Hi! Meet Robert of Carolina Raptor Center. CRC is dedicated to environmental stewardship and the conservation of birds of prey through education, research, and the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned raptors. I had the opportunity to sit with Robert, learn more about CRC, his interest in organic gardening and how he wishes everyone would just slow down a bit and appreciate the small things. I wish I had scheduled our meeting to be a bit longer. He’s awesome.

Robert is also sharing the photo with his favorite raptor over at CRC, “Pishi” (short for “Pishimatakoa,” meaning rainbow in Comanche). Pishi is a King Vulture, the largest of the new world vulture species. King Vultures are native to Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Argentina.

Make sure you check out the bottom of the Q&A. I’ve attached to flyers to the CRC’s upcoming events. They both sound awesome.

What is your passion?

I’m going to say the outdoors. That’s why I love working at the Raptor Center. I love being outside. My biggest thing right now is I’m really into organic gardening. Imagine in uptown I have about this much space {measures about 2×5 feet with hands} and I’m doing my own gardening. I have tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers of all different varieties and I had a watermelon that didn’t make it. A little disappointed about that. I grew up gardening with my grandparents and my dad so that was always one of my favorite things to do. It got me in touch with the earth. It got me outside and got me doing a little bit of work. Anything outdoors is really where I want to be.

What frustrates you?

That’s a hard question. I’m not easy to phase. I guess the one thing that really gets me, at least here in Charlotte is that people are so busy that they don’t take time for the small things in life. I’m glad that Charlotte does still have a little bit of it’s small southern charm but I’m starting to feel like people are just running, running, running and they’re started to miss the small things. Things as simple as smiling as people passing by and saying hello. I grew up in a small town in the South so I always appreciated knowing everyone in the neighborhood and talking with them. Not everybody takes that time these days.

What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago?

Don’t rush it. Ten years ago I thought my career would not be where it is. I didn’t think I’d be living in Charlotte. I was so quick to model my life after my friends because they were all about being successful and getting stressful corporate job. I was really stressed out about not being at that place in my life and that was right out of school. So I was in such a hurry to be that alpha successful person and I’m glad I took it a little slower because now I’ve come to appreciate where I am in life. I never would’ve gotten into non-profit work if I hadn’t have taken the path that I would and I don’t believe I would’ve been happy.

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

Phew. What can I do with ten grand? I’d probably take half of it and give it the Raptor Center for a really cool need. That sounds a little contrived but I’m not really sure what I would do with it. I mean I’d probably go on a really awesome trip. I’ve never been to Italy and Greece. Those are the two places I’d really like to go and funny enough I’ve had trips booked there twice and had to cancel both of those trips. I’d probably make that happen.

Scott Lundgren asked you to describe your perfect day.

My perfect day? So I’d wake up in the morning and I get to meet five new people that day. I love meeting new people. Going to work and doing my desk job can be fun but the biggest thing I like to do in my day is get out and go meet with new donors. Really figure out why they support this organization. I think if I could do that five fold I’d be very successful. Otherwise just going to the gym, get a yoga class in and have an amazing dinner with a really nice bottle of wine.

Christie Kahil asked who do you look up to and why?

There are so many people I could pick. I would have to say Chase Law. She’s over at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Before that Discovery Place. Chase is an amazing mother. She is a kickass development professional. She knows what she’s doing. She always has strategy behind what she is doing. She gets to know people really well and she’s just a mover and a shaker in the community. She’s awesome.

You can find Robert making things happen over at the Carolina Raptor Center. Below are two flyers to upcoming events taking place at the Center. Check them out!

Hi! Meet Tyler. We had lunch yesterday at the Mayobird and talked all the things. It easily felt like one of the safest conversations ever. No judgement, just honest conversation. I appreciate that. She’s doing awesome things here in Charlotte with Field to Fork. The concept of a pizza garden is so easy to grasp. It’s smart and kids get it. I love it. I truly believe in educating children at a young age on the importance of food, nutrition and sustainability. Where was this when I was growing up? I asked her five questions. Beth Mack and Kerri Flanigan each asked one.

What are you passionate about?

That is such an interesting word and I’m careful with it because I feel like it’s been getting thrown around a little loosely lately. I’m very intense about food. That would have to be my passion. It’s a really broad thing to say. That I’m passionate about food but I do feel this way about every single aspect of it. I just went back to school to study nutrition but the thing about food that I think is so cool is it really drives so much of what we do all the time. Culturally why do we eat what we eat? I believe the socioeconomics of food are really fascinating. I have always been so interested in it. It’s the reason I decided to rethink my career and go in that direction.

What frustrates you?

