Author: Luke Thomas

by Luke Thomas

You might not find it listed on a benefits sheet, but the ability to transition is one of the most valuable amenities we have at Strong.

It’s not every day that you find a company who truly values your strengths, interests, and passions. Here, these passions are not only recognized, but celebrated. While many are already a perfect fit for their positions, the ability to transition and grow extends benefits to us all, making us a stronger agency overall.

Senior Graphic Designer Terry Wirt is one person who is particularly grateful for SAM’s flexible growth environment.

This fall, Wirt began training to learn the in’s and out’s of video editing in Production.

“This is a way for my love of video and graphic design to fall together”

A Long Time Coming

For the past decade, Wirt has worked in graphic design. Seven of those years were spent at Strong. At Florida State, he studied art and graphic design, so it’s no surprise where his career has taken him up until now.

But a further look into Wirt’s hobbies and experience shows that the world of video editing is nothing new.

“When I was 16, I used to work for Comcast editing high school football footage,” Wirt said. “The office was right behind my school in Panama City, so I’d walk over after class and help edit. I liked it, and I got good experience and money for a 16-year-old.”

In college, Wirt began his studies in communication. Consequentially, he was often around production studios and video rooms. While working at a news station as a teleprompter in college, one of Wirt’s friends, a junior editor, learned of his skills and commissioned Wirt to do side editing.

“I would do things like take two-hour videos and cut them down to 60 seconds,” Wirt said.

After graduating, he kept up his hobby of video editing and has since edited more than 300 YouTube videos on his personal account.

Finding Time to Train

Training for a new job is one thing, but doing so while still working full-time in another position presents an entirely different challenge.

To keep up with the demands of the Art Department, Wirt has been using his free time to self-train and prepare for his first assignments as an editor.

“My routine now is to get up, hit the gym, get here at 7 a.m. to start working through tutorials, do my day’s work, then sometimes stay after to study up more on production,” Wirt said.

Watching the CGI effects in movies like Star Wars is part of what piqued Wirt’s interest in video editing and motion graphics. The designer-turned-editor shared how he recently learned to key green screen video, taking a moving person and placing them onto an entirely new backdrop.

A Solid Choice

Fate had a plan with Wirt.

When he first heard of the need for a new editor in Production, Wirt recommended one of his friends. But the department needed someone with agency experience, so Wirt expressed interest, jokingly at first. Once the seed was planted, however, both the department and Wirt realized the advantages of having someone with an art background in the role.

“This is a way for my love of video and graphic design to fall together,” Wirt said. “I can’t wait to bring a design perspective into my editing here.”

by Luke Thomas.

There’s a misconception surrounding education. In today’s workforce, we’ve drawn a line between learning and working. Once you’re handed a diploma, it’s time to enter the real world and get to work – or so we’re told. In truth, the formal education we receive in college does little to prepare us for a lifelong career. With information traveling faster than ever, it’s all the more important to stay current with the latest techniques, advances, and trends in your field.

Why Studying Never Stops

The big difference between college learning and career learning is this: one you’re forced to do, and the other you must elect to do. But both are equally as vital.

Dennis Johnson has been in the automotive advertising industry for decades. Even more, he’s been with SAM founder Mike Strong since the beginning. It goes without saying that he has become a master at staying on top of, and sometimes ahead of, the industry’s trends.

“Business lives and dies by the adage ‘Lead, follow, or get out of the way,’ and it is especially true in automotive merchandising,” Johnson said. “The ‘latest and greatest’ has always been the shiniest stone. With access to so much information today, if you walk into a meeting and are not abreast of what’s going on, you cannot command respect.”

Can you imagine if a technology or fashion firm continued producing the same product without ever updating or setting new trends? It would be defunct in a matter of years. The same is true in advertising. Even in your own niche, it is important to understand that the world is always evolving, so you must too.

Always Evolving

When it comes to staying current in your field, Johnson maintains that it is more of a mindset than a method. He councils that it requires both an open mind and eyes wide open.

