Public Relations

Introducing the New Faces of BOCA: Diego Vasquez

By December 11, 2017 No Comments

Hello, my name is Diego Vasquez, one of the newest BOCAteers on the team. I have a master’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University in New York, and have spent most of my professional career (13-plus years) reporting and writing news. More recently I transitioned to the communications/PR side of things, and could not have found a better landing place than BOCA. All of my co-workers have been very helpful and supportive, and I’m feeling lucky to be a part of the team. We’ve already produced some strong work together, and I’m looking forward to much more in the future.

Here is a bit more about me in the form of a welcome-to-the-team Q&A:

Tell us something interesting about where you live.

I live in Minneapolis, where the temperature is already consistently in the 30s. One interesting thing about this market is it’s hosting the Super Bowl this season, just a few blocks from my place at US Bank Stadium. My team, the Vikings, hasn’t made it to the Super Bowl in my lifetime, so likely I’ll be relegated to just taking part in the festivities rather than actually cheering for my team. But at least Justin Timberlake is playing the halftime show!

What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about my family, although I’m sure most people would say that. My dad was a longtime musician (drummer), and music has always been a big part of our lives, so I’d say music is my biggest non-family passion.

What book are you currently reading?

I hate to admit it but I haven’t read a book in way too long, and when I do I usually go with something fun and light, such as cheesy crime fiction novels a la Elmore Leonard. I’ve heard that “The Black Widow” by Daniel Silva is very good, so I may have to give that a try.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

This may sound bad (it’s not), but I would have to say marrying my wife, only because of the circumstances at the time. She is from Quito, Ecuador and was in the U.S. working as an au pair when we met. She was scheduled to return home less than a year after we met, so we pulled the trigger in Feb. 2007. I hadn’t met her family or anything, and in fact the first time I did was on a trip to Quito in 2009, where we had a church ceremony to celebrate our vows. Despite my name, I’m not 100 percent fluent in Espanol, but after more than 10 years and 6-7 trips to Ecuador (along with lots of other adventures), I think it has all worked out pretty well.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I’ve been lucky enough to do a decent amount of traveling, but one place I still need to visit is Italy. Watching the most recent season of “Master of None” only made me want to go more. I’d also like to visit some other parts of South America that I haven’t been to, such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and Chile.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

It’s pretty basic, but probably flying Superman-style. It would make me look cool and also have lots of practical uses, such as avoiding traffic.

What’s your secret talent that nobody knows about?

I’ve always been pretty good at American football, although since I’m pushing 40 my games are now limited to an old-man touch football league on Wed. nights. I also picked up futbol (soccer) in my late 20s and have held my own against South American talent (though they may deny it if you ask them).

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

I have actually never sung karaoke, and it’s hard to imagine I ever would. But if I had to, I’d probably go with something old-school like Marvin Gaye or Kool and the Gang. I would like to say something new and cool by the likes of Timberlake or Usher, but I just don’t have the voice or dance moves.

What are your biggest pet peeves?

Drivers who don’t use their turn signals. People who call on the phone and then forget what they wanted to say. Those who are rude or impatient with food service workers.

Ninja or Pirate?

Definitely ninja. I tend to be a quieter person, so I prefer the stealthy approach versus the loud brashness of pirates. Also, I like the ocean, but I don’t know if extended periods at sea would be for me.

 

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