Luke Thomas, Author at SAM Agency Newsletter

Letters by Elisabeth

February 7, 2019 Luke Thomas

Some say that good handwriting is a lost art. A skill once taught consistently in schools, penmanship is more the hobbyist’s foray these days.

The digital world’s preference for perfectly-produced typeface doesn’t always bleed over to our human minds, however. For many, handwriting still holds an elegant, personal appeal.

It’s this predilection for penmanship that has allowed Account Manager Elisabeth Broome to run a successful lettering business in her spare time.

From Doodles to Paychecks

As a child, Elisabeth held a fascination for lettering. Over and over, she would trace the characters of her name, trying different fonts and apertures. As she moved through to high school, Elisabeth’s handwriting came in handy creating cheerleading signs for school football games.

“Back then, most of my writing consisted of simple block letters,” Elisabeth said. “Now looking back, I can tell I’ve grown a lot since my beginner days.”

After moving to Birmingham, Elisabeth attended a one-day calligraphy workshop at Samford University. This was her first taste of formal training in calligraphy, and it opened her eyes to a world of possibilities.

She didn’t receive her first paid gig until a co-worker asked her to produce a set of Christmas invitations. After posting her work on Instagram, the requests started rolling in.

“Social media marketing has been my main avenue for attracting business,” Elisabeth said. “I’ve gotten 10 projects off of one post before.”

Elisabeth began with invitations. Then, as she received requests for lettering on other mediums, she would research and practice until she had it mastered. When she completed her first chalkboard order, she discovered it was her favorite form of lettering. Now, chalkboards are Elisabeth’s specialty.

A Stroke By Any Other Name

The term “calligraphy” encompasses a panoply of ornate lettering styles. Traditional styles, such as Copperplate and Spencerian calligraphy, require special tools, exact strokes, and pots of ink. Modern calligraphy differs in that it preserves visual appeal and harmony while allowing a degree of freedom that isn’t present in the traditional scripts.

“I like to call my lettering ‘faux-calligraphy’ since it isn’t any one specific style,” Elisabeth said. “I’ve taken examples of letters from different styles and combined them to form my own script. I can definitely pick my writing out of a crowd.”

In addition to Pinterest posts, Elisabeth finds inspiration in everyday life.

“I’ve seen some gorgeous examples of chalkboard lettering at Trader Joe’s and Taco Mama,” Elisabeth said. “Most people think I’m taking forever to look over the menu, but really I’m looking at how they lettered the board!”

In the future, Elisabeth hopes to grow her handwriting hobby and increase her digital footprint. She already has a dedicated Instagram account. Her goal is to create an Etsy shop so she can expand her services beyond the current scope of social accounts and word of mouth.

A Choreographer’s Tale

January 10, 2019January 10, 2019 Luke Thomas

As the sun sets and the clock ticks to 5, Shannon Mahr steps out of Strong and slips into her second skin.

One could say she lives another life. Not hidden, but only obvious if you know where to look. After eight hours of left-brained thinking, Shannon makes the switch from coordinator to creative mastermind.

Being a dancer trained in classical ballet, the arts have always played a significant role in Shannon’s life. She trains young dancers in her free time and has served as a member of a professional dance company. As with any craft, Shannon’s mastery of dance has transformed her from the student to the teacher.

This ballet aficionado began choreographing her own works some time ago, infusing them with her unique twist on contemporary dance. When the opportunity came to submit her work to the Alabama Dance Festival, she couldn’t say no.

Set with two student dancers, Shannon trained her pupils on the moves she choreographed. Her favorite technique is taking the straight lines of ballet moves and bending them sharply for a clean yet fluid feel. After getting the dance down, former Strong employee Kiara Byrd filmed the dancers for submission. Now, all that was left to do was wait.

A few weeks later, the news that Shannon was hoping for had arrived. Her work would be showcased at January’s festival. The piece, entitled Chords Within, comes from a hodgepodge of cultural inspiration and carries a unifying message.

“What I wanted to convey with this piece is that no matter where you’re from, despite different backgrounds, music is our common ground,” Shannon explained. “We are all moved in some way by it.”

Her submission had been accepted, but there was still much work to be done before the final showcase. After work, Shannon would meet with her two dancers to rehearse and refine. As choreographer, she has full control over all aspects of the production, including sound, lighting, and photography.

“The most challenging part of this process is taking my vision and projecting it onto the stage in a way that will make sense to other people in the same way it does for me,” Shannon said. “It is very different from how I think at work. It forces me to go entirely outside of the box.”