Over the years, even the methods by which Johnson has stayed up-to-date have evolved.

“Our standard for commercial greatness years ago was limited to network television, and that was three networks,” Johnson said. “We would tape primetime shows and sporting events focusing on the commercials – the graphics, the music tracks, word count – and apply those in our production.”

He continued with an anecdote on Mike Strong’s always-keen mindset.

“In the late 80s, Mike Strong returned from a Colorado skiing trip with a half-dozen jackets all designed with neon colors. He said, ‘These colors are the future, everybody’s wearing them, put them in our color palette today.’ Everything we are exposed to in our world, when processed through a filter of how can I use this and do so more effectively, is the foundation for expanding skill sets.”

Tips for Staying Up-to-Date

While much of staying current in your craft requires the right mindset, Johnson did have a few practical tips to share.

• Keep a journal to write down ideas stimulated by experiences – they go as fast as they come.
• Relentlessly mine available resources, search for emerging resources, and expand both lists.
• Never underestimate how much you can learn by listening.
• Keep your mind and your eyes open to the world around you, it’s your market.
• Clearly understand that those who only know how will always work for those who know why.

 

Along with Johnson’s time-tested tips, there are a multitude of methods like subscribing to online industry newsletters and following industry-specific LinkedIn groups. Whatever method you choose, the most important – as Johnson has demonstrated – is to never grow complacent.

by Luke Thomas.

On Thursday, Nov. 16, the Strong family will come together to celebrate our two expectant mothers, Carrie Miller and Megan Cesnick.

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the shower planning, and learn more about these moms-to-be before the celebration.

Down the Rabbit Hole

If you hadn’t guessed from the invitation, the theme of Strong’s upcoming baby shower is Peter Rabit. Given that both Cesnick and Miller are expecting boys, the shower committee saw it as the perfect theme. But that answer wasn’t always so clear.

“We originally planned for a hot air balloon theme,” said Meredith Anderson, one of the shower committee members. “We had already started concepting, picking out décor, and had even gotten the first invitation proof back from Emily. Then, Grace saw an Instagram post over the weekend of Cesnick’s friends and family shower. The theme? Hot air balloons.”

So, the team returned to the drawing board. Anderson, along with Grace Hatcher, Beth Nichols, and Lisa Hall, switched gears and decided on a Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit theme.

“With two moms to celebrate, we hoped to make this one of the most creative showers yet,” Nichols said. “We’ve got surprises in store that we think will make this day really special.”

At the event, guests will enjoy treats like vintage décor and edible table arrangements.

But the pièce de résistance of this shower will be the specially-curated food. The fare was selected based on the cravings of the expectant mothers. Plus, this cuisine has never before been offered at Strong.

If you’d like to bring a gift, diapers are welcome. Tip: Babies won’t stay newborn size for long. Buying sizes 1–3 will make your gift go farther!

About the Babies

The first baby scheduled to arrive is Henry Dugan Cesnick on Dec. 26.

“Dugan is my husband’s middle name and was his grandfather’s name,” Cesnick said. “But I love the name Henry, so here we are. And for the record, no – he won’t be called Hank. It’s just Henry!”

Cesnick’s friends and family threw her a lovely shower in September, themed to – spoiler alert – hot air balloons. At the shower, she got to indulge guilt-free in her love for Big Spoon ice cream sandwiches. After all, it doesn’t count if it’s a craving!

Arriving right on the heels of baby Cesnick is Jackson Daniel Miller. The official due date for Carrie Miller is Jan. 13, but her doctor predicts that may move up to New Year’s Day.

For her family and friends shower, Miller’s loved ones hosted an ocean-themed party, as she and her husband have constructed an ocean-themed nursery.

As far as cravings go, Miller said she has experienced a pretty mild pregnancy.

“I wasn’t able to smell or eat bananas for the longest, which is crazy because I love bananas,” Miller said.

