Category: General/Culture

Everyone who works with Brian knows that moment when he puts the project challenge into precisely the right words and lays out a clear path to the solution. Captivating and, at times, awe-inspiring, Brian’s breadth and depth of knowledge in creative strategy radiates. In other words, it impacts our entire team, helping make us stronger creative and strategic communications practitioners. Click the video above to see Brian in action as we celebrate his 40-year career in the industry.

We’re thrilled to announce the additions of fresh talent and leadership promotions! Always looking to enhance our ability to serve clients, Founder & CEO Anita Brightman finds gratification in expanding the team’s depth and capabilities. It’s the same level of beaming pride she gets from nurturing professional growth and seeing colleagues’ trajectories over years and even decades.

This most recent crop of team members has expanded our depth while promotions have crystalized our core. We’ve added to our ranks communicators who bolster our public relations, video and marketing teams. In addition, three Bright Lights have moved into leadership roles.

Meet our new hires and new leadership members enhancing A. Bright Idea’s strategic communications and client service.

Promotions & New Roles

Lisa Condon

Senior Director of Organizational Training & Talent

Lisa’s 16-year tenure at A. Bright Idea is summed up as a graphic design tour de force. Lisa’s A. Bright Idea tenure is summed up as a graphic design tour de force. For most of that time, she steered our team of design professionals, orchestrating projects from kickoff to polished final product. Her experience stretches some three decades, and clients, partners and our family of team members are quick to recognize her eye for details and the nuances of good design. She recently shifted roles, taking on the duty of training and mentoring our ever-growing bench of Bright Lights, a side of her former position she enjoyed most.

Her personalized lightbulb explained: Proudly a “true print designer,” Lisa customized her lightbulb to represent a die cut — a special technique in the world of printing. It showcases her passion for tactile elements of graphic projects, such as special folds, cutouts and dimensional substrates layered on a wall. She approaches every visual project as an opportunity to convey the client’s story in a compelling and appealing way.

Robyn Koenig

Assistant Director of Creative Strategy

Robyn joined our team straight out of college. It’s been onward and upward ever since. The staying power rests in her love for the ever-present problem-solving in our diverse clients’ design needs. The day-to-day fun comes from the variety of work, from brand refreshes and wall projects to enormous multi-page layouts and digital ads. Running the full spectrum of creative needs for clients eliminates any possibility of a dull moment. Her track record of success earned her a well-deserved bump to a leadership position.

Her personalized lightbulb explained: As a member of our graphic design team, you’d expect Robyn to sketch her own lightbulb icon. And that’s exactly what she did. For Robyn, design is a labor of love. Her icon features a robin sitting on a lightbulb-shaped branch, partly pointing to nature as a source of inspiration. (She also loves a good pun.)

Josh LaVeck

Assistant Director of Marketing Communications

It seems like yesterday that Josh joined our team. It’s been more like a couple of years, yet in that time Josh has more than proven himself an exceptional marketing professional. His elevation reflects his rare ability to juggle 50 balls while marshaling our collective talent to deliver the best product for clients. Verbal and visual messaging is always on target; the product is always on time. Never one to boast, he’ll tell you he’s just having fun.

His personalized lightbulb explained: A campfire forms the shape of a lightbulb, a nod to his childhood learning to appreciate the outdoors and hard work as a Boy Scout and eventually earning the rank of Eagle Scout. His icon’s design pulls from those formative years that helped shape his approach to work and work ethic. And if you’ve ever sat around a campfire, you probably agree that the experience provides a moment to reflect and draw inspiration for the days ahead.

New Hires

Zack Stauffer

Director of Video & Emerging Media

Fittingly based in our Burbank, Calif., office — the Media Capital of the World — Zack comes to A. Bright Idea with rich Hollywood production experience. When we strategically opened an office in SoCal, we did so knowing we’d tap into the Greater Los Angeles Area’s deep talent pool of top-notch producers like him. Having spearheaded tons of video productions and commercial content, we’re proud to have him help us reach the next frontier of filming with cutting-edge technology.

