the weekends on 22 radio stations across the state. Learn more at amyandgonzo.com.

11-18-99 Pep Rally at Rustic Inn in St Charles

Our guest on this week's episode is Doug Cantriel, the head of North American transportation for the Ford Motor Company's Customer Service Division. Accurately delivering more than 400,000 parts every night to 3,000-plus Ford automotive dealers is complex work. Charged with this daily task is the team led by Cantriel. They manage the delivery of parts from suppliers to packagers, distribution centers, and then finally to the dealers. Cantriel will be a keynote speaker at this year's EDGE conference in Washington DC that begins on October 5. Amid economic uncertainty and high prices, consumers are looking for a cost-conscious, seamless online shopping experience in 2025. That's according to data from Ryder System, Inc. The information comes from the company's 11th annual benchmark study on U.S. shopping behaviors, preferences and expectations, and it aims to help brands and retailers optimize their omnichannel sales and supply chain strategies. Ben Ames attended the Zebra conference this week in Nashville, where Zebra executives said the company is moving beyond that pure data collection function  to a broader umbrella function of analyzing the data their devices collect and finding better efficiencies across the entire supply chain enterprise. In their game plan, they will provide not just asset visibility, but also a connection to frontline workers, and ultimately, intelligent automation. Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Ford Motor CompanyE-commerce study: Shoppers prioritize cost-savings flexibilityVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comThis podcast episode is sponsored by: DHL Supply ChainOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYJoin the Logistics Matters team at CSCMP EDGE 2025, October 5-8 at the Gaylord in Washington, D.C. Go to CSCMP.org to find out more.

Ever wonder what happens when a whole bunch of financial advisors get together for a 3 day conference? If you said, “Yes”, then you need to critically analyze your “Things To Wonder About” list. Having said that, Steve, Dave, and Amy* learned a lot at their Broker Dealer's annual meeting at the Gaylord in National Harbor. We share all the information, stories, and helpful takeaways on Episode 122 of Plan For Life Now! *It only took Amy 122 episodes to be mentioned in the Pod summary. Now I have to figure out how to work her into episode 244.

Fr. Scott continues his discussion about the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods. The Diocese of Gaylord is blessed to have the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods, a unique pilgrimage site built in imitation of St. Kateri Tekakwitha on a grand scale. https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-169RR-Cross-in-the-Woods-Pt2.mp3

Our guest on this week's episode is Clete Cordero, vice president of pricing and traffic at Southeastern Freight Lines. He is also chairman of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). In July, NMFTA introduced a new system of freight classification to the trucking industry. The new system is design to streamline freight classes by basing it shipments on density and dimensions rather than on commodity type. Our guest shares how the industry is responding to the new classification system and how both shippers and carriers are adapting to it.A lot of people in transportation and logistics this week have seen the video of a shipping container accident at the Port of Long Beach, where several stacks of containers tumbled off a ship that had recently arrived at the port. Coincidently this week, a new report from the World Shipping Council urges stronger safety measures for ocean cargo. We discuss the areas where more safety is needed and what's behind the current problems.A challenging business climate is placing increased strain on procurement departments—and it's slowing their ability to respond quickly and manage risk. This is according to a report from procurement software company Oro Labs. The research findings come from the company's inaugural State of Enterprise Procurement Ability Report. We share some of the report's findings. Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Southeastern Freight LinesNational Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA)WSC flags gaps in cargo safety checks for ocean freightReport: Procurement under pressureVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comThis podcast episode is sponsored by: DHL Supply ChainOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYJoin the Logistics Matters team at CSCMP EDGE 2025, October 5-8 at the Gaylord in Washington, D.C. Go to CSCMP.org to find out more.