 

While we will miss these future moms when they’re away, we at Strong are thrilled to help celebrate these precious new additions.

by Luke Thomas.

Growing up in Washington, Evan Peterson marveled at the soaring, snowy caps of Mount Rainier. To him, it represented both a landmark and a challenge. But it wasn’t until moving to Birmingham that he found his thoughts returning to the West Coast, and ultimately to the mountain.

Years after it disappeared from his everyday sight, Peterson made the decision to climb Mt. Rainier. In preparing for the climb, he’s accomplished feats and grown in ways that he never would have imagined. Peterson’s story is an inspiring tale of setting a goal and seeing where it leads. And it’s only just begun.

It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

After making the decision to climb one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, Peterson knew the first step was to start training. This was no stroll in the park, after all.

While Alabama’s mountains provide splendid views of the city and are home to expansive state parks, they’re no match for Mt. Rainier. Reaching the summit requires incredible amounts of strength, stamina, and endurance. So to train, Peterson started running.

“After a while, I was doing 7-mile runs 3 or 4 days a week,” Peterson said. “I realized I was already halfway through marathon training.”

As a step toward his mountainous goal, Peterson registered for the Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon in Savannah, Georgia. On Saturday, Nov. 4, he covered 26.22 miles during his first ever marathon.

“I never thought I’d like running,” Peterson said. “When I played baseball for UAB, running was always a punishment. Now, it’s something I look forward to, and I’ve gotten lots of benefits from it.”

Running for three hours at a time is a huge commitment. It helps that one of Peterson’s former teammates signed up for the marathon with him. The two realized that running doesn’t have to be painful; instead, it’s a way to hang out.

“We were surprised when we realized that, after the first couple of miles, our breathing and heart rates evened out, and we could hold normal conversation,” Peterson said. “Being there to encourage each other is really important on long runs when the joint pain borders on unbearable. Knowing we’re going through the same things helps me push through. They say shared pain is half the pain, after all.”

It Takes an Iron Will

Training for the Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon has opened another door along the way.

While training, Peterson began talking to several friends who had completed the Ironman Triathalon, one of the world’s longest endurance races.

“Running a full marathon is one-third of the Ironman, so I figured why not sign up for the full thing?” Peterson said.

And so began the next phase of his journey. Peterson will compete in the Ironman Canada on July 29, 2018.

Having an extensive athletic background, Peterson has always enjoyed a physical pursuit. But he hopes to gain more than just material benefits from completing the Ironman.

“I expect this triathlon to be a spiritual experience in a way,” Peterson said. “It’s not like other races or competitions. It’s just you out there. There’s nothing to keep you going but your own heartbeat and pure willpower. Once I complete this, other challenges in life won’t seem so big.”

In fact, one of Peterson’s most compelling reasons for committing to a marathon, triathlon, and volcano climb stems from the desire for adventure.

“Adventure is a funny concept,” Peterson said. “Many people have this romantic view of what it means to be ‘adventurous.’ They create Pinterest boards and dream about living in Italy, but never actually go through with it. That’s why I’m doing this. To see what adventure is out there. Just to live.”

A Start is a Start

For someone wanting to start running, biking, or working toward any new goal, Peterson’s number one piece of advice is to simply start.

“It’s so easy to make excuses,” Peterson said. “You can wait till you’ve got the perfect pair of shoes, a new bike, or hours of free time. But the excuses will always be there. If you want to start running, go outside and run. It’s as simple as that.”

Another important piece of advice Peterson gives is to look at a goal like this as a lifestyle change.

“You can’t do just one piece of the puzzle and expect it all to work,” Peterson said. “When I first started training, I was still going out several nights a week and eating however I wanted. I quickly realized that something had to give. Getting healthy, or working toward any major goal, requires you to change your lifestyle, not just one behavior.”

