Lauren Rinker Professional Writing Portfolio

Includes writing samples from Sports Backers Quarterly and The Greater Richmond Grid

magazines

List of Published Works “Shockoe Bottom Green”, The Greater Richmond Grid, Issue 1, Summer 2009, Pages 8-9, Writer and

Photographer

“Living Easy with a Touch of Panache”, The Greater Richmond Grid, Issue 1, Summer 2009, Pages 12-13, Writer

“Fernando Vera Luna”, The Greater Richmond Grid, Issue 1, Summer 2009, Page 17, Photographer: Fernando Luna Vera

“The Beauty of Pandora”, The Greater Richmond Grid, Issue 1, Summer 2009, Pages 30-31, Writer and Photographer

“The Beautiful People”, The Greater Richmond Grid, Issue 1, Summer 2009, Page 40, Writer and Photographer

“MOSAIC”, The Greater Richmond Grid, Issue 1, Summer 2009, Page 43, Writer and Photographer

“Cubicle Sawnsong”, The Greater Richmond Grid, Online Article (reference in print version on Page 20), Writer and Photographer

“Making It Happen: Metropolitan Sports Backers Earn National Acclaim from Peer Associations”, Sports Backers Quarterly, Volume 2, Issue 5, July/August 2009, Page 7, Writer

“The Half Marathon Picks Up Steam”, Sports Backers Quarterly, Volume 2, Issue 5, July/August 2009, Page 28, Writer and Photographer

“TRIgirls Band Together to Power Spring”, Sports Backers Quarterly, Volume 2, Issue 4, May/June 2009, Pages 12-13, Writer

Shockoe Bottom GreenRichmond’s Shockoe Bottom has just become a little greener. The 17th Street Farmers’ Market

partnered with Venture Richmond in May 2009 to create the Shockoe Community Garden.

The garden, adjacent to the market’s main office (100 N 17th Street), consists of over 18 beds of raised

garden containers that will grow vegetables and herbs as a way of giving back to the community.17 th

Street Farmers’ Market Manager George Bolos describes how the garden came to fruition.

“[The] 17th Street Farmers’ Market approached Venture Richmond with several proposals, one of

which was the idea of a neighborhood garden, which they immediately loved,” he explains. “They felt

as we did that this was an affordable project that would enhance the surrounding neighborhood.”

The garden project is for neighboring restaurants as well as part of the “Little Sprouts” program for 50

children from faith based organizations who came out and planted the vegetables. Since this project is

primarily a children's project, the property was offered to the 17th Street Farmers’ Market at no cost.

Yogi Singh, a volunteer with Venture Richmond, helped recruit construction companies to build the

garden plots.

“Having a hand in building the garden, with friends and skilled craftsmen from Capstone Contracting

and Kjellstrom and Lee, Inc., was an experience I will remember for a long time,” describes Singh. “I

hope this garden will serve as an amenity for the community for years to come.”

While a few businesses in the area asked for and were granted plots in the Community Garden, not

just anybody can have a plot in the garden.

“This year it is for our Little Sprouts program,” says Bolos [photo: left]. “Next year we may expand the

plots to include others who are interested. We have to take baby steps before we walk.”

In addition to children benefiting from volunteer work, Bolos also wants the garden to benefit

Richmond by helping to make the area “green.”

“We are working in partnership with Tricycle Gardens and representatives from Lewis Ginter as a way

of introducing Urban Gardening methods to the City of Richmond,” Bolos says. “Specifically, we would

like to assist some of the other programs that are happening within the Richmond Redevelopment and

Housing Authority and promote self-sustaining gardens.”

Restaurants in the area were granted plots in the Community Garden. They are tending to their

gardens, harvesting their crops and using the produce and herbs for special features. The other week

folks from LuLu’s came down and harvested a big batch of mint. Guess what their special was that

night? Shockoe Community Garden Mojiotos!

The Greater Richmond Grid, Volume 1, Issue 1, Summer 2009

http://www.richmondgrid.com/index.asp?section=Live&id=10

Living Easy with a Touch of PanacheHomeowners Colleen Hall and Carol Damon’s fabulous condominium with a stunning river

view proves thatsimplifying your life doesn’t mean you have to forgo comfort or style.

