by Jen Leroux
“Let us do good.” - A simple statement that is the driving force behind a big idea. For Roger Stradley, a retired Soldier, and the dedicated team at USA Cares, everyday is just another opportunity to live that motto.
Founded right here in the Idea Capital in 2003, USA Cares works to help support post-9/11 military families and veterans when they need it most. All branches of service in all 50 states are assisted through the program. USA Cares does not loan money - Rather, they offer direct grants to help cover a variety of expenses for our servicemen and women, whether it be assistance with personal debt, or filling in the monetary gaps when soldiers have to go into treatment for PTSD. To date, over $7,250,000.00 has been provided to our soldiers. What started as a small non-profit organization in Radcliff Kentucky has since expanded to a nationwide outreach, including volunteers in Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles. They are all firm believers in giving a “hand up not a hand out” to our servicemen and women in their time of need.
“One percent of Americans protect the rest of us,” Roger told me when I visited him this past week in his second-story office in the heart of Radcliff. So what can be more important than helping out that brave one percent in whatever way possible?
It’s clear to see that Roger’s passion is our military. He’s quick to pull out the digital photo frame from his desk and show me pictures of his son who is currently serving in Iraq. His eyes light up when he talks about the many people that they have been able to help in the past 8 years, and all the new possibilities that are before them for the next 8 years.
And it only gets better. Just this month, USA Cares broke ground for their new headquarters that will be located at 1655 N Logsdon Parkway in Radcliff. They have high hopes that the location will be finished by the end of the year.
We can’t quit on our brave men and women that are serving us in so many capacities in the Armed Forces. Roger and everyone at USA Cares remind us of that. I encourage you to give them a call or stop by their office. They’ll be more than happy to give you a firsthand account of what they do. And trust me, it will be worth it. Their patriotism combined with a true entrepreneur spirit is contagious, and just might get you started on your own big idea.
Interested in finding our more about USA Cares? For information or for learning how you can donate time or resources visit: http://usacares.org/
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Golf Legends Start with Big Dreams
The final round of the 2011 Masters offered some of the most exciting play we’ve seen in years. In fact, it reminded us of the day a little know golfer from the Idea Capital of the World made golfing history, more than thirty years ago.
Playing in the rain on the fifteenth hole of the final day of the 1979 Masters Tournament, four strokes back and 235 yards from the green, Masters Rookie Frank Urban Zoeller, Jr. had an idea. He decided that he would drive the ball, over water, straight into the wind, and onto the green. He needed to do it if he was going to get back into contention to grab the win. And winning is why he was there.
With the club he was using, in perfect conditions, 235 yards was about the best he could hope for. That day he would have to deliver a perfect shot, under great pressure and with horrible conditions. Could he do it?
Where most golfers would have played it safe, “Fuzzy” went for broke. He hit the ball hard and straight, and the gallery cheered when it landed safely on the green. From there, he charged into a tie and won the Masters with a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. Anybody who knows golf understands what winning the Masters means to a player’s career, and they also know that many golfers would have played it safe and settled for a top five finish. But not Fuzzy, who understood that winning big meant dreaming big.
In the Idea Capital of the World, big dreams are encouraged. And while not all big dreamers end up winning the Masters, all of their stories inspire us.
Today, golf fans in the Idea Capital region all know about “The Fuz.” A New Albany native, he learned his craft on the courses near his home and became a professional golfer in 1973. That day he won the Masters, at just 27, he became one of only three golfers to win The Masters in their first appearance. The rest is history.
Thanks to his skills on a golf course, Fuzzy got the opportunity to lend his considerable golf knowledge to the design of championship golf courses. In fact, Fuzzy has designed 19 courses across the country, three of which are part of the PGA Tour. And locally, Covered Bridge and Champions Pointe are considered to be among the best courses in the region. Both feature lakes and bunkers that challenge the skill of any golfer.
While golf has been his career, Fuzzy has used his celebrity for many good causes, to include children’s charities throughout the region. He created “Fuzzy’s Charity for Kids” and for the last 13 years “The Magnolia Health Systems Wolf Challenge” golf event has raised over $1.6 million. Professional golfers and celebrities have participated in the tournament; to include Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Bill Murray, Kevin Costner and more. Tickets are not yet on sale for this year’s event, but they sell out fast so keep your eyes and ears open if you want to attend “the most popular event in pro golf.”