The Goal is Just the Beginning

Peterson’s story illustrates a valuable lesson in the power of goal-setting. While the goal itself is the first step, it’s often simply the catalyst for much greater growth and change. The skills, self-confidence, and wisdom you gain while working toward a goal are benefits that last much longer than the day you cross the finish line. In fact, achieving your goal would feel pretty empty without all of the hard work and grit that built up to it.

So focus on the goal, but know that the true reward is in the journey.

by Luke Thomas.

So often, the employees of Strong Automotive use the talents they’ve cultivated to give back to others.

And this month, two members of the Strong family have worked to bring joy to others, all while practicing something they enjoy. Read on to learn how these ladies are making a difference.

Bracelets Are More Than Accessories

Anyone who’s had a conversation with AP/AR Specialist Lucy Thrailkill can tell she has a charitable heart. So it comes as no surprise that the colorful, handmade bracelets she sports symbolize something bigger than a fashion statement.

Thrailkill works with her 11-year-old granddaughter, Lucinda, to make and sell bracelets to support Blue Skies Ministries. This charity offers weeklong beach retreats to families combatting childhood cancer. During this hiatus, volunteers from the organization take care of everything from cooking to entertainment. The goal is to give families time to focus on fun times together, lifting them above the clouds of cancer.

 

Lucinda regularly accompanies families on beach retreats as a volunteer and playmate for the children. She came up with the idea to create these bracelets to raise money for the trips, and so far she has raised more than $2,500.

 

Thrailkill is proud to stand by her granddaughter and sell, model, and support her in making these bracelets.

“I want to say a huge thank-you to everyone who has purchased one,” Thrailkill said. “The money has gone to a wonderful cause.”

To see Thrailkill’s stylish selection of bracelets, come by her desk. And if you see one you like, they’re just $5.

Homecoming: 100 Years Later

In a celebration of the past and the present, Content Marketing Assistant Kiara Cooper will be performing Friday, Oct. 13 at Wenonah High School as part of its 100-year celebration.

 

The former color guard team captain will return as captain of the alumni team. The group has been practicing for several weeks now and will perform in collaboration with the school’s current color guard team.

 

“I’m super excited to hit the field again!” Cooper exclaimed. “It will be great to revisit a memorable time in my life and celebrate the history of the school.”

During Friday’s homecoming game, the alumni auxiliary team will perform alongside the alumni band in the stands for half of the show, while the current color guard and band will perform for the other half. The group has also put together a halftime show.

In addition to their time, each member of the alumni band and auxiliary group is donating money toward improving the WHS band program.

“The marching band needs new uniforms to wear out on the field,” Cooper said. “They’ve been performing in the same ones we’ve had for decades!”

The money raised will also go toward WHS’s upcoming trip to Washington D.C. The group was invited to perform in the capital city at the start of next year.

If you want to keep up with Cooper’s return to the field, keep an eye out for the video documentary she’ll be releasing soon.

In Alabama, the term “tailgate” usually conjures the thought of a tent sooner than a truck.

From spicy buffalo chicken dips to closely-guarded drink recipes, the traditions that we share when tailgating are timeless. Regardless of which team you go for, everyone has memories linked to this especially Southern time of year.

Terry Wirt

1. Alma mater: Florida State
2. Favorite college team: FSU
3. Favorite tailgate food: Juicy cheeseburgers straight off the grill.
4. What’s the best college football rivalry? FSU vs Clemson is pretty good, but we all know Alabama vs Auburn takes the cake.
5. Why do you think college football is so popular, especially in the South? Because we have the best teams, which means more competition, and also means it’s way more fun to watch. Think about it, when’s the last time the National Championship has been won by a team not in the South (besides 2014)?
6. What’s one of your most memorable moments from football season? 2005 FSU vs Miami at Doak Cambell Stadium. The score was FSU 10 – Miami 7, 4th Quarter, 2min left on the clock and Miami goes for a field goal to tie it up the game, they had a bad snap and didn’t get the kickoff, which broke Miami’s win streak(6) versus FSU. I was there in the student section going nuts over that game. Best game of my life!
7. Any big plans for this season? My brother lives in VA, so we try to get together once a season and meet somewhere in the middle to watch an away game. This year we are hopefully going to the Clemson game, should be a good one!