Shannon’s goal with this showcase is to seed interest in contemporary dance in Birmingham. Currently, there is no contemporary company in the city. She also seeks to inspire students and young people to pursue their passions in dance, just as she was inspired at this festival in her youth.

“I performed at this festival in early 2017, and I made so many connections and left with a ton of inspiration,” Shannon recounted. “I’m excited to give that same feeling to people now that I’m on the other side of the table.”

The Alabama Dance Festival will take place on January 27 at the Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. Shannon will be present with a choreographer’s booth to explain more about her work and her vision for Birmingham’s budding contemporary scene. You can see her dance in action at the March iteration of Happy Hour Happening at Forma, a local arts and wellness center.

Heading Back to the Future

December 10, 2018December 10, 2018 Luke ThomasLeave a comment

Anyone who has seen Back to the Future can recognize the iconic car used to traverse the space-time continuum: the DeLorean DMC-12.

While the futuristic world of 2015 has come and gone, one relic remains in the parking lot of Strong.

Graphic Designer Ryan Nations is the proud owner of a restored 1983 DeLorean, the last model year ever produced. To learn how he came into possession of this timeless vehicle, we’ll have to take a trip through time.

Origins

Nine-year-old Ryan was seated beside his father as the two cruised down the highway in the family’s then-new truck. His dad nudged him and pointed out the window.

“Look at this cool car that’s about to pass us,” Ryan’s dad said.

The two had to come to a near-stop to let the DeLorean pass, but when it finally did, the image engrained itself into Ryan’s consciousness and never faded.

Ever since that moment, Ryan has been obsessed with DeLoreans. When he was 12, he got his first computer and dedicated all of his time to researching the automobile.

A few years later, Ryan had gotten older, but his fascination had yet to wane. His grandfather was the proprietor of a used car lot, and he had promised all of his grandchildren a car when they turned 16. Naturally, Ryan was set on the DeLorean, but he wasn’t quite sure how to make it happen.

Two days before his sixteenth birthday, Ryan was at the BJCC’s World of Wheels show that he attended annually with his father. The two were surveying the displays, when lo and behold, a DeLorean made its debut.

“When I saw it I started freaking out,” Ryan said. “Then I started freaking out even more when I saw that it was for sale. I immediately told my grandfather that was the car I wanted.”

So, for three years, the DeLorean was Ryan’s sole mode of transportation. Over time, he has taken apart every piece of the car, though not all at once. Even more surprisingly, the car never broke down during the three years that it was his only vehicle.

Present-Day Adventures

You may have glimpsed Ryan’s unmistakable ride at the company tailgate party this year, but that was far from its first special appearance.

For the past decade, Ryan and his DeLorean have taken part in the Altoona, Alabama, Christmas parade.

This small town, located between Oneonta and Gadsden, boasts an impressive holiday parade for its size. Ten years ago, its organizers found Ryan on a classic cars website and asked him to be a part of their celebration. Ever since, he has made the trek to Altoona, with no shortage of adventures or mishaps.

One year, Ryan and his crew had to bring their own blankets for warmth thanks to the DeLorean’s malfunctioning heat system. The next year, the heater was working, but the dashboard lights had given out. So, the crew made the one-hour trip in the dark using Ryan’s iPhone flashlight to read the speedometer.

“The speedometer maxes out at 85, so there’s really no telling how fast we were going down those back roads,” Ryan laughed, adding that the phone overheated before they even arrived.

Despite its age, the DeLorean has completed several successful road trips to places like Atlanta, Tupelo, and Huntsville.

Ryan’s passion for this little piece of history continues. Every so often, discerning eyes can catch the gullwing doors raising in the front parking lot as Ryan emerges, smiling, from one of his most prized possessions.

A Georgian Haunting

November 6, 2018November 7, 2018 Luke ThomasLeave a comment

For some, All Hallows’ Eve is unsettling. The spooky traditions and haunting legends are a little too real. For Laura Dobbs, it’s quite the inverse. Few holidays enchant her like Halloween. Keep reading as she shares her tale of Georgian mystery and tradition.

A Haunted Voyage

Anyone who’s met me, even in passing, knows how much I love Halloween. It just so happens that my best friend from childhood shares this passion, and we like to celebrate together.

She and I go every year to one of the best haunted houses in the country. It’s called Netherworld, and it’s located in an Atlanta suburb.

It’s become “our thing.” Our friends and families definitely do not understand. How can you go every year? Isn’t it the same every year? Aren’t you scared? Aren’t you too old for this stuff?

It’s a blast.
No. The attractions change every year.
Nope. Not ever. Not even when we went back for a special Zombie Survival event they did a couple of years ago and we got to shoot some pretty realistic zombies with modified M-1’s. And especially not when they did a special Christmas-themed event and decked out the attraction for the holidays!
How dare you ask that question!?!

