Chris Hollis, 25
PR professional/blogger, Detroit, MI by way of Seattle, WA
his impact
{Influences}:: When it comes to my writing, my biggest influence is my Dad. He’s the one who got me started on Detroit sports and who I grew up attending games with. I lost him to cancer almost 10 years ago, and when I write, it’s as if I am having a conversation with him. The evolution of the blog, the message and the understanding of what it means to be a fan, not just of the game but of the community, all comes from his efforts to introduce me to sports and the city of Detroit, and it’s one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received.
{Motivation} :: I think my biggest motivation is to be excellent at what I do, despite not being able to physically be around the teams I cover. Living in Seattle and being a fan of Detroit has been an incredibly difficult undertaking. The pulse of Detroit works in rhythm with its sports teams, and to not be there makes my job that much more difficult. But it’s also helped me relate to the audience of Detroit fans who are displaced too. I’m just trying to be a voice for all of those folks that are just like me: passionate but displaced.
favorite {Place} :: {Detroit}: Hockeytown Café –When you walk into Hockeytown Cafe, there’s no mistaking what city you are in. It’s a bar/museum with tons of memorabilia, and whenever the Tigers or Red Wings are playing, it’s packed to the gills with Detroit fans. It’s also right across the street from Comerica Park, so getting to the games is incredibly easy. It’s always one of my first stops whenever I’m in Motown.
{Seattle}: Top Pot Doughnuts – I’m a HUGE fan of their coffee and the Double Trouble doughnut. Plus, each of their stores are relaxed and comfy, perfect for reading a book with a regular coffee or doing some writing with an Americano in hand.
{Adjectives} :: Opinionated, Thoughtful, Passionate.
{Community} :: {Detroit}: One of my favorite things about the city of Detroit is the architecture. There are so many fabulous old buildings in the downtown area, yet many of them have fallen into disrepair and haven’t been occupied in many, many years. With the economy of the city struggling, many of these buildings have become targets of the wrecking ball. However, some groups are doing the right thing by renovating these classic buildings instead of building something new in their place. I’ve really started focusing a lot of time and effort into educating myself on the issues surrounding these landmarks, and helping to put out the word and raise awareness when another one is slated to be torn down. The history of the city is something that should be preserved.
{Seattle}: I’m actually preparing to start working with The First Tee, which provides young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop skills such as confidence, perseverance and judgment through golf and character education. I love golfing and I love working with kids, so this is a great opportunity for me.
{Thoughts} on life :: Do things your own way. So often in our society something becomes “cool” or the “it” thing to do, and overnight there are “experts” telling you how to be THAT much cooler or have an even bigger impact, based on their methods. My advice is to do it the way you want to do it, no matter what it is. It’s going to take work. And it’s going to take time. But in the end, you can look at what you have accomplished and realize that you created whatever it is that you wanted to, and that nobody else can claim it as theirs. That’s accomplishment.
Great guy this Chris Hollis, and quite the sports fan too. To learn more about him and/or to keep up with all things Tigers, Lions, Redwings, Wolverines, etc., be sure to follow him on twitter @chollis and check out his blog: http://sleeplessinmichigan.wordpress.com.
Posted in Detroit, Michigan, Seattle, Washington
Tags: blogger, communicator, guy next door, PR, sports fanatic