In this episode, Anna Rose and Guillermo Angeris speak with Bobbin Threadbare and Gaylord Warner from Miden to explore their zkVM and edge blockchain architecture. The group also reminisces on how they've each been a part of the ZK Whiteboard Sessions over the years. Bobbin shares Miden's earliest beginnings from Winterfell at Facebook through its development within Polygon to the recent spin-out as an independent project. The team discusses their custom ISA designed for blockchain use cases, and the multi-stage compilation pipeline that supports it. The conversation also covers Miden's pragmatic approach to privacy implementation, their plans for gradual decentralization starting with a centralized L2, and how they incentivize users to keep state off-chain through multidimensional fee structures. Related links: ZK Whiteboard Episode 373: Ethproofs, zkVM Benchmarks & the Unstoppable Rise of ZK with Justin Drake Episode 369: Ligero for Memory-Efficient ZK with Muthu Episode 367: Local-First with grjte and Goblin Oats Episode 365: ZK in Sui & zkAt with Kostas Kryptos Episode 210: The Road to STARKs and Miden with Bobbin Threadbare ZK Whiteboard Sessions - Module Four: SNARKs vs STARKs with Bobbin Threadbare ZK13: Lifted FRI: A uniform multi-domain polynomial commitment scheme ZK Study Club - STARKs overview - Session 4  ZK Hack Berlin Winterfell Fruity Friends Check out the NEW ZK Whiteboard Season 3 here. **If you like what we do:**

Katherine *AND VIOLET RYAN* are Telling Everybody Everything about 'The American Royal Wedding' also known as the engagement heard round the world as Travis Kelce pops the question to Taylor Swift. 'Your English Teacher and Your Gym Teacher are getting married'. This Swiftie Special has everything - from when and where they got engaged to the importance of full glam for the occasion. The Ring, Celeb Reactions, PreNups, The Takes, The Gaylord and Wild Wedding Speculations JAM PACK this episode with Taylor intel and just the right amount of Violet Ryan Gen Z spice. x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Diocese of Gaylord is blessed to have the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods, a unique pilgrimage site built in imitation of St. Kateri Tekakwitha on a grand scale. Fr. Scott is joined by 3 special guests this week to talk about about the Shrine and its impact.https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-168RR-Cross-in-the-Woods-Pt1.mp3

Our guest on this week's episode is John Lash, group vice president of product strategy at e2open. Last week the de minimis exemption ended. This tariff exemption applied to imports on low-value goods. Our guest shares how its loss will affect supply chains and impact small importers in particular. Will this limit consumer choice?There was some steady movement in recent years for adopting electric vehicles, but now with course changes in Washington, it seems that EVs have hit some speed bumps. While growth continues, it has slowed compared to adoption in other countries. We look at both the growth of both electric automobiles and industrial trucks and the factors affecting the advancement of EVs in the American market. How do supply chain managers measure performance and try to get a little better year after year? And how do you measure your contractors' performance and make sure they meet your standards? The answer is often KPIs, key performance indicators. It's a way to pick a measurable part of the process that you put a number on, and track its progress. But it turns out that various sectors throughout the economy use KPIs in different ways to measure and improve their supply chain performance.  Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:e2openReport: U.S. EV market matures despite headwindsRXO says use of KPIs varies by industry sectorVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comThis podcast episode is sponsored by: DHL Supply ChainOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYJoin the Logistics Matters team at CSCMP EDGE 2025, October 5-8 at the Gaylord in Washington, D.C. Go to CSCMP.org to find out more.

 Are you a widget for Wall Street? The shop reveals why it's so important to shop with a financial advisor that's got real skin in the game before diving into Revere's new Maximus strategy along with a thorough review of the market's incoming Spitball September (with a nod to legendary major league pitcher Gaylord […] The post Rate Cuts Incoming? How to Hit Home Runs in Spitball September | Your Money Podcast – Episode 561 appeared first on Revere Asset Management.

