I was involved in a STING OPERATION while on M2W Business in Detroit a few weeks ago. As you read my blog, you may be saying to yourself…no way…slow blog writing day, well actually I’ve been waiting three weeks to do this…and EVERYTHING you are about to read is VERY REAL and happened on Sunday, July 18, 2010.

It was 3am and Donovan Dengler and I had just wrapped up Fuego #2 at the White Star nightclub in a bedroom community of Detroit. Fuego was an up and coming Latino artist who M2W had brought to MetroPCS as a national tour sponsorship opportunity. So, Donovan and I called it a night/morning and I headed off in a cab to my hotel. Now, you should know that the White Star was in an area where I would not frequent that often if I were a “regular” in the Detroit area; however the club was fun and the people were great…but I was more than happy when the cab driver along with his “baby mama” as he affectionately called his girlfriend dropped me at my ever-trusted and very safe Marriott Residence Inn about 8 miles away.

Got up the next morning, hit the couch with my cup o'Joe and was ready to begin the long, arduous task of uploading all the videos and photos from the wild time the night before…event went great so I had no problem getting into the upload thing right away…had two cameras…uh-oh; that would be only one camera. OH NO! I had left the other camera in the taxi the night before.  That particular camera had the best photos and video…Aaaarrrggghhh, this was going to be a bad day…my life was on THAT camera.

OK, Wynne, get it together don't be such a pansy, you just have to call the cab company talk to the owner, get the driver on the phone and ask him to please leave the camera at the cab depot and you will come and pick it up.  Good luck with that one! So what’s the name of the cab company, it was 3am for Gosh sakes? The front desk of the Residence Inn assisted me with this.

So Mario, the chain smoking cab driver who had his "baby mama" by his side, said that he knows exactly who has my camera, it was his last cab customer and I was the second to the last. Mario said he even saw the guy take it from the cab; so he knew for sure that he has it and was positive it was my camera.

So Mario volunteered to go to the home of his last fare from the previous night, the Mr. "unknown thief", the guy who Mario said stole my camera. His house was located in a bedroom community of Detroit… so he headed over there.  He didn't have much success as the guy simply drew his blinds, turned off his radio and acted like no one was home. Mario finally persuaded him to come to the door and the guy had a couple of different stories with regards to the camera.    He first said that he didn’t have the camera, then he said that he took the camera to another bar where a “buddy” told him to bring the camera.

He then said that he could take Mario to the bar, so Mario said “OK, let’s go” and then the guy retreated to his home and did not return to the front door.

So Mario called the cops and told them about the situation, they gave him the run around about how they don’t think they can get it back, the guy probably wouldn’t give it to them, etc, etc.  Personally, I think they gave him the run around because he was African American and it’s long been known that the police in the Detroit area are somewhat racist…and if you read on I think I may have proven this point. The police ended up helping me and not Mario…but only after some slight persuasion and verbal manipulation on my part.

You see, I called that same precinct and asked them why they didn’t help Mario when he called, they back-pedaled and then I said, “well I’m a 51 year old Caucasian woman in the marketing business, and last time I checked it isn’t very good marketing to have me driving into this area to get my camera all by myself, so I’d appreciate some assistance”…that was all this officer needed to hear. I’m sure he had visions of a news story going something like this “female executive visiting on business is mugged/raped/killed when local police would not help her”. He proceeded to tell me to come by their building and they would escort me to get the camera.  So I did just that.

By now the time was 4:30pm in the afternoon, Mario was such a trooper, he had planted his car in the driveway of the thief’s apartment so that not only could the culprit not leave, but neither could his neighbors, and there he remained until we showed up. 

So, back at the precinct, the police (4) were prepping me on how far to drive behind them, to not let the thief see me, to stay out of harms way they were going to drive ahead (two cop cars) and come in from each side of the street in case they guy made a run for it…all very exciting over a $150 camera, but one that had a million dollars worth of photos to me.

And away we went, me about three lengths behind the cop cars, them calling me to tell me to stay back, me blinking my lights to let them know where I was and everything was fine.  At the location they pull up lights flashing, neighbors coming out, beating on the guys’ door and he comes out and from what I heard he denied having the camera and then the cops threatened to take him in…low and behold he walked back into the house and came out holding my camera.  The retrieval of my camera was much to my amazement, and to the amazement of all four of those police officers.  They beckoned for me to drive forward, from my detective-like location down the street, to retrieve my precious camera…all the photos were on there and all buttons still working!

