A culture & community podcast created by Aaron Dante to record the fascinating life stories of his friends, family and people that have stories that need to be told! Come along on this journey with Human Interest Stories
Episodes
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Elliott Ferguson is President and CEO of Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC.
A 33-year veteran of the travel and hospitality industry, Ferguson leads DDC’s efforts to generate economic opportunity for the District through meetings and tourism, overseeing the organization’s convention and tourism sales, marketing, finance and business development operations.
Ferguson celebrated his 20-year anniversary with DDC in December 2021. He began his tenure in December 2001 as the Vice President of Convention Sales, became Senior Vice President of Convention Sales and Services in 2005 and has served as President and CEO since 2009. Prior to DDC, he was Director of Sales and Vice President of Sales at the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau and Director of Sales at the Savannah CVB.
In January 2021, he was named Board Chair of Tourism Diversity Matters, an organization focused on creating diversity, equity and inclusion opportunities at all levels of the workforce. He has been instrumental in advancing conversations about race and racism throughout the hospitality industry.
Ferguson was National Chair of the board of directors for the U.S. Travel Association from February 2019 to February 2021 and is currently chair of the compensation committee. He serves on the board of Brand USA from December 2021-December 2024.
As the tourism industry faces the COVID-19 pandemic, Ferguson is focused on strategic recovery with many organizations including DDC’s Recovery Advisory Committee, Connected DMV, the Downtown Recovery Work Group.
He is on the board or a member of: Advisory Board of the Smithsonian National Zoo; DC Jazz Festival; Ryan Kerrigan “Blitz for the Better” Foundation and the United Way of the National Capital Area. He represents DDC as part of the Hospitality Alliance of Washington, D.C.
Ferguson received a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Business Administration from Savannah State University. His many industry memberships include Professional Conference Management Association, International Association of Exhibition Executives, Destinations International, National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, Meeting Professionals International and American Society of Association Executives. Ferguson and his wife, Telesa Via, also a hospitality industry veteran, are longtime residents of Capitol Hill. He is active with Capital Partners for Education, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Delta Sigma Pi. Destination DC: the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC.
Bio comes from Destination DC.
Music Intro: John Tyler
produced: www.acutevisions.com
Sponsors of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
United Way Central Maryland https://uwcm.org
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works https://www.openworksbmore.org
Snug Books Baltimore https://www.snugbooks.com
Baltimore Fiscal https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Pandora Box Boutique https://pandorasboxboutique.com
CarVer Communications Group https://www.therealcarver.com
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
One of the DC area’s best known and most respected food and wine journalists, Nycci Nellis sits atop a small, dining out/going out media empire.
She is: Hailed as Greater Washington, D.C.’s “go-to” source for the latest on what’s happening across the restaurant and party and scene Founder and publisher of TheListAreYouOnIt.com, a website with more than 36,000 loyal subscribers that aggregates and always updates the latest in everything happening across the area’s food and wine scene and hailed by Washington Post as, "one of the premier resources for all things food and wine in DC and beyond" A featured, weekly presenter on WTOP 103.5 FM, the DC area’s top-rated radio station, and co- host of two, weekly radio shows.
Foodie and the Beast, a one-hour, live, food and wine variety show airing weekly on the 50,000-watt 1500AM since 2008, features a lively mix of celebrities and others from the area’s and the nation’s restaurant, vineyard, farming, brewing, mixology, seafood and other scenes related to what we eat, how and why. Show guests across the past decade represent a "Who's who" of locally, nationally and internationally celebrated chefs, mixologists, brewmasters, winemakers, food journalists, authors and other luminaries such as Jean-George Vongerichten; Thomas Keller; Wolfgang Puck; Eric Ripert; Rick Bayless; Michael Mina; Michel Richard; Top Chef-testants Spike Mendelsohn, Bryan and Michael Voltaggio and Marjorie Meek Bradley; cookbook authors and food and wine journalists and authors, such as have included Marcella Hazan; David Hagedorn; Bon Appetit's former editor-in-chief, Barbara Fairchild; the Washington Post's dining critic, Tom Seitsema and Post food writer, cookbook author and James Beard judge, David Hagedorn, among many, many more.
