Around the Agency: News Roundup

Check out November’s latest updates from around Team SAM! If you have updates you’d like included, make sure to submit them to your department’s story collector or manager.

Media

  • Media works hard to place the entire year upfront for SAM’s clients whenever possible. When we have the ability to place Media annually, we can ensure that we are securing the lowest rates and the most Added Value possible.
  • For our annual clients, 1Q21 was placed by mid-October. We will have 2Q-4Q 2021 completed by Friday, December 11 – some clients sooner than that!
  • We’ve already secured 1Q21 for our quarterly clients and will have 2Q21 completed before Thanksgiving.
  • We adhere to tight deadlines to ensure we’re getting the most we can for our clients.

 

Accounting

  • Deidra Box and her husband Eddie recently drove the Tail of the Dragon – one of the top motorcycle and sports car roads in the world. The road features 318 curves in 11 miles.

 

Direct Contact

  • Oct 2020 Prospect Vision volume beat Oct 2019 Prospect Vision volume, and we are excited about Nov. and Dec.!

 

Production

  • From Dennis: This was a photo John Paul drew when he was just a kid. He wasn’t always an account executive, he used to be in production!

 

Account Team

  • Tatum is having a baby girl
  • Courtney Wyzard is engaged
  • Nathan’s dog had puppies – and Stan is taking one home
  • Clauer just closed on his new Direct Mail campaign
  • Rose had snow in Chicago for the first time!

John Paul Responds to Agency Comments

Note: This addresses only Sept. and Oct. comment box items. The Engagement Survey results will be released later this month.

 

From: John Paul Strong

Team SAM—

We have gotten some helpful feedback from the recently-added comment box in the monthly newsletter. I wanted to take a moment to address a few of the topics that were submitted.

Kitchens

A couple of changes have already been made, like the new coffee pot system being tested in S1 along with additional creamer options. If the new system works well, we will roll it out to the remaining kitchens.

Another request mentioned concern over using George Jetson as a place to lunch with coworkers due to the open entrance. While it’s impractical to close off the kitchen, don’t let the openness dissuade you from using this area to enjoy a safely distanced lunch with others. That is one of the intended uses of this space.

COVID-19 Procedure

Our coronavirus procedure is continually adjusted as new recommendations become available from the CDC and our HR partner, Renay Winston. We know safety is a big concern for us all. If an employee tests positive, all employees identified as having close-contact exposure will be required to work from home for 14 days regardless of whether they test negative. This procedure has already been put into practice at SAM.

We are doing everything possible to maintain the efficiency of our working style while minimizing the risk of coronavirus exposure for employees. The more firmly we all follow the guidelines, the more protected we will be.

Growth Opportunities

SAM is proud to support the growth of employees and offer career advancement opportunities. This is why we fill positions internally as much as possible. Employees are evaluated on their work record and ability to drive results when decisions regarding promotions are made. Various other professional performance factors are taken into consideration as well.

If you have any concerns over your growth path with the agency, make sure to talk with your manager who can help you lay out the next steps. Megan Cesnick is also a resource for this.

 

Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit constructive feedback over the past 2 months. Be aware our annual Employee Engagement Survey results will be released later this month and will be discussed in full detail.

Anne’s Wedding

Not every marriage begins with love at first sight. That was certainly the case for Anne and Christopher Heaney. When they both chose to study a romance language in college, they never imagined they would star in a romance of their own.

“When Christopher and I took Italian together at Auburn, neither of us really caught one another’s eye,” Anne said. “But a few months later when we met again, a lot had changed.”

Typical to the formative years of undergrad, Anne and Christopher had both somewhat reinvented themselves in the time since they had last met. This was the beginning of a spark that led to their first few dates. At this point, Christopher had, by chance, moved into the same apartment complex as Anne. They were also both writing for The Auburn Plainsman, the university’s student-run newspaper.

Yet, while all of the ingredients were there, the fire failed to catch. It wasn’t until Christopher was involved in a serious car accident that the couple realized their feelings for one another.

“I knew that if I went to see Christopher in the hospital, this would become real,” Anne said. “I’ve always said I wanted to see how the person I marry reacts to tragedy, and Christopher handled it very well. He was lucky and had a near-miraculous recovery in just six months.”

As the two dated and their love grew, talks of marriage began to come up. Anne wanted a simple proposal, something private and intimate. One evening, after attending a concert together, Anne walked into the living room to find Christopher there, on one knee and ring in hand. She was thrilled at the future she saw for them then.

2020 has provided no shortage of challenges, and that is especially apparent when planning a wedding. Anne and her then-fiancé decided the date of their wedding would not change. On Oct. 17, rain or shine, the two would wed at Vulcan Park and Museum.

The ceremony took place outdoors at 5:30 p.m. Anne described the scene as the quintessence of autumnal beauty. The fiery oranges and reds of the setting sun created a celestial backdrop that mirrored the seasonal colors of her wedding.

“So many things could have gone wrong, but everything turned out to be perfect,” Anne said. “We stayed outside, had masks available, and did our best to make sure everyone felt safe and comfortable. And at nearly four weeks out, no one in attendance has reported getting sick.”

Anne joked that the two were planning a wedding tour for next year, as many of Christopher’s New England relatives were not able to attend due to the pandemic. Still, the couple was able to take a honeymoon to the idyllic Portland, Maine area.

“We both love fall, and our honeymoon was exactly what we were hoping for,” Anne said. “It looked like a scene out of ‘Hocus Pocus.’ The leaves were gorgeous shades of yellow and orange, and travel was surprisingly simple.”

The couple stayed in an Airbnb and enjoyed dinners by the water and strolling through the fall wonderland as newlyweds. Anne reported feeling very safe traveling, as the plane was socially distanced and featured a disinfectant fog each time passengers disembarked.

In the end, Anne and Christopher overcame the challenges of 2020 and held an unforgettable celebration with loved ones. They may have forgotten their Italian, but the amore they found will last a lifetime. Congratulations to the Heaneys from everyone at SAM!