About Feliks Yamnik

 

Short Version

I was born in Minsk, Belarus, moved to Minnesota in 1992 when I was 8 years old. Graduated from Edina High School in 2003 and enrolled at The University of Kansas. Started working at The Commercial Appeal in 2011 where I met Caywood, my now wife and travel partner. 

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Long Version 

Don't really remember much about Minsk expect for a few boring details and that we had to keep our move on the down low. My grandparents and aunt on my dad's side moved first and were able to get my family's visas to come over. We left on September 13th, 1992 and arrived in Minneapolis the next day. Our first home was in St. Louis Park: Russian neighborhood, made it easier to adapt when there was help across the street. My dad started working at a meat packing plant and my mother started taking classes at a community college. A year later we moved to Inver Grove Height, MN. My parents worked two jobs while going to school and by 1997 they both had jobs in their respective fields. In 1998, they bought a house in Edina, MN where they currently reside. My parents are the hardest working people I know; they went from living in a run-down 2 bedroom apartment to owning a house in a very respectful neighborhood in 6 years. I owe them everything! 

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While in high school I had a number of different jobs, everything from Burger King to Old Navy to Red Rooster Auto Parts. I spent a lot of time in the garage working on cars with my brother Alex who claims that he taught me everything I know. This is true. Most of my friends were gear heads like me and I spent a lot of time on my "system" which I thought was the loudest ever. This was false. We messed with everything: subs, TVs, lights, and in some cases turbos. Before graduation I bought a motorcycle, my brother's influence, and my passion changed to riding on two wheels. 

 

College took a little longer than most. I took 4 years off after freshman year to really figure out what I wanted to do. I worked about a dozen different jobs: in-bound calls for Medicare, cable guy, low voltage technician, waiter, liquor store cashier, and mechanic. I always had a passion for marketing and I found a nice sales job at The University Daily Kansan. This job is the main reason I am where I am today. Just before graduation I was hired by The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, TN and started my path toward digital advertising. I became the local expert on SEM and Google Analytics.

 

The Commercial Appeal is also where I met Caywood. We were in the same training class. At first we were just friends and I really enjoyed hanging out with her. The friendship grew and we went on our first date in September 2011. Caywood is the most amazing woman I have ever met and I was not about to let her go, so I "put a ring on it."

 

We both share the same passion for life and traveling. We love meeting new people and visiting new places. She is genuine, loyal, loving, inspiring, responsible, caring, exciting, understanding, and so much more. I couldn't ask for a better person to share this experience with...and the rest of my life!

 

I enjoy pretty much all foods. Not a huge sweets guy; steak and fish is my stuff. There is very little that I will not try once. I prefer beer over wine. I hope you enjoy our journey and my comments on the places we visit. While Caywood and I are going to share the rest of our lives we don't always share the same opinion. I will try to be as clear and to the point as possible because I don't like to sugar coat things. Enjoy! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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