Many updates on the way in Q3 2024!!
Top Albums of 2020Covid was going on so I just dropped this without much writing to accompany it. What a great year for music though and I'm so grateful I have these capsules! I have 2021 as well! Just need to add it.
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Top Albums of 2019
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Dreaminess, flawless voices, sexy beats and so much more…
I’m a fan of Pee Wee. I know this makes me a bit of a weirdo, but so are my sisters and father…and countless others. I tell you this because I was compelled to pick up a pen and paper to write this as I sit here with my kids as they watch him for the first time. A big reason for my intrigue of him has been rooted in his clear love of music. Do yourself a favor and watch his Christmas special and you’ll see what I mean. Furthermore, consider the composer that he and fellow king of quirk, Tim Burton unearthed in Danny Elfman. Even if you don’t know Elfman by name, you know his work. Look up his Wikipedia and prepare to be amazed. From a young age I’ve made all types of music a cornerstone of my life. I’ve never been one to do a recap or playlist for the year, but I was asked by two friends if I’d weigh in with my opinion on the matter. Keep Reading. |
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InBusiness Professional of the Week
Thanks to InBusiness Magazine in Madison, I was recently featured for a Q & A. The timing was crazy--it was literally my first week at UW Credit Union when they went live, only all my answers were for my time at Trek Bikes. A great send off perhaps?
What would you say are the best things about living and working in Dane County?
The amazing network of talented, educated, and fun people is unbelievable. Every time I’ve hosted one of our Ignite Madison events — the charity/public speaking event I co-produced — or attended a networking/social event, I’ve been staggered by who I meet and how they are wired to be present and engaged in this world. I find it easy to make true connections and friends
Read on...
What would you say are the best things about living and working in Dane County?
The amazing network of talented, educated, and fun people is unbelievable. Every time I’ve hosted one of our Ignite Madison events — the charity/public speaking event I co-produced — or attended a networking/social event, I’ve been staggered by who I meet and how they are wired to be present and engaged in this world. I find it easy to make true connections and friends
Read on...
Music + Great Company + Bikes = Epic Experiences
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Creating the vibe is just as important to me as putting my favorite people together. Last Friday we hosted a happy hour and Lake Monona slow roll loop, with a stop at Working Draft Brewing Company. This is the playlist I curated, not only for hanging out at our place, but for the actual ride that featured a fantastic sunset too. It was a HUGE hit!
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Making more videos
While I've always been the voice of webinars and public speaking opportunities typically don't phase me, it's only recently that I've been racking up the on-camera time. Here's my latest on-camera video that I shot for Trek Bikes to coach the everyday person on how to choose a hybrid bike. I'm not going to lie...the more I do it and learn my visual and verbal tics, the more I enjoy the challenge to improve upon it for the next video. Thanks to our video team to inviting me back again and again!
That time I was on a podcast
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Jenny Hadfield, writer for Runners World and Bicycling and coach extraordinaire, thought that I'd make for a good interview on her show. Moi?
She recently purchased a Trek Super Commuter+ 8S to replace her car trips and has become a changed woman thanks to e-bikes. She also wanted to talk about commuting, gravel, womens cycling and what its like to be a Vande Velde. Have a listen! |
1,460 Views and Counting
Disrupt is a high-energy idea forum designed to inform and empower executives, business leaders, people in the human resources field and anyone, really, who is passionate about talent and learning more about the world of work.
Now, this is not me, exactly, but I do know a thing or two about hiring seeing as I've been doing it since my graduate assistant days at Western Illinois. I have used the same opening "question" since 2003 and I've identified some criteria that always seem to be leading indicators of a great hire. It will only take you 5 minutes to learn what I mean by watching here:
Now, this is not me, exactly, but I do know a thing or two about hiring seeing as I've been doing it since my graduate assistant days at Western Illinois. I have used the same opening "question" since 2003 and I've identified some criteria that always seem to be leading indicators of a great hire. It will only take you 5 minutes to learn what I mean by watching here:
My first Story on medium
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Do you know where we can find more women like you?
One recent morning, I came into the office and immediately a male colleague blurts out, “do you know where we can find more women like you?” Another day, another nudge. Women in male-dominated industries and the roles we play have been weighing on my mind lately. It all started with the March on Madison where my friend challenged us ladies to keep the conversation going afterwards. I had no idea what I’d do, but a series of seemingly unique, yet somehow connected occurrences and conversations have transpired since. Random? Or did the march and our recent change in political climate somehow tune me into the world that’s always been around me? Being a woman in male dominated industries has truly never been something I’ve pondered much. But I’ve been wondering lately, maybe I should. And where would I start? Read more here. |
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Pedal Love Interview
Photo credit: Lisa Snyder
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I recently was connected to Melissa Balmer for work and shortly thereafter she asked to interview me for her site www.PedalLove.org. How wild is that?! She is the Media Director for the California Bicycle Coalition as well as a writer, media relations specialist and active living advocate. Her mission is to share the power of artistry and personally engaging storytelling to inspire.
MB: You're the brand new City Bike Marketing Manager for Trek. How fun! How did this come about? JVV: We moved to Madison, by choice, not necessity, nine years ago with my heart set on working at Trek one day. When the opportunity for this role presented itself via word-of-mouth, I put my all into making it a reality. I’m a big believer of putting your intentions out there for the world to know. Now I get to enjoy the payoff—the last three months have been a bit surreal and I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to grow and learn with the Trek family. Read more here. |
Exercising My Vocal-chords Again
If you watched my Ignite Chicago talk below, you know I have a love of singing that's followed me around from a very young age. My sister-in-law, Marisa, gave me a gift card to go to the Madison Music Foundry for some one-on-one voice lessons. This place is super cool. I'd been before when I was taking piano lessons, but its been years now! I've never done solo voice lessons before--only in a group. Sure, I was a little nervous at my first lesson, but nothing like I was when I first took the group lessons through UW-Madison. That was before I learned it's no big deal to miss a note or be subjected to strange vocal exercises. I'll only be going for two months, but its great to learn new skills, practice old ones and exercise your muscles! It challenges you, takes you out of your comfort zone, and empowers you in a way that effects every aspect of your life, whether you realize it or not.
UW Organ & Tissue Donation Organization
My husband, Ian, was born with a rare liver disease and received a transplant at eight years old. Being married to an amazing liver recipient will teach you a lot about perspective. I volunteer regularly with this great organization through outreach and speaking to drivers education classes about the importance of considering registration as an organ and tissue donor.
Photo credit: Alnisa Allgood
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Madison Nonprofit Day - Nonprofits: IgniteFor the last two years I have emceed and volunteered my time to partner Ignite Madison with Madison Nonprofit Day, which was created to celebrate and promote awareness of the city's nonprofits, the work they do and the communities they serve. Each time, Nonprofit Day's organizer, Alnisa Allgood and I would select five speakers representing area nonprofits, but more importantly, their own, personal story. Naturally, their presentations would all be done "Ignite-style" in five minutes, with 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds.
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Speaking in Chicago: Discovering IgniteEarly in 2013, I had the chance to speak about my love of learning in an Ignite talk in Chicago. I had a blast and was so inspired by my experience that I knew I could use my passion for connecting with others, my skill set around producing and managing events and people all while finding a way to support my community.
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