Lindy McCullers

1. Alma mater: Auburn University
2. Favorite college team: Auburn University
3. Favorite tailgate food: Filet mignon, company potatoes, salad with a nice cold beer (tradition for AU vs. UGA and AU vs. UA)
4. What’s the best college football rivalry? Hands down Iron Bowl – Auburn vs. Alabama
5. Why do you think college football is so popular, especially in the South? When you’ve invested so much money and time into a university, that’s why.
6. What’s one of your most memorable moments from football season? There’s so many!!
   • 1994 – Auburn vs. Florida – Famous Frank Sanders TD Catch – My dad got me his jersey signed for Christmas that year
   • 1996 – Auburn vs. LSU – I remember sitting in the stands and pointing out to my parents that something was on fire – The night ‘The Barn’ burned
   • 2003 – 2007 – Being front row of every home game while attending Auburn University
   • 2010 – Perfect Season / National Champions – Attended every home game, SEC Championship and National Championship
   • 2013 – Auburn vs. UGA – Miracle at Jordan-Hare – Ricardo Louis catch
   • 2013  – Auburn vs. Alabama – Pick Six… enough said
   • 1987 – Present – Every Auburn win going to Toomer’s Corner and rolling it with toilet paper (I’ve missed only 30 Auburn home games in 30 years)
7. Any big plans for this season? Heading to Auburn today after work for my first game this season and celebrating my birthday and the Iron Bowl in Auburn

Peyton Chandler

1. Alma mater: UAB
2. Favorite college team: Clemson
3. Favorite tailgate food: Dreamland ribs
4. What’s the best college football rivalry? The Iron Bowl
5. Why do you think college football is so popular, especially in the South? I think it has a lot to do with the traditions of each university, as well as the traditions of fans. College football dates so far back, and in many cases, entire bloodlines of families have allegiance to a particular university. College football in the South goes much deeper than simply watching your team play a game on Saturday. It’s like you’re allowed to act crazy if you’re acting crazy on a college football Saturday. It’s beautiful. And of course, the trash talking makes it what it is. Trash talking over college football in the South has the power to (somehow) sever ties between friendships, which is pretty hilarious, but also pretty powerful. To me, it’s the most entertaining form of sports that we have in the U.S.
6. What’s one of your most memorable moments from football season? Going to Clemson several times a year with family. That’s something we’ve been doing as a family since 2009. It’s my favorite place in the South. But also, spending my time at UAB tailgating at every UAB home game, and welcoming the Blazers back to football this year.
7. Any big plans for this season? Going to Clemson and Tuscaloosa quite a bit. I plan on going to the National Championship again this year, because the Tigers are for real again in 2017. Also, Go Blazers and Roll Tide.

Chris Jones

1. Alma mater: Auburn University at Montgomery
2. Favorite college team: Oklahoma Sooners
3. Favorite tailgate food: Boneless wings (because I’m lazy and don’t want to mess with bones)
4. What’s the best college football rivalry? Red River Rivalry Oklahoma Vs Texas
5. Why do you think college football is so popular, especially in the South?Because it’s something that we excel in. From middle school to high school, football here is a big deal, and most of the players are from the South. So, we get to see people we grew up with or went to school with playing on the big screen without all of the politics and money like the NFL. (Also, student-athletes deserve to get paid – just saying)
6. What’s one of your most memorable moments from football season? Baker Mayfield torching Ohio State in the rematch and planting the flag at mid-field. He shouldn’t have apologized for it.
7. Any big plans for this season? Hopefully watching OU get into the playoffs and make some noise!

by Luke Thomas.

Six months ago, Greg and Kathy Stein took to the streets of Birmingham – homemade lunches in-tow – to feed the homeless of the city. It was something they had done religiously for 20 years, rain or shine, holiday or not.

