Boise Fit Expo 08
Boise Fitness Expo 2008
At the Big Easy Concert House, Boise, Idaho
What a night. Arriving just after the girlfriend put an offer on a house (which we are still hoping she gets) the first thing I notice is a MILE of a line! WOW. Now this is my first time coming to the expo. I didn’t think it was going to be very big, because before I worked for BB.com, I never heard of the Boise Fit Expo (apparently I don’t get out much). Ron Avidian and Isaac Hinds were interviewing VP Jeremy DeLuca out front. A few co-workers were slammed at the door, so as a gentleman, I started helping out getting out the “empty bags” which were slammed packed with samples and supplements that vendors handed out inside. We had around 500 t-shirts, which went fast. To try and get the line to go smoother, we were running down the line, throwing shirts out, like cheerleaders at basketball game, we were only missing the slingshot to launch it into the upper deck!
Once I finally snuck inside, I headed in to look for other employees. The joint was packed! Music playing in the background, guys doing ez bar curls for a competition to win a supplement from BEAST sports. I got distracted at the main stage where the FAME Bikini Model search was taking place, which I think would stop any man, and a select women, in there steps. I make it up stairs and look for the other employees. Don’t have to go far, just have to head for the bar! After finding Ryan DeLuca, hanging out with the VIP wristbands, I get mine and mingle with some fellas from my dept. I attempt to go check out the different vendors, but I figured I get enough goodies being an employee that I’ll stay out of the way of the guests!
I head into the VIP room to hang out with a few employees and head to the balcony where we could see the venue and the stage. Jay Cutler is at the MuscleTech booth taking pictures and signing autographs. Bill Romanowski was signing copies of his book and promoting his new supplement line; Nutrition53, in another corner. BSN had their booth set up with “The Prodigy” Brandon Curry signing autographs and taking pictures. Up on the balcony, I bumped into ErgoPharm’s own Patrick Arnold was watching the ladies finish up the FAME Bikini contest. Thanks to the beautiful Crystal Matthews and the eccentric Jerome Ferguson for hosting the contest and getting the fans to cheer instead of just stair with their jaws on the floor in awe! After that, Boise’s on Marika Johansson, put on a great posing show, in her Viking format, equipped with a sword. She is stacked alone; does she really need the sword? No, but it adds for effect!
Alright, enough standing and watching pretty ladies on a stage, time for a drink! After socializing with a few employees and vendors, I figured I would venture through the crowd, now that its died down a little bit. During the last 3 months, BB.com did its own Transformation challenge within the office, the winner, gets to go to host the booth at the Olympia this fall! While everybody did amazing, we had to have a winner. Kris Gethin, our editor-in-chief and author of the Transformation challenge took it with our Marketing Anylist Jamie Winery coming in a close second. Since Kris gets to go to the Olympia anyway, he gave his winning tickets to Jamie! Ryan DeLuca and Bob Cicharillo awarding them onstage.
Cruising around the crowd, I get over to meet Scott, the owner of BSN as well as get a picture with Brandon Curry. During that, Ryan DeLuca and Bob Cicharillo were up on stage handing out the employee of the year award! And GUESS WHAT…… It wasn’t me. Damn. I think it was rigged, but anyways, the winner’s were (that’s right, two EOY’s) Web Content Manager Will Wiedenmann and Purchasing Specialist Bill Baldry (and it’s the first time any of us have EVER seen Billy without a hat!). Went around and got to meet the guys from MuscleTech (and yes a picture with Jay) and then headed back upstairs.
As the vendors started running dry of free stuff, they started to gather up stairs in the VIP. Up here I got to meet and spend some time with a few new people. Bill Romanowski was hanging out, he had his ’98 Denver Bronco SuperBowl ring I got to try on. This was a huge moment for me, as it is the closest I will ever get to a Super Bowl and the Broncos are my team! Also got to spend some time with Brian Roubach from PhenogenX, Dave Nelson from iForce Nutrition, and Patrick Arnold from ErgoPharm; These aren’t your science nerds from high school! Some very cool guys that were fun to hang out with and represent great companies! Also got to swap some stories with Jerome Fergeson; Saw him at lunch earlier that day with his hair up, and he is actually 6’4 when he has his hair up. Its nuts! Of course I got to meet Jamie Eason finally, as she always was coming to the office when I wasn’t there! All in all, it was a great night! Big thanks go out to the Big Easy for hosting and of course to Dave Middleton, our marketing and events manager, for bringing it all together! If you missed it this year, don’t let it happen again next year! BFE 09 here we come!
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