Airing globally on FullServiceRadio.org, a live podcast network headquartered in a radio studio in the lobby of DC’s ultra-stylish, Line Hotel, is Industry Night with Foodie and the Beast, a weekly, “deep dive” with prominent guests from near and far into a range of subjects impacting the worlds of food, wines, spirits and brews, from sexual harassment in the workplace and start-up entrepreneurship to sustainable seafood, how iconic restaurateurs do their thing, organic farming breakthroughs and ... more.
A local, social media leader, with a following topping 50,000 on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. A frequent guest on local broadcast and cable TV, presenting “What’s happening” updates across the dinging out scene and more. And, when top chefs come to town, they come to Nycci to be interviewed. Please click the links below to see her interviews with Wolfgang Puck, Michael Mina, Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert. Wolfgang Puck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg0MbJ... Michael Mina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUXwYx... Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert: http://youtu.be/9_KZ60r5oF0 A respected business and social media consultant to restaurants (e.g., Todd and Ellen Gray’s Equinox); dining out-related mobile apps (Blue Cart) and farmers’ markets and seafood distributors (Fresh Farm Markets, Congressional Seafood).
Additionally, for the past six years, Nycci has served as a consultant to the annual, Wine & Food Festival annually held at National Harbor, Md., where she curates and emcees the two-day event’s live chef demos with such local, celebrity chefs as Rock Harper (a Hell’s Kitchen alum); Bryan Voltaggio (Volt, Range, Family Meal); Scott Drewno (The Source by Wolfgang Puck); Victor Albisu (Del Campo; Taco Bamba) and Danny Lee (Mandu, Chi-Ko), among many others. Former brand ambassador for companies you know, such as Celebrity Cruises and for Gloria Ferrar Wines (Sonoma, CA). A close colleague and supporter of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) and a founding committee member and past chair of the Human Rights Campaign’s annual, Chefs for Equality event, now the HRC’s single-most successful fundraiser in the local, DC marketplace. A frequent emcee and judge for local, food/wine/spirits/brews-related events, from celebrity chef competitions to nonprofits’ galas.
https://www.thelistareyouonit.com
Music Intro: John Tyler produced:
Sponsors of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
United Way Central Maryland https://uwcm.org
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works https://www.openworksbmore.org
Snug Books Baltimore https://www.snugbooks.com
Baltimore Fiscal https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
Eze Jackson is an Emcee, Producer, and community organizer. He recently founded the record label/collective EPIC FAM. As the frontman of the hip-hop/fusion band Soul Cannon as well as a solo artist, he has toured the US and released 6 projects independently, bringing high energy and forward-thinking lyrics to almost any musical challenge. His most recent solo album, “Fool”, has been well received in Baltimore & surrounding areas with critical acclaim from Under the moniker “Ezewriter”, Eze’s prolific ability to tell stories and paint pictures has allowed him to stand out as a writer for all genres of local music, stage, tv & film projects. Eze is the Founder, Creator, and Chief Visionary Officer of EPIC FAM. EPIC FAM is a Baltimore-based Entertainment & Media company, unifying a collective of the City’s best multi-genre musical artists and arts & culture creatives
Intro music John Tyler
produced: www.acutevisions.com
Sponsors of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
United Way Central Maryland https://uwcm.org
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works
https://www.openworksbmore.org
Snug Books Baltimore
Baltimore Fiscal
https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
Bonus Episode: Baltimore CTE Food, Beverage and Baking Competition.
Live Taping at the Hyatt Regency downtown Baltimore
The first Baltimore CTE Food, Beverage and Baking Competition took place in early May 2022 during National Travel &Tourism Week Five local high schools and over 100 students participated is a behind-the-scenes-property tour, culinary competition, and networking opportunity while learning from various professionals in the industry.
Stay tuned and find out what school won the competition!
This is a partnership between Baltimore City School and Visit Baltimore.
