YLS Spotlight

Meet Some of Our Rock Star Young Leaders

Young Leaders are there first - to volunteer, to engage, to take action. At the front lines, they are blazing new trails and creating a better world. Thank you for helping to advance the common good in our community!

Landon Hair (2017 - 2018 Co-Chair)

Why did you join YLS?
To have the opportunity to engage with other young people in our community, in an effort to further grow the support for the United Way and its partner agencies.

What is your favorite YLS event?
Lunch With Leaders

What was your first job?
Executive Director of Floor Sweeping at a carpet sample company

What is your favorite restaurant in town?
Taco Bell

When you aren’t working you are…?
Going to sporting events, playing golf, or traveling.

Are you a native Daltonian?
Born and raised

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Anywhere on the Florida Gulf

What advice can you give to young professionals looking to get involved?
Attend any of the YLS events, and talk to anyone on the steering committee. We have a good mixture of volunteer, social, and educational activities; so there is always new and exciting ways to get involved. If you can’t make it to any of our group events, reach out to me. We can always grab lunch or drinks, and talk about numerous other ways to be involved with the UW.

 

James Dixon (2018- 2019 Co-Chairs)

Why did you join YLS?
We have a great community, and being able to give back and help it grow is important to me.

What is your favorite YLS event?
My favorite volunteer project was the greenhouse we built at Blue Ridge Elementary as part of Make a Difference Day. I enjoy the Lunch with Leaders sessions as well, and my favorite social event is the “Rule of Three” wine competition.

What was your first job?
Barbecue delivery in Atlanta. I spilled my fair share of cole slaw in freight elevators of high rises.

What is your favorite restaurant in town?
The best food is from my mom’s kitchen, of course. For lunch I love Oakwood.

When you aren’t working you are…?
Playing golf or hanging out with my wife, Hannah and 1-year-old daughter, Olivia.

Are you a native Daltonian?
Born and raised.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Skiing anywhere out west.

What advice can you give to young professionals looking to get involved?
Don’t be scared! Everyone is welcome… It’s a great way to accomplish something that you know is good for the community, and meet other young professionals as well.

 

Hannah Dixon (2018- 2019 Co-Chairs)

Why did you join YLS?
We have a great community, and being able to give back and help it grow is important to me.

What is your favorite YLS event?
My favorite event is the "Rule of 3" wine competition. I also really enjoyed the Stone Soup project that we did with the Salvation Army.

What was your first job?
Life Guard at the Highland Forest pool.

What is your favorite restaurant in town?
I'm a big fan of the Buckin Burrito but also enjoy a nice night out at Cyra's. The grilled romaine salad with steak is my fave

When you aren’t working you are…?
Probably shopping at Target or Costco which just happen to be my daughter, Olivia's favorite spots.

Are you a native Daltonian?
Born and raised.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Paris.  I love just walking around that city and seeing what all it has to offer.

What advice can you give to young professionals looking to get involved?
It is a great way to meet new people and get plugged in to the community and know that you are helping make a difference for upcoming generations. We are the ones who will set the tone for what we want Dalton to be.

 

Jill Schubert

Why did you join YLS?
I joined YLS to meet people and to give back in a new community. When I moved from Michigan 7 years ago, I knew no one in Dalton except for a few new co-workers. This has been a great way to network and learn about the Northwest Georgia community.

What is your favorite YLS event?
I have two! The first is the Rule of Three wine event. So. Much. Fun. If you have not attended before, I challenge you to come this year (it’s in November!) and bring your significant other or a couple co-workers and your favorite wine. The second is the Lunch with Leaders series. This is a great way to network with other young professionals and get to know others in the community, and the topics are usually related to leadership, current events, or giving back.

What was your first job?
My first job was babysitting… but I am guessing you didn’t need me to go back that far. My first post-bachelors degree job was as a Management Trainee at an automotive company north of Detroit. I was able to rotate through 4 roles in three years and learn a lot about the operations of such a large company. Eventually, I made the decision to stay in Purchasing there. I worked in automotive for 7 years before deciding to move south and switch industries to flooring.

What is your favorite restaurant in town?
I am in Dalton during the work week, and unfortunately IVC is not conveniently located for eating lunch out! When I do venture out of the office for lunch, I like The Oakwood and The Perfect Cup.

When you aren’t working you are…?
Outside, playing with my two adorable boys, reading, or traveling.

Are you a native Daltonian?
No – but I enjoy my time here!

What is your favorite vacation spot?
We spend a lot of time in Michigan, since that is where our family lives. One of our favorite spots is the coast of Lake Michigan – beautiful beaches to rival any ocean beach (I promise!).

What advice can you give to young professionals looking to get involved?
Being involved in your community can mean a variety of things – giving monetarily, giving of time, or being an advocate for improvements in your community. Find something that interests you and ask how you can help. YLS can put you in touch with the right people and events – let us know how we can help!

 

Vance Embry

Why did you join YLS?
A good friend of mine that I inherently trust called and told me YLS was something I needed to be a part of since I was back in town.

What is your favorite YLS event?
Lunch with Leaders 

What was your first job?
Professional Golfer

What is your favorite restaurant in town?
I like a lot of them and it depends on what you’re in the mood for. The Oakwood Cafe and Spiced Apple are two places my family and I frequent.