Built in 2007, Vistas on the James has sold out all of its 160 units—starting below $300,000 to just over $1

million. Owing much to its success are the facility’s luxurious amenities combined with a premium location.

In the heart of the River District, the complex is situated on the banks of the James River and along the

historic Canal Walk in Downtown Richmond.

Hall, a site acquisition and leasing specialist for wireless telecommunications, and Damon, a retired UPS

executive, have both been residents of Richmond for 12 years. After living in the Fan District and looking for

something new, they were immediately attracted to the Vistas for a variety of reasons, both practical and

aesthetic.

“We had talked about downsizing and when we saw the Vistas we loved it,” says Hall. “[We] decided it

would be perfect for us.”

What really drew Hall and Damon to the Vistas were the quality of the building and the layout of the units,

which include open-design floor plans, floor to ceiling windows, granite countertops, and a large private

balcony, creating a contemporary ambiance that differed greatly from their previous residence. “We moved

to the Vistas from a Victorian 2,600 square foot house in the Fan,” says Hall. “Our Fan house was very

traditional with many antiques. At the Vistas our space is a 1,400 square foot contemporary condo and our

furnishings follow contemporary lines.”

In addition to the updated look and feel of their condo, the newly constructed building has 24-hour security,

covered parking, a fitness center, and downtown convenience.

While the Vistas’ modern design and convenient amenities are enough to attract almost anyone, it was the

idea of having Richmond’s greatest natural resource right outside their window that made Hall and Damon fall in love with their complex.

“We love the views!” says Hall. “We are also within walking distance to great restaurants, Brown’s Island, the

Canal Walk, and much more.”

Vistas on the James offers a fresh design, amazing views, and easy access to all things Richmond, right in the

pulsating heart of Downtown. What more could anyone want in a home?

The Greater Richmond Grid, Volume 1, Issue 1, Summer 2009http://www.richmondgrid.com/index.asp?section=Live&id=15

Homeowners Colleen Hall and Carol Damon display their view from the top.

Inside Hall and Damon’s luxurious loft.

Fernando Luna VeraFernando Luna Vera, a native of Columbia and a Chemistry

graduatestudent at Virginia Commonwealth University, first discovered hislove of the Canal Walk at a festive time.

“Last Halloween night during my typical walk through the streets ofDowntown Richmond, I found a very curious congregation ofdemons and nurses at 14th and Canal Street,” says Vera. “Thesecostumed people were there because a haunted cruise through thecanal was about to start. I was not surprised; after all, what betterplace to have fun on Halloween than the Canal Walk?”

After that night, Vera continued to visit the Canal Walk as often ashis school schedule allowed, as he discovered that there was more

tothe Canal Walk than just a haunted cruise.

“There is not a better place to find that characteristic blend of pastand modernity of Richmond than the Canal Walk, where luxuryapartment buildings, restaurants, and bars live together with thememories of merchants trading goods and confederation partisanstrying to escape from the city,” Vera says. “I really enjoy walking

thatmile and watching people run, taking their pets for a little trip, [and]couples that find the place romantic, and I especially like to stop fora while and read a book, because even though the place is transited[it] is never noisy.”

“The Canal Walk is a fun way to access several of the places along its

line,” Vera says. “At night [it] is even better. You can see buildingsilluminated with green and red lights and go nuts taking pictures inthe short tunnels that resemble some sort of medieval castle.

The Greater Richmond Grid, Volume 1, Issue 1, Summer 2009http://www.richmondgrid.com/index.asp?section=Live&id=18

Fernando Luna Vera: “There is not a better place to find that characteristic blend of past and modernity of Richmond than the Canal Walk, where luxury apartment buildings, restaurants, and bars live together with the memories of merchants trading goods and confederation partisans trying to escape from the city.”

The Beauty of Pandora

On June 29, Pandora Internet Radio founder Tim Westergren treated Richmondersto a meeting at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Grace Street Theater to discussthe radio’s future.

The meeting allowed attendees to ask Westergren questions about anythingPandora, from the company’s humble beginnings to suggestions on how to improveease of use on the radio website. These “town hall” meetings started in Austin,Texas with only six people; now over 200 meetings later from Biloxi, Mississippi toBoston, Pandora’s town halls have become so popular that entire rooms andtheaters fill up with listeners eager to hear what’s in store for Pandora.

