Blog Archives
Why I’m Proud to Be a Grisko
This is most certainly not an attempt to suck up to our CEO. I promise. Bragging? Yes, a bit. Sucking up? No.
Last week, the Holmes Group released their annual report, with one list ranking the Top U.S. Agencies to Work For. Our firm was quite excited to see that CG&A ranks #10!
Very cool and yet not surprising when I think about it. In September, I’ll cross my five year mark here at CG&A. I interned for my first three months and was officially hired in January 2005. It’s been interesting to be a core part of the firm’s growth. During my time here, the firm has continued to operate as one big family, focused on servicing clients with dedication and passion for success.
In an ordinary job, it’s easy to feel burnt out after finishing a hectic week or big project. However, I mean every word when I say that I look forward to working on my client projects each day. Here are just a few reasons why I enjoy being part of the Grisko team:
1. Coworkers - The heart and soul of any job is being surrounded by smart, creative, personable coworkers that know how to work together in a pinch to meet looming deadlines and share a laugh at any given moment. PR/Marketing firms can be hectic arenas when multiple accounts are on fire. Everyone at CG&A brings a levelheaded approach and unique set of skills to the table that fits together like a puzzle.
2. Client Pride – We all take a great deal of pride in the accounts we work on day in and day out. As a firm, we tend to be selective but extremely dedicated to our projects, not pursuing just any new business lead that comes through the door. A quick glance at our client roster reflects that focus. We’re in the business of making a difference and ensuring we help clients achieve their goals.
3. Creative Atmosphere - We get to work in a very cool space and have a CEO that recognizes the importance of a good work environment. We’re in a nice open loft setting in River North…and we keep the strung X-Mas lights on year round for extra creative juice. We’ve also got an amazing nonprofit that works next door and good ole Bill Kurtis Productions above us (yes, his voice is just that amazing in real life).
4. Flexibility – One of the cool things about small to mid-size firms is the degree of flexibility that can be established on the account front. Starting as an intern, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to focus on to kickstart my agency career. I was able to work on a couple legislative campaigns and straight up PR projects. It wasn’t until about my second year that I started to hone in and find my passion for digital marketing, social media and online community-building. Having a CEO and leadership that was open to helping me find my groove made a big difference.
5. Work is Fun – Not many people get to say that every day. Whether I’m developing strategies, producing a video, building a blog, snapping photos, leading a brainstorm or pitching a new client, every day is a new, exciting challenge. That’s why I take pride in my work and feel passionate about the projects I work on. That’s what work should be and what clients deserve from hiring an agency.
I’d encourage you to learn about some of my colleagues here, over on LinkedIn, or fan CG&A over on Facebook!
Claire & Nick
Holly D, Margarite, Beth, Terri
De Roin & Margarite
Cheers,
Scott
A Tribute to 3 Friends
Michael, John, Doug
Rarely do I go the personal route here. If you’re looking for social media tips or strategy, you may want to skip but I wanted to take today to honor my older brother and his two friends.
Doug (my brother), Michael Dahlquist and John Glick were all close friends, local musicians and coworkers at Shure Inc. here in Chicago. Four years ago, on July 14, 2005, all three were killed as their car was hit from behind at a stop light. The individual responsible for the act was traveling at 90+ miles per hour, attempting suicide. She’s walked free since last October.
Words can’t begin to express how much we all cherished Doug, Michael and John. Together, they touched thousands of lives.
It’s funny to think back about my brother’s involvement on the Web. He was never a techy or big fan of the Web. But a community builder? Absolutely. In any situation, people seemed to gravitate to Doug. Were he alive today, I have a feeling he would have evolved into a social media superstar. I can’t help but hop over and look at his journal entries (seriously worth the laughs and one of the best representations of Doug) when reminding myself about the importance of owning a creative voice and keeping a light outlook on life. I also have a feeling that based on these two videos below, there would have been quite the YouTube channel in the mix between the guys.
As Doug, Michael and John touched the lives of others from across the country, it’s the social Web that allows us to quickly connect with one another, recall fond memories and memorialize their lives. The humor, compassion and amazing talent of all three men will always be remembered.
In the words of Doug’s college roommate and close friend Joe Gray, don’t forget to always “hug your friends.”
RIP fellas,
-Scott
People You Should Know – Roland Cailles
Yes, it has in fact been way too long since I’ve featured someone as part of my “People You Should Know” series. I typically use a Q&A format for these posts but this one will be a little different. I’d like to introduce you to Roland Cailles, a former intern at our firm.
We pride ourselves on the quality of interns we bring in the door at CG&A. Internships are no walk in the park as we immerse our interns in account work and challenge them to learn as much as possible about the industry from day one. As such, it’s not uncommon for some of our interns to turn their position into a permanent gig.
Roland Cailles
Roland tracked me down on LinkedIn about six months ago after graduating from Columbia College. Rather than straight up asking for a job, he smartly did his homework, took note of my interests and started a conversation about social media. Following a few email exchanges, I had Roland come in for an informational interview. Timing happened to work out where we were in need of a new intern and Roland was on top of the list. It’s true, being proactive in building relationships pays off in the end.
Throughout his six months at CG&A, I had the pleasure of being Roland’s mentor. Roland stood out for a number of reasons but here are some qualities that caught my attention that also serve as good reminders for other recent college grads looking to land that first agency internship.
Be Proactive
As a project manager, it’s easy to get bogged down in handling multiple accounts on a daily basis. On top of weekly team meetings, Roland consistently kept me updated with weekly status reports and regularly checked in to take on additional work and ask questions. Priceless.
Work Hard, Then Work Harder
I knew that when I assigned projects to Roland that they would not just be completed but thought through and revised. It’s always impressive to see an intern putting in a little OT on a Friday afternoon when he or she knows there is a looming Monday deadline. That’s a rare quality and certainly one that gets noticed very quickly. In addition, PR is unfortunately not a M-F, 9-5 gig. Showing that you’re willing to work a couple weekends for events, video/photo shoots or other projects is key.
Maintain a Quest for Knowledge
Anyone involved with social media marketing knows that it’s a full-time job just to stay on top of the latest trends. Without asking, Roland would frequently ask to participate in free Webinars, call my attention to key blog posts, white papers and other relevant research and trends he knew would be of interest to me.
Be Creative
Nothing makes a project manager happier than rolling into a scheduled brainstorm and seeing team members with printouts in hand and notes already jotted down. PR/Marketing firms thrive on creativity and it can certainly be a brain strain when you’re working to do this across multiple accounts. Having team members launch a brainstorm with fresh perspective and ideas is golden.
Get Social Savvy
All agencies are seeing a new crop of knowledge roll in the door as more and more intern candidates are recognizing the need to possess social media and Web 2.0 skills. Bringing in a social savvy marketer like Roland that gets the social Web is a huge addition to any account team.
Learn Client Relations
Often the hardest part of PR for an intern to fully digest. When you’re not on the front lines every day communicating with the client, you miss little nuances. Roland was quick to pick up on this side of the business.
I anticipate big things in the years ahead wherever the future takes Mr. Cailles. Thanks for your hard work Roland and be sure to check out Roland’s post recapping his internship experience.
-Scott
