Camp LUCK

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Every Friday “Have You Met?” becomes “Have You Supported?”. We showcase one Charlotte non-profit each week but not the non-profit directly. We’ll focus on one person involved with it all. We believe that being supportive of anything is so much easier if you know the people behind the scenes are awesome. With that said…

Meet Carol Douglas of Camp LUCK. I have a soft spot for non-profits and charities that support children on any level. I have a 14 week old at home so all children related things really tug at the heart strings. When I read what Camp LUCK is doing I knew the people behind it had to be be amazing. Turns out that Carol is pretty freaking awesome. I asked her five questions. Andrew of Heart Meter who we introduced you to in last weeks Have You Supported asked her one.

What is your passion?

I love to travel. I love to immerse myself in other cultures. Just throw myself into atmospheres that are completely foreign to me and learn from other people and experience new things. It’s kinda like being a kid going into a completely new environment. Your mind is has no preconceived notions and you can experience something in a whole new way.

If I gave you $10,000 right now what would you do with it?

I would probably give a big chunk to Camp LUCK. Another big chunk to the Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage and probably rent a little beach house somewhere to bring my whole family together for a week. I love bringing my family together.

Who do you look up to?

I lost my grandfather in November to cancer and he was probably the most inspirational people in my life. He was one of those people that when you’re talking with him he’s there and actively listening and participating. He wanted to be there. I aspire to be that way when I’m around the kids or at work or really in everything that I could be doing. I want to be focused and there like he always was.

What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago?

Don’t sweat the small stuff. I think since becoming involved with Camp LUCK I have gained a lot of perspective, especially being around kids that are dealing with heart disease on a daily basis. I think ten years ago I was probably in a place where I stressed about crap that didn’t matter. I don’t do that anymore.

What frustrates you?

I coach a high school girls softball team. I get frustrated when I see young people that aren’t confident in themselves. It’s extremely frustrating to me because I see all this potential in these great people and they don’t see it and you can’t shake it into them.

Andrew of Heart Meter’s Question: What is Charlotte missing?

From a non-profit standpoint I’m not sure this applies to just Charlotte. For me this is everywhere. It’s a mentality shift in all people about getting involved. I believe a lot of people don’t get involved because they don’t think they will make a difference. I feel like that’s what’s missing for non-profits. We want people to get involved because they are passionate, into it and understand that even the smallest thing can have a huge impact. Otherwise I think Charlotte is awesome. It’s the perfect size. I love the people here, the professional sports. The city is clean. Though I wish the beach was a little closer.

Camp LUCK offers support for families with children with heart disease by providing a healthy worry-free and medically supervised camp environment where children and their families have opportunities to reach their potential by building self-esteem, friendships and character. Learn more at Campluck.com.

Miller Yoho

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Hi! Meet Miller Yoho. Let’s get one thing out of the way. Best last name… ever.

Miller is just a completely genuine dude. I’ve known him for a short time but am confident we’ll be friends for years to come. He’s been overly supportive of everything I do. We all need more people like that in our lives. He also didn’t make me feel weird or uncomfortable for putting on tights and doing AIR FIT. No judgement and I appreciate that. Don’t forget to ask him about #GIFwarsCLT even though it’s probably already killed your productivity at least 1 or 3 days. Nope, not me…

What is your passion?

Right now? I’ve been focusing heavily on getting myself in the best fitness possible both physically and mentally. I’ve been concentrating on meeting new people, reading new things, learning new things but also taking care of my body for the first time in life. I exercise a lot more. Taking pills with fish oil and all that. It’s been a journey. It’s my 28th year. My goal is to be Peak Yoho which is the peak of my life.

What frustrates you?

A lot of times myself. I feel I can be way too introverted. I should be out there meeting new people and hearing new stories.

If you were a wrestler, what would your intro song be?

Let’s go crazy by Prince which is also the only song I’d do karaoke to. Well that and 1000 miles by Vanessa Carlton but that’s a whole other story.

If I gave you $1000 right now what would you do with it?

I’d take trip. I haven’t been on a long vacation in a while. Just pack up the car and just travel, visit places. I’d just like to drive out west and road trip. Just me and my dog.

What is your greatest indulgence?

I would say ice cream. I don’t eat sweets a lot but I can eat a unhealthy amount of food and ice cream definitely tops that list. I should probably control that, right?

*Ally’s Question: What’s the one thing holding you back from doing what YOU want in life?

Probably has to do with that $1000 question. Money. Always money. I’m not the best at saving and that’s had a big effect on accomplishing certain goals of mine though this year things seem to be moving in the right direction on many fronts. I’m excited.

You can find Miller on Twitter @mr_yoho and also contributing his unique perspective to Charlotte Agenda. Also, Belk Bowl. The stories…ask him.