“For us they’ve become this really invaluable way to just talk directly with Pandoralisteners,” says Westergren. “I am really interested in hearing your [the listeners’]thoughts, questions you have, criticisms you have, Pandora ideas you have for us.”Pandora was originally launched in January 2000 as a music genome project, themost comprehensive analysis of music ever attempted.

“What we do is understand songs musicologically, and then by marrying that withsome mathematics, kind of build this tool that connects songs based on theirmusical content,” explains Westergren of the project.

Pandora’s team of 50 musician-analysts have been listening to music one song at atime, dissecting and analyzing every single detail of each song. “We have thismusical taxonomy. It’s a list of about 400 musical attributes that sort of collectivelydescribe the songs,” says Westergren. “[What we do is] essentially dissect melodyand harmony and rhythm and vocal performance down to the basic buildingblocks.”

Westergren’s original music genome idea failed initially, but that didn’t stop himfrom using his project with a different purpose. “When I got out of school I knew Iwanted to be involved with music,” reflects Westergren, a Political Science graduatefrom Stanford. After working as a “manny”—a male nanny—for five years aftergraduating, Westergren became a working musician, writing music and travelingacross the country to perform.

“I became pretty intimately acquainted with the challenges of being a workingmusician,” he says. “There’s one really hard problem for musicians, which is, how doyou get exposure? Only a small number of artists get on broadcast radio. And radioreally is a key to professional longevity. So we took this huge database we had built,[the] music genome project, and decided to turn it into a radio.” Thus the birth ofPandora Internet Radio in November of 2005.

Pandora’s team of musician-analysts still dissects songs based on 400 musicalattributes as they had when the company was first launched. The goal behind thisextensive analysis now, however, is to create playlists based on musical proximityfor its 30 million registered listeners, and its constantly growing number ofunregistered listeners.

The Beauty of Pandora (continued)Westergren believes that the beauty of Pandora and the reason that it’s successful lies in the method of catering to its listeners based on musicological

proximityand not on popularity. “It’s not a popularity contest,” he says. “It’s one of the only systems that, in terms of how it picks songs, is blind to popularity. So when

youtype in an artist or song, Pandora doesn’t know if that artist [or song] is famous or not, so it really is a truly level playing field.”

Listeners at the Richmond meeting all expressed the desire for more granular feedback when rating songs picked for them by Pandora. Instead of just giving asong or artist a simple “thumbs up” or “thumbs down,” which is what they can do now, listeners would like to say why they gave a certain rating, saying things

like“I like the vocal harmony on this song, I don’t like this singer, I like the melody,” and so on.

This idea of providing granular feedback is something that Pandora plans to do in the future for its listeners. There are also new technological applications forPandora in the works, such as car accessories in conjunction with the iPhone, as well as incorporating Pandora into DVD and Blue Ray players with Bose.

“I realized, wow this is what the world is going to be like,” says Westergren about these advancements. But changes for listeners aren’t the only goals of Pandora.

“We’ve gotten pretty ambitious with what we think Pandora can do,” Westergren says. “We’re intent not just on redefining radio from top to bottom for listeners,

but also to really make an impact for musicians.”

Westergren has received a lot of feedback from artists who have debuted on Pandora and have become successful from this platform. “Artists will say things like

‘My iTunes sales have spiked,’ and it corresponds exactly to when they were added to Pandora,” he says. “Or they’re at shows and people are saying they heard

about them on Pandora—that’s happening a lot. So I think we’re beginning to see the ripple effect of it. I can’t say that this musician attributes his or her success

to Pandora, but I think we’re kind of creating a bit of rising tide.”

Because of this feedback that he has already received, Westergren only sees continued success for musicians in Pandora’s future. “Our goal is to create a musician’s

middle class. I will be happy if someday Pandora will have reached the point where you graduate from college and you say to your mom, ‘Mom, I want to be in a

rock band.’ And she says ‘That’s a great career.’ We’ll have laid the foundation for a viable profession, which I believe is there. The audience is there for it, andcertainly the talent is there for it.”

The Greater Richmond Grid, Volume 1, Issue 1, Summer 2009http://www.richmondgrid.com/index.asp?ID=50

The Beautiful PeopleRichmond-area models, photographers, makeup artists, and hairstylists have the opportunityto showcase their talent and network with professionals at Model Mondays.

