Sweet Home Idaho

After all the months of traveling (six months, to be exact), a few weeks ago I finally got to go home – to Idaho.

I was born and raised in Las Vegas, and I’ve spent 30 of my 42 years there (including the last eight and a half). But the Las Vegas of my youth is no more. So while it’s my hometown and I have a few dear friends there, I don’t really feel that connection of it being “home.”

On the other hand, my family lived in southeast Idaho for eight and a half years during the 1990s, and I love going back to the place that holds so many great memories.

After stops in Livermore, Calif., and Boise early in the week (both good stops), landing in Idaho Falls brought a different feeling. Seeing our old neighborhood, the Idaho Falls temple on the banks of the Snake River, and the Teton mountains off in the distance brought a rush of warm memories (which was good, because it was not so warm outside).

I enjoyed seeing some familiar sites, eating at some of our favorite places (don’t mention the phrase “Hong Kong Restaurant” to Yvonne, as she is extremely jealous that I ate at one of her all-time favorites), and visiting with Yvonne’s parents, and with her brother Jeff and niece Camry at the annual Highland-Poky football game (it’s a big thing in Pocatello).


It was especially fitting that on my last trip before my new transition to Public Affairs manager took effect (that happened the following Monday) I was able to visit with several people who have had such a profound effect on my career development.

Thursday night I met some of my co-workers from the INL at a local restaurant to catch up after many years. The INL is where I started, as a non-traditional student intern from Idaho State who then hired on permanently. (The photo is the road out to the site -- note the big ol' bugs on the windshield. That, my friends, is Idaho.)


As I sat and talked and laughed with them (funny how quickly the years melted away), I thought that I couldn’t have been around a better group to start my career – consummate professionals, generous with their time and advice and patience, and just genuinely good people. Any success I have is grounded in the foundation they provided. I will always be grateful to them.

A day later I visited with my friends at Simplot in Pocatello. I’ve returned to Pocatello every year since 1998 to volunteer – and I have no intention of stopping. I’ve worked every year with Rick Phillips, their public relations manager, who trusted me very early on to run the Games’ media team, giving me incredibly valuable experience at managing teams, developing strategies, and trying different PR approaches. And for a few weeks a year I get to work side-by-side with Rick, who in my mind is the prototype for the kind of PR professional I hope to be. As an unofficial mentor, I couldn’t ask for better.

And after meeting with Becky Anderson, the Games’ executive director for the last couple years, I walked out with a five-page list of ideas and actions for the 2010 Games. And that’s why I keep going back – I love this great event, and Becky's energy and enthusiasm are contagious. I'm ready to contribute.

After six days on the road, four flights, and four different hotels, my body was tired, but my mind is right. Sweet home Idaho indeed.