The Marketplace

This little piggy went to market…. at #dad2summit

After so much laughter, and so many tears, the doors flung open.  The 400+ men exited with eyes wide.  The sounds of verbal exchanges taking place in the corridor as the sea of people moved around from booth to booth. Much like any marketplace, there was currency exchanging hands. The simple passing of the 3.5 x 2 inch pieces, no two alike, happening in a flurry amidst the laughter.

Dad 2.0 Summits could not happen without the generous help from our sponsors. I wanted to take some time and thank each of them here, and independently using the ways of social media.  Take a moment and just see who stood with us this year.

Dove Men+Care (title sponsor): What more can I say than thank you for making this happen.  The memory room, the barbershop, the wall, the gifts…. everything was incredible.  Both of us being born from Eve’s rib, means that we have a camaraderie that is unshakable. Perhaps I am just a little too set in my ways, but the gifts that I was given finally gave me a chance to try so many Dove Men+Care products.  It is incredible to see the difference in using something that is designed for men, versus some of the more unisex brands.

Kia Motors America: My family is in the market for a new car, a minivan to be specific.  Getting the chance to drive so many different, and amazing cars from KIA, on my own, with no salesmen trying to sell me on it was a unique experience.  This gave me the chance to experience the car the way I would as though I already owned it. Needless to say, Kia is now on the TOP of my list.  Not only because of how incredible their cars are, but because of the heart that they have for families.  There was also the professional head shot station that they had set up.  My beloved says that these are the best photos taken of me… possibly ever.

Lego: I have been in love with Legos since I was three. For those doing the math, that is over three decades of fun, experimenting, and enjoyment.  Having a chance to see the kits that are NOT EVEN OUT YET, being able to talk with, and build with a master builder, spending time in the Smithsonian museum after dark, all of these things brought the kid out of this dad.  I am so thankful that they were there as a sponsor!

Meta Wellness: It has been some time since I tried metamucil, so I was a bit skeptical.  I am not sure what all they did, but it is so much better now. On top of providing us with healthy snacks for two solid days, they brought Michael Strahan, yes, that Michael Strahan, to talk with us about being a dad, heart health, and what life is like as a dad in the limelight!

Best Buy: Drones, 360 cameras, home security… these guys rocked it this year.  Being able to fly one of the finest dones that I have ever flown, and getting to play with so many cool things was phenomenal.  It is awesome to see a brand that stands behind the brands that they sell, but also focus on a mission. I think that the best buy dads idea will take off, and I hope to be part of it.

Lee: Providing us the chance to be fitted into some awesome jeans and pants was just amazing. Normally I just run in and grab what I think will fit. Being able to take the time, given ideas, and find pants that fit me so well was awesome. Being able to then take said pants home, was icing on the cake. Well, having beer and soda service all day was icing on the cake too. If there can be double rainbows, can there be double icing?

Hello Products: You had me sold the moment that I tried your Mojito Mint toothpaste. I went from brushing once or twice a day to three or four overnight.  When I had my children try both of the kids toothpastes that you sent home… I will not have to fight my kids to brush anymore.  Thank you, not only for making amazing products, but for making products that my kids love as well.

Rheem: These guys make smart home automation look easy. I was blown away with not only the ease of management for all the connected devices (AC, Heater, Water Heater), but in the intuitiveness of the system.  Being able to adjust the water temperature, from my phone, so the bath water is not so hot for my kiddos (or me) but nice and steamy for my beloved it awesome!

Domain.ME: The direction and clarity that this team gave me has been more beneficial than i think i saw at the time. Meeting with me one-on-one to discuss a strategy for my blog, my writing, and consolidation (unification) of social media identity was worth its weight in gold. Many of the changes that I am currently working through are resulting directly from conversations with this team, and I hope that the community is better for it.

General Mills: In an effort to keep up with our tastes, General Mills has been working hard to change / update their recipes. They want us to love cereals again and are striving to to have all of their cereals free of artificial flavors and colors by the end of 2017.  That is not a small task, and they do not take it lightly. They are already at 75% of their cereals being free of these things, and considering the endless Rolodex of cereals that they have, that is amazing.

Kidde Fire Safety: Weather you know it or not, you may have some of their products in your home at this very moment. Besides making awesome fire, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, they are also doing all that they can to get the word out about volunteering with your local fire department.

Responsibility.org: It is so important that we continue to have conversations about drinking and driving, as well as underage drinking.  These guys have been in the fight for a long time, and were brave enough to have these conversations with us where the drinks were flowing. It says a lot about a company that is willing to speak about drinking responsibly yet are willing to provide a bourbon bar to a bunch of dads away from their kids for the weekend. They did an awesome job of making sure that we had a great time, but stayed safe.

Restonic Mattress: Parenting sucks the life out of your sleep schedule. These folks know that, and are looking at ways to help us fall asleep, and get the best sleep that we can. Their passion for the wellness that comes with getting good, quality, recuperative sleep made me far more aware of how my sleep loss is affecting myself and my family.  When I got home I went to a store and tested one of their mattresses… needless to say one may be coming to my home soon.

Smarty Pants: These vitamins are amazing! I love them, my kids love them (which says a lot). My only wish is that I would have brought home more. My kids are picky when it comes to vitamins. So, I was a little unsure as to how they would take to them.  They gobbled them up.

Smack Apparel: Though not listed as a sponsor, these guys gave us the awesome shirts for the summit.  Every time that I wear mine I am reminded of the awesomeness of the weekend, and I get asked a ton of questions.

I AM A CRANIO DAD, I am scared out of my mind and how can you not be impressed by this list?!