This episode of Behind the Mitten finds us back in our second "home" of Gaylord Michigan, along with our co-host, and director of the Gaylord Tourism Bureau, Paul Beachnau. A regular on the show, and one of our best buddies, Paul takes around Gaylord, to spots both brand new, and old favorites. Come along as we go all outdoors, and a little bit inside, in Gaylord Michigan.Did you know that you can see elk literally right downtown Gaylord? It's a true story, and they've just built an awesome new viewing platform that you can get incredible vistas of these majestic animals that is located just minutes from I-75. Paul takes us on a tour, and record on-site. The elk herd in Gaylord is about 60 strong....and these animals, which can weigh upwards of 800 pounds and stand six feet tall, are particulary engaging.....or alarming....in the fall, when the bugling and rutting reaches a peak. Perfect time to stop by, or to do a deeper dive viewing the elk at the nearby Pigeon River State Forest. Where to find all the amazing elk in Gaylord Michigan, and how to view them best.Next, we hit the local disco where we find sparkling gems to dance the night away to. OK, that might be a stretch, but what we encountered was equally awesome...and sparkly. We catch up with regular Mark Copeland from Jay's Sporting Goods  who always knows the coolest equipment, the best seasonal wear, and just what Michiganders need each season. We learn about the fascinating Yooperlites, those crazy glo-in-the-dark rocks that are causing obsessions around the state. Jay's has some super cool gear to help you find them, plus tons more for all your fall adventures. Next, another BTM regular, and great friend, Jordan Awrey comes back to chat about all things Snowbelt Brewing, where he is officially their marketing manager, and unofficially the "mayor" of Gaylord. Please don't be offended actual Mayor Todd, it's just that Jordan is such a great cheerleader of Gaylord, and turns that passion into action, in the form of their summer concert series and so much more. We always love to hear what Jordan has planned next, because it's honestly always amazing.Finally, a visit to Gaylord would NOT be complete without a visit to Michigan's Most Spectacular Resort, Treetops. We love using Treetops as a base for exploring Northern Michigan, we love joining friends at the resort for pizza in the pub, or for skiing or EXTREME tubing during the season.The fall, they are offering a series of Fall Progressive Dinners at Treetops that we would be beyond happy to attend. Book your tickets now, and you will be delighted not just by the seasonal menu, but also by the incredible autumnal views that you'll get to take in via your very own golf cart tour as you cruise the award-winning courses at Treetops while enjoying a cocktail and snacks. No need to swing your club this time, just drive along with a guide who will give you the deets on this incredible spot. Then, converge at the top of the hill at Legends restaurant for a mulit-course meal. Barry Ownes, GM of Treetops gives us all the tips on bookjng this experience. https://www.facebook.com/behindthemittenhttps://www.instagram.com/behindthemitten_/https://twitter.com/BehindTheMitten#BTM #amyandgonzo #BehindtheMitten And you can find all sorts of things on our website, https://www.amyandgonzo.com/

Join host Amy Sherman on this episode of "Behind the Mitten" as she sits down with Brian Smith, the Food and Beverage Director at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, to explore an extraordinary culinary experience that celebrates Michigan's vibrant autumn season.Discover the magic behind the Fall Color Tour and Progressive Dinner, a unique event that pairs the breathtaking fall foliage of Northern Michigan with exquisite cuisine and local beverages.Brian Smith shares insights into the creative process behind the event, where guests embark on a leisurely golf cart journey across the Jones Masterpiece Golf Course. Along the way, they savor Michigan-made beer and wine, accompanied by fall-themed hors d'oeuvres, all while capturing the stunning views of the resort's colorful landscape.Dinners are: Friday, October 3rd and Saturday, October 4th and Friday, October 10th.The event is just $154 per person. The price includes FIVE drink tastingsand all taxes and fees. Whether you're a foodie, a nature lover, or simply seeking a unique getaway, this episode will inspire you to experience the autumnal beauty and culinary delights at Treetops Resort.Tune in to discover how Treetops Resort is redefining the fall season with this sensory sensation, and get ready to plan your visit to Michigan's most spectacular resort.Seating is limited. To reserve a Treetops Resort Getaway anytime of year visit www.treetops.com or call 888-TREETOPS.