His personalized lightbulb explained: He conceptualized his lightbulb icon around a rocket ship blasting off into the unknown. First, he loves space. But more to what it says about how he approaches his role, it conveys the idea that every advancement starts with imagination. It signifies his dedication to staying curious and open to change and creativity.

Isabella Regis

Communications Associate & Office Assistant

Equipped with great early-career experience, Isabella arrived at A. Bright Idea hungry to learn and explore new approaches to marketing and public relations. To Isabella, our diverse clients are a treasure trove of angles that constantly spark new ideas. She considers it a privilege to serve our government, nonprofit and commercial clients.

Her personalized lightbulb explained: Depicting a National Parks Service patch, Isabella’s icon seeks to demonstrate her go-getter attitude. The way she sees it, we can achieve any goal with consistent, intentional steps, whether tackling a big client project or ascending a mountain towering over us. And it’s the gratification of a breakthrough or reaching the summit that keeps the fire burning within.

Through our internship program, we provide interns with mentorship, industry knowledge, and on-the-job training in a fast-paced environment. By interning with us, individuals gain real-world experience in agency life and learn what it takes to work as an effective team.

Recently, A. Bright Idea had the pleasure of mentoring two interns, Hayley McCullough and Sophia Dietrich, who worked closely with the visual team to create and edit content, enhance their production skills, and much more. They both offer a peek into their life as an A. Bright Idea intern below!

At A. Bright Idea, I’ve learned not only the intricacies of a public relations firm, but the team it takes to run a successful business. Here at ABI, we have four teams: Executive, Verbal, Visual, and Administrative. This summer, I worked closely with the Visual Team, specifically with Nate Keezer and Taylor Goad. Nate, ABI’s Videographer/Production Coordinator, and Taylor, ABI’s Motion Graphic Designer, guided me through this new endeavor to help enhance my production skills. In return, I’d produce small pieces of work for ABI clients in order to help projects run more smoothly. Nate, Taylor, and I worked together regularly in ABI’s professional Sound Booth, Mac Editing Station, and Photography/Videography Studio. One of my primary goals throughout my internship was to get more familiar with Adobe Suite applications. Nate showed me the basics of Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Audition, then handed me the reins to complete tasks for client work. Additionally, I gained hands-on experience with advanced camera and studio equipment. Over the course of my summer at ABI, I’ve improved my filming, editing, and networking skills to further my pursuit of a career covering sports. Thank you to all the team members at ABI, and to Cobey Dietrich, Executive Vice President of Verbal and Visual Communications, for taking a chance on a Sophomore from The Pennsylvania State University. As I head into my junior year, I’ll be sure to take all of the lessons I’ve learned here at ABI with me. I’m pursuing a major in Public Relations, a double-minor in Business and Media Production, and a Certificate in Sports Journalism. Aside from working at ABI this summer, I’ve spent time working on my Private Pilot’s License. I plan to obtain my VFR license in the summer of 2023. In the fall, I’ll be working at Penn State Football as a Recruiting Operations Intern, Secretary of the Association for Women in Sports Media, and Family Relations Chair for THON as a mid-distance athlete on PSU’s Club Track & Field team.

As a student beginning my junior year in high school, I am so lucky to have had such an amazing experience interning at A. Bright Idea this summer. Working behind the scenes with trained professionals has given me a new appreciation for the world of public relations. I now recognize the teamwork, planning, and sacrifice that goes into both pleasing clients and providing high quality work. While working at ABI, I spent most of my time with a small group of people from the Visual Team; Nate Keezer, Taylor Goad, and my fellow intern, Haley McCullough. I had such a great time learning about all aspects of production, as well as collaborating on different projects throughout the summer. I was very fortunate to have had a background in using some of the editing software available at ABI, and was able to utilize this knowledge to go through footage, edit videos, and so much more. On one occasion, I was even able to work on a spot for a client! I am forever thankful to all those who have given their time to teach me about the visual aspects of public relations, as well as the social components that establish connections with clients and coworkers. I will continue to use all that I have learned from this internship to better myself as a student, team member, and person.