Honestly, it’s a blast. And it doesn’t matter whether or not anyone else goes with us (various friends and family members have tagged along over the years). It’s something we enjoy, it keeps us connected, and we look forward to it all year.

Netherworld existed in a dinky little strip mall off of Jimmy Carter Boulevard for years. They retired that location last year and moved into a larger, newer facility in Stone Mountain back in the spring.

They also offer escape room games and have a museum of some of their most famous props, costumes, and décor. Many of their items have appeared in popular TV shows and movies.

The cast from the Walking Dead made a special trip up to ATL a few years ago just to go through the house!

If anyone is interested, they have two haunted attractions (the theme and décor for each “house” change every year). Here’s an article about the attraction and its owners. One of them is a former film makeup and FX artist.

She Said Yes

October 10, 2018October 11, 2018 Luke ThomasLeave a comment

The leaves may be changing, but that doesn’t mean love isn’t still in the air. This fall, two of Strong’s digital team members popped the question and set a date. Their stories, while composed of different times, faces and places, share the same raw emotion that anyone getting down on one knee can’t help but feel.

Joey

Always one to practice what he preaches, Joey Tichenor harnessed the power of digital technology to find eternal love. Tichenor met his fiancée, Anna, via a dating app last spring. The two had their first date at Cahaba Brewing in April of 2017. Ever since, Tichenor has known that Anna was the one.

With Anna being of Polish descent, Tichenor suggested that the two visit Poland as a late summer trip. While there, Tichenor would have the opportunity to meet his future fiancée’s extended family and practice nodding blankly while they spoke to him in Polish.

Everything coalesced in Tichenor’s mind. A foreign destination, a family gathering, a first-time adventure… it was the perfect place for a proposal. There was only one problem. Anna’s cousin’s wedding was taking place during the trip. Not wanting to steal her thunder, Tichenor had to wait.

The day after the wedding, Anna and Tichenor took a sojourn to a mountain resort town near the Czech border. Tichenor described it as a “Polish Gatlinburg.”

His original plan was to hike the town’s mountain and propose at the top, but once he fully realized its height, he knew neither would be in a condition to be photographed once they reached the summit.

Instead, Tichenor spotted an enchanting garden in the courtyard of the hotel. There was lush vegetation, a koi pond, a quaint little bridge – the perfect spot.

“Let’s take a walk in the hotel garden before dinner,” Tichenor suggested.

As they walked, Anna questioned why Tichenor was unusually silent. She brushed it off as pre-dinner peckishness. Little did she know, Tichenor’s hand was placed over his pocket the entire walk, fearful of misplacing the ring that he had so masterfully hidden for the duration of their trip.

As they stood on the bridge and gazed out at the water’s rippling surface, Anna turned to walk away. Tichenor knew it was now or never.

“Anna, wait!” he called.

She paused and swiveled. As she cast her gaze back toward the other end of the bridge, she found Tichenor kneeling before her, ring in hand.

After a heartfelt proposal and a resounding “yes” on his fiancée’s part, the two eagerly informed friends and family back home before continuing on to the night’s dinner.

The couple is set to wed on Saturday, June 1, 2019, in the ballroom at Roots and Revelry.

Mary-Kate

Mary-Kate Laird and fiancée Savannah’s meeting was somewhat by chance.

Seated at a table at Café Dupont, Laird was surveying the room when she stopped for a double-take. One diner, in particular, looked strikingly familiar. Pulling out her phone to check, Laird recognized her as someone she had seen on a dating app. She sent a message calling out the dinnertime coincidence to the girl and carried on.

As it turned out, Laird was mistaken. The girl from the app was not the girl in Café Dupont. Rather, she was a few blocks away at Ghost Train Brewery. Nevertheless, the two connected and found they had much in common.

Fast forward almost one year later, and the two are preparing to attend their one-year anniversary celebration dinner at The View.

What better time, what better place, Laird thought, than here to ask.

In preparation, she had asked a former co-worker, Colin, to perch behind the columns outside and capture the moment on camera. Her father and Savannah’s mother attended clandestinely as well.

“Let’s take a minute to go to The Grill and see the skyline,” Laird suggested to Savannah.

As the two made their way outside, Laird paused, searching for a pre-determined bush. The family, unbeknownst to Savannah, was lingering just out of sight on the balcony above. They watched as Laird produced a small, wooden box. In it was the ring.