Ally Frazier

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Hi! Meet Ally, my Twitter friend turned #IRL friend. My favorite thing about Ally is her desire to always give back. I’m pretty sure everything she does has a charitable side to it. Completely awesome. Also ask her about Stix + Stones and the market she puts on for rad local vendors at the Daily Press in NODA the first Sunday of every month. We asked her 5 questions. Adam from yesterday asked her one.

What are you most passionate about?

I’m passionate about being happy and making a difference. Whether it’s making jewelry, Beards Because or whatever it’s about making myself happy and also giving back to the community and seeing the difference it makes.

What’s your perfect day look like?

It includes all of these things. Hanging with my dogs, brunch, making jewelry and when it’s nice outside just getting out there, exploring and experiencing new things. Also, I do a lot of social media things. I’d love to cross those off early in the day. Social media can easily steal my whole day.

If I gave you $1,000 right now what would you do with it?

As much as I’d love to say pay off $1,000 of my student loans there’s a lot of things I’d really like to do for my business. I’d love to register my business officially and get my e-commerce site up and running. I’d probably spend it on that. Oh and definitely more supplies to make jewelry.

If you were a wrestler, what would your intro song be?

I think it’s going to have to be Welcome to the Jungle. That song keeps popping into my head. I guess that means that’s it.

How would people describe you in one sentence.

A resourceful philanthropist with great hair. Those are some awesome compliments I have received lately. I’m sticking with that. I’ll take it.

*Adam’s Question: If you could bring one issue to the Charlotte Government and have it solved immediately what would it be?

Hmmm. This may not be as specific as you’d like. I’m just interested in keeping the integrity of the individual neighborhoods and what they are built on. I understand Charlotte is growing and that’s a good thing. I would just want to make sure that local small businesses don’t suffer and truly benefit from all the development happening.

You can find Ally on Twitter @AllyBFraz or hanging out at the Daily Press every first Sunday of the month with her Finders Keepers market. Check it out here.

J. Adam McGalliard

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Hi! Meet Adam McGalliard. We met because of this “Have You Met” series. I was a bit early to a meeting I had at CUBE NODA. He was there working in his studio space. I took my early arrival as an opportunity to meet someone new. Turns out he’s pretty freaking awesome. I asked him five random questions. Amber who I intro’d you to yesterday asked him one.

What is your passion?

I have a number of them. I would say on the top of the list is creativity in general. More specifically just painting in oil. I’ve been painting in oil since high school which is quite a few years.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Just in general, coffee is my addiction. It’s something I enjoy but it also fuels my creativity and keeps me going through work and through the day. It’s a nice way to wake up. I’ll usually go to Amelie’s across the street from here or Common Market in Plaza Midwood since I live near there.

What frustrates you?

I think at the moment in this city what I’ve run into because I grew up in this area, then went to undergrad and grad school in New York and then came back is that things have changed a lot. There are a lot of things that have developed. There’s more dance. There’s more coffee shops. There’s more theatre. There’s a whole uptown area that didn’t exist. What frustrates me is that it’s still lacking in terms of what I consider to be a gallery gallery and at least a cohesive visual arts scene. There’s a little bit around 22 and a few others place but it’s not quite there yet. We are getting there. I know we’ll get there.

If I gave you $10,000 right now what would you do with it?

With $10,000. I would probably do some renovations to my studio. Really get it up to where I’d like it be. Then just upgrades to this space in general so it’d be more open to other people.

What is your hardest trial and how did you overcome it?

I think picking up and moving to New York not really knowing anyone. I went to grad school so I did know people through that but gradually those people came and went. I stuck around for another 10 years and basically had an entire other life. It’s a great city but it’s tough to make it there. As trials do, I’d say it also formed a lot of who I am.

*Amber’s question: If you had a superpower what would it be?

The Midas Touch though I could turn it off and on.

Check out his work or contact him through his site here. Also go visit him at CUBE NODA. His studio space is sweet.

Amber Donoghue

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Hi! Meet Amber. Supportive people like her are the reason I keep doing what I’m doing. We met because of #WeLoveCLT. She’s been one of its biggest advocates. Ask her about Festevo and making music festivals a cleaner, more enjoyable experience. I asked her five questions. Kevin who I intro’d you to last Friday asked her one.

What motivates you?

My peers. I love when they are successful. Their success makes we want to do bigger and better things. It’s true. Also finding any way possible to support them. It’s incredibly important to support those around you.

What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago?

Definitely do more and don’t be afraid to take chances. I spent a lot of time being afraid to screw up in turn screwing up a lot because of that.

How do you think people would describe you?

A mess.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Music festivals. I love them and it’s the worst. I spend way too much money, too much money. Oh man do I spend too much money on music festivals.

What is your least favorite trait about yourself?

Being a mess. {laughs} At times I just feel really all over the place and wish I could fix that.

If you could commit any crime if it was legal what would it be?

Oh damn. Can I get back to you on this? No? Well I feel like I would really like to steal a rad piece of art. Why not? Art is expensive. You know what? I’d love to steal an original pressing of the White Album. That’s it! Boom. That is art.

You can find Amber on Twitter @Betterthanitwas.

