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July 12, 2005 |
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HOW I GOT WHERE I'M AT by Suzanne Bledsoe Once again, we were treated to engaging and interesting stories from three of our fellow club members. Edwin Peacock's informative and humorous introduction of Carlos Sanchez, Meg McElwain and Bryan Moore set the stage for a fun-filled HIGWIA program. Carlos Sanchez led the way by thanking Marilynn Bowler for making sure he had the opportunity to tell his story. He got our attention when he said he planned to do so in Spanish (!). Just kidding, thankfully. Carlos hails from Colombia, South America and has been in this country off and on since the early 1980s. He is married to Diana and they have two sons, ages 7 and 8. Carlos and Diana first met as teenagers in Colombia, dated, moved apart, met again in Miami, dated and moved apart again and finally got back together in Colombia and married. The third time was the charm! Carlos began his career in television broadcasting with his family's business, helping produce travel programs around the world. He continued in that business by starting a cable TV program in the 1990s offering Latin American broadcasting, which he later sold. His career evolved to include telecommunications and eventually resulted in his current position with BellSouth here in Charlotte where he is Head of the Division of External Affairs for Mecklenburg County. Carlos and his wife, Diana, are very involved with their sons' school, Collinswood, which offers a bilingual program. In addition, Carlos hosts a program on WTVI for the Latin American Community, he is former chairman of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce and is a Board Member for the Arts and Science Council as well as CPCC Foundation. Carlos and his family love living in Charlotte and hope to continue to be a vital part of our community. Up next, Meg McElwain, owner and founder of Magnolia Marketing was born in Ripley, Mississippi and grew up in Grenada, Mississippi. She comes from a long line of public servants, with parents and grandparents serving in the Mississippi legislature. While her mother was the town librarian, Meg's real claim to fame is that her grandmother is a former Betty Crocker Homemaker of the Year! Meg graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in radio, television and public relations. She moved to Charlotte in 1998 and worked in sales and marketing for the PR Store. In 2003, she realized her dream of working for herself and established Magnolia Marketing, providing public relations and marketing services to organizations in and around Mecklenburg County. Meg is a 4th generation Rotarian (the only female!) and is involved in the community by serving on the Boards of the Hornets Nest Girl Scouts Council and Keep Mecklenburg County Beautiful. She also volunteers with Big Sister/Big Brother and Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation . Meg lives in Dilworth with her dog, Tinkerbell, and her cat, Rudy. She enjoys exercising, cooking and going home to Mississippi. She is also dreaming of a career on Broadway, singing! Last, but certainly not least, Bryan Moore shared with us an overview of some life lessons he has learned. Bryan was born and raised in Norwich, New York and much of what he has learned thus far in life was gleaned from family life in a small town. As a young child, Brian learned the importance of faith and fellowship and, to that point, asked us all to greet and shake hands with someone near us that we didn't know. Other life lessons that he has learned include determination from a much larger and older brother, leadership from coaches, parents, teachers and friends, how to succeed in business from various mentors, hospitality (the 10/5 rule…at 10 feet, make eye contact and at 5 feet or less, speak!), empathy, and the importance of humor. These lessons have made him a better parent and spouse, allowing him to focus on the importance of building and maintaining relationships. In his next life, Brian wants to be a football coach at the beach! Head Table: Carlos Sanchez, Meg McElwain, Herb Harriss, Edwin Peacock, Bryan Moore, Joni David, John Nicolay Visitors & Guests: Invocation: Suzanne Bledsoe, Visitors & Guests: Mick Goodfellow; Health & Happiness: Fred Brown; Song: Gregg Walker
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Copyright © 1998-2005. The Rotary Club of Charlotte. All rights reserved.
Revised: January 24, 2008.