Welcome to the January edition of the Ibis Newsletter!
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It has been an exciting start to the New Year.
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I hope you had the opportunity to spend time with friends and family during the holidays and feel refreshed and recharged for 2024. Thank you for your continued dedication to Miami Athletics. Go Canes!
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Welcome to the January edition of the Ibis Newsletter!
It has been an exciting start to the New Year.
I hope you had the opportunity to spend time with friends and family during the holidays and feel refreshed and recharged for 2024. Thank you for your continued dedication to Miami Athletics. Go Canes!
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Congratulations to Ali Golden and her husband, John, on the arrival of their second son, Tyler!
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Ray Lopez's daughter, Monica Colon, got married to Nebo Nagano-Young in November. Congratulations to Ray and the happy couple!
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Congratulations to the winners of the Festive Sweater Contest!
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Joe Williams
Director of Creative Video Production
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Your biggest mentor?
Daniel Watkins, a Senior Associate AD at Auburn. He was the one who gave me my first shot, at Mississippi State. After I graduated from college, I took a sales job to buy me some time while I tried to figure out what I wanted to do and eventually gave him a ring – my dad played football with him at Mississippi State. He said come down and volunteer with our video team. He took me in and showed me the ropes.
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What about your job do you enjoy most?
I love being able to tell stories. I was once an athlete. We had a video staffer at James Madison who did a feature on me when I got hurt. Watching that, it really made a difference on me personally. It gave me a boost of energy, knowing other people recognize what’s going on behind the scenes. It made me want to tell other people’s stories.
Give a "Welcome to Miami" moment?
There have been multiple. Almost walking directly into Tom Brady once when I was walking into the office, that was definitely one of them. I don’t get starstruck much in this profession, but that one stood out. Having the chance to interview Jeremy Shockey was pretty special. He was a household name when I was growing up. In the summer, when the Cavaliers were practicing inside our basketball facility the whole offseason…those are a few of them.
What piece of advice would you give an aspiring professional?
You need to do stuff other people don’t want to do. Film the things that other people think are below them. Be the person who gets excited for every single opportunity – every practice, every team, every athlete. Carry the tripods around. Set up for a shoot. You’re not going to start on a football sideline – that’s not how it works. You have to show other people that you’re willing and excited to take care of the smaller things along the way.
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In your first year or so at The U, what stands out as your favorite memory?
Oh goodness – certainly a tie between the MBB/WBB basketball run and the orange-out vs. Texas A&M at Hard Rock. I knew I made the right decision moving to Miami for this job when I watched the staff from so many different areas and departments come together selflessly for our basketball programs…and then to see all of the work that lead up to game days at Hard Rock come to life in a crowded stadium, it was special.
Who would you consider your biggest mentor?
Steve Ziff – he’s been the CEO and CMO of multiple professional sports teams and gave me my largest opportunities to grow and learn. He taught me grace and patience with staff, the importance of getting to know them as people and not just employees. He also taught me that every day brings another opportunity to become better – a better coworker, leader, friend - and I’ve tried to approach everything I do with that mentality.
How did you get here? What were some of your other professional stops along the way?
I graduated from the University of Florida with two bachelor’s degrees at 19 years old and immediately moved to Boston to work for the Red Sox in a game presentation capacity. The Jacksonville Jaguars hired me (saving me from the freezing cold) two years later, and I spent six seasons growing in their digital and marketing department and working on the NFL International side of the business. I moved from Florida to California to work for a global sports and entertainment firm – overseeing a team that activated in five different continents with 100+ partners with the goal of growing the business to be sold to a new private equity partner. The opportunity to move to Miami and join The U came along shortly after the sale was final, and it was the best decision I could have made.
Did you have a “Welcome to Miami” moment? If so, what was it?
Hurricane Honors really hit home for me. The team worked really hard to put on an event to celebrate the student athletes and their success over the year and it was the first time I got to see them all together celebrating each other.
What are you looking forward to most heading into Year 2 at Miami?
It’s probably not one singular item…it’s the opportunity to support our head coaches, student athletes and their programs achieve success at the highest of levels and the opportunity to work with the senior leadership staff to continue striving to make the U an incredible place to work.
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Nate Diaz, Olympic Sports Nutrition Coordinator
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Nourishing Your Body Through the New Year
As we embark on a new year, the pursuit of health and vitality seems to take center stage. Crafting SMART nutrition and fitness goals is a powerful way to steer towards a healthier version of ourselves. However, it's equally important to embrace the journey and endure the process. So, what are S.M.A.R.T goals?
1. Specific: Tailor Goals to Your Unique Path. Define specific nutrition and fitness goals that resonate with your individual journey. Whether it's committing to a balanced diet, exploring new workout routines, or achieving a specific fitness milestone, specificity lays the groundwork for success.
2. Measurable: Celebrate Every Milestone In the realm of nutrition and fitness, progress often comes in small victories. Quantify your achievements and celebrate every milestone, no matter how minor. Tracking measurable changes reinforces your commitment and provides motivation for the journey ahead.
