Our MVPs
In addition to our in-house staff, we also rely upon our MVPs to provide us with new recommendation information and updates. MVPs are subscribers to the site and/or purchasers of the book who seek a more active role in helping their fellow athletic-minded travelers. As some of our more frequent traveling customers, MVPs function as “in the field” reporters with a direct information-flow line to the editorial staff. As MVPs travel for work or leisure, they relay specific data and opinions on all things athletic-minded regarding: hotels, restaurants, health clubs, running routes, retailers, etc. Their thoughts and opinions are subsequently reviewed by the editorial staff and added to the site upon approval.
In addition to being able to contribute to the world of healthy travel, MVPs also receive free access to the site, a free copy of The Athletic-Minded Traveler book, and other ongoing swag for their efforts.
If you would like to apply to become an MVP, and we’ll send you an application.
Matt Pawlowski
Matt presently works for Motorola and travels approximately 60% of the time—often internationally for 2-3 week stretches. While traveling for work, his bag always includes two pairs of running shoes. He enjoys running in the places where work takes him because, “it has not only been a good source of exercise but also a great way to see different cities and cultures.”
In April 2005, Matt completed Ironman Arizona. He has also participated in numerous long distance running events, including: the ING New York City Marathon; the ING Miami Marathon; and, the Crested Butte Grin and Bear It Run—training for all while traveling extensively for business.
Carri Bennet
Carri is Managing Partner for Bennet and Bennet, a Washington, DC, based law firm that concentrates in the telecommunications field. She and her firm represent wireless carriers, telephone companies, cellular carriers, PCS providers, and CLECs, before the FCC, state regulatory agencies, the courts and Congress. She is a nationally recognized expert on rural wireless issues and has been a key proponent for easing regulatory burdens that hinder small wireless companies.
Carri finds herself away from home on business three to four times a month on average—often for several days at a time. So, much of her exercising is performed while on the road. Carri’s fitness pursuits are numerous—with her most impressive achievement being holder of the “Fittest Female CEO in North America (2004)” title, after winning the female CEO division at Ironman USA.
Carri graduated cum laude from North Carolina State University and earned her JD from Catholic University where she also served on the Law Review.
Daryl Humphrey
Daryl Humphrey has been officiating basketball as a profession for 18 years. If you haven’t seen his face on television while blowing the whistle on WNBA All-Stars such as Lisa Leslie, you will find him on the hardwood at SEC, Big 12, Big East, and other major conference women’s basketball games.
An extraordinary athlete in his own right, Daryl pitched for the minor league New York Yankees and threw a no-hitter and a perfect game during an impressive high school baseball career. Now, he’s content just staying in shape, but we all know that’s not easy.
Surprisingly, Daryl doesn’t believe that running up and down the basketball court during a game provides enough of a workout to stay in shape. So, he avidly uses and contributes to the site. When it comes to MVPs, he may be our most frequent “traveler” — get it? Think basketball pun.
Justin Dearborn
We gave Justin a ribbing over his grumpy photo, but trust us, he’s all smiles when he can find hotels with good workout options during his frequent business travels.
Justin is employed by Click Commerce, a management solutions software company. He currently serves as General Manager of the Service Parts Optimization Solutions Group and Corporate Secretary. Prior to this position, Justin served as VP of Corporate Legal Affairs and Human Resources. He travels extensively for work to Europe, Asia, and throughout the U.S., and has more travel “points”, “rewards”, and “miles”, than he knows what to do with.
An avid strength enthusiast, basketballer, and elliptical-user, Justin is always on the hunt for a pick-up game or good hotel gym. He says he can still dunk, but we’re not believing till seeing—a slam dunk action photo would be a good replacement.
Shawn Burke
Shawn works as the Director of Product Development for KLS Martin LP—a medical device company specializing in titanium implants for the reconstruction of severely deformed child and adult facial bones. Traveling nearly 100 days a year and spending hours on planes or in the operating room, he definitely looks forward to working out while away from home.
Shawn is a 5-time Ironman finisher, an 8-time Half-Ironman finisher, and has logged thousands of on-the-road training miles.
Jay Inouye
Jay is an Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning coach (ATC/L, CSCS) working personally with New York Mets First baseman Carlos Delgado.
He worked with the NBA’s Vancouver Grizzlies in ’96 / ’97 and the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club from ’98 to ’05. He began his career with the Blue Jays as a minor league trainer and Athletic Training and Rehabilitation Coordinator, then was promoted to the Major League team in 2003. He has traveled to most American and National League MLB cities, as well as Venezuela for Winter Ball.
He completed his first triathlon in ’87 and is a 6-time Ironman Finisher (Canada ‘89, ‘90, ‘91 and Florida ‘03, ‘04, ‘05).
Jay lives in North Vancouver, BC, with his wife Dana during the baseball off-season, Florida for Spring Training, Manhattan for Mets home games, and on the road for 81 away games.
Michael Burn
Michael works for E Source, one of the McGraw-Hill Companies, selling energy research to electric and gas utilities throughout the southeastern United States. While out of the office, he usually has to check a separate bag packed completely full of running, biking and swimming gear.
In 2005, Michael completed numerous short-distance triathlons and “Ride the Rockies,” a 405 mile bicycle tour across Colorado.
For 2006, Michael is training for the first ever Colorado Colfax Marathon, the Grand Columbian Half-Ironman Triathlon and the California International Marathon. Living at Colorado altitude, he gets much of his sea-level training while away from the office.
Bill Fiora
Bill Fiora is a Boston-based age group triathlete. To date, he has competed in sprint, Olympic, and half-iron events, and will be running the Lake Placid Marathon in 2006. He is aiming for Ironman Lake Placid in 2007. A former competitive swimmer and rower, he finds that many ex-rowers have turned to triathlon. “I guess we all miss the pain.”
When he is not training or racing, he helps run Outward Insights, a strategy and competitive analysis consulting firm that he founded in 2001. While not the road warrior that he once was, Bill still travels for a good portion of the year. While on the road, he typically runs or does weight training and core strength work. The highlight of any business trip for him is finding a hotel or gym that has a real lap pool. He particularly likes traveling to Chicago in the summer, when he can swim in nearby Lake Michigan.
John Flores
John works for USi, an IT services company, as a business development executive and is focused on developing strategic partnerships with other technology companies. He travels two to three times a month and loves it when he can find a place to swim or a great new running route to help him burn off all of those expense account dinners.
John completed his first triathlon in 1998 and has been hooked on the sport ever since. Since then, he’s completed numerous multisport and running events including Ironman Lake Placid, the Great Floridian Triathlon as well as the NYC and LA Marathons. When not racking up frequent flyer miles, he can be found living in San Diego, enjoying the sunny weather with his wife, two daughters and their dog, Kona.