APMA in 2025 hosted "The National" at the Gaylord in Dallas, TX!   Dean's Chat, once again, went, "On Location"! This episode is sponsored by Bako Diagnostics, that graciously shared their booth with Dean's Chat! Dr. Johanna Richey interviewed many attendees discussing the scientific meeting, the networking, the collaboration and comaraderie withing the podiatric community.  Tune in for short interviews, this Part 2 episode consists of interviews on July 16, 2025.  Enjoy!  It was an incredible meeting for all!

Our guest on this week's episode is Scott Cornell, vice president, National Practice Lead—Transportation and Inland Marine at Travelers. Summer will soon be wrapping up, but the heat of summer will be around for a few more weeks yet, at least. Too much of that heat can destroy food and other products while they are in transit. How can we protect temperature-controlled cargo? We have some tips. As we approach peak season, a new survey shows that the supply chain sector is actually feeling more confident in their fulfillment systems for 2025 than they were in 2024. The research shows that 84% expressed confidence in their fulfillment systems for 2025, compared to the 70% of executives who entered peak season confident last year.Conditions in the truckload freight market have remained stable this year but coming peak-season shipping activity is likely to test that stability. This is according to some recent data from freight brokerage RXO, which released its latest quarterly Curve report earlier this month. We share the results of that research and what it may mean for pricing and truckload capacity. Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Travelers Special Investigations GroupSurvey shows supply chain pros are confident for peak season 2025Report reveals measured truckload market recoveryVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: DHL Supply ChainOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYJoin the Logistics Matters team at CSCMP EDGE 2025, October 5-8 at the Gaylord in Washington, D.C. Go to CSCMP.org to find out more.

Why we Love Jay's Sporting Goods"Trust the Tradition" - Bonus PodcastAug. 29, 2025Join John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman of Behind the Mitten as they spend some time at Jay's Sporting Goods in Gaylord. Jay's has been an outdoors lover's paradise since it first opened in 1971 in Clare, Michigan.On this special bonus podcast, Gonzo and Amy visit a satellite location in Gaylord with their friend and special guest co-host, Paul Beachnau from the Gaylord Tourism Bureau.In this episode, General Manager Mark Copeland gives them an exclusive tour of his store. Among many of the latest toys and gadgets for hiking, fishing and hunting, they discover the fascinating world of Yooperlites, unique glowing rocks that are a true treasure of the Upper Peninsula.Tune in for an adventure filled with local insights and hidden gems!Learn more about Jay's at jayssportinggoods.com.Learn more about Gaylord at gaylordmichigan.net.Learn more about Behind the Mitten at amyandgonzo.com.

What's up, Gaylords?? (← texas reference)This week, Lindy and Meagan hit the dusty trails again with their tiny influencer mics. That's right. These two BBWs take BBW flights to Dallas, Texas for Podcast Movement, the only movement. And where else would they rest their gorgeous heads but at THE Gaylord Texan? The place where the DALLAS COWBOY CHEERLEADERS live??So we're networking, we're being networked at, we're eating chicken, we're eating pickles. A-plot? No spoilers, but it involves a zip line. Plus, Lindy's SECRET b-plot/MYSTERY!!!

APMA in 2025 hosted "The National" at the Gaylord in Dallas, TX!   Dean's Chat, once again, went, "On Location"!   This episode is sponsored by Bako Diagnostics, who graciously shared their booth with Dean's Chat! Dr. Johanna Richey interviewed many attendees discussing the scientific meeting, the networking, the collaboration and comaraderie withing the podiatric community.  Tune in for short interviews, Part 1 consists of interviews on July 15, 2025. Part 2, to be released next week, consists of interviews on July 16, 2025. Enjoy!  It was an incredible meeting for all!

