Loughborough University School of Business and Economics, Loughborough, England

I arrived for my "England tour" on May 26. Starting on May 27 I spent two and a half days conducting my "Publishing Scholarly Research" seminar at Loughborough University School of Business and Economics in Loughborough, England.

Dwayne at the School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, England

This visit was initiated during a conversation about a year earlier at the Frontiers in Service Conference (in Miami, Florida) with my colleague Thorsten Gruber (tallest guy in the back row in the picture below).

"Publishing Scholarly Research" Seminar Attendees in Loughborough

The next day, after the seminar was completed, Thorsten Gruber took me to Nottingham to visit (where "The Dark Knight Returns" was filmed...the setting for Wayne Manor).  This was a really cool castle (see below).

Dwayne at (D)Wayne Manor (Wollaton Hall in Nottingham)

While were walking on the grounds at "D-Wayne Manor," I captured another picture of steps...

Steps outside of Wollaton Hall in Nottingham, England

Mallory's High School Graduation

Mallory graduated from Perrysburg High School (Class of 2015) today at Stranahan Theater in Toledo.

Mallory Gremler, Class of 2015

Candy, Dwayne, Mary Little (Candy's mother) , Mallory, Samantha, Bob Boggs, Pat Boggs (Dwayne's mother)

One week earlier, my niece (Aubrey Hale) graduated from Miami University.

Tom Hale (her father), Tammy Hale (my sister and her mother), Aubrey, and Nathan Hale (her brother)

Academy of Marketing Science Doctoral Consortium at the University of Colorado at Denver

It has been suggested to me by several people that I keep a blog of my travels.  So, that is what this endeavor is all about. (The BGSU College of Business has published it in an October newsletter.)

My sabbatical unofficially started in Denver.  I was invited by Sharon Beatty and Linda Price to be part of the faculty for the first Academy of Marketing Science Doctoral Consortium at the University of Colorado at Denver, on May 14-16.  My presentation was entitled, "Setting Research Priorities: Being Synergistic and Opportunistic." About 30 Ph.D. students from around the U.S. (and a few from abroad) received advice and insights from faculty from such places as U of Washington, Texas A&M U, U of Alabama, U of Texas, U of  Georgia, Florida State U, U of Florida, Boston College, and U of Arizona.

Where's Waldo (er, Dwayne)?

While in Denver I stumbled across an interesting business concept, called "Canvas and Cocktails."  The place looked so inviting from the outside, and so busy on a Saturday night, that I had to stop in to see what it was about.  I found about 65 people learning to paint...the focus that night was on learning how to paint Van Gogh's "Starry Night" painting.  So, at 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday night these people paid $35 each to spend two hours painting and drinking their favorite beverage (wine, beer, sangria, or whatever).  They looked liked they were having a BLAST!

One artist's work.  Perhaps he had too much wine?

Afterwards, I visited some old friends (i.e.,  friends I have know a long time) in the Denver area.

Dwayne, Amy & Mike Nappa, and Winnie & Norm Wakefield

When I was on sabbatical in 2007-2008, I had a chance to develop a new hobby...taking pictures of steps.  I love the symbolism in steps...going up them is a challenge...some are easy to climb, some are very difficult...some are short journeys, some are long...sometimes there is a great view at the top, and sometimes there is not...sometimes getting to the top simply reveals that there are more steps to climb.  So, with my trip to Denver, Randy Duzan took me on a trip to look for steps.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado