lancemailem

courage to grow. faith to believe.

2009-05-31T01:04:00.002-04:00

with every day. each moment we need the courage and will to grow. to learn. to understand our life and all that it has to offer. we have to have the faith to believe in oursleves. in what the lord has given us and the path that he will lead us in.

life is what you make of it and the opportunities and experiences that lay before us. we need to understand and take chances in our life. have the courage to grow in all directions. often times, we don't know what is in store for us but we have to have the faith in the higher powers and have the confidence that things will fall into place as they are supposed to.

faith is no only a religious feeling but an understanding that we need to believe in one's strengths and abilities to do the best we can to be the person we are meant to be. we are all individuals in this changing and challenging world. we become who we are with every experience. we believe in things that we learn and understand.

courage to grow. faith to believe.

Restaurant and Institutions - VT Dining Services

2009-05-30T20:32:00.001-04:00

Virginia Tech Dining Services receives the IVY aware for 2009. One of the top awards in the food service industry. Again, glad to be part of an award winning Dining Services.

2009 Ivy Award Winner: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

rainbow.

2009-05-30T20:29:00.001-04:00

Driving home after a stressful week, I see a full rainbow. No matter how many challenges that comes along, I know that my mom is still here looking over us. She wrote in my bible, “when you see the rainbow remember me and Him and his promises to us… love each other no matter what. We are family. God Bless and love you always.” Thanks mom. Thu 8:11pm May 28, 2009

only in hawaii... da locals would like this.

2009-03-13T00:32:00.002-04:00

Funny stuff... from Saturday Night Live. so true!

Hawaiian Hotel - SNL

Virginia Tech Dining Services

2009-03-12T02:49:00.003-04:00

I'm proud of being part of an award winning dining service. One of best in the nation with the Ivy Award.

http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2009&itemno=152

other awards....

http://www.studentprograms.vt.edu/dining/awards.php

updated website

2009-03-12T02:37:00.002-04:00

Howzit. As you can see I have updated the website with a new front page and updated look for the "history" part of the website. I know it's just minor changes but please let me know what you think. I have placed the links to myspace and facebook on this blog on the related links section to the right. I hope to update my portfolio with new graphics and updated photo galleries.

Food Management Features

2008-09-01T02:36:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to share some recognition that Virginia Tech Dining Services got from Food Management Magazine this year. Check it out... I actually got my name in the first article.

A Feast Fit for a King
http://food-management.com/best_concept_awards/0813_feast_fit_king/

Taste of Tech
http://food-management.com/segments/colleges/0616_taste_tech/

happy father's day 2008.

2008-06-12T02:57:00.003-04:00

happy father's day to our dad!.... thanks for all the love and support that you constantly give us.

- the mailem kids

being a manager

2008-04-27T19:52:00.004-04:00

over the years... i have gained experience in being a manager. leading people and getting tasks accomplished. i have been in many leadership roles throughout my life. starting in high school... i was vice president and president of my high school's interact service club, a member of the ymca youth legislation delegation from maui where i was a co-chair for the judiciary committee, and the graphics editor for the yearbook. i continued my leadership experience in college by being a corresponding secretary, district editor, and a student assistant manager, student manager, and student general manager at dietrick dining center. i then used by experience as a student leader and earned my current position as an operations manager.

recently i was given a question of what my management philosophy was... building on over ten years of being in a leadership position i have come up with 5 philosophies. Learn. Listen. Lead. Laugh. Live.

Learn. learn the philosophy of leading and management. learn about the policies, goals, and purpose of each individual organization. adapt to these items. learn the best way and efficent way to run the organization, in the process learn from each other.

Listen. listen to the advice of the mentors. take the time to listen to others in the organization from all levels. more importantly, listen to your own teachings.

Lead. lead the way you want to be led. one of the great ways to lead is to gain the respect from your peers. use what you learned and heard. lead by example. step forward and make a difference.

Laugh. at the same time, don't take all things seriously. find the time to relax, to step back, and see how far you have come.

Live. your philosophies and management style will always be critized. whether you did something right or wrong. others will try to take advantage of you. but in the end, your integrity and character should not be challenge. believe in yourself. live your life.

recent special events i took part in

2008-04-07T02:23:00.012-04:00

top: chinatown, las vegas for road trip theme

above: medieval meal, holding the ice sculpture that the chef created.

top: dessert station, medieval table.
above: royal and feast tables, medieval demo

management philosophy

2008-04-07T02:16:00.004-04:00

several weeks ago someone asked me what my management philosophy was? I have been in a supervisory position for more than 5 years... and I never really thought about my management philosophy... after some thought I realize 5 values. All of which I hope to define better soon.

Listen. Learn. Lead. Laugh. Live.

maui vacation

2008-01-22T02:33:00.000-05:00

there's no place like home.... maui no ka oi!

