Posts Tagged ‘American Success Stories’

American Success Stories: Kathleen MacMillian Owner of the Cozy Corner Coffee Shop in Fitchburg MA

Posted: May 28, 2026 by datechguy in American Success Stories, business, culture, economy, short films/interviews
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Earlier this week I wrote about Hanna who had gone from being an Iraqi refugee in a camp in Syria to graduating Suuma Cum Laude from Framingham State University last week (as opposed to me who graduated Thanka da Lordie) but not all success stories come from college or from immigrants.

Meet Kathleen MacMillian who started as a waitress at a local dinner became the manager and during the Biden Administration at a time of one of the worst economies took a leap of faith and in her 20’s became the owner of her own business, the Cozy Corner Dinner and Restaurant in Fitchburg MA.

This Tuesday after closing she took twenty minutes to sit down with me and talk about her story.

The newspapers and social media get a lot of clicks from showing the young being weak and irresponsible, but there are plenty of folks like Kathleen who are does who still drive America forward.

Interviews With Immigrants: Hanna From Iraq Seven Years Later

Posted: May 24, 2026 by datechguy in American Success Stories, culture, education, short films/interviews
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One of the proudest things I did as a reporter was a series of Youtube videos called: Interviews with Immigrants.

During these interviews I sat down with a person born in another country and talked to them about their life, their coming to America etc.

One of those interviews was with Hanna From Iraq: At the time she agreed to an audio only interview: You can listen to it here:

It’s been seven years since I conducted this interview Hanna was 23 and we worked together at my former company. She moved on a while ago although we became friendly and she picked up a love of things American including pinball:

Yup that’s Pintastic 2019 back in Sturbridge on the last day as they are taking the last machines out.

Well every year I take some friends out for a Woosox game as a Christmas present so that we can enjoy not only baseball but some time together which is the real gift and Hanna was invited. It was also her graduation day from college so she attended in her cap and gown. After the game she wanted to take some pictures from center field and it hit me that it would be a pretty good sequel to our initial interview to talk to her about her journey to this point. So I pulled out my camera and here we are: Hanna from Iraq seven years later:

When Marco Rubio talked about what America is, this is what he was talking about.

The full interviews with immigrants playlist is here:

A Follow Up to A Future Success Story. Mission Accomplished

Posted: August 15, 2024 by datechguy in American Success Stories, culture
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About seven years ago back in the days before Youtube banned me I shot this video at Espresso’s Pizza in Fitchburg while I was there with Stacy McCain. Juan the manager was there withs his young sons who were taking orders over the phone.

Juan talked about the work ethic he hoped this would instill into his sons and I titled the video: ” A Future success story.”

Yesterday I went there to pick up a couple of slices and when I got there the teenage boy who gave me my order was all smiles. He introduced himself as one of the boys in the video. He has been working there steady for the last six years and was clearly an expert in the place. He talked about the difference growing up working there has been, what it had taught him about hard work and responsibility and how it has made a huge difference in his life.

Alas I didn’t have my camera on me and not owning a cell phone I can’t give you an updated interview but let me tell you this. This young fellow is on his way to success and the woman who marries that young man someday is not only going to be very lucky.

That is what the American dream is, that’s what an American success story looks like.

DaTechguy Off DaRadio No Frills Podcast: Clueless in Seattle Edition 3 PM EST

Posted: June 12, 2020 by datechguy in Always look at the bright side of Trump, business, crime, culture, economy, education, News/opinion, politics
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the Datechguy off DaRadio No Frills Podcast ( a Laptop & a Mike) unrehearsed, unpredictable and unacceptable to the left, starts at 3 PM Right after Rush.

Today’s Topics

  1. Mayor Jenny Durkin and Governor Jay Inslee production of #CluelessInSeattle coming soon to a blue city near you.
  2. The cost of #DefundThePolice / #AbolishThePolice explained to grievance studies majors.
  3. Paulo from Brazil a contrast

And maybe we’ll take on some breaking news as it breaks if I think of it.

It all starts at 3 PM EST. You can watch the livestream here.

Hope you like it.

BTW if you want to know who Paulo is and see the video I shot today of him it’s here

Here is the same house two years ago when he started

FYI The purpose of the podcast is to increase traffic and to raise an extra $180 a month for some bills so if you like what you see, like the video, subscribe to the Youtube channel and if you really like it, consider hitting DaTipJar to get us to that $180 this month. Of course if you want to buy dafamily a Wizard of Oz Pinball machine from Jersey Jack Pinball company I won’t say no.

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