Just one thing? {laughs} Really slow internet as well as the lack of use of turn signals really frustrates me. But on a more serious note I get frustrated by people who are deliberately ignorant. They won’t hear other perspectives or entertain other ideas just because they want to main their own way of thinking. That frustrates me because it’s really hard to talk to people like that and have an honest conversation. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but you should be open to hearing the other side. Otherwise your just cherrypicking what you want to justify your opinion.

What is your least favorite trait about yourself?

I’m a really really harsh critic. I’m really hard on other people. I have high expectations but it goes both ways. I’m also really hard on myself. I would say that’s my least favorite characteristic. It can be detrimental at times so I try to be conscious of it.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Three years ago I completely left my career in banking and to me that was an indulgence in a way. I had this career that was really good and I was doing a job that paid really well. I don’t think that everyone is able to leave their jobs and start a whole new career just like that. To me that seemed like a really big indulgence. I know it took a lot of courage for me personally but when I think back on it it was definitely pretty indulgent. I kind of just threw one career aside and said alright, I’m gonna do a whole new one now. But day to day I would say craft beer is my greatest indulgence.

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

If it was not going to a nonprofit of my choice I would buy an awesome RV or rent one and I spend several months going around the US. There’s so much of the US that I haven’t seen and that’s always been a dream to have all this time to just explore. I’m not sure I’ll ever have the chance to do it but I think $10,000 would help kick it off. I just want to thoroughly go through the US… all the little towns.

Beth Mack asked what’s the dorkiest thing that you do?

So I’m really into Consumer Reports. Anytime I buy anything I have to look at Consumer Reports, all the reviews, all the specs. I can’t by any piece of electrical equipment, appliance or car without getting all tech’d out in Consumer Reports. I love it.

Kerri Flanigan asked if you could hang out with one celebrity for a day who would it be?

I would say Jimmy Fallon. Because he’s hilarious and does that craziest things. Also, we’d do a lip sync battle because I can’t sing so I think I’d be pretty good at that. Maybe Oprah as a back up. She’s awesome.

You can find more information about Tyler and Field to Fork here or on Twitter @Field2ForkCLT.

Hi! Every Friday “Have You Met?” becomes “Have You Supported?” where we feature a Charlotte nonprofit by introducing you to one awesome person making it happen behind the scenes.

Meet Emily Rester of Hospitality House of Charlotte. I use the word passion a lot. A whole lot but it’s the reason I do #WeLoveCLT. When I heard Emily’s story. Why she is who she is and does what she does. It’s driven by passion. By using the experiences she’s had in life to ensure that people who go through similar things are taken care of. I’m floored by her willingness to give back, support others and do it all with an intense amount of energy without expecting anything in return. I’d bet she never stops. She’s awesome. I also had the pleasure of getting a tour of the HHoC house itself. They’re doing everything possible to ensure families in crisis feel as at home as possible.

Also, she introduced me to excited goats on YouTube. Heads up, that’s a deep dive that can steal so many hours from your life. Careful.

What are you passionate about?

Do I just have to choose one thing? I’m passionate about so many things. There’s not just one thing that makes me tick. Helping people is high on that list. I love helping people. It’s one thing that drives me through every day. I’m also passionate about my family, my friends, animals, everything. This is probably not a good answer. {I disagree}

What frustrates you?

When people are selfish. I don’t like selfish people. I truly believe that everybody in some way shape or form is here for a reason and can give back. I love to see how people give back.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Chocolate! or getting my nails done at a spa. I really like the spa.

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

Donate it all back. My husband and I are very blessed with what we have. We don’t need anything else. There’s so many people who I see struggle every day and they need it a lot more than I do. I’d also do it anonymously.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?

I’m a hugger. I went to hug someone that I just met and they gave me the hands up, no hug please sign and rejected me. It was awkward and embarrassing.

In one sentence what advice would you give yourself ten years ago?

Don’t take yourself too seriously and give yourself a break.

Eric Hailili asked if you could add one thing to Charlotte that you’ve seen in another city what would it be?

Nashville has this really awesome entrepreneur program called Jumpstart. My sisters involved with it. I talk to my family every day and she always comes back to me and shares information about how it is benefiting her and her business. I wish we had more programs like this in Charlotte. It’s done amazing things for her.

HHoC is celebrating 30 years of helping families in medical crisis. Come join them July 22nd between 5-7pm at 1400 Scott Avenue right here in Charlotte. See the house, meet all the people and have a slice of cake. If you would like to bring a gift here’s a couple items on their wish list. Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, Laundry Pods, Styrofoam cups, Coffee and Tea.

You can learn more about Emily on LinkedIn or by visiting the HHoC website.