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🎉 It was a pleasure to represent Skål Philadelphia at the SKAL NEW JERSEY Club Dinner and Induction Ceremony! 🎉 A sincere thank you to Jim Dwyer for the invitation and warm hospitality. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, especially the Tourism Trivia Challenge, where our team, JersPhila, proudly captured 🥈 Second Place honors! The event at Mosaico in Mountainside, New Jersey, was a wonderful reminder of the power of friendship, networking, and collaboration across our Skål clubs. 🌎🤝 June is officially my Skål Club Tour Month, and I’m excited to connect with fellow Skålleagues in: 📍 Skål International New York 📍 SKAL NEW JERSEY 📍 Skål International Greater Washington, D.C. 📍 Baltimore SKAL Looking forward to strengthening relationships, sharing ideas, and celebrating the spirit of Skål throughout the region. 🥂 To fellow Skålleagues everywhere: "Happiness, Good Health, Friendship, Long Life — Skål!"

SAVE THE DATE! 🌈 ✨ Pride Month & Juneteenth Celebration ✨ 🌈 Skål Philadelphia is excited to partner with Bebashi - Transition to Hope for an unforgettable evening of networking, community, celebration, and philanthropy! 📅 Thursday, June 25, 2026 🕠 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Join hospitality, tourism, business, and community leaders as we celebrate the spirit of Pride Month and Juneteenth while supporting an organization that continues to make a profound impact throughout our region. 🎉 Get Ready for Bebashi Bingo! 🎉 The highlight of the evening will be our exciting Bebashi Bingo Fundraiser! Purchase your bingo cards and join the fun as you compete for prizes, enjoy friendly competition, and share plenty of laughs along the way. Every bingo card purchased directly supports Bebashi's incredible work providing health education, advocacy, and supportive services that strengthen communities and improve lives. Your participation helps make a difference while creating a memorable and entertaining experience for all. Whether you're a bingo enthusiast or a first-time player, Bebashi Bingo promises to be a lively, engaging, and impactful part of the evening! 🤝 Network with industry professionals 🎊 Celebrate Pride Month and Juneteenth 🎁 Win prizes and support a great cause ❤️ Help advance Bebashi's vital community mission Additional details and registration information will be announced soon. Mark your calendars and plan to join us for an evening of celebration, connection, and community impact! 🌐 Learn more about Skål Philadelphia: https://lnkd.in/eFGnEmS

👏 A special shout-out to John Ruzich, Sue Shapiro, Tom Strodel, Wayne V. Lee, Jr., Jim Dwyer, Frank Klare, Iris Salazar, CTA, Roland C. Mracek and Carolyn Feimster. Thank you for the conversations, laughter, and continued commitment to our Skål community! 😊 🌎✈️ Here's to friendship, networking, and doing business among friends! 🥂

✨ NEW PODCAST RELEASE ✨🎙️ 🚀 Building Brands & Changing Lives with Dave Girgenti is NOW LIVE on Something To Say with Greg DeShields Podcast! 🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/etVQRgAK Join me for an inspiring conversation with Dave Girgenti, an award-winning creative leader, brand strategist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, as we explore the powerful intersection of creativity, innovation, branding, and purpose-driven leadership. 🔥 In this episode, Dave shares: 🎨 His journey through advertising, gaming, hospitality, and nonprofit innovation 💡 The story behind founding Hero Network & Wish Upon a Hero — one of America’s first social helping and crowdfunding platforms 🤝 How storytelling and branding can truly change lives 📈 Lessons in entrepreneurship, leadership, and building impactful campaigns 🤖 His insights on the evolving role of AI in marketing and creativity With more than 25 years of experience leading award-winning initiatives and helping raise millions for charitable causes, Dave delivers wisdom, inspiration, and forward-thinking perspectives that every entrepreneur, marketer, creative professional, and business leader should hear. 🎯 If you’re passionate about innovation, branding, leadership, creativity, and personal growth — this episode is a MUST-LISTEN! 🎧 Tune in now and join the conversation!

✨ NEW PODCAST RELEASE ✨🎙️ 🚀 Building Brands & Changing Lives with Dave Girgenti is NOW LIVE on Something To Say with Greg DeShields Podcast! 🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/etVQRgAK Join me for an inspiring conversation with Dave Girgenti, an award-winning creative leader, brand strategist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, as we explore the powerful intersection of creativity, innovation, branding, and purpose-driven leadership. 🔥 In this episode, Dave shares: 🎨 His journey through advertising, gaming, hospitality, and nonprofit innovation 💡 The story behind founding Hero Network & Wish Upon a Hero — one of America’s first social helping and crowdfunding platforms 🤝 How storytelling and branding can truly change lives 📈 Lessons in entrepreneurship, leadership, and building impactful campaigns 🤖 His insights on the evolving role of AI in marketing and creativity With more than 25 years of experience leading award-winning initiatives and helping raise millions for charitable causes, Dave delivers wisdom, inspiration, and forward-thinking perspectives that every entrepreneur, marketer, creative professional, and business leader should hear. 🎯 If you’re passionate about innovation, branding, leadership, creativity, and personal growth — this episode is a MUST-LISTEN! 🎧 Tune in now and join the conversation!

From award-winning culinary ventures to building an incredible hospitality empire, Chef Garces shares insights, inspiration, and the personal side of what makes him not only a world-class chef but fundamentally a great guy. 🎙️ Watch and listen for the official release on June 5th!