This coming school year, I plan to hone my skills as a digital artist in hopes that I can combine my knowledge of audio/video production with my skills in digital rendering and computer animation. Working in the film industry has always intrigued me, and this internship at A. Bright Idea has taught me so many things that apply to this interest. I will also be able to apply this knowledge to the Advanced Video Journalism class that I will be continuing next year. Once again, thank you to all who were instrumental in making this past summer both a fun and fantastic learning experience.

You know we all love goin’ Downey Oshun, Hon!

A. Bright Idea counts itself fortunate to have teams on both coasts, with offices in Sonoma and Burbank, California and Bel Air, Maryland. Why? Well, in part because we get a front-row seat to the special role our oceans play in the environmental health and economic well-being of adjacent communities on land we serve. And so we’re proud to work on projects with several clients that deal directly – and even indirectly – with Earth’s most prominent feature and one of its most vital to us.

Accounting for around three-quarters of Earth’s surface, land’s big brother demands our respect and collected, concerted conservation efforts. To recognize World Ocean Day and buoy work to safeguard this precious resource, we donated to The Ocean Foundation, a non-profit that supports, strengthens and promotes “those organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world.”

However you decide to mark and celebrate the day, we encourage you to be part of the change. Here are a few ways you can join us:

• Host a beach clean-up
• Talk to friends, family and neighbors about thinking before they throw waste, especially cigarette butts
• Donate to a local, national or international organization as we did
• Use less plastic
• Be more mindful of your carbon footprint

It’s one of the many ways we reflect our dedication to service, one of our core values. We look forward to illuminating more ideas for you and your organization to support communities.

The end of the year often serves as a time for reflection and after a year celebrating our silver anniversary, I find myself looking ahead to the future and imagining what the world, industry and this company might look like during our golden anniversary in 2046.

In these first 25 years of business, I witnessed how the push to digital and the use of social media created a tectonic shift in the media landscape for advertising and public relations professionals. I remember in the early years of A. Bright Idea, a client offered to pay for a website design, and I didn’t think websites were needed by everyone. Today, potential customers/clients decide if they want to do business with you just by looking at your website.

I’m proud of our collection of client success stories from the past 25 years and feel it’s a testament to our ability to transform our methods and meet client needs.

Reaching that 50-year milestone will represent a lifetime’s worth of work from a 26-year-old thinking she just needed something temporary until her next job came along. The majority of the past 25 years have not felt like work because of all the joy it brings, which I hope is still the case in whatever capacity I’m in down the road.

I hope to still be working with lots of my friends and even see my kids involved in the business, although hopefully I’m not working as hard then as I am now – that’s what the next generation is for. I can’t wait to see how A. Bright Idea’s history continues to blossom and define a meaningful legacy.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far is to not get overwhelmed or panic. If you can stop looking at things so broadly and focus on what you have to do next, you’ll get through any challenging time. Whatever the future may hold, I look forward to seeing how the journey continues.

Dear Anita,

It’s me, Anita, 25 years into the future.

It is August 2021, marking A. Bright Idea’s 25th anniversary. As I sit at home writing this letter, I can’t help but laugh thinking about our number one goal back in 1996: move the business out of the house and into an office. Spending this milestone back where the journey began certainly feels like a full circle moment and leaves me reflecting on the past 25 years with pride, gratitude and every other emotion under the sun.

Not to worry though, we did get out of the spare bedroom. In fact, we exceeded our goal by opening three locations from Maryland to California. Finding myself working back at home the majority of last year (don’t ask) truly showed me how far we’ve come. Gone are the days of individually doing all the client work during the day and all the billing, networking and proposals at night. While these temporary challenges made me uncomfortable in the moment, it’s what made me stronger and the businesswoman I am today.