The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and Supply Chain Xchange  bring you this podcast filled with deep industry discussions. We talk to today's top thought innovators, spanning topics across the entire supply chain. Supply Chain in the Fast Lane fast tracks topics you need to know from leaders you want to know.In this Sixth Season of eight episodes, we look at The Top Threats to our Supply ChainsSEASON 6 :Top Supply Chain ThreatsEPISODE 8: The Risks of Transportation DisuruptionsCharlie Maynard, senior manager of industry solution at HERE Technologies, explores transportation-related disruptions and three ways companies can mitigate those disruptions in the short term and long term.Guest: Charlie Maynard, senior manager of industry solution at HERE TechnologiesModerator: Diane Rand, managing editor, Supply Chain XchangeSupply Chain in the Fast Lane is sponsored by:HERE TechnologiesLinksLearn more about CSCMPJoin the CSCMP communityCSCMP's Supply Chain XchangeSubscribe to CSCMP's Supply Chain XchangeSign up for our FREE newslettersListen to our sister podcast, Logistics MattersAdvertise with CSCMP's Supply Chain XchangeJoin the Supply Chain in the Fast Lane team at CSCMP EDGE 2025, October 5-8 at the Gaylord in Washington, D.C. Go to CSCMP.org to find out more.

Our guest on this week's episode is Chris Steiner, senior vice president of product management at Dematic. In the past, automation was often viewed as nice to have. But in these days of customer expectations for speed and shortages of available workers, automation is now a "must have." We often think of automation just being placed into shiny new facilities, but a lot can be done to automate existing legacy facilities. Our guests shares about the benefits of implementations in existing "brownfield" facilities and suggests tips for making them successful. The trucking industry is asking the federal government to accelerate recent efforts to ensure safety on the nation's highways; this is in reaction to a Florida crash involving a freight truck making an illegal U-turn on an interstate. The crash left three people dead. Trucking organizations are asking to suspend states' authority to issue non-domiciled CDLs (commercial driving licenses), which some states provide to non-U.S. citizens or out-of-state applicants under certain circumstances. The driver involved in the deadly crash had this type of CDL.Robotics technology has been developing really quickly in recent years, and it's been finding new applications in logistics. One of the newest areas where this is happening is in humanoid robots, which move around walking on two legs instead of rolling on wheels, and use two arms to grab totes and boxes. This week we saw some news about one of the latest advancements in the area, which is using artificial intelligence to allow them to learn new skills or movements from demonstrations by humans, instead of by following software code.Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:DematicIndustry praises fed highway safety efforts but asks for moreBoston Dynamics upgrades AI for its walking robotVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Storage SolutionsOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYJoin the Logistics Matters team at CSCMP EDGE 2025, October 5-8 at the Gaylord in Washington, D.C. Go to CSCMP.org to find out more.

What if leadership wasn't about authority, but about how well you serve others? What if the secret to motivating teams and building cultures was hospitality? In this episode, we sit down with inspirational speaker, coach, and author Taylor Scott to explore the game-changing ideas in his book, Lead with Hospitality: Be Human. Emotionally Connect. Serve Selflessly. Drawing from his experiences at Walt Disney World, Wynn, Gaylord, and as a leadership consultant, Taylor shares how emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and selfless service are the foundation of truly transformational leadership.

Join co-hosts John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman on this episode of "Behind the Mitten," recorded on Monday, August 18th. They sit down with community organizer and marketing guru Jordan Awrey from Snowbelt Brewery in Gaylord, Michigan. Discover how Jordan orchestrates the beloved summer concert series that draws thousands every Friday night. Plus, get the inside scoop on this weekend's classic car show, a must-see event for car enthusiasts. Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with local insights and exciting happenings in Michigan!This weekend in Gaylord:Driving Dawn will be taking the stage at 7PM Friday, Aug. 22 in Gaylord. Admission is free. Bring your own lawn chair. More details on the Downtown Gaylord Summer Concert Series Facebook page. The Old 27 Motor Tour is at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. Main Street will be closed from South Otsego Ave. to North Otsego Ave. for the classic car show. They will depart at approximately 1:00 p.m. with a Police Escort.Downtown Gaylord Sidewalk Sales are Friday, August 22 through Saturday, August 23, 2025.Plan your vacation to Gaylord at gaylordmichigan.net. 

