Ned Erickson: UPDATE Week of May 14 PUPPY EDITION

Sarah with a handful of adoptable puppies from AARF

I decided to hold off on a regular update so as not to inundate you with information, but if I hold off any longer, the next update will be way too long.

So here goes a little update on things since we've been back.

REENTRY

The Wilsons are fostering a dozen cute little mutts and their mom for AARF, so Monday night's Round Table was full of puppy loving!

I think Sarah got the record with six puppies in her lap at once!

I can't thank the Wilsons enough for how well they have loved our Fellows this year! Seeing how Patricia fosters these puppies you can see that love comes naturally!

LEADER LUNCH

Tony Atala is the one in the lab coat

We had an extra special leader lunch with Tony Atala, the Director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University as well as the Chair of the Urology Department as well as a couple handfuls of other things.

Our time together covered a wide range of topics including the size of the universe and two liter Cokes. Tony is incredibly thoughtful and inviting. He welcomed our questions and was willing to go wherever they led him.

Afterwards, he provided a tour of their facility. Absolutely mind-blowing! It's hard to believe cutting edge science is happening in our downtown!

thanks Tony!

THURSDAY FUN

We had a lot of fun on Thursday.

First, I had the chance to drop by a Leadership Winston-Salem Alumni event and take a selfie with Jenny of Jenny's Pickles. How I miss them!

need to work on my selfie skills

Then it was off to Wiseman's Brewing for a HOPE International Microbrew for Microfinance thing we were helping to host.

Erika Quaile in the middle. She is on the development team and also one of the coolest people I know

We lined up Allan Younger to share about how local small business development was changing the landscape of Winston-Salem

It was a great event.

We are planning another event later this year with the founder Peter Greer. BE ON THE LOOK OUT!!!

LAST CLASS!

We finished the year strong with a double barrel of Nigel Alston and Giorgio Hiatt.

Giorgio was as thought-provoking as ever.

And Nigel continued in once again blowing us away.

I love this guy (and I think he loves me too!)

I'm sad to see classes end. The Fellows Program has a lot of great parts - the teaching part is one of the best.

Thanks to all of our professors!

Dr. Clay Cooke

Dr. Jack Wilkerson

Joe Moore

Ben Milner

David Speakman

Giorgio Hiatt and

Nigel Alston

Wow!

FINANCE UPDATE

We couldn't pull this off without your financial support.

thank you for donating this year. If you haven't yet, here's how:

Write checks to

Winston-Salem Fellows

851 W. 5th St

Winston-Salem, NC 27101

or electronically at

wsfellows.com/give

THANKS!

RECRUITING

We have 12 committed Fellows signed up for next year. 7 men and 5 women! We are open to taking on one more female if the fit is right, but we could not be more excited about the incoming class.

Starting in June I will begin profiling the class. Stay tuned!

PERSONAL UPDATE

Yes.

We got a puppy!