The selfless couple passed out food for the last time before packing up and starting a new life in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It had always been a dream of theirs to live there, and with the new restaurant they had just bought, it was time to make it happen.

The unfortunate irony of this story appeared just half a year later. The Steins, back in Birmingham, had gone from helping the homeless to becoming homeless.

Such was the result of Hurricane Irma. While the road to recovery will be a long one, the Steins have one thing on their side – an incredible network of friends and family ready to help.

Graphic Designer Emily Johnson has been one of their biggest supporters, raising hundreds of dollars through a chocolate-selling campaign. But there’s more to this story than your average fundraiser. The Steins just may have found their golden ticket.

Hurricane Havoc

Hurricane Irma struck the U.S. Virgin Islands in September and devastated houses, vegetation, and infrastructure. The Steins’ home and restaurant were no luckier than the rest of the island.

The family and chef lived in an apartment above their newly-purchased restaurant, The Thirsty Donkey. It was a dream come true when the Steins saw that the restaurant, which they had first visited on their honeymoon, was up for sale. When they won a trip to the islands last year, they took the opportunity, bought the restaurant, and made the move.

Now, the apartment stands roofless. Debris and rubble are everywhere, the floor collapsed, and most of the interior is left unusable.

With the hurricane approaching, the Steins sought refuge with a friend who lived atop one of the mountains – a retired CIA agent. They made a good choice, since the agent’s safe room, 360-degree mountaintop view, and self-defense training was vital to their survival.

“Looters and robbers were going rampant on the islands,” Emily Johnson said. “When one person would leave the house, the others would watch with binoculars while they returned to make sure no one was following them up the mountain.”

In a phone conversation with her daughter, Kathy reiterated the chaos breaking out.

“People have nothing,” Kathy said. “And they’re getting robbed of the nothing they have.”

 

Help from the ‘Ham

On September 16, the Steins boarded a ferry to Puerto Rico to catch a plane back to the United States. When they arrived, they found overwhelming support.

Johnson banded together with scores of Birmingham residents who had been touched by the Steins in some way. The group came up with restaurant benefit nights, chocolate sales, and a donation site that has raised more than $15,000.

“The Steins have started several big charities during their 20 years in Birmingham, like Monday Runday and Big Benefit,” Johnson said. “After the storm, one of their friends shared a story of her witnessing Greg literally taking the shoes off of his feet and giving them to a homeless man under a bridge. They’ve done so much for this city, it only makes sense we should help them when they’ve lost everything.”

At Strong, the call to action did not go unanswered. At the time of this interview, Johnson had already raised more than $200 on chocolate sales alone in the office. That’s not counting the more than $500 raised from employees joining forces with Strong Shoutouts.

The Steins’ friends have used this money to buy them basic necessities and things like clothes, water filtration systems, and a satellite telephone. With the islands not expected to have electricity for months, these things will be invaluable. The family plans to return this Saturday to assess the damage, reunite with their dog, and start rebuilding their lives.

How to Contribute

If the story of the Steins has made you want to help, there are a few different options.

• Come to Rojo on Thursday, Oct. 12 when 10 percent of all sales will go to the Birmingham Loves the Steins fund. Bonus: Margaritas are $1 off all night!
• Make a donation to the Support for the Steins YouCaring fundraiser site.
• Buy a chocolate bar from Emily. Since the bars were donated, all of the $3 price goes directly to the Steins.

It’s hard to imagine the challenge of recovering from a disaster like this. But with wonderful friends and the stellar support Strong has shown, we know the Steins will make it through.

by Meredith Anderson.

Helen from Time Management Training would be so proud to hear that I have hit one of my Stretch Goals! Last week, I launched a new cooking and lifestyle blog called The Southern Source.

I live my best life in the kitchen. So, cooking, mixing cocktails and entertaining are some of my favorite things to share. You can find original recipes, travel guides to Southern cities and much more on my website, thesouthernsource.com (there’s my shameless plug).