Dateline New Haven: Gaylord Salters' Double GI by WNHH Community Radio

In this episode, Joe Gaylord, EVP and CFO of Fairview Health Services, shares how the organization achieved its first operating profit in six years through operational discipline, workforce stability, expanded access to care, and innovative programs that improve outcomes while lowering costs.

Our guest on this week's episode is Joel Wayment, VP/GM at Cardinal Health Third Party Logistics and Packaging Solutions. We are definitely in the dog days of summer and in just about every part of the country we are really feeling the heat. While many people like to soak up the sun's rays, high temperatures are not so welcome for the pharmaceuticals we rely on to stay healthy every day. A lot of drugs have to be kept at strict temperatures to remain effective. But how challenging is it to assure proper conditions as drugs move through our supply chains? Our guest offers his expertise on how to assure the safety of important drugs while transiting summer heat.Incidents of cargo theft are on the rise. One of the most recent pieces of evidence is a report from supply chain visibility and risk analysis firm Overhaul. The company's United States Q2-2025 Cargo Theft Report found that cargo theft rose 33% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025. That continues a steady climb in such incidents over the past few years. And they expect thefts to increase in the coming months of peak season.According to the management consulting firm Kearney, the global food system is breaking away from traditional operating models as companies are struggling to protect their operating margins. Rising costs of food production are having major impacts on the food supply chain. We discuss the problems and possible solutions.Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Cardinal HealthReport: Q2 cargo theft up 33% year-over-yearKearney: Global food system in midst of an overhaulLogistics industry growth slowed in JulyVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Storage SolutionsOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYJoin the Logistics Matters team at CSCMP EDGE 2025, October 5-8 at the Gaylord in Washington, D.C. Go to CSCMP.org to find out more.

Our guest on this week's episode is James Shefelbine, principal at PraxiChain Consulting. Last week it was announced that Union Pacific Railroad has entered into an agreement to acquire Norfolk Southern. Aside from creating a true transcontinental railroad, it greatly would expand the reach of this historic rail company. But not everyone is onboard with the merger. Who is in favor and who is opposed? What's the likelihood the deal is approved and how might it affect shippers? Our guest offers his expert insights.For the past three years or so, the U.S. truckload industry has been stuck in a freight recession, with demand weakening quarter after quarter. Now, there's debate over whether that freight recession may be over, but even if it is, the sector faces a long uphill climb to get back to where it once was. We report on some new statistics and analysis.Economic activity expanded across the logistics industry in July, driven by strong activity among middle-mile firms that are bearing the brunt of efforts to stay ahead of trade-related uncertainties. That's according to the latest Logistics Managers' Index (LMI) report, which was released this week. Will the expansion continue or was this activity due mostly to a surge of imports trying to beat tariff deadlines?Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series is now available on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. It covers topics including Geopolitical Risks, Economic Instability, Cybersecurity Risks, Threats to energy and electric grids; Supplier Risks, and Transportation Disruptions  Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:PraxiChain ConsultingWoozy US freight market shows best gains in three yearsClass 8 truck orders post 7th consecutive monthly year-over-year decreaseLogistics industry growth slowed in JulyVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Storage SolutionsOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYJoin the Logistics Matters team at CSCMP EDGE 2025, October 5-8 at the Gaylord in Washington, D.C. Go to CSCMP.org to find out more.Join the Logistics Matters team at CSCMP EDGE 2025, October 5-8 at the Gaylord in Washington, D.C. Go to CSCMP.org to find out more.