Considering we thought this was just a temporary option before our next job, you may be surprised to know we reached our “silver” year. From having no one to bounce ideas off of, to achieving 10 employees to now collaborating with 35+ innovators and integrators within our full-service agency, I’m proud of the marks we’ve made and continue to make on the industry.

While enjoying the success, remember how lucky we are to reach this milestone and that it’s not just for us. Our success serves as its own little ecosystem supporting dozens of individuals and families. It really has supported our family too. That guy you met in high school and married; he’ll be joining you 10 years from now once the heavy lifting is over to share in the spotlight. It means a tremendous amount to see how your little idea now creates an opportunity for someone who is going to be a parent or an opportunity for someone to work closer to home so they can spend more time with their kids and family. These are the same things we wanted for our family. Speaking of family, it’s good you moved out of that guest bedroom because you’ll need it in a few years. Baby Madison gets a brother.

Knowing what I do today, here’s the biggest pieces of advice I can offer…

Who would have thought our little one-woman operation would go from the smallest ember of inspiration to bright ideas radiating out from sea to shining sea. Remember to take time to recognize your accomplishments and not get lost in the moment. Trust me, it all works out in the end.

Keep on shining,
Anita

The entrepreneurial spirit of this country amazes me, especially as A. Bright Idea reflects on 25 years in business. The women entrepreneurs who came before me, in many ways, helped me and this agency reach this milestone.

At age 26, I launched A. Bright Idea without any expectation it would last a quarter century. After all, longevity eludes most small businesses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 25% of new businesses make it to their 15-year anniversary.

In our formative years, quite a few people were instrumental, offering their support or guidance on building this company. People like Micky Morales, George Heidelmaier, Beth Cohen, Tina Ripken and Jack Novak were some of my earliest friends and mentors. Many of them have retired and some of them have passed but they provided me invaluable wisdom on how to beat the odds as a small business — and a woman-owned small business at that.

I am not the first woman to start a business and succeed, and I can say, with all confidence, I won’t be the last. The U.S. Census Bureau recently reported the number of American woman-owned small businesses rose by 2.8% to over 1.1 million. That trend surely continues or may well accelerate as time goes on. I’m honored to be in a position to pay forward the wisdom I received to help them succeed.

As part of our Silver & Shine anniversary celebrations, I wanted to share some the lessons others taught me and that have worked well for A. Bright Idea over these past 25 years. Whether you’re a women-owned small business or not, I have a few thoughts for those of you on a similar journey.

First and foremost, build a network of resources. You don’t need to have all the answers, but have relationships with vendors, colleagues and friends that can point you in the right direction. Most of the relationships you build usually happen intentionally, but some of the best ones often occur accidentally. Take the time to get to know people in social and business settings and invite serendipity.

When it comes to client or customer relations, find a way to say ‘yes.’ Meaning, remain flexible because clients stay or return because of customer service.

Next, little is possible without good, talented people on your team. Focus on hiring the right people for the right jobs and treat them with care and respect. Success happens as a result of collective effort.

Set out creating a strong culture. Whether you act as a sole proprietor or have one or more employees, your company culture serves as a conduit between your brand and your clients and can help boost productivity.

Lastly, but far from least, focus on making sure your branding hits the mark. Yes, A. Bright Idea is a creative agency, so branding is our bread and butter, but I cannot stress the importance of this aspect of building your business enough. Make it a priority to seek a consultant, if your resources allow.

While I could write volumes about the company I poured my heart and soul into for half my life, I want to hear from you. What challenges do you face? How can my and my team’s experiences help you? Reach out to us at silver25@abrightideaonline.com

As a business owner, your list of to-do’s remains as endless as your email inbox. Dedicating time to marketing efforts like telling your brand story or reaching new audiences with advertising or social media just doesn’t feel like it’s in the cards. Maybe it’s not; don’t get overwhelmed or frustrated and give up. Instead, look to an agency to lend a hand, taking the marketing burden off your plate.