When you aren’t working you are…?
Consumed with my children’s activities or playing golf.

Are you a native Daltonian?
Yes, born and raised.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
That’s a tough one. If you would have asked me 5-10 years ago I would have said Hawaii. Now, it would probably be Walt Disney World because the family enjoys it so much.

What advice can you give to young professionals looking to get involved?
Match your talents with what you’re passionate about and then find a need. Dalton has a plethora of places to get involved if you know who to contact. Contacting the United Way is a great place to start since they work with so many diverse organizations in the community.

 

Curtis W. Callaway (2014 - 2015 Co-Chair)

Why did you join YLS?
I joined YLS to better connect with young professionals that want to make a difference in the community. Not only is it a great way to get involved in volunteering through United Way, YLS is a group that likes to have fun and showcase social opportunities around Dalton.

What is your favorite YLS event?
The annual Lip Sync Battle is one of the best nights of the year. Get a group of friends together and make sure you take in the Lip Sync spectacle!

What was your first job?
Right out of graduate school, I got a job in finance. I quickly realized that it wasn't my scene! I lasted 9 months before getting a job in Public Relations, which put me on an exciting career path. I worked in PR at Virginia Tech for 3 years, then began working at Shaw Industries.

What is your favorite restaurant in town?
We probably spend the most money at Chick-fil-A! But if I'm going out, I'll probably hit Dalton Brewing Company, then got to Cherokee. Both are very family friendly. There are some great lunch options in town too: Filling Station, Oakwood, Lisa's, Fortune Cookie...

When you aren’t working you are…?
Running. Always running, getting ready for the next race. A 10 mile or half marathon are my favorite distances.

Are you a native Daltonian?
No, I'm not from Dalton, but have lived her nearly 12 years now. I've actually lived in Dalton longer than anywhere else, which is pretty wild to think about.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
My wife and I try to make it to Europe once a year. Of all the places that we've visited, I could truly see us living in the English countryside. The Cotswolds were our favorite. 

What advice can you give to young professionals looking to get involved?
If you want to get involved, you can. It's actually pretty easy. That's one of the best aspects of a town the size of Dalton. If you want to have a voice and be a leader, working with United Way and its partners can make that happen. Just ask and someone will get you plugged in. But you need to take that first step.

 

Anthony + Marjorie Daniell

Why did you join YLS?
Some good friends pulled me in to the YLS. It’s good fun and a good cause too.

What is your favorite YLS event?
Rule of Three

What was your first job?
As a teenager I worked at Six Flags Over Georgia. As an adult I moved to Dalton to become an analytical chemist.

What is your favorite restaurant in town?
Chick-fil-A. My wife Marjorie and I were houseparents at one of their foster-homes for almost 5 years. They are the real deal.

When you aren’t working you are…?
Either running or playing with our 4 kids.

Are you a native Daltonian?
I’m a naturalized Daltonian. I’ve lived here my entire adult life here.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Every summer we camp at Fall Creek Falls, TN.

What advice can you give to young professionals looking to get involved?
Start now and trust that you’ll be able to handle what comes your way.

 

David Pennington IV

Why did you join YLS?
To help support the many amazing United Way partner agencies and to have a way to meet many of the great young professionals that live and work in the Dalton area.

What is your favorite YLS event?
Lunch with Leaders

What was your first job?
Driving a tow truck

What is your favorite restaurant in town?
Pollo Allegre

When you aren't working you are...?
Spending time with my wife and daughters, playing golf, and watching sports

Are you a native Daltonian?
Yes

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Disney World with my girls

What advice can you give to young professionals looking to get involved?
This is your community it it up to you to make it the place you want it to be. Find what you are passionate about, and roll your sleeves up and get to work. Don’t worry about who gets credit for making Dalton a better place to live, just realize that we all get to enjoy the fruits of that labor.

 

Jennifer Latour

Why did you join YLS?
I joined the Young Leaders Society because it is an all-inclusive way to connect with the community.

What is your favorite YLS event?
The YLS Lip Sync Battle . . . need I say more?!

What was your first job?
I was a pretzel maker at Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. Exciting stuff.

What is your favorite restaurant in town?
Los Reyes or Lisa’s Cafe!

When you aren’t working you are...?
Spending time with my husband, Brian, and our Corgi pup, Scout! I also love reading, enjoying the outdoors, reading (did I already say that?), and watching ‘good’ films – emphasis on ‘good.

Are you a native Daltonian?
More like a Whitfield Countian, but technically, yes!

What is your favorite vacation spot?
I adore places with culture, history and natural beauty. To date, my favorite spots are England’s countryside and anywhere in the mountains.

What advice can you give to young professionals looking to get involved?
You are our community’s greatest asset. By connecting with organizations like United Way and the Young Leaders Society, you can improve local lives, inspire your peers, and cultivate change.

 

Joe Young

Why did you join YLS?
To connect with other young professionals across local industries

What is your favorite YLS event?
Trivia Night at Cherokee Pizza and Brewing

What was your first job?
Territory Manager at Engineered Floors

What is your favorite restaurant in town?
Pablos

When you aren’t working you are…?
Golfing or traveling

Are you a native Daltonian?
I am

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Seaside, FL

What advice can you give to young professionals looking to get involved?
Giving a little goes a long way.