“We had talked about it before,” Laird said. “She told me that I have to tell her I’m about to ask an important question. I had an entire script written but could only get out, ‘Okay – I have an important question… You know I love you, right? And I want to be with you forever. So, will you marry me?’”

Savannah nodded tearfully, and Laird pointed to the balcony to reveal her mom while Colin emerged from behind the columns. It was a joyous moment with family and friends that she will never forget.

The couple is set to wed Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at Barnsley Gardens in Georgia.

Casey and the Giant Squash

October 10, 2018October 11, 2018 Luke ThomasLeave a comment

A few weeks ago, Casey Boltz walked into work with an armful of unidentified, tubular vegetables. The long, green pods resembled a sort of unripened eggplant.

“It’s Cucuzza,” Boltz explained. [kuh-KOOT-suh]

She went on to describe the origins of the squash. As a descendant of Sicilian immigrants, Boltz has known Cucuzza as a culinary staple since childhood. The oversized squash is popular in Italian dishes and can be grown here in Alabama. In fact, Boltz’s uncle supplies the family with its Cucuzza stash, growing the vegetables suspended on strings and vines in his garden.

“My grandmother and great aunts always cooked with them, so it was just a part of regular life,” Boltz said. “It wasn’t until I was getting married that I realized how strange Cucuzza was to other people.”

There are other aspects of Boltz’s life that are unique to her Sicilian heritage. Each year, she attends a family reunion with more than 500 relatives – all descendants of one original couple.

“It’s very loud,” Boltz laughed.

To bring a slice of this culture to Strong, Boltz brought in some of the season’s Cucuzza harvest to share with her teammates. Everyone had their own idea of how to use the Cucuzza, so stop by Accounting to hear what they came up with.

As for Boltz, her favorite concoction is Cucuzza Stew. If you happen upon one of these squash, try out the recipe below!

Cucuzza Stew

Courtesy of Genius Kitchen

INGREDIENTS

1 lb lean ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large red onion, sliced
2 -3 celery ribs, chopped
1 ¹⁄₂cups carrots, sliced
4 -5 garlic cloves, crushed and chopped
1 Cucuzza, peeled and cubed
1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes
1 fresh bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried thyme
6 cups water
salt & fresh ground pepper

DIRECTIONS

Brown the ground beef in a skillet, drain and set aside.
In a large dutch oven, add the olive oil and sauté the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic for about 4-5 minutes, or until the onions are translucent.
Add the ground beef to the pot along with the can of whole tomatoes, add the Cucuzza and the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer, uncovered for around 45 minutes or until the squash is cooked.

On the Switch to Strata

September 10, 2018September 11, 2018 Luke ThomasLeave a comment

The Media department has come a long way from its early days of scoring full-page newspaper ads and negotiating over the rotary dial. Part of staying up-to-date with the pace of the industry means harnessing the newest technology. That’s what seeded the department’s recent switch to Strata, a media- buying and -management software.

Enter the Stratasphere

Strong’s Media team prides itself on squeezing the most value out of every dollar when making buys for our clients. To do this in today’s market, it requires the best in media-buying data.

Strata is the industry’s leading software when it comes to media market research. By using the insights that it provides, our team is able to make better-informed decisions and model how buys will reach audiences. Strata pulls essential information like reach, frequency and audience size from a larger data pool than we could previously access. Additionally, Strata provides the team with data on streaming services, something that the previous software was unable to do.

Why the Switch?

Formerly, the team used Nielsen’s SmartPlus buying software. At the time it was adopted, it offered all of the functionality that the agency needed. But as we grew, so did the services we offered, and subsequently so did the level of data we required.

Current clients will continue using SmartPlus for buys that have already been made. New clients, however, will immediately begin using Strata. This will allow for all accounts to make a smooth transition into the new software.

Benefiting Our Clients and Us

Despite the inevitable growing pains, the team is ready to Embrace Change, knowing that this switch will bring significant value to our clients.

“One of the biggest things Strata will do is offer us more detailed reporting,” said Media Director Liz Elder. “We couldn’t always track our reach and frequency. It’s important for us to reach 50 percent of our audience at least three times during a campaign. That’s what we have found to be the minimum amount required to drive traffic, and Strata will ensure that we are always hitting those numbers.”

In addition to providing things like better graphs and enhanced charts to present to clients, Strata will allow the team to make better decisions on what to buy for TV, radio, cable, outdoor, print and even digital. This is particularly important for the trend that is taking over media in some generations, over-the-top television (OTT). If you haven’t heard this term before, think of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and HBO GO. Strata helps our buyers by showing impressions, best-case scenarios, recommendations and other information that help land the best media buys.