Heart Meter

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Diana Mnatsakanyan

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Hi! Meet Diana. She’s a barista at my favorite coffee shop The Daily Press in NODA. I’ve been working tirelessly on pronouncing her last name correctly. I love it… so unique. She also introduced me to the Duggars. 25 babies? Phew, That’s no joke. I asked her five random questions. Kayla who I introduced you to yesterday asked her one.

What motivates you?

I feel like there’s always something else out there that I could be fighting for or achieving. I could always be doing better so I’m always trying to seek out the better.

What does your perfect day look like?

Oh man. Honestly I am super lame. I work super hard in all aspects of my life but my dream times are just sitting on the couch with my cat Peanut and my fiancé watching episodes of 30 Rock that I’ve watched fifty times because Liz Lemon is my spirit animal.

Who do you look up to?

My parents. My mom and dad immigrated to the United States when I was two years. They had no English, no jobs, no money or family. They started a life from the ground up. They’re the original badass bitches. My mom is amazing.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Nutella, nutella, god nutella, all the nutella.

*Kayla’s question: Where are you ripe with talent and where do you quickly deflate?

I’m ripe with talent when I have a to do list. I crank it out like a mother fucker. I struggle when I’m in the middle of getting work done on my to-do list and someone comes in. It’s incredibly hard for me to transition into the service side of things. It’s where I die.

You can find Diana at The Daily Press… go now.. say hi! She’s also on Instagram.

Photo Credit: Joshua Vasko

Kayla Dugger

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Hi! Meet Kayla. She’s my partner at Ready at 7. I consider her the Tina Fey of my world. Ask her about her run as an improv master. She’s awesome. I asked her five questions. Randall Mardus who we introduced to you yesterday asked her one.

What is your passion?

I would really have to say making people laugh. There is no greater feeling to me than making someone laugh.

What frustrates you?

When I can’t communicate something effectively. Then feeling incompetent because of that. That is an emotion that I just don’t know to deal with. I can deal with being angry and sad but being at a standstill is the most frustrating thing to me.

Who do you look up to?

Tamara LaValla of Social Design House. She’s my future self.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Sleep. Period.

What would your last meal be?

Scrambled eggs. I love breakfast and I don’t trust anybody that doesn’t.

*Randall’s question: Where do you wish you were from?

California. Don’t all the cool people come from the west coast? Surfing, being chill, right?

You can reach Kayla on Twitter @DuggerKayla or email her directly here.

Randall Mardus

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Hi! Meet Randall. Founder of the app Giusto and former cook for New York City Chef Michael White. We met during Queen City Forward’s ImpactU program. He’s awesome. Oh and he also makes one badass cheesecake. I asked him five questions. Andrew Au who I introduced yesterday asked him one.

What does your perfect day look like?

Let’s see. It includes all of the following. A little cooking, being active and playing some pickup basketball or softball. Reading something that stimulates my mind. Spending time with my girlfriend in some way, shape or form. Talking to my sister and my nephew and hearing the latest from him. Oh! Definitely dancing with my girlfriend… in a silly way.

What motivates you?

Usually some sort of chip on my shoulder.

If I gave you $1,000 right now what would you buy?

Something that would better my business. Something that would better the lives of my employees who have been faithfully hanging on for very little compensation.

Do you see the world as zero-sum or positive-sum?

Probably positive-sum. Before getting into coding I definitely saw a lot of grey everywhere. Coding has forced me to simplify how I think a little bit. I don’t like to go to zero-sum cause I don’t think that’s realistic of life in general but it’s clarified myself a little.

What is your least favorite personality trait in yourself?

I’m a wee bit too intense at times.

*Andrew’s question: What’s the last thing you watched on YouTube or Netflix?

House of Cards Season 3.

You can find Randall on Twitter @phineaschubbs or check out his site here.

Andrew Au

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Hi! Meet Andrew. Some know him through his role as Community Organizer for Tech Talent South. Others through his reputation for having arguably the best gif/meme game on Twitter… I’m jealous. I asked him 6 questions.

What is your passion?

My passion is in community. Whether it’s finding community in things or creating a community. Whether it’s with peers or with youth and kids or with sports or music. Just community, that’s what I am passionate about.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Easy answer is sugar. I have a huge sweet tooth. Hard answer is that I am secretly selfish and I want things for myself but I try really hard to be concerned with others and not just myself.

Who do you look up to?

My father. He sacrificed a lot to provide for me and give me a lifestyle that allows me to not worry about things.

How would other people describe you?

I think people would describe me as outgoing or extroverted because I can hold a conversation with anyone and I am quick to talk first and ask questions loudly.

If I gave you $1,000 right now what would you do with it?

I would put the majority of it in the bank and I might buy myself some pretty sweet sneakers.

If you could ask the person we introduce tomorrow any question what would it be?

What’s the last thing you watched on YouTube or Netflix?

You can reach Andrew on twitter @andrewhau or check out his site here.