Agencies come in many forms. Some specialize in a few niche areas like graphic design and digital marketing, while others provide a full range of services. Regardless of their specialties, agencies want to help you meet your goals. Agencies work with businesses of all sizes, with just about all industries and can manage projects ranging from seasonal marketing needs to long term integrated marketing campaigns.

So, where do you start? While you may have started your search for your perfect agency, the guide below answers some of the biggest questions and concerns holding businesses back from looking for that much-needed support.

1. I don’t have a marketing budget.
You are spending resources on marketing, whether you realize it or not. The time to network, sponsor community events and organizations, and keep on top of social media all cost you something. An agency helps you prioritize and maximize your presence, allowing you to do what you do best — your business.

2. I don’t have time to explain my business to others.
Agencies ask the right questions and take advantage of experiences to understand your business, industry, market and competition. It’s the agency’s job to share insights and ideas aimed at accomplishing your business goals.

3. Marketing, social media, advertising…it all changes so fast I just can’t keep up.
So true. Robust agency teams keep up with trends and best practices, so you don’t have to. As experts, they constantly scan the horizon for new and emerging tools and techniques to get in front of your audience, build your brand and get that ROI.

4. Word of mouth works for me, why change?
Good. An agency will give you a menu of recommendations for how to leverage all the word of mouth referrals you’re getting into look alike customers and build on those. You will also receive recommendations based on the agency’s past experience supporting clients just like you, for advertising, social media, website design and more.

5. I’ve always been treated like a small fish when working with agencies.
Their loss. Clearly, those agencies just didn’t fit with your business. Now you know what you don’t want, you can seek out the type of agency you do want. The ideal agency treats you with respect, shows interest in your business and seeks to foster a collaborative relationship with you.

6. I’m only one person. I have a lot on my plate.
Copy that. A full-service agency can take all of the marketing, advertising, video, website, social media, public relations and, of course, design work off your plate. Great full-service agencies offer teams dedicated to overarching disciplines. And, within those teams exist project managers, copywriters, strategic planners, designers, website developers and others allowing more collaboration and a better, more integrated final product.

The bottom line
Marketing your business remains an important component to its success and a full- service agency can provide the guidance, strategy and creative solutions needed to help you be successful.

Are you ready to take your marketing and communications efforts to the next level? If you have any questions about your needs, say hello! We’d love to help you.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, I reflect on my own journey. I feel our paths reveal themselves to us if we are open to any possibility. In 1996, I took a leap of faith and left my job with a large defense contractor, a comfortable position, to start A. Bright Idea. I took this risk because I wanted more control over my schedule and to advance my career at a quicker pace.

A new mother, I was scared to step out of my comfort zone, but knew I needed to do it.

Starting from scratch, I built ABI motivated by the voice in my head, saying, “I will not fail.”

First, I made a plan and followed it. I needed to build a clientele. When things clicked, I worked to replicate and improve processes. When I encountered challenges, I looked for ways to improve, such as building checklists and refining processes to avoid future obstacles. The lessons I learned outside the confines of my comfort zone created the foundation of the A. Bright Idea way and guides how I work to this day. I continue to stay the course, keep my head down and keep marching. Working day by day, I forge ahead and persevere, striving to maximize my potential and create opportunity for others.

I did not set out on this journey with the intent of growing A. Bright Idea into a coast-to-coast, multi-office agency. But by building up my team with brilliant, capable people, something enduring was created. In all endeavors, especially creative ones, collaboration is key. Every day with our combined talents, the ABI team pushes through challenges and identifies opportunities to create innovative ways to support our clients, engage audiences and change conversations.

The past and present power of the women in our industry, combined with collaboration and creativity, make a positive impact on our families, communities and workplaces. I look forward to all we can achieve and remain steadfast in my commitment to moving the industry forward, investing in the next generation as they create their paths and find their voices.

Anita A. Brightman, APR, Fellow PRSA