Behind the Scenes Q2 2023

Waypoint Team

Q2 was a quarter filled with team fun! The Waypoint Team gathered in June in San Francisco for their second team retreat of the year. As WWP continues to grow, we used the in-person time to have internal team breakout sessions and build on our team collaboration across the firm. After the retreat we walked to the San Francisco Wine Society for an afternoon of playing bocce ball and enjoying some tasty food and drinks. We always cherish the opportunities to work together and deepen our team bond.

Following a collaborative retreat day, the Waypoint Team gathered for their annual day of service. This year they volunteered at Project Open Hand in San Francisco - https://www.openhand.org. Project Open Hand is a nonprofit organization that provides medically tailored meals and groceries to elderly and homebound people in the bay. Upon arrival, the team was put to work by labeling and filling portion sized bags with chicken, pasta, trail mix, and other nutritional food so that it could be ready for distribution. Open Hands shared, “your group prepared 1,231 portions of prepacked food and 500 labels for our Grocery Center. Your support allows us to serve our mission, providing 2,500 meals with love to the sick and the elderly every day.  The amount of hard work, energy, and enthusiasm your group brought was wonderful and we truly would not be able to do this work without your support.”

After Project Open Hand, the team headed over to La Cocina Municipal Marketplace for lunch and a tour of the space - https://lacocinamarketplace.com/about. La Cocina is a non-profit that supports immigrant women and minority owned businesses. “It stands as an innovative model of conscious, community-led development that offers economic opportunity for women entrepreneurs, jobs for Tenderloin residents, and a welcoming and affordable dining space for community members and those looking to eat with purpose.” The Waypoint Team enjoyed delicious food from diverse cultures and learned about the challenges minority business owners face today and the opportunities La Cocina Marketplace offers.

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Annette

Annette was out and about quite a lot in Q2, the highlights were her family’s annual Easter celebration, her favorite industry conference, and a reunion with many of her fellow intrepid travelers! “Our Easter celebration was extra special this year due to a surprise visit by my cousin from Denmark along with her family who were doing a trip around the world trip with their kids.  It was so special to be able to catch up with them in person and hear about all their adventures.  Then I was off to Florida for my favorite industry conference of the year, FPA Retreat, where I got to learn, explore new ideas, connect with a close group of my peers, and spend time with my study group.  I always come back from this conference with a renewed sense of purpose and passion for the work we do.  And finally, my dear friend and the guide who leads me on all my amazing adventures around the world had a big celebration for the 15-year anniversary of her company, Cattara Adventures.  People came in from all over the country to join in the festivities and reunite with friends and fellow travelers.  It’s an incredible community, we feel so lucky to be a part of it.”    

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Chuck

Chuck continued his 60th year birthday celebration by checking off a lifetime bucket list item - riding the classic climbs of the Tour de France with a dozen of his cycling friends.  The ride was spiritual, the food and culture amazing but it was the comradery and friendship that made the trip a once in a lifetime experience.

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Lindsay

Lots of spring activities for Lindsay again this year. Charlie and her cousin, Josie, had their last out of town soccer tournament in April and the girls brought home 1st place! It was a great way to end the season. Lindsay, Charlie, and CJ all have May birthdays which kept the celebrations going. Charlie graduated 8th grade (off to high school!) and Ella graduated 12th grade (off to college)! Lindsay brought Noah to San Francisco for a visit, and they did all the touristy things, including a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge and catching a Giants game. One of Noah and Lindsay’s favorite things to do is country music concerts so they are so excited that concert season is in full bloom.

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Anabel

Anabel had a pleasant quarter, dedicating a significant portion of her time visiting the beach with her furry friend, Arlo, who adores splashing in the water and engaging in games of fetch. Anabel also took the opportunity to appreciate nature and embarked on a hike in Monterey, CA. The weather has provided us with an abundance of blooming flowers. Anabel finds pure joy visiting her favorite flower farm to snag a batch of fresh and colorful blooms that never fail to lift her spirits.

Anabel got to visit the Bay Area and had a total blast playing Bocce with the Waypoint team. She quickly realized that sipping wine while playing Bocce didn’t exactly boost her game-winning skills. With kitten and puppy season in full swing, Anabel has been keeping herself busy every Saturday morning by volunteering at her local SPCA. She spends her time feeding and cleaning after all the adorable yet messy little furballs. It’s safe to say she’s absolutely loving her time helping at the shelter.

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Jesse

Spring is a beautiful time to live in New Orleans, and Jesse has continued to make the most of it! She and Matthias attended some of the local festivals, including the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival and the French Quarter Music Festival, and went to the opening of a new 80’s-themed restaurant on nearby Magazine Street. She also got out of town for a weekend in Miami, where she went kayaking and enjoyed some amazing Latin American food. She and Matthias have been doing some redecorating in their historic shotgun home with the help of a local interior designer, and Jesse is especially proud of the green hallway that she painted in late May. They’re looking forward to heading to Portland for the summer and plan to road trip across the country over the 4th of July weekend.

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Dariusz

Dariusz had a relaxing end of winter season enjoying a lot of time in Lake Tahoe. With the unbelieve amount of snow how couldn’t you? Like every year he closed the winter ski season out by skiing the last days at Heavenly and Kirkwood. Historically on closing days you are supposed to dress in a goofy outfit, and you can see Dariusz here in a cut off flannel and jeans with some of his friends at Kirkwood. He also celebrated his 30th birthday in May and it was fitting to celebrate with a golf round at Edgewood in Tahoe.

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Jill

Spring in the Bay Area provided the perfect weather for Jill to spend lots of time exploring close to home, hanging out with friends and training for her upcoming walk along the Camino de Santiago. Andrew and Misty joined Jill and they ventured to the Sierras to spend time with their friend Karen in her beautiful mountain home, and Jill ventured south to her alma mater in Westwood to visit college friends and to stop by her favorite cookie place, Diddy Riese.  Local hikes on Mt. Tam, a short getaway to Carmel, and a fun day in San Francisco filled her free time.

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Avelina

Avelina spent Q2 getting outdoors and enjoying springtime in Sacramento! This included walks with her partner Tyler and her dog Chunk, trips to their local farmers market, a fun night at Top Golf and even a visit to Lake Tahoe. With the hot weather rolling into Sacramento, she is looking forward to a fun summer filled with water activities to help stay cool! 

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Rania

This spring, Rania celebrated Caroline’s 65th birthday by embarking on a mother-daughter trip to London! This was their first visit to the city and they both loved it. They spent a week visiting historic sites, eating cuisines from around the world, and enjoying the British sense of humor.  One of the highlights was watching A Midsummers Night’s Dream at the Globe Theater with a predominantly female cast who even played traditional men’s roles. “If Shakespeare were alive today, he would appreciate how his plays are still relevant 400+ years later and how they have adapted to the times.”

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Becca

For Becca, it was a fun yet busy quarter, which included a wonderful trip to Oahu, Hawaii to visit her husband’s grandparents. Some highlights during their visit were hiking, playing cards, happy hour chats, and feeding the birds. She also went on vacation in Kauai for a few nights. While on the island, she stayed in a cabin at Koke’e State Park without internet or cell service. “It was really lovely to slow down, disconnect, and soak in natures beauty.”