As a content marketing specialist, I think it’s super important to manage your own little piece of the internet so that you can test, execute and track data. Starting this personal project is not only fulfilling me outside of the workplace, but it will help me reach my goals inside the office too!

I am more of a “creative” than a “numbers” gal, so the analytics side of my job at Strong has presented some challenges for me. Having full access to my site has given me extra practice using Google Analytics for when it comes time to dive in deeper for a client; find the problem and present a solution.

I have used so many of the tools and teachings here at Strong to help with the start-up and implementation of my blog. These only skim the surface, but they are essential to creating a successful website:

1. Setting up Google Analytics – Thanks, Joey! I still have so much to learn, but getting started is half the battle.
2. HTML and WordPress – I have learned so much about the backend of websites and have built my knowledge of HTML code.
3. Creating SEO friendly pages – You would be surprised by the number of big time bloggers that do not include metadata or descriptions on their pages. Thanks to Carrie and Lisa, I am a pro at this now!
4. Learning how users interact with a site – From colors to eye patterns and emotions, there are so many moving parts that go into the design of a website. Gayle is a great resource for stuff like this!
5. A new style of writing – The SEO and social teams write over 300 individual blog post per month. THAT’S A LOT OF CONTENT. I have learned how to write for maximum engagement. Which means big headers, small paragraphs, and placing internal and external links in the optimum spots.

I am extremely proud to report that after my first week I am DRIVING TRAFFIC!

by Laura Dobbs.

Forget winter – FALL is coming! And with it, the heartier fare we associate with cooler weather, cozy fires, and those oh-so-forgiving sweaters. Ooh! And Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Let’s not forget Pumpkin Spice Lattes!

Though the summer heat is still with us, I’m already road-testing recipes for fall. Here are few that definitely made the grade:

Pumpkin Alfredo

This recipe bills itself as being a lighter version of a classic Alfredo, but it does call for 6 TBS of butter. Don’t let that freak you out. It’s worth making, and comes together very quickly.

If you’re like me, and there’s no such thing as too much garlic, go ahead and add another half or whole garlic clove.

Don’t be stingy with the parmesan. The sauce doesn’t call for salt, so the parm and the pasta cooking water are the only sources for this recipe.

Not a fan of fettuccine? Try browning the butter and adding sage to the sauce, then serve it with the fresh cheese ravioli or tortellini of your choice.

Want to make it heartier? Grilled chicken would pair well with this sauce. Even easier, carve up a rotisserie chicken and serve it!

Italian Mixed-Greens Salad with Prosciutto and a Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette

This salad is absolutely delightful with the Pumpkin Alfredo.  The lemon juice and white wine vinegar in the vinaigrette are a nice counterpart to the creamy Alfredo. The crispy prosciutto balances the zing of the dressing and gives it substance.

Feeling like this is all too much work? Skip the homemade dressing. Zoe’s Kitchen sells theirs by the bottle and it would make a nice substitute.

The recipe doesn’t say it, but make sure you cook your prosciutto on MEDIUM or MEDIUM-LOW heat. Prosciutto is sliced paper thin and burns easily. If you have prosciutto left over, crumble the extra onto your sauced pasta!

Rosemary, Lemon, & Feta Spread

Fix this first! And then let it chill in the fridge while you work on the Alfredo and the salad. You could certainly eat this as soon it’s mixed, but the flavors definitely benefit from an opportunity to rest and meld.

Serving made easy: grab one of those skinny baguettes from Publix and ask them to slice it for you. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet, and pop them in the oven at 325° to 350° until nice and toasty. Mine took about 8 minutes.

Use a light hand with the rosemary to start. You can always add more, but you can’t remove it. I like rosemary, but it’s easy to end up with something that tastes more like Pine-Sol than feta spread.

 

All of these recipes call for fresh herbs. Fresh herbs, while lovely, are also pricey. You can easily substitute dried herbs for fresh in any or all of these recipes. 1 TB of fresh = 1 Tsp of dried.

by Luke Thomas.

