Zivorad Filipovic
Director of Marketing and Communications, High Plains Food Bank
The best advice I ever heard is: compete against yourself, not others. Compare yourself to the person you were yesterday, last week, a year ago. Look at that person and ask yourself, “Am I a better, more skilled, more complete person than I was before?”
My three most recommended books are: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: This book is about a female chemist who challenges societal norms in the 1950s and 1960s. It explores gender stereotypes and the importance of challenging societal expectations.The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer: The main characters embark on a wild and magical adventure that will change their lives forever. It is a fairytale for grownups, a beautiful and immersive reading experience that will leave you wanting more. The Only One Left by Riley Sager: This is a page-turning thriller that will keep you reading with many twists throughout the book.
To me, success means: making a difference and contributing positively to my community.
People who know me might be surprised that I: am a part of The Hive community, which is a division of HarperCollins and Harlequin Trade Publishing. As a member, I get to read and review books before they are published. This unique program allows me to read books by authors I enjoy, discover new authors, connect with fellow readers across social media platforms to discuss what we are reading, and introduce my followers to books they might enjoy. We get to dive into thrilling stories, thought-provoking narratives, and captivating characters. Creating a buzz about books makes me incredibly happy and is something I thoroughly enjoy!
My biggest pet peeve is: littering. We all need to keep the city we live in beautiful.
Everyone in Amarillo needs to experience: Hoodoo Mural Festival. I love what it has done for Amarillo. People from all walks of life come to experience this amazing event full of acceptance and collaboration. Hoodoo brings together the most creative in our community, as well as adding vibrant art that brings a new kind of energy to the city.
If I could change any one local thing it would be: I want Amarillo to grow and expand in the future, but with that, I believe we need to look at ways we can support the renovation of current entertainment buildings as well as ways we can expand to attract more performers. I hope to see our entire community get behind this so future generations can benefit from the changes we make today.
This city is amazing at: philanthropy! The people in our community are so giving and supportive of local nonprofits and helping them fulfill their missions. We have a one-of-a-kind spirit of giving in Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle.
My favorite place in Amarillo is: downtown! I absolutely love the changes and revival of historic buildings that bring new life to the neighborhood. The Barfield Autograph Collection Hotel holds so much history within its walls, and I am glad it has a life once again.
A local organization I love right now: Junior Achievement of the High Plains. Executive Director Kasey Long and her team do incredible work with students to give them the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for the future, and make smart academic choices. JA BizTown allows students to operate banks, manage restaurants, write checks, and vote for a mayor, helping them connect the dots between what they learn in school and the real world.
