Jamie Walker is one of those big-brained people. His knowledge is deep, he has a vision, and he knows how to get there. Honestly, one of my first thoughts was that he reminds me of other great innovators like Steve…
Tag: 2021
The Wood Samaritan
They scattered like cockroaches, avoiding eye contact as they scurried away pretending not to see me. Where was I? You got it. I was at The Low’s Depot (or something like that). I was picking up some glue on the…
How to Live Uncertain
Near the end of my time in the army (and for years afterward) I struggled with anxiety and depression. I cycled through mental health providers — three of them up and left their careers while they were treating me. I…
Family, Food, and Windex
Yes, food is a very important component of Greek culture. Beyond the delicious dishes is the underlying truth that food brings families together. When Geoff Patmides was a young Crete boy, he wanted his family to be together. He lost…
Teamwork Makes the Hair Work
I’m gonna pull an old gem from the 2001 film A Knight’s Tale. During a climactic scene when William Thatcher (played by the late Heath Ledger, who had a beautiful head of hair) is in the stocks for unlawfully posing…
A Force for Good … and Good Smiles
While running the Best of SLC each year, we’re fortunate enough to speak with hundreds of businesspeople and analyze thousands of businesses. It’s uncanny how often our proprietary formula for picking winners is validated by the exceptional and amazing people…
Bet on a Penny, Hit a Jackpot
I love small, unassuming, locally owned restaurants. There’s nothing like the thrill of finding a great unknown place. When you first find one, you’re rolling the dice when you go in and order, but after one heavenly bite, you know…
You Can’t Fake Passion
In my family, dogs are more than companions. They’re our vigilant protectors, hunting buddies, and sometimes even our teachers. A playful dog can be a constant source of entertainment and create lifelong memories, or buffer us against loneliness. Sure, sometimes…
Brace Yourself for the Best
What is the best compliment you can give to an orthodontist? Since I help run the Best of SLC, you might be expecting me to say it’s winning the award for Best Orthodontist, but you’d be wrong. “I can pick…
Discover the Cosmos Within
In sixth grade I had a science teacher who changed how I view not only the world, but everything. His enthusiasm encouraged me to enter a school science competition to launch a 2-liter bottle as far as possible using only…