This week we revisit an episode featuring Fr. Scott with Fr. Ben Rexroat, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Gaylord, and Renee Shimmel, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Gaylord. They discuss the importance of promoting vocations and some exciting events from last year in the Diocese.For current vocations events in the Diocese of Gaylord visit: https://dioceseofgaylord.org/events/vocationshttps://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-141RR-Vocations.mp3

LoveBabz LoveTalk: Gaylord Salters, Double G.I. by WNHH Community Radio

Whoever says that Michigan doesn't have the fire is about to be proven wrong. Today's guest is a keeper not only of insane Prop 215 lore, but also one of the real-deal pioneers of the medical and recreational scene in MI, actively setting the standard for A-1 smoke and the right way to get it into the hands of the people 7 days of the week.Blackleaf is joined back in the FSOTD studio by the legend himself, Andrew Thomas, of Exclusive Brands, to discuss the late 90s and early 2000s, bouncing around LA and visiting places like the iconic dab bar at Kind Meds, as well as Michigan's claims to fame in terms of Chem, OG, and Gas genetics, the prominence of customers driving in from border states like Ohio and Illinois to get MI prices and premium flower options, as well as the future of the industry in terms of interstate commerce, and safe, traditional banking, marketing access, and so much more.For those unaware, Exclusive Brands is a vertically-integrated retailer with (currently) seven shops running across the state including in Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Monroe, Muskegon, Lowell, Coldwater, Lapeer, and Gaylord. Their portfolio includes their in-house labels like Concentrate Kings, Strain Kings, Terpene Tanks, Magic Edibles, and more, offering a full range of products from flower and vapes to edibles and concentrates. Exclusive emphasizes quality and transparency with lab-tested products and educates consumers through rewards, weekly deals, and (most importantly) knowledgeable and attentive staff, with an expansive line of merchandise and in-house product. You'll also get to hear about how they became the first in the state to get the licensing to manufacture and distribute major California stables like Kushy Punch. And even the story about how Andrew's partner eventually even acquisitioning the Kushy Punch brand after it had a very public legal fallout. We're not joking when we say that this episode is JUICY in terms of free game and crazy stories surrounding partnerships, trapping, building the dream team, expanding into 5+ shops, and how to keep a lid on it with an almost religious connection to customer service paired with aggressively competitive prices. From producing mixtapes with The Game and countless other hip-hop legends as a teenager to diving headfirst into California's early Prop 215 days to absorb the culture, set up shop, trap it out, and then bring all the knowledge back to Michigan the minute Medical hit, it's almost impossible not to learn something valuable from this conversation with Andrew if you're a hustler or even just a passionate fan of the plant. Hit the play button, kick back until the end, and you'll thank us later. Visit Exclusivemi.com to learn more about everything you're missing out on in the Michigan scene.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can't find anywhere else. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pitchers with the most wins in the 1970's is a grocery list of Hall of Famers. Gaylord, Carlton, Fergie & Catfish to name just a few… but on the cover of Sports Illustrated July 21, 1975 were two other future Hall of Famers who SI called Baseball's Toughest Pitchers: Tom Seaver and Jim Palmer. After they each won the Cy Young Award in 1973, both of these aces suffered through injury-plagued, down seasons in 1974. Palmer was 7-12 in 26 starts while Tom Terrific was 11-11 while throwing the fewest innings of his then 8-year career.  