The event is held every Monday night this summer through August 17, 7:30pm to 12:00am atXscape nightclub at 814 West Grace Street. Originally started by Richmond photographerRandall Holmes at Rendezvous Café and Lounge and currently organized and hosted byCarlos Funn of Funn Fotos, the event allows anyone with an interest in modeling andphotography to actually participate in real photo shoots with the goal of making connectionswith others in their field.

At the event, models bring several outfits to the event where hair stylists and make- up artistsprepare them for photo shoots. After speaking with photographers, models participate in aone-on-one photo shoot to build their portfolios, as well as those of the photographer.

“It is a way for people to break the ice and do test shots to see about working with each otheron future dates or events,” explains Funn. “We do let people know that the models are here towork on their portfolios, yet is an open artistic night for creating cool shoots and art.”

Model Mondays is the first event of its kind to occur in Richmond. Never before has anetworking event been so cool as to make connections and beautiful art in the same setting.The event has drawn interested professionals from Virginia; Washington, D.C.; Maryland; andNorth Carolina.

Mosheh Israel, President and CEO of Black Nobility Magazine [shown on photo right withphotographer Carlton Brightly] a lifestyle and culture magazine based in Raleigh, NorthCarolina, recently attended Model Mondays to recruit new models for the model section forfuture issues. And Founder and CEO of Catwalk Productions Angela Moore, also fromRaleigh, scouted the event to recruit models to her agency. Their presence at this event showshow popular Model Mondays has become and how successful it has been in attractingprofessionals interested in building their networks.

“Many have had a chance to pick up clients [and] set up gigs,” says Funn. “For me, it hashelped with branding Funn Foto and getting connected with others in the community to letthem know what kind of work I do and to let them know that we are here to not only helpwith pictures [but] with artistic development.”

Funn plans to continue Model Mondays as a regular event all over Richmond throughout theyear.

“We are looking to make a moving venue,” he says. “We have some things planned, maybe a‘hit the runway’ type of thing. We are searching for sponsors and vendors to help put on thenight, and if they do have an interest they can contact me at funnfoto@gmail.com.”

The Greater Richmond Grid, Volume 1, Issue 1, Summer 2009http://www.richmondgrid.com/index.asp?section=Play&id=57

Above: Makeup artists prep models for their close-ups.

Left: Funn with Funn Foto model Leanne Nicole.

MOSAICKnown primarily as a hot lunch spot for Richmonders since 1999, MOSAICCafe & Catering (6229A River Road ) has revamped its look and services tocreate more buzz and attract more clientele. In early June 2009 MOSAICreopened its doors—after closing for redecoration around Memorial Daywith a fresh look and an entirely new addition: the MOSAIC Bar and Lounge.

The bar and lounge areas were created partly in response to customerdemand, but it was also something that Jeffrey Weaver had wanted to do eversince he was appointed General Manager three months ago.

“We really wanted to create an atmosphere where a guest could come in andhave a cocktail while waiting for their table,” explains Weaver. “We havealways been know as a lunch place; we won best chain for lunch in the Bestof/Worst of Richmond. We wanted to start focusing on dinner as well, so weremodeled. We built a whole bar in four days and had to hire a whole staff.”

MOSAIC’s new design creates an ambiance that is exciting yet soothing, with

light green as the restaurant’s primary color, accented by earthy tones in the

granite countertops of the bar, the wood of the chairs and barstools, and themulti-colored starburst light fixtures constructed with 60 to 70 twisted glasstubes and the greatest of care.

“It’s very hip. I would say chic, modern, and artsy, not eclectic,” commentsWeaver. “The look and feel of our restaurant really match the look and feel

ofour menu: very light, healthy, and fresh. [It’s] a fresh look. When you see itnow compared to what it was, it is literally night and day. Now it has a coolatmosphere.”

The Greater Richmond Grid, Volume 1, Issue 1, Summer 2009http://www.richmondgrid.com/index.asp?section=Play&id=63

Weaver (right): “We really wanted to create an atmosphere where a guest could come in and have a cocktail while waiting for their table.“

Left: MOSAIC’s new design creates an ambiance that is exciting yet soothing, with light green as the restaurant’s primary color.

