10 Years at FIVE STAR

Today I celebrate my 10th year at FIVE STAR.

The industry has changed so much since when I first started.  No more VHS tapes and miles and miles of press kit files.  Good bye to big boxes being carried to the post office.

During the past ten years I have seen, spoken to and gotten to know some really great people. I'll never forget when Chubby Checker sang to me "Hey Good Looking" when I called about a date or recently when LaDonna Gatlin shared a lullaby when she was holding one of her grandchildren and talking to me about an upcoming program.  Arnold Shaprio gave me the honor of holding one of his Oscars.  (Yes, they really are that heavy!) Jim Tunney has accused me of stealing his Super Bowl ring, only to found it later in his luggage!Sharing pregnancy and early motherhood stories with Christine Cashen. Swooning over Yossi Ghinsberg and Richard Paul Evans.  I've hit the town with Rory Rowland and The Scary Guy. Danced and laughed with Brinnon & Marks, David Naster, Mark Mayfield, Juliet Funt, Michel Aronin and Tom Ryan (who tried to break my camera in a hotel lobby in San Antonio) I've broken bread with the likes Ken Kragen, Jan McInnis and Randy Snow to name only a few.  I've been inspired by Alan Law, Tim Sanders and Brian Tracy (again to name only a few).  Got to meet and/or talk to personal heroes like Alan Bean and Rick Searfoss.  I have had the honor of managing and working with some really great people (and speakers) like Brian Biro, Justin Berry, Emory Austin, Jim Jacobus and Don Reynolds.  Not to mention founding the Dick Ruhe Admiration Society.  I've shared OCD stories with Kent Rader and Kelly McDonald (yes, my calendar is on May right now!)

Last, but definitely not least, Harris Faulkner. If it were not for her, my family would most likely not know the love of God in our lives. Her book and story changed my life forever in ways I'll never know.

Best of all, I've had the honor of matching these wonderful people with some of the greatest companies that give us the honor of working with them year after year after year.  I'd mention their names here, but I haven't gotten their permission and don't want to overstep their trust.  If you are reading this . . . you know who you are!  Without you, I wouldn't have the richness that is my life.  So a big thank you to you as well.

Thank you all (those mentioned above and those I left out - you know who you are!) for your love, support, friendship and for just being who you are!

(Blogger Note: I know that there are tons of other people (and their support teams) that have touched my life in the last ten years and I apologize now if I didn't mention your name specifically.)