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Wells Fargo took flight in New Mexico as part of this year's Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta!
This stagecoach-shaped hot air balloon was part of the "Special Shapes Rodeo" during
the largest ballooning event in the world.
I am in awe, I’m just like a young kid enjoying myself watching all these incredible balloons
go up - thousands and thousands of people surrounding thousands of people that are actually
working.
We're ready!
Earlier in the day, two "teardrop" balloons carried the brand aloft while raising the
American flag.
The early risers were just "part" of the more than 850,000 visitors this week-long event
attracts.
The event’s important for Albuquerque because it draws so many people in and a lot of people
don’t come to necessarily come to Albuquerque…so what it provides is an opportunity to come
see the balloons but also see the city, what the city has to offer and we love being a
part of it because it also shows our presence ...and it's out opportunity to tell our story.
A story that also includes a now-retired team member, who is continuing his pursuit of a
life-long passion.
As a kid I was always fascinated by aviation and in the summers I would work out of my
local airport and when I started my banking career, there was big explosion in hot air
ballooning that was happening in New Mexico, and so I suggested ‘why don’t we have
a balloon’ because it’s going to be a great thing for team members to enjoy and
gives us a unique kind of perspective.
Pat has been a Wells Fargo balloon pilot ever since.
It’s a sensation not like any other kind of flying that you’ve ever done it's very
quiet and when you’re moving it's generally fairly slow, you get to observe things you
don’t normally see. People really really like balloons and kids
in particular and this event especially is a great family event and we do our best to
try to reach out to everybody.
Reaching out with more than 400 Wells Fargo volunteers.
Our commitment to the community is never ending and this is one way we can showcase our commitment
to New Mexico. We are so proud to be out here for twenty seven years and what a beautiful
magical morning to be here.
I still get a thrill every time I launch and I’ve been doing it about thirty years. It’s
always a thrill to just get off the ground the first time and be up in the air.