Fitness Focus Happier, Healthier
Boomers escalate their fitness plans, and find they look and feel great
By Donna Olmstead
For the Albuquerque Journal
Revamping
Joanie Griffin, president of Griffin and Associates, a local marketing firm, says she has completely revamped her lifestyle since she turned 50 three years ago. “I have to work harder than I ever have in my life. But now I weigh 125 pounds, what I weighed when I graduated from high school.”
Everything in her diet has to work to support her active lifestyle, she says. She has a Greek yogurt and fruit or a high-protein smoothie most days for breakfast or as a recovery drink after working out and has a serving of chicken or fish with salad or green vegetables for lunch and dinner. She’s cut back on alcohol to one glass of wine a week.
If she has a craving, she gives into it once in a while. “I had a craving for Lemonheads and black licorice. So I ate that and I was done with it.”
Griffin credits her partner, Rob Durham, for getting her interested in biking competitively. She says she had not ridden a bicycle as an adult, but had previously worked out at the gym three times a week.
Now she works out from 5:30 to 7 a.m. before her workday begins and goes for a bike ride of several hours one day of the weekend, usually with her cycling club, Women Riding Well.
Setting an athletic goal and training to compete in an event keeps her motivated, she says.Griffin does triathlons and century bike rides of 100 miles, as well as the recent 50-mile Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in Colorado.
Griffin & Associates Named in Inc. 5000
Griffin & Associates is a public relations, marketing, and advertising firm that serves small to medium-size businesses and government agencies in the American Southwest.
Town of Taos to Renew Marketing Contract
The Taos Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday (May 10) to renew the town’s marketing contract with Griffin and Associates.
The Albuquerque-based firm has been doing marketing for the town for four years. Ten companies responded to the town’s recent request for proposals, which procurement officer Tina Torres said will not be made public until a contract with Griffin is signed, likely later this month.
The Tourism Plateau
Most conversations about economic development in Taos are grounded in the same basic premise: “Taos is a tourism-based economy.”
But Taos economist Bill Stevens says the emphasis on tourist dollars is overblown — and he has the numbers to prove it.
Marketer banquet announces awards
Griffin & Associates won top honors and was named “Best” of the Marketers of the Year at the recent 22nd Annual Marketer of the Year Awards banquet.
The New Mexico chapter of the American Marketing Association also bestowed three honorary awards. Tamara Williams was recognized as the chapter’s member of the year; the president’s award went to March Direct Marketing; and the recognition of excellence award went to DJ Heckes.
Words of advice from Griffin and Associates’ CEO, Joanie Griffin
I look for real- life experience and a quality portfolio if they have worked somewhere before. Internships are one of the most important things. They should do something where they can show me some real work. I also want to make sure that the intern would fit in our office so that we don’t waste our time or their time.
Griffin & Associates Lands Taos Tourism Bid
Griffin & Associates has won the tourism contract for the town of Taos.
The value of the contract is $410,000. Griffin has been the northern New Mexico town’s contractor since 2007 and beat out nine other firms vying for this new work, including national firms and several in New Mexico.
