That's me in 1978 at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. I was known as Kaptain Keyboard and it was one of my first real jobs aside from mowing lawns in the neighborhood on and around South Tampa's Lawn Avenue. I worked for a man named Jack Hayes who owned a music store called Jack Hayes Family Music Center. I had been taking piano lessons for four years and was actually pretty good, but this was different. I was hired to perform and demonstrate how easy it was to play Kimball organs and it was a real circus-type act. I even remember a sign displayed, "Next Kaptain Keyboard Performance At" with the time placed on it. Kaptain Keyboard could not only play as mere mortals do, he could play blindfolded! He could even stand behind the organ, reach over the top, and play it backwards, and yes, still blindfolded. It was a real crowd pleaser and if a little kid could do all this, then it must be easy to learn and play it normally yourself.

Jack Hayes taught me early on about sales, showmanship and also giving back and being part of a community. He asked me to be a Greater Tampa United Way Ambassador representing his company and I was one of eight finalists. I had to speak and do a presentation to more than three-hundred attendees about my experiences with the program. At the age of twelve it was terrifying but helpful in so many ways that allow me to do and accomplish what I do today.

When I heard this announced at a recent Greater EMC Chamber breakfast as part of the many "First-Time" achievements for schools and programs within New Caney ISD this school year, jaws dropped and applause and cheers erupted from the crowd. This is a major national accomplishment and one that makes me even more #Proud2BeEMC. Well done Porter High School engineering students!

Porter High School engineering students won the grand prize of $130,000 in technology and resources for their school in Samsung’s “Solve for Tomorrow” nationwide contest. This prize is in addition to the $65,000 they had already won earlier this month for becoming one of the 10 finalist schools. This nationwide contest is designed to boost interest and proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), and challenges public school teachers and students in grades 6-12 to show how STEM can be applied to help improve their communities.

The students at PHS designed and developed Gen-Bridge, an app and a website for local nursing home residents affected by COVID-19-related depression and isolation to provide them social interaction. They later raised funds to purchase and donate gently used tablets with Gen-Bridge pre-installed for the nursing home residents, lessening the effect of isolation and greatly impacting their social lives.

Our local chamber of commerce recently held a ribbon cutting at a snow cone stand in New Caney, TX called Junie B's. We hold many ribbon cuttings as a chamber and always post photos on our Facebook page. This one however was sweeter than any other post when it came to reach and engagement. In fact, it was 10 times the reach and 50 times the engagement sweeter! But why?

I can only speculate, but I think it has something to do with Junie B's being a locally-owned, self-branded, family-run business... that's down right adorable! People were drawn to want to see and know more plus they wanted to share it! More importantly, they wanted to know where Junie B's is located.

As you may or may not know, I have a passion for locally-owned self-branded businesses and have my own company, LocalMeA - The Best Of Local, created just for them. It's not only for my local area, its for any local area nationwide. Local is where you are at and businesses like Junie B's make communities unique and give them personality. Without them, we all start to look the same. Thank you for supporting these businesses wherever local is for you!

Do you have a locally-owned self-branded business with great reviews?