One day before Halloween, Digital Marketing Coordinator Karli Burns was working in the office. It was a Saturday, so there weren’t many people around. She ventured downstairs to buy a Pop-Tart, and that’s when she realized that Midtown Studio was underwater.

“Wear your waders,” warned Sr. Copywriter Dennis Johnson during his call to David Whitson, Director of Editing. Word traveled fast that the situation downstairs required backup.

David and Dennis were among the first to witness the true damage of the flood. Not only was much of the building’s lower floor soaked, but the two also discovered that the floor tilts toward the studio. That was where most of the mysteriously leaking water was concentrated.

Determined to find the source of the leak, Dennis ventured into the first-floor women’s restroom to find a commode spewing water. It wasn’t clear what caused the leak, but the water was unrelenting.

Rushing to the studio, David and Dennis began trying to salvage equipment. Luckily, the computers and cameras were high enough off the floor and came out undamaged. Power cords, control boxes, and the carpet were another story.

With the building’s plumber en route, it would still be several hours before the leak could be stopped. In the meantime, David and Dennis thought about the silver lining behind this unexpected Saturday.

“We realized the studio is probably due for an update anyway, and now is the perfect time,” David said. “The flooding gave us a chance to rethink how we want it set up, and how we can build it back better.”

An Opportunity for Modernization

Since the power boxes for the studio lights were damaged by the water, Production will have the chance to replace them with more modern technology. When the studio was built, fluorescent lighting was the highest-tech option. Now, the lights will be LED, giving the team the ability to change hues and colors during shoots.

There will also be a riser added to where the cyclorama (cyc) wall is, helping elevate this backdrop to prevent warping from humidity on the ground-level floor. The cyc wall will be replaced with a newer version as well.

Of course, new carpet is required, as well as new baseboards and a fresh paint job for the studio. Overall, the studio’s configuration will remain the same. But the upgrades mentioned above, along with new additions like a pneumatic camera pedestal (like the rolling camera stands at TV stations) and cable management devices will help modernize the studio and its capabilities. Luckily, insurance funds are able to cover the cost of these upgrades.

Construction is set to begin this week. Be on the lookout for the grand reveal of Midtown Studio 2.0!

by Luke Thomas

Dads can get away with a lot. Bad fashion, questionable sandals, embarrassing carpool appearances… it’s all kosher. The most notorious of paternal practices, however, is the one that every seasoned father pulls out from time to time – the dad joke.

In celebration of Father’s Day, we asked some of our SAM dads to reach into the cheesiest pockets of their personalities to produce this fine collection of STRONG’s Best Dad Jokes.

It’s About to Get Dadtastic

Buckle up!

1. “Dad, will you make me a sandwich?”

POOF! You’re a sandwich. – Nate Lytle

2. “Where does a general keep his armies?”

In his sleevies. – Will Giuliani

3. “Two peanuts were walking down the street.”

One was a salted.

4. “When does a joke become a dad joke?”

When the punchline becomes apparent. – Joey Tichenor (not a dad, but has awesome dad jokes)

5. “What do you tell a grandparent trying to dress your kid in cheesy outfits?”

Hey mom, this is NACHO KID! – Chris Jones

6. “Little Johnny asks his father, ‘Dad, how much does it cost to get married?'”

Dad replies, ‘I don’t know, Johnny. I’m still paying for it.’ –Gene Gill

Advice from Dad

While we may groan at our dad’s corny attempts at humor, the advice that they give us is something that we should hold dear to our hearts.

Dennis Johnson has always been a source of wisdom and sagacity within our agency, and today he shares this piece of advice to remind us of the love behind a father’s words.

Listen to your father and what they say about not speeding, wearing seatbelts, and being careful of other drivers – just like my dad told me. Sometimes, you don’t want to hear it. But when it comes from the heart and life experiences, it’s the truth meant for their own children’s good. – Dennis

From all of us at STRONG, we wish a warm and hearty “Happy Father’s Day” to the dads among us and all the fathers we will celebrate this month.