And Fuzzy hasn’t stopped dreaming. His latest idea is Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka, distilled right here in Indiana. In a region known for its bourbon, Fuzzy is taking a chance on a new tradition with his signature spirit.
If he’d have played it safe back in ’79, would Fuzzy be lending his world-famous name to charities, products, sports events and recreational venues today? Who knows? But it doesn’t take a legendary figure to be a catalyst for change. Our region is ripe with opportunity for new ideas and big dreams.
What’s yours?
Watch Fuzzy’s final shot for his 1979 Master’s win.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bqs0WiIl0c
Who is your biggest inspiration from the region? And did you know that this year’s Senior PGA Championship will be played at Valhalla 26-29 May?
www.pga.com/seniorpga/2011
Playing in the rain on the fifteenth hole of the final day of the 1979 Masters Tournament, four strokes back and 235 yards from the green, Masters Rookie Frank Urban Zoeller, Jr. had an idea. He decided that he would drive the ball, over water, straight into the wind, and onto the green. He needed to do it if he was going to get back into contention to grab the win. And winning is why he was there.
With the club he was using, in perfect conditions, 235 yards was about the best he could hope for. That day he would have to deliver a perfect shot, under great pressure and with horrible conditions. Could he do it?
Where most golfers would have played it safe, “Fuzzy” went for broke. He hit the ball hard and straight, and the gallery cheered when it landed safely on the green. From there, he charged into a tie and won the Masters with a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. Anybody who knows golf understands what winning the Masters means to a player’s career, and they also know that many golfers would have played it safe and settled for a top five finish. But not Fuzzy, who understood that winning big meant dreaming big.
In the Idea Capital of the World, big dreams are encouraged. And while not all big dreamers end up winning the Masters, all of their stories inspire us.
Today, golf fans in the Idea Capital region all know about “The Fuz.” A New Albany native, he learned his craft on the courses near his home and became a professional golfer in 1973. That day he won the Masters, at just 27, he became one of only three golfers to win The Masters in their first appearance. The rest is history.
Thanks to his skills on a golf course, Fuzzy got the opportunity to lend his considerable golf knowledge to the design of championship golf courses. In fact, Fuzzy has designed 19 courses across the country, three of which are part of the PGA Tour. And locally, Covered Bridge and Champions Pointe are considered to be among the best courses in the region. Both feature lakes and bunkers that challenge the skill of any golfer.
While golf has been his career, Fuzzy has used his celebrity for many good causes, to include children’s charities throughout the region. He created “Fuzzy’s Charity for Kids” and for the last 13 years “The Magnolia Health Systems Wolf Challenge” golf event has raised over $1.6 million. Professional golfers and celebrities have participated in the tournament; to include Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Bill Murray, Kevin Costner and more. Tickets are not yet on sale for this year’s event, but they sell out fast so keep your eyes and ears open if you want to attend “the most popular event in pro golf.”
And Fuzzy hasn’t stopped dreaming. His latest idea is Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka, distilled right here in Indiana. In a region known for its bourbon, Fuzzy is taking a chance on a new tradition with his signature spirit.
If he’d have played it safe back in ’79, would Fuzzy be lending his world-famous name to charities, products, sports events and recreational venues today? Who knows? But it doesn’t take a legendary figure to be a catalyst for change. Our region is ripe with opportunity for new ideas and big dreams.
What’s yours?
Watch Fuzzy’s final shot for his 1979 Master’s win.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bqs0WiIl0c
Who is your biggest inspiration from the region? And did you know that this year’s Senior PGA Championship will be played at Valhalla 26-29 May?
www.pga.com/seniorpga/2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
GLIP Celebrates a Year in the Idea Capital
The Idea Capital of the World is home to many great programs. One of which is the Greater Louisville International Professionals program (G.L.I.P.), which celebrated its first anniversary in January. The program, an economic development initiative of Greater Louisville Inc., helps the region fortify its competitive advantage by attracting top international professionals and developing the talent pool to meet future workforce needs. G.L.I.P., launched in November of 2009, has been accomplishing this goal through:
Promoting Inclusion: Through media outreach, events and resources, G.L.I.P. has helped increase awareness of the international community’s contributions to the region and prepared local businesses for the more inclusive workforce of the 21st century.
Online Resource Center: www.LouisvilleInternationals.com has become a top site for the Idea Capital’s international community. The online community currently comprises nearly 1000 individuals from 93 countries, who connect and engage in discussions, networking and culture-sharing online.
