Another Day

Another day has passed and we have accomplished much. Nikki and Cameron contacted the majority of the hotels and restaurants in and around El Remate to pass out flyers about the seminars that Nikkin and Scott are giving on Sunday afternoon. At first we thought Sunday would be the incorrect day but culturally it seems it is the best day for sessions such as these.


Scott rebuilt Hotel Gringo Perdido's website, at least the skeleton, yesterday. That was a major accomplishment that we were looking forward to beginning. Today, Cameron and I will try to flesh out the rest of it as time permits.









We had a great lunch in the village of El Remate with an excellent view of the "cocrodillo". This land formation is where Hotel Gringo Perdido is located.


After lunch we walked through part of the village to deliver more seminar flyers. El Remate is very interesting. The people are very friendly and the children are so cute. They love to have their picture taken as you can see.



Our day ended with us traveling back to Hotel Gringo Perdido around 5 p.m. The sun starts setting about 5:30 and it is definitely dark by 6:30. Along the way we stopped to watch some children playing soccer and having fun as the day ended.


The sunset is truly magnificent and will take your breath away. These two visitors to Hotel Gringo Perdido are sharing the moment.

We have arrived!!!

Our team has arrived in Guatemala...we got to Hotel Gringo Perdido last night around 4:45 PM local time. We enjoyed a tour of the hotel and land which was beautiful. We then enjoyed a great dinner, prepared hand made from the staff. It was great to view the water as we ate dinner and after we took a step out onto the deck to see all the beautiful stars. It is amazing!! You do not see the stars in Valdosta like you do in El Remate!! After a restful night for most we are currently at Project Ix-Canaan contacting our loved ones and preparing to tour Ix-Canaan and the amazing city!! We will keep you all informed as soon as possible!

The picture is one taken by Jeff as we toured the hotel land last night...BEAUTIFUL!!!

The Agenda

Wednesday, November 18th - Depart Valdosta at 5:45 AM local time, fly to Atlanta (ASA), to Cancun (Delta), then finally to Flores, Guatemala (Taca) , arrive at 3:45 PM local time, travelling by ground to Gringo Perdido

Thursday, November 19th - Morning: Tour Gringo Perdido, village of El Remate, Project Ix-Canaan. Afternoon: Facilitate a strategive planning session with Anne Lossing (manager) and Eduardo Cofino (owner) of Gringo Perdido.

Friday, November 20th - Work on projects for Gringo Perdido as identified in strategic planning session.

Saturday, November 21st - Work on projects for Gringo Perdido and Project Ix-Canaan as time allows.

Sunday, November 22nd - Training programs: Using Microsoft Office Live to create a web page for your business (Nikki Mitchell) & Implementing a social media campaign to build your business (Scott Manley)

Monday, November 23rd - Tour Tikal National Park

Tuesday, November 24th - Depart Flores, Guatemala at 8:25 AM local time, fly to Cancun, Atlanta, and Valdosta at 9:43 PM local time.

Five Days

Time has flown by! We have 5 days left to make sure we have everything we need for our trip to Guatemala. My mind is full of lists and check sheets. Since I will be responsible for the photography and video, I keep thinking about the equipment I need to take such as batteries, SD cards, card readers, and battery chargers for the cameras.
There is much left to do. The team met Wednesday to review our progress on our individual assignments and to make a list of new questions. I think we are making progress.
I am looking forward to putting a lens on Lake Peten Itza and the opportunity to photograph El Remate, Hotel Gringo Perdido, the Biotopo Cerro Cahui Natural Reserve and of course Tikal, home of the ancient Mayan Civilization.

The Team Jeff Shipley

I'm excited about this project and foresee good things coming out of this collaboration between Hotel El Gringo Perdido, the Small Business Development Center and the VSU Students in Free Enterprise.
Just a little bit about me:

Jeff Shipley has over 25 years of management experience in various industries, such as manufacturing, food service and wholesale/retail sales. Jeff holds degrees in Finance and Accounting as well as a Master of Business Administration. At the Langdale College of Business, his responsibilities include the four computer labs, all faculty and staff computers as well as all printers and other peripheral equipment. In addition, he provides audio/visual support to functions and activities that are held on the North Campus of Valdosta State University. After serving several years as a technical advisor to Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), Jeff was named a Sam Walton Fellow and became one of the faculty advisors to the student organization. His areas of responsibility include advising the SIFE sponsored, student run business, Business Bites, event photography, video production and webpage maintenance. Jeff also serves as technical advisor to another student organization, Beta Alpha Psi, Mu Zeta Chapter. Jeff is a former volunteer with the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and served on the Board of Directors of the Valdosta/Lowndes County Humane Society as Treasurer.

T minus 2 weeks, and counting

This project is led by Scott Manley, Assistant Director of the VSU SBDC and SIFE Business Advisory Board Member, along with Jeff Shipley, SIFE Faculty Advisor. Students participating include Cameron Hoopes, a junior marketing major, and Nikki Mitchell, a senior finance and accounting major and current VSU SIFE president.

Today, Wednesday 11/4, starts the last round of vaccinations. We've already been poked and prodded (several times!), but now must start our oral malaria and typhoid vaccinations. Our little group will depart Valdosta at 5:45 on Wednesday, November 18th. We'll fly to Atlanta, then to Cancun, and finally to Flores, Guatemala, where we will be escorted to Hotel Gringo Perdido outside the village of El Remate. We'll spend the next five days working with the Hotel Gringo Perdido and project Ix-Canaan before returning home on Tuesday, November 24th.