Miami Gala Best Buddies

November 19--Watson Island, Miami, FL--Best Buddies Miami Gala celebrating Best Buddies initiative 50 Nation's by 2010.

On the red carpet, Kamie Crawford, Miss Teen USA, and Rima Fakih, Miss USA

Verne Troyer and his buddy

Singer Jason Derulo performed

Photos © Laurence L. Levin

Katherine Schwarzenegger

November 21--Miami, FL--Katherine Schwarzenegger promoting her book, "Rock What You've Got" at the Miami Book Fair.

Photo © Laurence L. Levin

GEICO Commercials: Blindside and Warning

October--Somewhere in Maryland--DCP Productions with the GEICO Caveman and NHL Commentators Greg Loughlin and Joe Beninati. Two commercials shot in two days. "Blindsided" shot in an arena with a crowd of spectators, the Caveman and between period activities. "Warning" was made at a broadcast facility sportdesk with Loughlin and Beninati. Long days but fun working with a talented cast and crew.

Behind the Monitor

Between period action, the GEICO Shot of The Day

GEICO hockey fans

Laughlin, Beninati, The Caveman

Photos © Laurence L. Levin

Havana Banana Bread

October 25--Ellicott City, Maryland--An assignment for SUCCESS Magazine, Mike Lawrence owner of Havana Banana Breads. Photographed at The Breadery. Sometimes you get to a place not knowing what to expect. Luckily, we were able to stage the shot, add product, set up lights and make it work. Plus the bread is delicious.

Photo © Laurence L. Levin

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Challenge

Carl Lewis with Eric Matthes and Daniel Noltemeyer

October 23--Washington, DC--The inaugural EKS Challenge is celebration and an event to change the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Participants can either participate in a 20-mile bike ride, Criterium Races, a 5K or 3K run with Gold Medal Olympian Carl Lewis. This brings together all people to participate and be included.

Musical Artist Chris Brown leads a group in the 3K fun run

Participants in the 20K bike ride.

Anthony Shriver and Tim Shriver

With an event with several hundred participants and covering a wide area in the city. We had a team of 5 photographers at this event, my post was to cover the start/finish line. Thus the EKS banner in my most of my photos.

Photos © Laurence L. Levin

Halloween Wedding: Irene & Steve

Irene last minute addition to her vows.

October 24--Somewhere in Maryland--Not my usual forte, but for friends how can I resist. A Halloween Theme Wedding, perfect autumn day, great food and friends. A lot of work, sweated a lot but the memories are worth it.

Waiting for the bride.

Steve

The ceremony

Irene

Steve's parents

Irene & Steve

The party in the barn.

The guests brought carved pumpkins.

Photos © Laurence L. Levin

Kraft Volunteer Days

October 7--Washington, DC--Kraft Foods nationwide volunteer day. The government affairs employees help to build a new playground in Ward 8.

The playground, tables, gazebo and benches were built.

Kaboom provided the playground equipment.

Day 2 at Martha's Table, a DC Food Bank, preparing food packages.

Half the employees worked packaging, the others did meal prep.

Photos Copyright Laurence L. Levin

Life Is Sweet 2010

2010 Best Buddies Virginia Life is Sweet
Life is Sweet Chefs and their Buddy

Best Buddies Virginia is dedicated to establishing a statewide movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Best Buddies Virginia partners with local public schools, universities, government agencies and other disability service providers to service over 10,000 lives in Virginia every year.

This year is the sixth annual Life is Sweet fundraiser. It is the major event that helps fund Best Buddies Virginia activities. Each chef is paired with a buddy to present a desert specially prepared for this event. Over 500 guest sample deserts from each of these award winner chefs and their buddy. For more info about the 2011 event contact Best Buddies Virginia

Kate Jansen, Willow and Suzan Basoglu

RJ Cooper, Rogue 24 and Nick Moore

Laurie Weber, The Swiss Bakery and Jeannine Ballandanderson

Chris Ford, Trummer's on Main and Andrew Roberts

Penny Karas, Hello Cupcake and Chris Filipos

Jason Reaves, Market Salamander and Carter McGavin

Lauren Whitledge, Art & Soul and Kelly Erikson

Susan Wallace, BlackSalt and Lauren Hyer

Michel Richard & Mark Courseille, Central Michel Richard and Jenny Holden

Patrick Bazin, Bazin's on Church and Cameron Graham

Peter Brett, Blue Duck Tavern and Caitlin Donovan

Tom Wellings, Equinox and Mike Charlton

Chris Hutcheson, Acadiana and AJ Kenworthy

Gian Piero Mazzi, Piero's Corner and Eric Latcheran

David Serus & Ryan Witcher, The Ritz Carlton and Ryan Gutkowski

Kate Baltren, Brabo and Sandy Lindamood

Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve and Natalie Mills

David Gaus, Bayou Bakery and Turner Harris

Anthony Chavez, 2941 and Cory Blazer

Michelle Poteaux, Bastille and Max Douglas

Photos © Laurence L. Levin

2010 GMA Executive Conference

August 28-31, 2010--The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO--Pamela Bailey addressing The Grocery Manufacturers Association annual Executive Conference. Representatives of the leading food manufacturers and their retail trading partners as well as government, business and academic leaders attend to discuss trends impacting consumers, the industry and the economy.

Douglas Conant, President and CEO, Campbell Soup Company in a panel discussion entitled "The Leadership Imperative: Sharing the Vision Throughout the Company."

Timothy Smucker, Chairman and CEO, The J.M. Smucker Company

Dr. John Quelch, Professor of business administration, Harvard Business School, leading the discussion: Tesco's Entry into the US Market.

Photography ©2010 Laurence L. Levin

(Tech notes: All images shot in available light, as provided by the hotel. This year we worked with the Broadmoor to add some spot lights. Thus the illumination was better in several of the rooms. However, it still is amazing to me how my digital cameras can get a good exposure along with processing each file in Photoshop. This workflow provides quality images for all types of publishing usage.)