Travis Collins | College Station, TX | Dec 2008

Travis Collins is a College Station, TX native, Texas A&M alum and an insanely talented programmer and creative problem-solver. Visit DreamingWell to learn more about his services, e-commerce solutions, technical expertise and his articles about web development, Adobe Flex and technology.

Follow all the summaries and photos from the trip on the Drive-By Consulting route map…

Chris Schultz | New Orleans, LA | Dec 2008

Chris Schultz runs Voodoo Ventures, an Internet incubator in New Orleans, LA. Chris has established himself as an active member of the New Orleans entrepreneurship community through his own startups and his work on events such as Startup School.

More about my conversations with Chris on Unstructured Thoughts.

Nickolas Reese | New Orleans, LA | Dec 2008

A reminder that there is a world of entrepreneurship beyond the Internet, Nickolas Reese recently opened the AAE Bourbon House in New Orleans, LA. As a manager at AAE Hostels, Reese has opened hostels around the US by getting them running, hiring staff and creating the foundation over a couple of months before he moves on to start a new hostel in a new city.

Like being a travel writer, it sounds like fun but I’m sure it’s hard work as well…

93octane / Lyell Petersen | Charlotte, NC | Dec 2008

Lyell Petersen is 93octane, an entrepreneur, e-business consultant and leisure travel industry professional. He is also a staunch proponent of the need to develop and manage personal online brands and an avid social media experimenter.

93octane shows up everyday to test the strategies, tools, communities, cultures and “rules” of social media; he’s a reminder that real people and personalities are behind “social media”.

Nicholas Tolson | Washington, DC | Dec 2008

An entrepreneur and an accomplished photographer, Nicholas Tolson and I met in Washington, DC at the start of my road trip. We talked about the entrepreneurial life, his projects DeGeeked and others to be announced, his background as a live music photographer in the DC area and the joys of meeting people via social media.

Nicholas is also a fellow believer in one thing I have learned to do this year:

If someone’s work moves you, reach out to them and tell them.

Truly meaningful feedback is rare in life because it is difficult to give and receive. Take the step to reach out and give unsolicited, honest, worthwhile, thoughtful feedback when you’re moved by someone’s work. Be an example and perhaps others will learn from you.

He also issued me a challenge to connect with the people I photograph: no distant, stolen frames, but instead close, personal connections with full names and a story. We’ll see how I do…