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Kirby has served as the President & CEO of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore since July 1, 2020, taking over the zoo during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the Zoo is experiencing strong attendance, exceeding the three-year average, and recently released a transformative 10-year Master Plan.
Previously, Kirby served as President of The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Inc. During his 16-year tenure, more than 70 major development projects opened in the Downtown core with the assistance of The Partnership. Also, under his leadership, The Partnership revitalized parks and plazas (Center Plaza, Preston Gardens, Hopkins Plaza, McKeldin Plaza); led the transformation of Pratt Street; launched the Charm City Circulator; oversaw planning for a new Lexington Market and renovation of Cross Street Market; created a Homeless Outreach Team; and co-authored a tax credit program to spark apartment construction throughout the City. As a result, Downtown dramatically transformed from a predominantly commercial zone into a mixed-use neighborhood with new cultural attractions and a burgeoning residential population. When Kirby departed in early 2020, Downtown Baltimore ranked 12th in the country in the number of residents (42,706) and 13th in number of employees (124,785).
Music Intro: John Tyler
produced: www.acutevisions.com
Sponsors of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
United Way Central Maryland https://uwcm.org
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works
https://www.openworksbmore.org
Snug Books Baltimore
Baltimore Fiscal
https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Friday Oct 07, 2022
Friday Oct 07, 2022
Caren Plummer, DC native, 200hr registered yoga instructor, podcast host and most notably, a true community builder. Caren with a C, as she reminds everyone, is a proud Washingtonian focused on how she can enable community service and awareness through fitness. Hosting monthly yoga classes in benefit of local non-profit organizations, she is dedicated to building community through the act of giving.
But it doesn't stop with yoga, this DC fitness feen or queen is taking her philanthropic heart and body into the ring on October 13th to fight in her first ever boxing match for charity in partnership with Haymakers for Hope, a 501(3)(c) non-profit that organizes boxing matches up and down the east coast to raise money and awareness for cancer research, care and survivorship.
Music Intro: John Tyler
produced: www.acutevisions.com
Sponsors of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
United Way Central Maryland https://uwcm.org
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works
https://www.openworksbmore.org
Snug Books Baltimore
Baltimore Fiscal
https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Recognized as one of Baltimore’s Top 40 under 40, Dr. Tammira Lucas is a thought leader who has quickly emerged as a trailblazer among millennial professionals and a powerful voice for communities locally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Lucas is the founder of The Cube, Cowork, the largest black women owned coworking space in the United States that provides babysitting services.
Dr. Lucas is a strong advocate for women in business especially moms. With her dedication to ensure that all moms have access to resources and support to balance their careers, businesses and family, she cofounded The National Association of Mom Entrepreneurs (formally Moms As Entrepreneurs). The National Association of Mom Entrepreneurs, provides advocacy, support, and resources for mom entrepreneurs. Dr. Lucas is an Author, Speaker, Philanthropist, and Professor. Dr. Lucas has dedicated her life to focusing on building stronger and equitable communities through leadership, education, social innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Lucas holds three degrees in business including a Doctor of Business Administration. Her biggest prides are her daughter, Ryann, and husband, Robert.
intro Music: John Tyler
produced: www.acutevisions.com
Sponsors of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
United Way Central Maryland https://uwcm.org
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works
https://www.openworksbmore.org
Snug Books Baltimore
Baltimore Fiscal
https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Liz Cornish joined South Baltimore Gateway Partnership in April of 2021 as the Enhanced Services Director where she currently manages a multi-million-dollar portfolio of community development projects in South Baltimore. Liz previously served as the Executive Director of Bikemore, Baltimore City's Livable Streets Advocacy organization. Under her leadership the organization achieved significant growth and secured major policy wins including the passage of the Complete Streets Ordinance which was recognized by Smart Growth America as a top complete streets initiative in 2018. During her tenure at Bikemore she was named a Baltimore Visionary by Baltimore Magazine, and a "True American Hero" for her work on complete streets by Streetsblog USA. In 2019, Bikemore was named Bike Advocacy Organization of the Year by the League of American Bicyclists.
