The first day of the Owen MBA Welcome Weekend, I have no idea how I survived

by Jared on April 21st, 2007

This weekend, I am in Nashville for a preview of what’s to come in August.

After working a half day and arriving in Nashville 3 hours late, I was seriously ready take to take a nap. Unfortunately, that was not to happen.

A quick press of my suit and some preening (yes, I preen - get over it) and I think I am ready.  It turns out, though, that nothing can prepare you for this kind of experience.

With all of the months of research, interviews, the GMAT and an assortment of neurotic panic attacks, I walked into Owen’s business school building and it all slammed down on me - this is real.

Luckily, I think the feeling placed me in good company.

The general consensus was that we were all having a great time meeting person after person and trying desperately to remember each other’s names. Tips, questions and handshakes flew faster than I had ever seen at any previous networking event.

The verdict? In the words of one of my esteemed co-workers, “It’s a good thing.”

Travel Log: On the Road, Again

by Jared on September 26th, 2006

Currently reporting from my hotel room in the Crowne Plaza - Foster City, CA

If you happen to be one of the 3 people that check this site regularly, you will have probably noticed a lack of activity on my part.

You can attribute that break to the GMAT, which I took last week and have been dealing with the 6 weeks worth of “to-do’s” that have been piling up ever since I began studying.

Though my second attempt at the GMAT didn’t exactly turn out the way I had hopped, I was still able to at least attempt another shot at a higher score. What’s more; I returned from the test center to find a chance to once again hit the skies on behalf of my company.

This time, I am off to San Francisco for an internal meeting with one of our key industry partners, a well-known financial giant, on a part of their 2007 marketing plans. As you can imagine, after 4 hours in the GMAT testing center, I was glad to go anywhere as long as it had windows.

Never having been to San Francisco, I am eager to take the time that I do have to go out and explore the city so I will make this a brief post. I will also take this time to tell you I am here with one of my favorite co-workers who I never get to see so you are probably going to get at least one interesting story out of this ;-).

Travel Log: A Pocketful of Hot Leads & One Damn Good Chicken Relleno

by Jared on September 16th, 2006

Tiring is one way to describe the last few days here in Colorado. Exciting, engaging and completely exhausting would probably be better descriptors, however.

Picking up where I left off in my first post; I was able to get at least some work done between the mornings’ opening session and the lunchtime presentation. The afternoon found me dropping in on a couple of lecture sessions as well as doing some light networking.
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Travel Log: Barbeque, Mountains & Big Honkin’ Checks

by Jared on September 15th, 2006

Currently reporting from the Starshmucks in the middle of Copper Mountain Resort, Colorado.

Ok, so in all fairness it’s a really nice coffee shop with huge windows, looking out on the majesty of the Rocky Mountains. Besides the fact it’s a Starshmucks, it’s really not that bad. In fact, I have some time to kill now that I just ducked out of the morning conference session and it seems like as good a place as any to send out my travel log post.

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“The world’s most entertaining live billboard”

by Jared on May 16th, 2006

In the hotel industry, competition for business travelers has been fierce. The battleground has been primarily reserved in super-chick hotel concepts such as the “W” hotel chain by Starwood and through what I can only describe as a “mine is bigger” premium bedding competition (i.e. Westin’s Heavenly Bed and The Sleep Number Bed at Radisson Hotels). No matter where you go, every hotel chain is trying to outdo each other with promises of a peaceful night sleep.

Personally, give me a clean room, an old, classic hotel with classic service and I will be in heaven.

I digress though…enter the Heavyweight; Marriott Hotels and Resorts. Not only have these guys designed their own bed, but they are also making a major marketing play for the young professional market.

Marriott is indeed going MUCH farther with an entire room designed around the needs of the younger, more technology and ergonomically aware consumer.

The way their doing this is through the mSpot, a mobile hotel room complete with a stage on top. It’s currently touring the country and introducing itself to corporate expense accounts everywhere by way of massive block parties and VIP tours. I caught up with the mSpot in New Orleans where it had lined up a host of local talent including Kermit Ruffins, Jeremy Davenport and Ingrid Lucia for a massive Canal Street party coinciding with JazzFest.

When I toured the room, John ‘Spud’ McConnell (a local celebrity and character actor most remembered for his “Stay out the Woolworth” line in O’ Brother, Where Art Thou?) was there chilling out in what I can only describe as one of the most comfortable looking club chairs imaginable. It was a great touch given that around New Orleans, this guy’s popularity and likeability is somewhere up there around grits and gravy. So, as Spud made classic New Orleans quips and showed us around the room, I couldn’t help but notice that the room had every cool amenity known to mankind.

First the electronics…Appealing to massive techno-geeks like myself, the room has a full desk console complete with widescreen TV. Now, you might say that is par-for-the-course these days but what hotel do you know of that has a handy, arms-length series of connector ports where you can use it as your monitor. The room also has a touchpad safe built into your desk drawer to stash the laptop, which is a nice touch.

Completing the room is stylish decor, ergonomic lights, a swivel desk and a bathroom Caesar could die for (or so I am told, the show version of the mSpot comes sans royal throne).

Now, at this point I have to direct your attention to the fact that the mSpot New Orleans may have fallen short of its intended audience. The block party itself was incredible but I didn’t really see that many press outside. In fact, I may have been the only person that could even mildly pass as press which is a big concern given I am a bit bias towards Marriott in this case.

Something tells me though with the line of VIP’s waiting to take a tour, there wasn’t much of a need for press. Besides, when’s the last time the AP put up for a premium suite?

Travel Log - Day 5: Final Day Of JazzFest

by Jared on May 9th, 2006

Music by Wanda Rouzen and The Dixie Cups close out the magic of JazzFest. The hat, once again, makes an appearance. Thanks so much for all of you who have watched - VIVA Nawlins!

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Podsafe Music:
“Drive” by Jimmie Bratcher
http://www.jimmiebratcher.com/

Travel Log - Day 4: JazzFest Sponsorships And Marketers

by Jared on May 9th, 2006

Adventures trying to get to the festival, profiling Miller Lite and Huckabuck, two different promotional styles, why does Jared has mysterious white stuff on his nose?

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Links:
http://www.huckabuck.com
Yahoo! News - Marriott’s mSpot - Nola

Podsafe Music:
“Happy” by Jimmie Bratcher
http://www.jimmiebratcher.com/

Travel Log - Day 3: Check-In After Conference

by Jared on May 8th, 2006

Short commentary on what I did once the conference was over on friday, also debuted…the hat!

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