Country Ambassadors: To aid companies looking to relocate international talent to Louisville and the surrounding region, nearly 50 country-specific Ambassadors serve as community links for new residents to the region. http://www.greaterlouisville.com/glip/Connection/CountryPages
Mentorships: (link to http://www.greaterlouisville.com/glip/Engagement/Mentorships/ International professionals and foreign-born students preparing to launch careers in Greater Louisville are paired with local business leaders in areas ranging from finance and architecture to education and law.
Events: (link to http://www.greaterlouisville.com/glip/Events/PhotoGallery/ ) After Hours Networking events occur four times a year and connect international talent, global companies and workers doing business internationally. Signature events have brought keynote speakers to the region, like President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, India’s 11th president, and Griselda Hernandez, UPS Operations Manager and one of the world’s leading female executives. G.L.I.P. also provides social events to bring the international community together such as World Cup viewing parties, Louisville Bats Games, Casual Dinners and Country Get Togethers.
Talent Sourcing and Relocation Assistance: Recruiters and relocation agencies utilize G.L.I.P. to connect with international talent, share our city attributes with potential international hires, and help connect new international hires with community resources, organizations and business leaders.
“GLIP has been an extremely useful resource for Yum! Brands. Through the support they provide to incoming talent from our overseas markets, GLIP has enabled our employees to network with people from their own cultures and countries,” said Yum Global Talent and Staffing Team Manager Daniel Hayward. “Importantly, this has empowered our employees and their families to have a much richer relocation experience and enjoy all that Louisville has to offer.”
Participation in G.L.I.P. is free of charge and open to the entire business community. Membership includes foreign-born professionals, executives and entrepreneurs; post-secondary international academia; and local business executives and recruiters who work internationally.
Are you an international professional who might be interested in joining? Or do you know of any international professionals or other business professionals who might not have heard of G.L.I.P.? To find out more about the organization, or to become a member please visit www.louisvilleinternationals.com.
Promoting Inclusion: Through media outreach, events and resources, G.L.I.P. has helped increase awareness of the international community’s contributions to the region and prepared local businesses for the more inclusive workforce of the 21st century.
Online Resource Center: www.LouisvilleInternationals.com has become a top site for the Idea Capital’s international community. The online community currently comprises nearly 1000 individuals from 93 countries, who connect and engage in discussions, networking and culture-sharing online.
Country Ambassadors: To aid companies looking to relocate international talent to Louisville and the surrounding region, nearly 50 country-specific Ambassadors serve as community links for new residents to the region. http://www.greaterlouisville.com/glip/Connection/CountryPages
Mentorships: (link to http://www.greaterlouisville.com/glip/Engagement/Mentorships/ International professionals and foreign-born students preparing to launch careers in Greater Louisville are paired with local business leaders in areas ranging from finance and architecture to education and law.
Events: (link to http://www.greaterlouisville.com/glip/Events/PhotoGallery/ ) After Hours Networking events occur four times a year and connect international talent, global companies and workers doing business internationally. Signature events have brought keynote speakers to the region, like President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, India’s 11th president, and Griselda Hernandez, UPS Operations Manager and one of the world’s leading female executives. G.L.I.P. also provides social events to bring the international community together such as World Cup viewing parties, Louisville Bats Games, Casual Dinners and Country Get Togethers.
Talent Sourcing and Relocation Assistance: Recruiters and relocation agencies utilize G.L.I.P. to connect with international talent, share our city attributes with potential international hires, and help connect new international hires with community resources, organizations and business leaders.
“GLIP has been an extremely useful resource for Yum! Brands. Through the support they provide to incoming talent from our overseas markets, GLIP has enabled our employees to network with people from their own cultures and countries,” said Yum Global Talent and Staffing Team Manager Daniel Hayward. “Importantly, this has empowered our employees and their families to have a much richer relocation experience and enjoy all that Louisville has to offer.”
Participation in G.L.I.P. is free of charge and open to the entire business community. Membership includes foreign-born professionals, executives and entrepreneurs; post-secondary international academia; and local business executives and recruiters who work internationally.
Are you an international professional who might be interested in joining? Or do you know of any international professionals or other business professionals who might not have heard of G.L.I.P.? To find out more about the organization, or to become a member please visit www.louisvilleinternationals.com.
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