In 2020, she served on Mayor Brandon Scott's Transition Team as Co-Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure committee. She has previously held positions with Outward Bound, University of South Carolina, and the League of American Bicyclists. She currently serves on the board of the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Adventure Education from Prescott College and a Master of Education in Recreation Administration from the University of Arkansas. Liz believes great parks, public spaces, and access to reliable transportation are essential for building healthy and equitable neighborhoods. She loves morning walks to neighborhood coffee shops with her dog Daisy, playing piano and ukulele, and spending time outside with neighbors. She grew up in Tulsa, OK and has called Baltimore home since 2015.
intro Music: John Tyler
produced: www.acutevisions.com
Sponsors of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
United Way Central Maryland https://uwcm.org
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works
https://www.openworksbmore.org
Snug Books Baltimore
Baltimore Fiscal
https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
NoPixAfterDarkPodcast on the road. Aaron interviewed Leigh and Corey from Perennial Stays at one of their short term rentals in Columbia Pennsylvania. They tell their story of how they got into the short term rental game. Their love for living in Baltimore and how they love what they do! Excited for you to watch or listen to this episode.
We are your Perennial Stays hosts, Leigh & Corey. We live in Baltimore City and have been married since 2010.
By day, Corey is an engineer, and Leigh is an accountant. In 2015, at the recommendation of some friends, we decided to earn a little extra money by renting out our primary residence in Baltimore while we traveled. We enjoyed it so much, we decided to branch out to our first property in West Virginia. In 2018 we purchased our second property in West Virginia – the farmhouse! Finally, in 2021 we decided to expand to beautiful Lancaster, PA – !
Leigh loves the design, hospitality, and marketing aspects, while Corey enjoys hunting for houses, renovations, and operations. A perfect match! We look forward to hosting your getaway.
https://www.perennialstays.com/
IG perennialstays
intro Music: John Tyler
produced: www.acutevisions.com
Sponsors of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
United Way Central Maryland https://uwcm.org
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works
https://www.openworksbmore.org
Snug Books Baltimore
Baltimore Fiscal
https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Season Premiere of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast we are back! The first guest is Alex Smith is the Founder and President of Atlas Restaurant Group, a nationally-acclaimed Baltimore-based hospitality group featuring twenty-five concepts currently open with more set to open in the near future.
Aaron and Alex discussed everything from the his interest in Restaurant Management, the shutdown for COVID, opening more restaurants in the Baltimore Area, over saturating the market, trials and tribulations the company has gone through . We talked about DEI training and how employees going to extensive training before they even began to work.
Smith founded the group in 2012 with the opening of Mediterranean kouzina Ouzo Bay in Baltimore, and has since grown the group in Maryland, Texas and Florida. Following five years as a professional lacrosse player and inspired to pursue a career in hospitality by his grandfather’s immense success with Baltimore’s H&S Bakery, Smith got his start operating a Häagen-Dazs franchise in Baltimore’s Harbor East neighborhood. With each restaurant, Smith creates an unparalleled experience featuring quality of product, live entertainment and impeccable service. In 2023, Atlas will expand to Washington D.C. with two new concepts in the Moxy Hotel, which will bring the total amount of restaurants to 27 and over 2000 employees nationally. In addition to restaurant operations, Alexander Smith is also an active board member at some of Baltimore’s most notable organizations and charities, including his longest tenured membership with Visit Baltimore, the city’s official destination marketing organization.
Some of the other organizations and charities where Smith is currently a board member include the Maryland chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the National Aquarium, Living Classrooms, Greater Baltimore Committee, and most recently with the Maryland Science Center and Signal 13 Foundation in Baltimore.
intro Music: John Tyler
produced: www.acutevisions.com
Sponsors of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
United Way Central Maryland https://uwcm.org
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works
https://www.openworksbmore.org
Snug Books Baltimore
Baltimore Fiscal
https://www.baltimorefiscal.com