Healthy again in '75, the two #1's were back at the top of their games… and both would go on to win the Cy Young again in 75, the 3rd for Seaver and the 2nd for Palmer who would match Seaver with his 3rd a year later. Palmer would end the decade with 186 wins, the most in the 70's while Seaver would finish tied for 3rd with 178. They were the best of the best and cementing a resume that would end with both of them in Cooperstown. Mike Torrez was every bit as tough as the two cover guys. Starting his career with the Cardinals, Torrez came into his own after he was dealt to Montreal in 1971. He won 16 games for the Expos in '72 and another 15 in '74… but it was in 1975 when it all came together for the winningest Mexican pitcher of all-time. Teaming with Palmer, Torrez had a sensational season going 20-9 with a 3.06 ERA over 270 innings of work. He started 36 games and completed 16 of them. It would be his only season in Baltimore but it was one to remember for the righty from Topeka, Kansas. A year later he won 16 games in Oakland before another sensational season in New York with the Yankees. After a regular season that saw Torrez win 17 games, 14 of them in pinstripes, Torrez had an October to remember. And if it weren't for a historic performance from Mr. October himself, more would remember how brilliant Torrez was in the Yankees World Series win over the Dodgers. With the series tied at 1-1 heading to Los Angles, Torrez matched up against Tommy John, Torrez went the distance in a 5-3 win over L.A. striking out 9. Just 4 days later, Torrez got the start again and behind Reggie Jackson's 3 home runs, and another complete game win out of Torrez, the Yankees were champions again… their first title since 1962. Reggie was the MVP of the series but Torrez could have easily won that with his 2 CG wins over Tommy Lasorda's club. From there, this tough hombre would go to Boston where he would win more games in his career than any other club in his big league career before ending his 18 year career with Tom Seaver and the Mets and then 2 games with the A's in 1984.  But it was the 70's where he was one of the best, winning 134 games that decade, 15th most in all of baseball, and certainly proving he was one of the toughest pitchers in the game. Looking back on his career, Torrez tells us that Bob Gibson had an integral part in his success, teaching him how to throw his famous slider. Torrez bookends that by sharing how he went to bat for a young Mets pitcher to make the club out of Spring Training, even though it might mean the end of his time in the majors. Torrez told the GM, you gotta let this kid make the team… this kid is ready. This kid was Doc Gooden. Torrez talks about both Palmer and Seaver as pitchers… about Weaver and Martin as managers. About winning those two games with the Yankees in the Series… and about losing to the Yanks a year later when Bucky Dent hit one over the wall in Game 163. The ups, the downs, the highs and the lows… Torrez went through it all, and tells us all about them… on the Past Our Prime podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BJ thought the last day for the Hooter's he likes to go to was last Friday. Turns out it had closed down a few weeks prior, so he headed over to the Twin Peaks. He felt embarrassed with himself. Shannon Sharpe settled his lawsuit. It is not clear if he will return to TV or not. A tragic accident occured over the weekend. Dog the Bounty Hunter's step son accidently shot his own son. Everyone on the internet was trolling for as much information as they could about the CEO and HR person from Coldplay Kiss Cam fiasco. Jamie's son got hit with a 250 dollar speeding ticket. Caron's wife and kid were out of town this weekend. He was pumped at how clean his house was. A man wearing a 20lb chain necklace barged his way into an area with an MRI machine that was scanning his wife. The machine sucked his necklace to the machine and the man later died. BJ had a great time people watching out at the pool area in the Gaylord.

Caron's wife and kid were out of town this weekend. He was pumped at how clean his house was. A man wearing a 20lb chain necklace barged his way into an area with an MRI machine that was scanning his wife. The machine sucked his necklace to the machine and the man later died. BJ had a great time people watching out at the pool area in the Gaylord.

BJ had a great time people watching out at the pool area in the Gaylord.

Join eTown for Part One of this special Earth Day birthday show featuring musical guests Trevor Hall and Max Gomez as well as a deep dive into the archives to replay Nick's conversation with the originator of Earth Day - Senator Gaylord Nelson. That's all this week on eTown! Visit our Youtube Channel to see artist interviews, live recordings, studio sessions, and more! Be a part of the audience at our next recording: https://www.etown.org/etown-hall/all-events/ Your support helps us bring concerts, tapings and conversations to audiences while fostering connection through music, ideas and community. If you'd like to support eTown's mission to educate, entertain and inspire a diverse audience through music and conversation, please consider a donation: https://www.etown.org/get-involved/donate-orig/.