As the plane began to lift, Will Giuliani peered down at the shrinking city, not knowing how different he would be the next time he caught the glint of Vulcan’s iron-wrought visage welcoming him home.

The destination: Los Angeles, CA. Giuliani spent four days in the City of Angels this summer. This was no casting call, though. He was sent here on a mission, commissioned by STRONG, to soak up knowledge rather than sun during this mid-week excursion.

Giuliani attended the 2017 SIGGRAPH conference July 30–August 2. The annual gathering of motion graphics designers and developers has been around since 1974. Its moniker serves as a much shorter version of “Special Interest Group on Computer GRAPHics and Interactive Techniques.”

Originally, SIGGRAPH focused on computer engineering, but after Pixar debuted its animation work in the 1980s, the conference has taken on more of an artistic theme. For Giuliani, an event like this is worth its weight in pixelated gold.

The production team at STRONG uses Cinema 4D to do most of its animation work, so when the company learned that Cinema 4D would be the largest exhibitor at the conference, the choice to send one of our own became clear. Giuliani spent 12–13 hours a day at the conference center, typing scores of notes and following along with demonstrators on his own MacBook.

“It was like being in college,” Giuliani recalled enthusiastically. “But as great as it was to sit in and work through these demonstrations, the chance to meet the artists themselves – many whose online tutorials I’ve followed over the past 10 years – was unbelievable.”

The in-person access to these gurus was, without doubt, the pièce de résistance for Giuliani. He met Nick Campbell, considered to be the most influential Cinema 4D artist today. Campbell spearheaded the open information movement for the software.

“Before Campbell, the Cinema 4D culture was very esoteric,” Giuliani said. “He was really the first one to put his knowledge out there online in the form of video tutorials instead of keeping it all to himself. Without him, I may never have had the chance to learn what I know today.”

Indeed, Giuliani’s skillset is the fruit of self-taught labor, made possible in large part by the internet. At the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Giuliani studied music technology. It wasn’t until his senior year that he took a multi-media productions course as part of his curriculum. The class touched briefly on motion graphics techniques, but that’s all it took. Giuliani was hooked.

“It wasn’t until I arrived at the conference that I realized this is the first time I’ve been around other Cinema 4D artists,” Giuliani said. “Seeing how other designers and production teams worked and solved problems has given me tons of insight I can bring back to STRONG.”

Giuliani wasn’t going to squander this unique opportunity. He connected with industry experts at the conference, and his networking finesse has already proven useful. Just a few weeks after his return, Giuliani was tasked with a new animation project. Unsure of the best way to execute, he reached out to a fellow Cinema 4D expert he had met at SIGGRAPH. The extra brainpower was all it took to have the project up and running.

Like other tech and trade fairs, SIGGRAPH showed a glimpse into the future of the motion graphics industry. Virtual reality was a big part of this year’s conference, and while we aren’t developing video games at STRONG, the technology that comes from this push for VR is full of fringe benefits.

“We use a lot of physics simulations in our spots,” Giuliani said. “Being able to create moving water, for example, requires complex simulations that will only get easier with these new developments.”

One of the most intriguing demos of the conference came from the motion graphics artist for the band Muse. She displayed a marionette hand that, when played on-screen behind the band, ostensibly controlled the musicians like puppets on a string.

The fascinating part about this animation is that it was created from a real human hand. The designer used a glove attached to a computer to record the movements of her hand, then used it to create the animation.

“That kind of animation would take an incredible amount of time if it had to be done manually,” Giuliani said. “But when it’s modeled from real human movement, it’s much easier. This is definitely something we could use here at STRONG.”

That Thursday evening, as he braced himself for the jolt of adjoining rubber and tarmac, Giuliani shut his laptop with a contented smile. He had learned much, but there was still a wealth of information to be put into practice. After just four days, Giuliani recalled, he returned from the most valuable experience of his career.