Meet the Puppies of Strong

September 10, 2018September 10, 2018 Luke ThomasLeave a comment

It’s fur baby season at Strong, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with our very first Pet Showcase. You’re going to love getting to know these pups.

Mason: Shannon Boswell

What is your pet’s name? Mason
What is their breed? Maltipoo (Mix between a Maltese and a poodle)
What is their favorite activity? Playing with his new Halloween squeaky toy
Give a funny quirk about their personality: He likes to sit in between my fiancé’s sneakers, whether they are on his feet or not.
Tell me one of your funniest or most cherished memories with your pet: The funniest moments are when he tries to run on the hardwood floor and he slips around. He’s getting better at catching himself
Fun fact: He’s two months old and we are working on potty-training him. We also let him listen to classical music at night to help him sleep.

Butters: Grace Hatcher

What is your pet’s name? Butters
What is their breed? Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles + poodle)
What is their favorite activity? Going to the park by our house and playing fetch about three times before getting burnt out
Give a funny quirk about their personality: Anytime she yawns she also lets out this little squeaky noise. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard. Also, she’s obsessed with people, like OBSESSED, any time she passes by another person she freaks out.
Tell me one of your funniest or most cherished memories with your pet: That’s really hard because she makes me laugh every day, but probably the first time we gave her a bath. I didn’t realize how much of her was actually her hair, but when we put her in the tub she legit looked like a wet rat.
Fun fact: Yes, Butter’s was named after the character Butters from South Park. My husband chose that… pick your battles.

Charlie: Charlene Meeks

What is your pet’s name? Charlie
What is their breed? Maltipoo/Havanese
What is their favorite activity? Playing with my other dogs and his toys
Give a funny quirk about their personality: He can sleep anywhere at any time.
Tell me one of your funniest or most cherished memories with your pet: Watching Natalie riding her bicycle with Charlie in the basket attached to her handlebars, and Alyssa pushing him in her grocery cart. He is the most tolerant pup I have seen in a long time.

Gus: TJ Moore

What is your pet’s name? Gus
What is their breed? Red Standard Poodle
What is their favorite activity? Gus loves meeting new people or other pets. He is super friendly!
Give a funny quirk about their personality: Gus loves to eat air! Whenever he is riding with me in my truck, he starts chomping away at the AC blowing in his face. He will even run when he hears the hair dryer going just to come and bite away at the hot air.
Tell me one of your funniest or most cherished memories with your pet: Gus got pretty sick not long after I got him, which included a seizure. So being there for him during that time, letting him know I was there, and seeing him pull through like a champ makes our bond special and unique.
Fun fact: Being a poodle, which is one of the smartest breeds, Gus is quite skilled at escaping from his crate or carrier when I am not home. He can even open some doors. Because of this exceptional skill that Gus has, I have given him the nickname Poudini.

Diana: Luke Thomas

What is your pet’s name? Diana
What is their breed? English Springer Spaniel
What is their favorite activity? Trying so hard to play with the cat, Leo, who is less than amused
Give a funny quirk about their personality: Plastic hangers are her favorite unapproved chew toy. She also has sad-eyes, even though she’s really excited most of the time.
Tell me one of your funniest or most cherished memories with your pet: When we go on the balcony for our sunbathing session during lunch break. The kitty joins too.
Fun fact: Diana loves to frolic in the meadow and play in the creek by our house, even though it means a bath afterward!

Tippy Grace: Sheryl Jones

What is your pet’s name? Tippy Grace, but you can call her Tippy G!
What is their breed? Some kind of small terrier.
What is their favorite activity? Running around in the backyard and getting her tummy rubbed.
Give a funny quirk about their personality: She is the most fun! Always happy and runs like the wind and jumps super high. She loves to cuddle but is always up for an adventure. You have to watch her or she will put her nose to the ground and hit the neighborhood road without looking where she is going or stopping.
Tell me one of your funniest or most cherished memories with your pet: The day I got her I was at my dad’s house, where she was brought for me to meet her. There were four of us there, but she came right to me and spent the day mostly in my arms like she knew I was her new “mommy.” She was really thin. But, now she has gained weight and every day she is the cutest and most fun thing ever!
Anything else you want to include, feel free: She is not an official rescue but was living outside with big dogs. I guess that is why she is super tough even though she is little and adorable!

Theodor: Alex Golla

What is your pet’s name? Theodor (Theo for short)
What is their breed? Portuguese Water Dog
What is their favorite activity? Swimming
Give a funny quirk about their personality: He is quite derpy and uncoordinated.
Fun fact: I am getting him this weekend on Sunday. He is from North Carolina.