Thanksgiving is about family

2007-11-26T01:16:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with my family. We cooked the tradition meal and just spent time together visiting the different National museums in Washington, D.C. Also, got to see my two nephews.

First Pumpkin Carving

2007-10-22T01:57:00.000-04:00

Carved my first pumpkin this past weekend. Not bad for the first time.

my new nephew

2007-10-08T02:26:00.000-04:00

Mackenzie Neilson Pomaika'i Mailem

Born on Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at 11:02am

8 1/2 lbs and 22 inches

weekend with family

2007-10-02T02:45:00.000-04:00

weekend in woodbridge, va with my sisters and my nephew.

Flowers in Hahn Garden

2007-09-02T20:06:00.000-04:00

Reflection on time and opportunity 06.20.2004

2007-09-02T19:35:00.000-04:00

With the sun slowly setting in the west, I sit here on the grass of Virginia Tech’s historic Drillfield across one of the most inspiring buildings, Burruss Hall. I remember the first day I set foot on this campus roughly six years ago, it was a hot summer day with my sister and I posed in front of that building to take a picture. Through the years, I’ve passed that building many times always being struck by its presence, a reminder of my first days as a college student.

Reflecting back on my college years, I remember my “goal picture” for my Freshmen English class. This is a picture of myself in the grandstand near the foot of Burruss Hall overlooking the Drillfield with the War Memorial Chapel in the background. This is what I wrote nearly six years ago.

September 7,1998 Freshmen English

Pictures can mean a lot of things depending on the person. Some may just see the “surface” of the picture such as color and objects while others may take it deeper. Some may interpret my goal picture differently but I see it as the foundation to my future.

The reason why I chose to take a picture of the Drillfield is because it represents my life. The open field is the opportunities that lay before me. The world is out there for me to discover and conquer but before I can do that I have to prepare myself. The wall that I am standing in front of represents the education that I need to grab the opportunities. Virginia Tech is the key to obtaining my “field of dreams.”

Secondly, the Memorial Chapel in the background represents my faith in the Lord. I know that through the process of achieving my goals in life I will be faced with obstacles. When I feel that I cannot handle it any more I can always count on God to help me through the hard times. God will always be a part of my life.

Finally, I am the only person who can make things possible for myself. I am the person who controls my life. I am the one who decides to reach for my goals or not. The only person that knows me is myself. I have to be the person that I want to be and not depend on anyone for deciding my future. I control my future.

I know now that I do control my future. I learned from experience that in time and with patience opportunity is going to present itself. Looking around I see my peers in different phases of their lives. Some are struggling to make a living and finding a direction. While others are advancing their education – postponing the jump into the real world. Others are still continuing their education. Others are moving on into the work force whether it be in their field or not.

One year ago, I did not see myself still here in Blacksburg as an Assistant Manager Senior at Dietrick Dining Center. One year ago, I worried about whether I would graduate from college and earn that framed piece of paper hanging over my desk right now. Maybe it was my stubbornness of not wanting things to change that caused me to not apply for art related jobs and stick with my job at Dietrick. Which some would say “why?” and my response would be, “I started something that I needed to finish before moving on.” In other words;

Continue with what you started.
Build with what you learned.
Dream with your heart and mind.

This cannot but sum up this whole experience. I have the perfect opportunity to learn and grow in this field with this new challenge.

I know now that this is a transition year for me; a point in my life where I know where I’ve been, I know where I am and I know where I want to go. Combining all that I have learned, all of my passions together to create the person that I was meant to be.

Father Layton P. Zimmer said it best, “It is really important for me to do the best I can now, to be the most I can to be the me I was created to be, with what I have where I am.”

I’ve always had a good sense and passion for art. Combining that passion with my current endeavor is perfect in realizing my goal of establishing my own restaurant. The final piece to that foundation would be obtaining formal culinary arts training. I’ve set myself up for that next phase of my journey. But I will not hurry my time here. I’m going to learn all that I can with the people around me. As one of my bosses told me the other day… I’m in a position that he was not in when he was my age. Encouraging words for me as I endeavor into this phase of my life.

The sun is retreating into the night sky. Shadows of yesterday appear. I see in the clear blue sky the hope of tomorrow; the time that has not past, the opportunities lay before me, the green grass reminds me of that….

words for a new book.

2007-09-02T19:22:00.000-04:00

05.14.2004

book for a friend.
Life is a journey. You learn. You grow. You understand. You live. Life is about change. The challenges that we face can only make us stronger. With every stone that we come across we use it to build our foundation, the steps to where we’re destined to be. Although, there may be times in our lives where we have to face boulders we will eventually find a path around it. Like water, life flows. We continue on. We find a way. We find our path, our place.

The Maui News article by Brian Perry

2007-09-02T19:10:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Tragedy ’surreal’ for Maui High grad

WAILUKU – Watching CNN coverage of the shooting deaths of more than 30 people at Virginia Tech, Maui High School graduate Lance Mailem said he couldn’t believe such a tragedy was unfolding just a mile from his Blacksburg, Va., apartment.

