Menu Close

Category: Blog and News

Where Are They Now: Phillip Zannini, Ignite Charlotte 4

Phillip (PhillyMac) Zannini
Photo Credit: Josh Putnam, Silent Images

Remember PhillyMac? He unlocked the geek (not Greek) language with his talk on How to Speak to Your Geek He identified 4 different geek types, best ways to speak to geeks, and applied geek-speak to business and life. Definitely worth watching, if you missed it the first time.

We caught up with PhillyMac, err Phillip Zannini (to be official) and asked him what he had been up to since Ignite Charlotte 4.

“Doing Ignite Charlotte reminded me to focus more on my ideal state – where I really wanted to be versus just being where I was,” he reflected. “I love to speak, share, and motivate.”

Presenting at Ignite Charlotte also gave a boost to his confidence as a speaker. “I’m submitting as a speaker to events within my industry,” he said. Not to mention, it helped expand his social network, too. “I also met some really cool folks.”

True, we are a pretty cool bunch.

In addition to staying busy with his job as a user-experience (UX) professional, he has also become a BeachBody coach to help others achieve their health goals. “When I was younger I was crazy in-shape and I got everyone around me working at it, as well.”

At age 50 with a family of 6 kids and many more dreams to fulfill, this fellow Igniter may come back as PhillyBIGmac! “Maybe I’ll have the opportunity [to] share that story in a future Ignite Charlotte.”

We certainly look forward to it!

Follow PhillyMac on Twitter @phillymac or check out his site at http://PhillyMacMedia.com

Written by: Biray (@befitt), Ignite Charlotte 5 Volunteer

Where Are They Now: Lawrence Shaheen, Jr., Ignite Charlotte 2

We caught up with past Ignite Charlotte speaker, Lawrence Shaheen, Jr. (y’all know him as Larry) to find out the latest and greatest in the world of politics.

Lawrence (Larry) Shaheen Jr
Photo Credit: Robert Christopher

If you recall his talk at Ignite Charlotte 2 on Bringing Charlotte Together by Bridging the Gap he said (quite boldly, in fact) that “We have to find a way to bring our leaders together… and help them understand that we all stand and work together.”

He continues working towards collaboration by bringing people of common interests together to get things done for the people of Charlotte. Since his involvement with Ignite Charlotte, business has been booming and he has begun teaching at UNCC.

Ah, how the budding ‘poly sci’ pupils of Charlotte will be ignited like we once were.

Follow Larry on Twitter @lawshaheenjr or check out his consulting firm at www.carolinapoliticalconsulting.com

Written by: Biray (@befitt), Ignite Charlotte 5 Volunteer