Submitted by Mike Williams — Managing Editor (@imikewilliams)
Who is Carrie Riggin? Well, you may have seen her energizing the fans at Carolina Hurricanes games as a member of the Eye Care Associates Storm Squad. Or, you may have read some of her blog posts about how to stay in shape. Or, you may have seen some of her work for the bi-coastal public relations agency Bolt PR. Yeah, she's all over the place. But all the things she does center around one thing: helping others. Here are my Seven Questions with Carrie Riggin.
Q: You’re a very, very busy woman! PR account executive, fitness blogger and fashion columnist, fan development for the Hurricanes and, of course, a Storm Squad member. How do you balance it all?
Ha, I get this question all the time! And I still don’t really know the answer to this, but somehow I manage. I think I am just so passionate about everything I do – my fitness blog, my fashion column (as you can see I love to write), the Storm Squad, PR, hockey, just meeting new people in general – that I make time. Everything I set out to do really is to benefit others. That’s my motivation to stay up and write a blog post, go the extra mile to give a young Canes fan a tattoo at a hockey game, call that very last reporter for a client – it makes me feel good knowing I’m making a difference in [someone's] life, and that satisfies me and drives me to continue to do what I do!
I definitely lose sleep, don’t get my workouts in or drink two glasses of wine instead of one occasionally, but it’s all worth it – my life is amazing! I have to pinch myself sometimes to remind me that it’s real!
Q: So, the Storm Squad. You’re in your second year with the group. What’s that experience been like for you so far?
[It] has been a life-changing experience. Coming into it, I had no idea the scope of the job. People only see what goes on at hockey games — clapping, cheering, dancing and facilitating promotions — but outside the arena, we do so much more. From corporate events and community parades to hospital visits, charity work and nonprofit support – we do it all. Our job is not to be the "face" or the "cheerleaders" (because we aren’t) for the Hurricanes, but to enhance the hockey fan experience inside and outside the RBC Center. You have no idea how much just a “Hello,” [or] “How are you?” or a simple tattoo means to a fan. It can make their day. Being part of a group of girls and an organization dedicated to that is so rewarding.
Q: Yeah calling the Storm Squad just "cheerleaders" is misleading. You mentioned some things you do in the community, like charity and nonprofit work. What are some other things you and the girls do?
We are so much more than the smiling faces cheering at games. We’re part of the Carolina Hurricanes Promotions and Fan Development department. So more than anything, we are dedicated to bringing the community together through hockey [and] enhancing a fan experience whether it be inside the walls of the RBC Center or around town. We ultimately want our fans to feel a part of our family and organization so we always go that extra mile to do little things to make them feel welcome and a part of OUR team. Because really, the players, the Storm Squad and the organization as a whole would not be anything without our amazing and supportive fans.
As I said, we take this "welcoming" approach outside the arena, too. We get involved and engage with as many people and organizations as we can. This can mean supporting corporate sponsors who make our jobs possible, participating in Cool Bars events at local Carolina Ale Houses to give fans a place to come and cheer with us during away games, supporting local and national charities through fundraisers, promotions, races, children’s hospital visits, small business grand openings, house visits for those in need, Junior Storm Squad (where young girls can be Storm Squad girls for a game) and the list goes on.
I’ll never forget, my most memorable experience as a Storm Squad member was attending a little girl’s party after she had won the Storm Squad shopping spree and party as a result of donations her family made to the Canes' nonprofit, The Kids ‘N Community Foundation. As part of the prize, four Storm Squad members went to hang out with her and her friends; we ate pizza, watched TV, slung t-shirts in the backyard (like at games) and taught the group the famous power play dance we always do. During that time, she looked at her mom and said, "This is the best day of my whole life." It’s the little things that go a long way, and that is why all of us girls (and Mike!) continue to do this amazing job.
Q: The triangle.com team attended the inaugural Storm Squad calendar launch party at Sparians. How cool was that for you guys to have your friends, family and fans come out to support you?
Thank you for coming out! And it felt amazing to be a part of! I felt very special. It was the first calendar launch party we’ve had in Storm Squad history so I wasn’t sure how the turnout would be. But our family, friends and especially fans did not disappoint! To this day (after a year and a half of being a Squad member), it is still crazy to see how much fans appreciate what we do. We do this job for them — to enhance their days and hockey experience — so it was nice to see these Caniacs come out and, in a sense, "cheer" us on.