“I heard all the sirens and all that stuff,” he said. “I just think it was tragic. It was surreal.”

Mailem, a former Kahului resident, graduated from Virginia Tech in December 2003 with a bachelor of arts degree in studio art. He works as an operations manager at Virginia Tech’s Dietrick Dining Center, and someday he wants to own his own restaurant in Hawaii.

In a phone interview Monday night, Mailem said he was supposed to have started work at noon Monday but he didn’t report in until 2 p.m., when authorities gave an “all-clear” signal for the 2,600-acre campus.

At work, fellow employees discussed the shooting.

They talked about “how unbelievable it was that it could happen in a small town like this,” he said, describing Blacksburg as a college town smaller than Kahului. “Things like this just happen in the big city.”

Making his way home after work, the campus was eerily calm, Mailem said.

“It was surreal. It was so quiet,” he said, adding that the campus normally would be bustling with students enjoying the first days of spring.

“There wasn’t that many people walking around,” he said.

Mailem said that when he was a student at the school a few years ago, he took classes in Norris Hall, the building where most of the killings took place.

He said authorities had not released the names of any of the people killed, and he wasn’t aware if he knew any of the victims.

He is the son of Kahului resident Catalino Mailem, a water supply coordinator for Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. Lance Mailem graduated from Maui High School in 1998.

Link to The Maui News Archive: http://mauinews.com/news/2007/4/17/02trag0417.html

feeling alright by rebelution, courage to grow

2007-08-27T01:45:00.000-04:00

we're feeling good, feeling alright yeah.
it's about that time for us to look around and meet somebody new. let's all welcome in familiar faces perhaps somebody who has a conflict in their lives. to them you're sorry but there's ways to change the wrong to right

we can't see in a distant haze and watch rain clouds with thoughts of greatness to help our troubles sail real far away its a struggle everyday we're stressing. what's a life without dedication, I'm gonna pick up that soul's intention to soak in music, relaxation.

when the moment i will be on my way to better days when life is changing and even though i have got my share of pain i will be sympathizing and realizing. i got a feeling we could be a better friend simply complimenting every now and then. cause in the morning i wake up and miss the night before. cause i love the music more and more.

2007-08-20T01:25:00.001-04:00

a life's cycle Sunday, August 21, 2005 12:11:25 AM EST

I inserted the last quarter into the washing machine… it’ll be about 27 minutes until the last cycle is done. Waiting… I’m reading through the pages of my book, seeing the drawings of yesterday. Reflecting while I wait, I come across these words that I wrote in January:

Sands between the pages
Covers bent and worn
Sketches, scribbles, words
Reflections of travel
Thoughts on life
Gathering the experiences
Going back in time
To the beginning of where it all started
Seeing the changes each year
Experience the growth of family
Realizing that we’re not kids anymore
Knowing in our hearts that the moments stand still
Driving by the old streets
Remembering what they used to be
Hearing the voices and the laughter
The parties and the holidays
The happier times with less worry
We’re growing older

Stuck in a daily routine
Satisfied for today
Being challenged in all directions
Sometimes knowing how to react on instinct
Giving it time and patience to decide

I wrote this after my vacation in Hawaii where I spent a lot of time with my family. We’re not kids anymore, but I still remember the times when we all had less to worry about. Things are different now. We are miles apart and in different phases of our lives but we are all grounded by the values that we were raised on: life, respect, and family. Our experiences together have prepared us for the road ahead of us. If you asked us ten years ago where each of us would be, we would not have imagined that we would be where we are today.
Week in and week out, it’s been a constant routine. When I was younger, I thought that being older would be much easier. I realize now that it is not easy at all. As a young adult, I have a management position, bills and student loans to pay, a passion for art that I try to fit in, time to time, and dreams to ponder. I’m satisfied for the moment but I expect more. I’ve reached my first set of goals, but where do I go from here?

From my experiences so far, I know that things don’t always go the way I want them to. It often never does, but that is the rhythm of life. We each have to be living and feeling the beat in order us to flow into the next sequence. I don’t know where I will be within the next twenty-five years of my life. But I do know that I have a new set of dreams that I hope to accomplish.

Flowing in all directions the opportunities will present themselves. I will be wading with patience on the comforts of my foundation. I’ll be cautious with the shifting sands under my feet. The waves of time will be breaking with each emotion. The steps of my life will be grounded by the experiences, opened for today, carried on for tomorrow.

It’s been 27 minutes and my clothes are ready to be dried. I place all of my washed clothes in my basket and head over to the dryers. I place them inside the tumbler and after the last quarter I press the start button and wait.

Bee in Hahn Garden, Virginia Tech

2007-08-20T01:10:00.001-04:00