While I, too, will miss Peter Lyons, and I grieve with his family and friends, I want to take a different look at Peter’s legacy.
To me, Peter was a catalyst, a doer and a loud cheerleader of all things. On a level, I dreaded seeing him. There was always an idea or something I needed to do or folks I needed to meet. Coffee Prize? Pizza Wars? That said, he always backed it up, showed up and made things happen. Peter was always first to volunteer for Music Prize or offer up his coffee for our Startup Prize Mentors or bring new people into the fold. Peter wanted so badly for our city to be better and stronger and shinier, and he was willing to work hard to manifest his passion for our town into a reality.
With all that in mind, I look at his passing as call to act like Peter acted, to affect change like Peter did and to do it with a massive smile on my face. I truly believe that Peter Lyons not only left us with fond memories of a caring, loving, witty dude, he left us with marching orders. In Peter’s memory, I promise to do the things that, I believe, were the most important to him, and I encourage you all to do the same…
Be kind.
Help others.
Start something.
As my people, may his memory be a blessing.
On this Mother’s Day, I’d like to thank my producer, Sandi Kallenberg! Anyone who put up with raising me, deserves more than a day to be celebrated. Truly an amazing woman, and an incredible mom!
Taco Wars was a record breaker because of you! Thanks to all the taquerias who made amazing food and served over 12,000 people! Thanks to the bands and DJ Meno for keeping us dancing! Thanks to all of you for showing up and celebrating together! Thanks to Heidi, our supporters, volunteers and my staff who worked so hard to help this amazing community event to continue to be one of the most amazing taco and tequila festivals on planet earth!
Super honored to represent Startup Prize Health at the Rural Health Transformation Catalyst Fund Roundtable! It is essential that we help bring health solutions to our rural communities, and I can’t wait for our innovators to help address this challenge. Onward and upward!
Looking to be inspired? Look no further than Film Prize Junior! This year, these middle school and high school filmmakers broke the record for attendance, number of films and number of schools participating. I’m so proud to be a part of inventing this program alongside my son Tobias. I’m also incredibly proud to work alongside some of most amazing humans who make sure that Film Prize Junior shines like a star. Congrats to all the students and teachers on our best year yet! We are the Prize!
What happens when you take three amazing women and give them the Herculean task of hosting a national online gathering of health focused entrepreneurs and connecting those founders with some of our country’s leading startup experts? You get a record breaking Startup Prize event with over 80 companies from 30 different states and three different countries. Cheer loudly for these incredible humans on a job well done!
How many times in life do you get the honor of doing hard and important work with amazing people that’s also an absolute blast? Cheers to my Committee of 100 colleagues for all the heart, soul and thought they are putting into making our state a better place! Truly an exemplary bunch, doing awesome things. And cheers to our leader Adam Knapp for putting together a powerful gathering in our capital!
Who is ready for some tacos? Judging from the excitement from these taquerias, Taco Wars will be epic! May 2, we will be celebrating Latino culture, food and music at one of the largest one day taco and tequila festivals in the country. Don’t miss this amazing free event for the whole family! Viva La Taco Wars!
Cheers to Bob Thames on the reopening of Marilyn’s! It was definitely the hardest soft opening I’ve ever seen. Lines out the door, and a who’s who of Prizeport’s glitterati. Luckily, I got in on Heidi’s invite. Run, don’t walk, to this place when it officially opens next week. Viva Marilyn’s!
A happy day for my son. A sad day for the Prize. Please congratulate Tobias on landing a job with one of the coolest energy companies in the country in one of the coolest cities on planet earth. Tobias is starting a gig at Jupiter Power, and he is moving to Austin. While we will miss him in the Prize office, I’m super proud of this brilliant kid. And yes, I’ll beat you to it. He definitely takes after Heidi. Please cheer for him as moves forward in his new career!