Cubicle Swansong An evolving workforce necessitates change in workplace design

Richmond architectural and interior design specialists had the opportunity tolearn about the constant changes of work environments at the VirginiaInterior Design Association (IIDA), Virginia/West Virginia Chapter’s SpringContinuing Education and Social Event at the Children’s Museum ofRichmond on June 22. Erin Boden, LEED, AP, Architectural and DesignSpecialist for Allsteel, Atlanta, discussed several topics of which designspecialists should be aware, including the drivers of workforce change andhow they ultimately cause changes in workspace design.

“Competition has become more fierce, especially in economic downturn,” saysBoden. “[With] increased margin and pricing pressures, 24/7 operation [and]access to information is critical.”

This increased competition has caused the rules of work to change drastically. Instead ofworking the once typical 9 to 5, Monday through Friday job, workers now havenontraditional work hours at both their office and home. There is no “clock out” time forworkers anymore, and that’s due in large part to modern technology. Mobile devicescapable of internet access make it easier for workers to do their jobs at the “ding” of anincoming email from their boss on their Blackberries.

Because technological advancements have made access to information much more feasible,

technology has itself become a main driver of workforce change. It has become a statussymbol, especially for younger workers, giving them an edge over seasoned workers whomay not be as tech savvy.

Changes in generational demographics have also influenced today’s workforce. With achanging mix of workers, diversity in attitudes and beliefs about motivation, technology,career development, and work-life balance can pose challenges between workers.

“People communicate based on their generational background,” says Boden. “Youngworkers are willing to take risks and try new ideas and concepts. Seasoned workers are allabout entitlement and want privacy.”

Marais: "Vendors are coming up with very creative ways to accessorize those smaller work stations by consolidating storage needs—personal storage versus task-oriented, immediately-accessed work areas. They’ve really refined the personal work zone."

Cubicle Swansong (continued)In addition to multiple generations in the workforce, other demographicsincluding gender and race will create differences among workers. The number ofwomen and minorities are expected to rise and create a very different workforcewithin the next five to ten years.

“People are complicated,” she continues. “[This leads to a] more diverse workplaceand a more complex workforce.”

But these differences have added value to the collaborative method of work, ashaving different perspectives can create positive outcomes in group projects.

Environmental Issues

And as a result of generations both past and present, environmental issues haveaffected how workspaces are designed. Rising costs of commuting to work,polluting the environment, and ineffective building design are all problems thathave resulted out of current building designs. These issues are leading designers tocreate workspaces that are energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

How can architectural and design specialists adjust to these changes? And how canthey effectively design workspaces that will attract and retain employees?

Designers must first acknowledge that effective work design calls for two necessaryelements: space for individual work and space for collaboration.

Patricia Taylor Marais, Director of Interior Design for Commonwealth Architects inRichmond, discusses how this need for both individual and collaborative spaces haschanged workspace design.

“Personal work stations have a smaller footprint,” she says. “Vendors are coming upwith very creative ways to accessorize those smaller work stations by consolidatingstorage needs—personal storage versus task-oriented, immediately-accessed workareas. They’ve really refined the personal work zone. In terms of overall office plan,there are more communal plans designed.”

Designers must also contemplate the impact of strategic organization in theworkspaces they design. Workspaces must support the diverse workforce of today by allowing easy access to modern technology to increase productivity.

“We collaborate with specialty consultants more than we ever have before primarily

because of technological advances,” explains Marais. “Telecommunication,teleconferencing—those are space requirements.”

Talk to Me

Randy Alberson, co-owner of Smarter Interiors in Richmond, notes how thesemodes of communication, and the effect of generational differences on them, haveimpacted how designers create suitable workspaces for is clients.

“The way people communicate is different from many, many years ago,” he explains.

“Employees of today are going to face situations that our grandparents couldn’timagine. But in the end it is going to come back to the same thing: it’s about peoplesitting down face to face and talking. You want to feel like you’re in your livingroom and be comfortable.”

But most important, designers must design workspaces to attract, educate, andretain clients’ employees. They must implement drivers of worker satisfaction andprepare for the future needs of organization by means of the education anddevelopment of the workforce.

Marais has witnessed how an attractive workspace affects the futures of her clients’

employees.

