It’s only natural to pause for a moment and take stock of things, to assess what worked and what didn’t, and to call to mind all the things that make you thankful.
That’s a pretty easy one; because advertising is a people business, the best part of my job are the fascinating, engaging and hilarious people I work with each and every day. So if you’re looking for insights or commentary on advertising, you can skip the blog this week; I’m just gonna be giving thanks…
I’m thankful for ever-affable Victor Alonzo who somehow keeps my laptops from getting the best of me… I’m thankful for the genuine Amy Anderson, whose commitment to her clients is only matched by her ready laugh with her team… I’m thankful for Carrie Baker, who deftly meets her daily professional challenges by making her sense of humor ever more twisted… I’m thankful for Leah Barret, whose optimism and enthusiasm brightens every room she enters… I’m thankful for John Barry, who attacks every writing assignment with a vigor and thoroughness matched only by his keen and joyous wit… I’m thankful for Brian Battle, who despite starting maybe two weeks ago, has already displayed a willingness to throw aside his personal dignity on behalf of the agency and our Holiday videos… I’m thankful for Nancy Bauer, whose intellect embraces open-mindedness without countenancing naivety… I’m thankful for Alana Beseau whose effortless ability to generate soul-shaking laughter makes it easy to miss how hard she works… I’m thankful for the game and smiling Kira Bigwood, whose writing captures intelligence without forsaking deep and abiding empathy… I’m thankful for Kristine Black, who jumps in with both feet to get things done, juggling the multiple perspectives of a team without losing the singular vision… I’m thankful for Ryan Bloecker, who jumped into a stampede and somehow roped his steers into a semblance of submission without losing his ever-present Nicholsonian grin… I’m thankful for the clever David Boensch who somehow makes stolid reliability continually fascinating and artful… I’m thankful for Jen Burak who steadily moves mountains of work with the understatement of a kung fu master… I’m thankful for the moments when I work with Tracey Button, who somehow acquiesced to part time instead of retirement… I’m thankful for the MacGyver-esque Ryan Carlos who makes stuff with a casualness that belies his voluminous output and prodigious skills… I’m thankful for Tim Cerullo who graduated from intern to full time writer this year simply because his amazing attitude and nascent skill made those who worked with him unwilling to let him go… I’m thankful for the big-hearted Jerry Conner who best exemplifies that transcendent and magical quality of curiosity… I’m thankful for Dan Cosgrove who assignment-by-assignment, grows his art direction chops and lays the foundation for a stellar career… I’m thankful for Todd “ST5K” Crisman who truly is 50,000 watts of heavy action, possessing that elusive quality of making everyone around him better–or at least gigglier… I’m thankful for Tom Cutler who jumped into a hot LZ with remarkable aplomb, organizing, analyzing and setting a path forward that restores energy and hope…
I truly am thankful for all of these wonderful people. And I’m just getting started…
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By Dennis Ryan, CCO, Element 79
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