Releasing tomorrow on Something To Say with Greg DeShields Podcast "Building Brands & Changing Lives" featuring the incredibly talented Dave Girgenti. 🎙️🎬 Dave, an award-winning creative leader, brand strategist, entrepreneur, and visionary storyteller, joins me for an inspiring conversation about creativity, branding, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and the evolving role of AI in marketing and storytelling. But that’s not all… Dave is now stepping into the world of film production, writing "The Dog at Old Salem Road," a gripping psychological thriller that explores the unraveling reality of an ordinary man caught in extraordinary circumstances. “For two decades, this story lived in my imagination. Now, with the right team, incredible momentum, and an international collaboration of creative talent, we are bringing this powerful vision to life.” This is more than a movie project; it’s the launch of a cinematic journey fueled by passion, persistence, and creative purpose. Watch the trailer and get ready for an unforgettable conversation tomorrow on Something To Say with Greg DeShields. 🎥🔥Trailer: https://lnkd.in/eys6V24G

🎉 Skål Philadelphia’s Pop-Up Spring Social at Amada Restaurant was an absolute blast! 🍷✨ What an incredible evening of networking, friendship, and outstanding hospitality. A huge thank you to the amazing Amada team for delivering such a memorable experience for all who attended. 👏 Special recognition to Executive Sous Chef Jose Noboa 👨‍🍳 for creating an incredible menu that truly elevated the evening. 🍽️🔥 Thank you as well to everyone who joined us and helped make the event so special, including Noel Zayas, Olivia Elberfeld from Amada, Jim Dwyer, President SKAL NEW JERSEY and the outstanding team from Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management🎓🌟 A very special shout-out to Michael J. Usino 🙌 for his continued support and engagement. Events like this continue to showcase the power of connection, collaboration, and community within the tourism and hospitality industry. 🤝🌍 To Fellow Skålleagues Everywhere: 💙 Good Health 🤝 Friendship 🌟 Long Life 😊 Happiness 🥂SKÅL!

From Cheesesteaks to Czechia: New Nonstop Flights from Philly to Prague Congratulations Michaela Claudino CzechTourism it was an honor to represent Skål Philadelphia at the program announcement yesterday. And it is exciting to know there is now a direct flight from Skål Philadelphia to Skål International Prague. "To fellow Skålleagues everywhere: happiness, good health, friendship, long life! Skål!"

Spring is here — and it’s time to reconnect! 🌸🍷✨ Join Skål Philadelphia for a special Pop-Up Dining & Social Experience at the incredible Amada Restaurant! Enjoy amazing conversation, networking, and the delectable flavors of Amada’s famous Happy Hour while connecting with Philadelphia’s travel, tourism, and hospitality community. Be sure to try: Charcutería, Quesos, Picada, and Sangría! 📍 Amada Restaurant, 217-219 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 📅 Wednesday, May 20, 2026 ⏰ 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM 💲 Only $45 Register now: https://lnkd.in/eaWV3WVM Come ready to mix, mingle, and celebrate spring with great people, great food, and great energy! 🍹✨

Congratulations to Judge McKee on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you to everyone who made this remarkable evening possible.

I was truly excited and honored to return for Round Two at DisruptHR Dutchess County 2.0! Congratulations to Marilyn Espinosa for producing such an impactful and energizing DisruptHR Dutchess County 2.0 event. The evening was filled with authentic conversations, bold ideas, relatable experiences, and emotionally engaging stories that challenged traditional thinking and inspired meaningful dialogue. What makes DisruptHR so powerful is its ability to create space for honest conversations around leadership, workplace culture, innovation, and the future of work — all delivered with passion, creativity, and purpose. Grateful to have shared the stage with such dynamic speakers and professionals committed to pushing the HR and workplace conversation forward.

Spring is here — and it’s time to reconnect! 🌸🍷✨ Join Skål Philadelphia for a special Pop-Up Dining & Social Experience at the incredible Amada Restaurant! Enjoy amazing conversation, networking, and the delectable flavors of Amada’s famous Happy Hour while connecting with Philadelphia’s travel, tourism, and hospitality community. 📍 Amada Restaurant, 217-219 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 📅 Wednesday, May 20, 2026 ⏰ 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM 💲 Only $45 Whether you're a longtime member, industry professional, or simply looking to expand your network, this is the perfect spring social gathering you won’t want to miss! Register today at Skål Philadelphia https://lnkd.in/eaWV3WVM Come ready to mix, mingle, and celebrate spring with great people, great food, and great energy! 🍹✨

🎙️ Up Next on Something To Say with Greg DeShields Podcast, an inspiring conversation with Dave Girgenti, an award-winning creative leader and brand strategist with more than 25 years of experience building and scaling brands across the advertising, gaming, hospitality, and philanthropic sectors. Known for his relentless passion for branding and innovation, Dave has led teams in developing thousands of projects, launched nationally recognized philanthropic movements, and helped raise millions in investment capital and charitable donations through strategic brand-building. This upcoming episode explores the intersection of creativity, leadership, storytelling, and purpose-driven branding — and why authentic brand identity matters more than ever in today’s competitive marketplace. Don’t miss this engaging conversation filled with insight, inspiration, and practical wisdom from one of the industry’s most accomplished creative minds. 🎧 Something To Say with Greg DeShields — where leadership, innovation, and impactful conversations come together. https://lnkd.in/esg7iN6f

📍 The Sound Garden at Barton Orchards, 63 Apple Tree Ln, Poughquag, NY 📅 May 14, 2026

Thank you to all who attended and made the evening a success.