“The younger workforce has greater expectations of their work environments,” shesays. “So what we found is that companies are having to modify their interiorenvironment to recruit more talented younger professionals. “In terms of theenvironment, the spaces are more exciting, more invigorating, to generate morecreative collaborative communication.

Cubicle Swansong (continued)

It is imperative that when designing workspaces for their clients, designers consider

the drivers of workforce change as well as their clients’ needs, which are constantly

evolving, and must predict the future through efficient workspace design.

 “It is our job to anticipate the needs of the customer, even when they don’t realize

it,” says Alberson. “We have to be able to set them up for the future. We’re the

experts; we come in and we tell them this is where you need be.”

The Greater Richmond Grid, Volume 1, Issue 1, Summer 2009 (Online article)

http://www.richmondgrid.com/index.asp?ID=73

Alberson (above): “Employees of today are going to face situations that our grandparents couldn’t imagine. But in the end it is going to come back to the same thing: it’s about people sitting down face to face and talking. You want to feel like you’re in your living room and be comfortable.”

Making It Happen: The Metropolitan

Sports Backers Earn National Acclaim

from Peer Organizations

Sports Backers Quarterly, Volume 2, Issue 9, July/August 2009www.sbqnow.com

The Half Marathon Picks Up SteamRo Gammon takes on the half marathon.

While many Richmond area runners have already begun training for the SunTrust RichmondMarathon on November 14, this year offers a new challenge: the McDonald’s Half Marathon,which will take place the same day. Ro Gammon--a history teacher at Powhatan High School,personal trainer at the Midlothian YMCA, and veteran marathon coach and runner—hasaccepted the challenge of coordinating the training group for this event.

“I love coaching marathon training groups, but when they approached me it was like, this is anew opportunity, and you had not heard of half marathon training teams,” says Gammon.“Sports Backers does a great job with all the other programs…it was like, okay, I will give it a try.”

The SunTrust Marathon added the half marathon to its schedule because of the risingpopularity and increasing demand for the 12.1 mile race. “[In the past] you had the 5K, 8K, andthe marathon, and those were your only options,” says Gammon. “Now more and more raceshave added the half marathon because it’s doable for people. They are really drawing a lot ofpeople.”

Not only that, but they are attracting people of all fitness levels. Half marathons appeal to newracers because while it’s more challenging than a 5K or 10K, it is not as intimidating as a fullmarathon. Runners who have not competed in a marathon before also use half marathons as astepping stone for participation in future marathons. Regular marathoners are drawn to halfmarathons because the recovery process has a lot less time involved than a full marathon,allowing them to begin training for their next marathon sooner.

But just because a half marathon is half the distance of a full marathon doesn’t make the raceany less challenging. “It’s always a big deal,” says Gammon. “You get the same satisfaction whenyou cross the finish line, whether you do a half or a whole.”

The half marathon training group will meet every Saturday for long group runs as part of aprepared training schedule given to group members. Members will follow the schedule day byday, beginning with three miles on select days during the first week and increasing the distancethe following week, working up to the 12.1 mile race.

The Half Marathon Picks Up Steam (Continued)

In Gammon’s past experience as a marathon coach, she saw how training group members rarely ever ran by themselves outside of weekly group runs. “A lot of

times people will get together during the week and they’ll find out, ‘Hey, you live in Midlothian, let’s get together for a run,’” she says. “And what happens [is]

some people never run by themselves, they always have a group.”

Gammon is looking forward to getting her training group pumped up this August not only for the half marathon, but for the relationships that result from training

together as a team. “It is so much fun, the camaraderie of the group, and you make friends that last forever,” she says. “I hear from people that I coached years ago.

They’ll still call me or email me and let me know how they’re doing. It’s like a big family.”

Gammon has always been passionate about helping others through physical fitness, and coaching the half marathon training group is no exception. “Our goal is

the half marathon. My goal is to get them across the finish line and enjoy it and keep them healthy.”

Sports Backers Quarterly, Volume 2, Issue 9, July/August 2009http://sbqnow.com/index.asp?ID=82

TRIgirls Band Together to Power Spring

TRIgirls Band Together to

Power Spring

(Continued)

Sports Backers Quarterly, Volume 2, Issue 8, May/June 2009

www.sbqnow.com