Introducing the Ringer from the City, Dave “Hotdog” Waeltz
Name:
Dave Waeltz
Position:
Account Manager
What’s your average day like at Oneupweb?
I’m new here, but so far I have dedicated my days to on-boarding and learning about my new clients. As an account manager, my day is so varied – communicating with clients, reviewing daily or weekly campaign results, anything at all I can do to keep the team moving forward.
Tell us about a favorite client moment.
I had a client in the packaged pie -filling business and was invited to judge a baking competition at the Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen in Des Moines. At a client-sponsored figure skating event I also got to meet Seal, Kristi Yamaguchi and Brian Boitano. Boitano does not love to talk about “South Park.”
Tell us about a favorite Oneupweb moment in general.
I think it occurred on my first day. I arrived at the office at 7:30 am just as the sun was creeping up over Old Mission Peninsula and the Traverse Bay. I knew this would be a really special place to work from that moment. I captured the moment here: https://instagram.com/davewaeltz/p/0AcNM8CtkA/
What’s your favorite blog and why?
I have so many favorite blogs and sites but I think my favorite is http://www.seriouseats.com/. I’ve learned more about advanced cooking techniques and recipes on this site than anywhere else. (With all due respect to the great Alton Brown and his perfect TV show “Good Eats”).
I’m also a huge fan of the outrageous math and science at http://what-if.xkcd.com/
What makes Traverse City appealing?
Traverse City is on the most amazing places I have ever called home. I moved here because of the culture, the food, and most important, to live in a place with an active outdoor recreation community.
I shamelessly try to post photos of my exploration of the trails and beers of the region on my Instagram feed: https://instagram.com/davewaeltz/
What do you really do at Oneupweb?
Try to remember everyone’s name (it’s only been 4 days).
What do you do when you’re not at work?
I try to get outside every day, no matter the weather. Traverse City has the unique distinction of having very late sunsets, especially in the warmer months and it’s really easy to get outside and explore the world after work. It’s a great way to unwind and to remind yourself that the world is a very special place that should never be taken for granted. You can generally find me trail running, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, fishing, paddling or cooking delicious food for my better half.
If you were stuck on a desert island, what office tool would you bring and how would you make your deadline?
Pilot G-2 10 Bold pens. Many of them. They’re (almost) the only pens I’ll use. I’ll make my deadline by building a raft out of them and float to another island with Wi-Fi.
Years from now, what will stick out most about 2015?
2015 will always stick out as the year I decided to move to Traverse City and leave the city life behind (hopefully forever). It was the best decision I ever made.
It’s 5:30 pm – what’s your cocktail of choice?
All of the cocktails. No, but seriously, I love a well-made martini (gin only, never vodka) and am a huge lover of craft beer.
What’s the last song you intentionally listened to?
I’ve have had the new Decemberists album What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World on repeat since its release in January. The finest collection of folk rock I’ve ever heard.
Favorite Spotify/Pandora/Grooveshark station?
Americana
What do you carry in your purse/man-bag?
I have spent many years perfecting my man-bag and it’s come in handy for many an impromptu campfire. It often contains, but is never limited to: a Petzl head lamp, a knife, fire-starting stuff, water bottle, bottle opener, wine corkscrew, small first aid kit, multiple pairs of sunglasses, chapstick, old-school iPod Classic with my entire music collection, headphones, Kindle and, seasonally, a menagerie of hats, gloves, extra layers, rain jackets, and a Fisher “Space Pen” (it writes upside-down!).
What’s your secret guilty pleasure?
I have this weird quirk where I sometimes tell my (lovely) better half at sporting events that I’m “going to the bathroom,” but instead I go to the hot dog stand and pound down two hot dogs (mustard, kraut and onions only – NO KETCHUP) before I get back to my seat. We call it “secret hot dog time,” but it’s not really a secret. I always come back smelling like mustard and she always laughs at me.
Favorite book/movie/album/TV show/etc…?
- Book: “The Worst Journey in the World” by Apsley Cherry-Garrard. Epic.
- Movie: “Back to the Future” – I, II and III. Don’t ever tell me the third movie sucked. I take great offense to this claim. All three BTTF films reached cinematic perfection.
- Album: “The Crane Wife”by The Decemberists
If you’ve never listened to all three movements of the album’s title track, The Crane Wife, just click this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPOMHM6waxk
- TV Show:The Simpsons. I once spent an entire day hanging out with Nancy Cartwright – the voice of Bart Simpson. We had a long conversation about The Simpsons and she spoke for the entire time in Bart’s voice, with an occasional Nelson. It was the finest day of my life.
Tell us something weird/unique/quirky about yourself.
I can’t burp. I’ve tried my entire life and it just won’t happen. I’m accepting any burp-related advice you can offer but it probably is something I’m just not destined to do. Also, I once drove from 5,700 miles from Pittsburgh to Anchorage in six days.
Describe yourself in 3 to 5 words.
An unstoppable energy.
What would you not be caught dead wearing?
I really hate any shirt or sweater with a V-neck. I have no idea how people wear V-neck clothing.
What’s one of life’s simple pleasures?
Cold beer after a long day in the woods.
The Internet is listening: give us your words to live by.
Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder. This is an old Swedish proverb that roughly translates to: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes.” Stop fearing cold weather and add another layer. It’s a beautiful world out there.
If you’re an extrovert who can help bring Dave out of his shell, email him directly at dwaeltz@oneupweb.com.