3. Achievable: Balance Ambition with Realism Ambitious goals are admirable, but they must also be realistic. Tailor your nutrition and fitness objectives to your current lifestyle, considering time constraints, dietary preferences, and fitness levels. Sustainable change is born from achievable steps.
4. Relevant: Align Goals with Your Wellness Vision Ensure your goals align with your overarching vision for wellness. Whether it's changing body composition, increased energy, or enhanced mental well-being, the relevance of your goals propels you forward with purpose.
5. Time-bound: Embrace the Pace of Progress Set time-bound milestones to create a sense of urgency and structure. However, recognize that the journey is a gradual process. Embrace the pace of progress, understanding that lasting changes unfold over time.
Enduring the process of achieving nutrition and fitness goals involves cultivating resilience and mindfulness. Embrace setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow. Listen to your body, adjust goals when necessary, and appreciate the journey for its transformative potential.
Embarking on a journey to better nutrition and fitness is a commitment to self-care. Rather than being obsessed with the goal, fall in love with the process. Focus on behaviors rather than the outcome. What does that mean? You may not always be able to control the outcome, however you can control the behaviors to achieve the outcome.
In 2024, let's commit not only to SMART goals but also to a mindset that embraces the journey. Through persistence, self-compassion, and a dedication to well-being, we can make this year a transformative chapter in our health and fitness story.
I leave you with this quote:
"Endurance (with any goal) is an outcome forged by those who are wise enough to endure the process." --Nick Bare
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MLK Brunch
Monday, January 15
On Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Holiday, we are hosting a MLK Brunch in the Schwartz Lobby featuring diversity and inclusion author Mrs. Celeste Warren. Fun fact, Mrs. Warren is the mother of current track and field student-athlete Christina Warren. In addition to her presentation and brunch, we will have a short musical performance by two University of Miami students and a free copy of Mrs. Warren’s book, How to be a Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador, to the first 40 people in attendance. Hope you will consider joining us.
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Johnny Was Good Documentary
Monday, February 5 | Cosford Theater
The Miami HEAT’s radio play-by-play announcer, Jason Jackson will be showing his documentary, Johnny Was Good on Monday, February 5. This documentary will be shown at the on-campus Cosford Theater (free of charge), with a Q&A session post-show with Jason, who also directed this project.
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ACC UNITE Award Winners
Thursday, February 15, 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Schwartz Center Lobby
We will honor our 2024 ACC UNITE Award winners -- Dr. Laura Kohn-Wood and Dr. Donald Spivey – on February 15. The reception will take place in the lobby of the Schwartz Center for Athletic Excellence from 4-5:30 p.m. We will also honor our award winners during the women’s basketball game vs. Syracuse, which tips off at 6 p.m. We are excited to honor them for their extraordinary work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion.
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This Month in Hurricanes History
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Men's Basketball: January 23, 2013
Before an electric home crowd, the Canes dominated Duke 90-63, earning their first-ever win over a top-ranked team.
Durand Scott scored 25 points for Miami, which took control with a stunning 25-1 run in the first half. The Canes shot 57 percent overall and held the Blue Devils to just 29 percent from the field, including 4 of 23 from three-point range.
Miami’s 27-point win marked the third largest winning margin over a No. 1 team in college basketball history.
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Art Deco Weekend
Miami Beach
Embrace Miami Beach and its historical art deco glory during the 47th annual Art Deco Weekend. For three days, residents and visitors can be transported back to the early days of the Magic City, with several events celebrating its signature art deco style. Kick off the celebratory weekend with an architectural tour through iconic Ocean Drive or shop for goods at an artisan market. Noon to 8 p.m., Friday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, at Ocean Drive and Lummus Park between Fifth and 12th Streets, Miami Beach.
Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival
Fort Lauderdale
From January 8 to 14, take a bite out of the Fort Lauderdale culinary scene during the Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival. The annual event returns to entice residents and visitors with various dishes from the city's top chefs and restaurants. There will be one-night-only dinners at spots like Evelyn's, the Katherine, Burlock Coast, and Casa D'Angelo. The Grand Tasting takes place Saturday at Las Olas Oceanside Park and features food and beverage demonstrations and cooking demos. Monday through Sunday, January 14.
The Pickle Games Miami
Downtown Miami
Jan. 13 + 14th The largest pickle ball festival in the world comes to Miami! Boasting up to 100 courts, vendor villages, musical performances, VIP experiences and brand activations, The Pickle Games Miami will take place on January 13 and 14, 2024 at the historic Miami Marine Stadium. Watch amateurs and pros whip balls back and forth on the court throughout the day with Biscayne Bay and Downtown Miami as the backdrop.
Festival of Chocolate at Fairchild Garden
Coral Gables
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden dedicates two full days to the beloved cocoa bean for this annual event. The main star of the show—if you couldn’t guess—is chocolate. Don’t miss your opportunity to taste samples from artisan chocolatiers, indulge in chocolate pairings with wine and spirits, sit in on lectures and participate in all sorts of sweet demonstrations. Jan 21–22, 10am-5pm; $24.95 adults
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Athletic Staff Celebrations
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See who is celebrating a birthday, work anniversary, or both!
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