Bellingham, WA
www.corbinball.com
Past life: head of conference operations for SPIE, a large engineering society running international city-wide events and trade shows around the world.
Currently (past 14 years): events and exhibitions technology speaker, consultant and writer
Most unusual aspect of your job: Aside from the fact that it is so much fun that it is not like work, it affords great opportunity for travel. I have spoken in 29 countries on 5 continents, and am eager to go new places.
Favorite book: There are so many… I really liked Fareed Zakeria’s Post American World and many of Tom Friedman’s books. In terms of classical literature, Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls is one of my favorites.
Favorite food: Thai (I like spicy, low-fat flavors)... either that or a well-prepared fresh wild Pacific salmon.
Favorite TV show: The Daily Show
Favorite movie: I love all of the animated films that Pixar does. Avatar, although predictable, had amazing visuals. My favorite for this year was The King’s Speech.
Most unique place you’ve been: Inside a mud/dried dung hut in a nomadic Samburu village in Kenya surrounded by the richest and most amazing biodiversity I have ever seen.
Favorite aspect of the meetings/travel industry: We bring people together and educate them. It is a public good enterprise that attracts great people.
Pet peeve: Narrow mindedness and prejudice.
One thing about you that most people don’t know: In the 60’s, I had shoulder-length flaming red hair and played guitar in a blues band.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received in our industry? You reap what you sow in life. If you give out, it will come back to you.
What’s your favorite local/regional place to take a visitor to your area? Vancouver is 50 miles to the north of where I live. This clean, friendly and ethnically-diverse city provides a banquet of sights, sounds and flavors.
Is there anything else you’d like to add that we’ve overlooked?
This about covers it.