I thanked them profusely and then gave Mario $80 and took Mario and his “baby mama” to dinner at Applebee’s.  Who says the life of a Road Warrior on a quiet Sunday might get a little boring?

After working an event in Boston, MA my trip back to Dallas, TX was put on hold by the smallest little action of a ground hog seeing his shadow.  Who knew that this could cause cities and airports to shut down?  This caused me to leave my comfort zone of air travel and BlackBerry.  You never really know how we take technology for granted until you misplace your cell phone.

For starters, a misplaced Blackberry is like losing a major part of who you are and how you communicate.  I was forced to try other means of communication.  A little advice…do NOT attempt to use a hotel phone.  “Will you be placing a local or long distance call?”  Well, I never really knew the answer to that question.  Minus having to know the service provider of whom you’re trying to call.  Oh and my favorite…”Please insert $1.25 to connect.”  I just gave you my VISA!! (after you kindly refused my AMEX) So, I hang up.  Now what?  I have an idea (happens often).  SKYPE!  I’ve used it daily, but never to make phone calls.  I bought $10.00 credit to ease the pain of missing my BB.  Painless!  Before I knew it I was calling people just to hear a familiar voice.   I’ll never touch a landline again as long as I have my BB and/or computer within reach.

After reconnecting with my BlackBerry and super gluing it to my hand I decided to hop a train and get out of this winter wonderland.  If the planes weren’t flying then the trains must be rolling!  It wasn’t a bullet train, but I hear ‘high speed’ is in the works.

Finally, I arrived back to Dallas on very little sleep and found just the right sweatshirt to wear.

This is a trip that I will never forget.

Thank you Punxsutawney Phil!

As someone who spends a lot of time traveling for work I am no stranger to the world of airports and airlines. We all know that the airline industry has taken some big hits in the last few years. They’ve downsized their fleet, staff and crew and upsized the charges for luggage and even seat selection. But no matter what it’s still the main mode of transportation for me. Just ask the TSA agents and airline folks at my home base airport, they know me by name.

We all have our favorite airlines. I know I do. And it’s not because my home airport has only three choices, but more because of where they go, the flexibility of the airline, what their prices are and what I can expect as a frequent flyer member. If I had to rank the ones I enjoy flying the most are Southwest, Air-Tran, Continental and American. They all offer great things from in-flight internet, to first class upgrades, to short TSA lines to free flights and beverages.

I am proud to say I am a SWA A-List member. I love no lines, early boarding and most of all I can check in an hour before a flight and still get a good boarding number. Many of you will say SWA is a cattle call, but I like picking my seat even if I booked last minute. I’m usually one of the first 30 people on the plane and I never get stuck with a middle seat. Within the next few months I will have acquired the prestigious Companion Pass. Yes my husband will be able to go with me anywhere I plan on going (if he can get off work). And of course there is the bags fly free. Who doesn’t love that? I don’t usually check luggage, but it’s a perk I’ll take anyways.

There are other things I love about SWA, but most of all I live for their customer service. No matter how bad the weather, how irate the other customers get or how crazy my travel gets I always have the best people taking care of me. They reach out to me via text, phone calls, email and even on Facebook to let me know what the travel issues are. I never feel out of the loop.

In the world of marketing today you can promote any product, service or event but what really matters in the end is the customer service that surrounds it. My goal in 2010 for M2W and all the Market Managers and team members I work with is to instill the highest level of customer service with every person they engage with. It’s amazing how much of a company’s reputation is based on their customer service.

I can’t do toilet paper roll races or sing a cute jingle song or rap like SWA crew members do on their flights. I can however ensure you that no matter how much turbulence we have or how late the flight is or what mechanical delays we may encounter in this journey of 2010 will all our clients and events I will be there along with my crew to ensure that we make your journey and travels as smooth as possible. And to make sure you are never out of the loop.

So please return your tray tables and seat backs to the full most upright position. Sit back, relax and prepare for takeoff into 2010.