Plus, it was cool to see our calendar pages for the first time! Every girl looked absolutely stunning in their pictures. And the way each page was unveiled, highlighting each girl and what they contribute to the organization one-by-one was fantastic!
Q: Let’s get back to you. Originally from Washington, D.C., you attended James Madison University. Why did you come to Raleigh?
Like you said, I’m originally from D.C. so I’m a city girl. But after college, I went back to the city to work. However, during that time I guess I just matured a little and the "city scene" got old. The same people and places weren’t entertaining anymore, and the D.C. traffic definitely didn’t help (it took me an hour and a half to get four miles to work). So I decided to up and quit my job without any plans for another and move to the Triangle where my parents had moved when I was in college! Risky move, but it was worth it (I didn’t realize it until later).
When I first arrived, I REALLY disliked the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area – not only was it [lots of] suburbia, but when going through the downtown area of all three cities you could’ve blinked and missed them! After a year of being in the Triangle (and working, and still miserable), I told myself, "I’m going to try out for the Storm Squad (I’ve always wanted to be a part of a professional sports team and was a cheerleader all my life) and if I make it, I will stay and if I don’t, I’m packing my belongings and moving to Cali (I’m a beach girl)!" Needless to say, I guess fate had it that Raleigh was meant for me. I now have amazing friends, family, a job and home here and I could not think of ever living anywhere else (maybe Cali eventually)!
Q: Your passion about fitness and fashion is evident — especially fitness, as reflected by your blog The Skinny Buzz. What’s the motivation/inspiration behind it?
Well my passion for fitness stems from a long struggle with an eating disorder in high school and college – it actually wasn’t my passion at the time; more the enemy (eating). I finally came to grips with it, learning how to be healthy and balance life (food and fun). Now I LOVE eating, exercising, learning anything and everything about food, nutrition, fitness and more, and I like to share that knowledge and passion with others.
Weight, body issues, eating disorders, you name it – it can be an addiction and it ruins lives. Now after surviving it, I want to share that experience with others and show them that it is possible to have a healthy balance. It feels good to give people confidence and motivate [them] to achieve their goals. That’s really what drives and inspires me.
And my passion for fashion? Well that’s just for fun! My mom instilled a sweet sense of style in me at an early age, and after living in New York City for a little, it became my No. 1 hobby! I look at fashion as a way to express yourself. It gives women (and men) a sense of empowerment. Mixing and matching styles, patterns, textures, etc. for different looks is fun and it makes you feel confident and sexy! So, I try to equip other fashionistas through my column with tips, advice, special deals, hottest trends and more that can help other ladies (and of course gents) dress better, look better and therefore feel amazing.
Q: There are some interesting blog posts on your blog. You write about cellulite and you give a "best legs" award. Where do you get these ideas from?
Well, I guess you have noticed my whole style is delivering the facts in a spunky, witty, fun and sometimes inappropriate way. Who wants to read straight stats about what keeps America’s butts growing? No one. But they do want to know how Carrie Underwood, the hottest lady in country music, got her stunning legs. Am I right or am I right?!
Honestly, as a 25 year-old gal, I love my fitness and my in-shape booty just as much as I like my margaritas and fun-filled happy hours. I’ve learned that life is all about balance – taking care of yourself but also living life to the fullest. I’ve spent too many years obsessing over weight and restricting myself that I finally came to the realization [that] there’s no point to putting hours into looking good if you’re not even going to enjoy it.
So I set out to give other girls (and guys – I’ve had many males thank me for my posts!) like me a supportive forum full of tips, advice, motivational pictures and quotes, recipes, diet tricks, top exercises and the list goes on in hopes that others can find a healthy balance too. Staying fit has to be fun otherwise everyone is going to fall off the bandwagon. Therefore, when I write, I simply think about what would draw my attention, what motivates me to get my butt in gear (recently the toned Victoria Secret Fashion Show models!) or what information would I actually use to better myself (like recipes with very few ingredients, this girl is on a budget!). Believe it or not, my highest traffic days are my "Hump Day Fitness Motivation" posts featuring the hottest bikini bodies in Hollywood or articles that prove it’s fine to drink alcohol or caffeine and still whittle the waist. It’s these kind of posts that keep the younger generation engaged, and therefore motivated! And if I can motivate just one person to eat an apple, go for a run, take their vitamins or skip dessert, then I have succeeded!
