teamME

 by murphyepson

#teamME gained some additional wittiness around the office. Meet our summer intern, Mitch!

Welcome to #teamME! Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi! I’m going into my senior year at the University of Cincinnati where I have dual majors in Political Science and Economics. I plan to go on to graduate school to study public policy, and eventually I want to work to create change for causes I care about. I love music (besides listening, I play the drums), and I love to laugh and tend to see humor in almost anything. Some of my favorite times are watching stand-up specials with my girlfriend or waiting until way too late at night to start an eight-hour game of Risk with my friends.

 

OK, now it’s time for some rapid fire.

 

If you could have a cup of coffee with anyone, who would it be? Why is it rapid fire? This is the toughest question … Kofi Annan? The Dalai Lama? Pope Francis? I feel the need to pick someone with profound ideas and experiences. Okay, Kofi Annan – final answer. I would hope to learn something from his commitment to peace and his distinguished career in diplomacy and international governance.

 

What’s your spirit animal? I love every animal.  With that said, I think I’m pretty similar to a giraffe in that I’m sort of lanky and awkward and I exclusively eat leaves (just kidding, but I am a vegetarian).

 

What was your first email address? (Don’t be shy.) mji1108@yahoo.com – not too bad, right?  The only reason I changed it was the thousands of spam messages per day.

 

What was your first job? My first real job was here at MurphyEpson, where I went around to events in Columbus wearing a shirt that said, “Pick Up Poop.” And yet here I am at ME again…

 

What’s the next country you want to travel to? I would love to visit a Spanish-speaking country (maybe Costa Rica?). I have five years of Spanish language coursework under my belt, but I’ve never used it in the real world.

 

If you were a Crayola crayon, what would your name be? Robin’s Egg Blue?  That’s pretty close to my favorite color and I like that it’s oddly specific.

 

Where did you go to college? I go to the University of Cincinnati. Last year my younger brother chose to go to Ohio State, so now I’m the only one in my family to go to college somewhere else. But who knows? There’s always grad school.

 

Phew. What a doozy. Catch your breath and tell us what you do at MurphyEpson.

I complete duties as assigned. I hope to get a feel for a little bit of everything that goes on at ME, with a focus on learning about reconciling the competing interests of various groups.  That’s what good policymaking is all about, and it’s what I hope to do in my career.

 

What do you do outside of work?

At school, I volunteer at a dog shelter and a tutoring program, and I’m the vice president of membership for my service fraternity. Now that I’m home, I spend a good chunk of my free time eating and exercising. To relax, I love to be creative – either playing music, making things, or working on random projects. I also prioritize time with my family and friends.

 

MurphyEpson has cultivated quite the culture of philanthropy. What’s your favorite way to give back to the community?

So far, my favorite volunteer work has to be the time I spend at the animal shelter. The staff members are selfless, and they work hard every week for free. The dogs I meet have nothing but love to give, and I think we could all do well to learn from them in that regard.

 

You’ve got one day in Columbus. What do you do?

Spend the morning at the zoo, being careful not to miss the red panda or the penguins, or any newborn baby animals that might be around. Lunch in Historic Dublin (I can’t leave out the hometown). Next, a tour of thrift stores and record shops downtown to see if there are any good finds. Dinner, coffee, and ice cream in the Short North. If there’s time, live music or stand-up in the evening. If someone good is playing Nationwide or one of the major theaters, fantastic. If it’s a local band in a diner nearby, that’s great too.

 

Give us a note you’d like to end on.

“Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Awesome! To learn more about Mitch, connect with him on LinkedIn!

in Advertising / Columbus Marketing / Featured / General / Marketing / Marketing in Columbus / Marketing Team / Public Affairs / Public Relations / teamME 0 comments
 by murphyepson

Wednesday Weigh-In: We <3 Columbus

­­June 14th is much more than just another hump day. It marks a holiday observed by the diverse and unified, electric and eclectic Midwesterners also known as the residents of Columbus. June 14th is “614 Day” and #teamME is celebrating by talking about our favorite things about our City.

 

Here’s a few of our favorite things about Cbus:

“Columbus feeds wanderlust-hungry humans. It offers endless places to go and things to see, wrapped up in bite-size neighborhoods. It’s one of the few cities that feel just as much like home as it does new and unknown.” – Angela, Account Executive + Social Strategist

“A culture of collaboration for the greater good. It’s the Columbus way!” – Marie, President + CEO

“Wow, there are so many. Its openness, Jeni’s ice cream, the parks, Northstar Cafe, the trails, the art scene. I could go on all day…” – Stephanie, Senior Account Executive

“The Ohio State University! – Leah, Art Director

“I love the Short North. So many restaurants and shops to choose from. I can park and make a day of it!” – Missi, Art Director

“From sunrise to sunset and coffee to cocktails, Columbus offers everything you need to make the most of your day. I always feel like there aren’t enough hours in the weekend to experience everything Columbus has to offer! Especially now that festival season is in full-swing.” – Rachel, Account Executive + Social Strategist

“Where do I start?! If I absolutely had to pick one thing (but seriously why would I ever want to) it would be the beautiful parks and greenspaces. There are so many, from tiny to immense and urban to suburban. And, there’s always a lot to do at them from rock climbing and trails to concerts and fitness classes. Or, just loungin’ of course!” – Mindy, Senior Project Manager

“I love that Columbus is a large metropolitan city with all the amenities, but still has a small-town feel.” – Nick, Assistant Project Manager + Planner

“There’s so much to do in Columbus, and it’s all so accessible. I love that I can be downtown in 20-25 minutes to enjoy dinner with husband. Or take a short drive to multiple different parks with my twins. Moving here from Chicago, the ease of getting around, and ability to experience the unique neighborhoods makes life in Columbus so much easier!” – Erin, Art Director

 

How do you celebrate 614 Day? Tag @murphyepson and tell us how you make the most of #lifeincbus. While you’re here, take time to get to know a little more about our team and the work we do. Or, “like” us on Facebook to stay in touch!

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 by murphyepson

Meet Our Homerun-Hitting Summer Intern, Tim!

Welcome to #teamME! Tell us a little about yourself.

What’s up! I am from Westerville, Ohio and am about to embark on my senior year at Wittenberg University as a Communication major with a minor in Psychology. I love sports, especially baseball. At Wittenberg, I am a two-year captain of the baseball team and have been the starting first basemen since my freshman year. Other than sports, I like to spend my time with friends and family taking trips, eating at good restaurants and visiting cool places around Columbus that usually end up highlighted on my social media.

 

OK, now it’s time for some rapid fire. 

If you could have a cup of coffee with anyone, who would it be? Larry Page and Sergey Brin – I feel like they could throw some great advice my way.

What’s your spirit animal? A Bear – They’re big and powerful, but more so because I’ve always been envious of their hibernation!

What was your first email address? (Don’t be shy.) timtim10x32@aol.com; I still have junk mail sent to it…

What was your first job? I did pool maintenance for Annehurst Pool of Westerville. Nothing like the smell of chlorine to wake you up in the morning!

What’s the next country you want to travel to? China – to explore their culture.

If you were a Crayola crayon, what would your name be? I would have to go with Mango Tango because I like to have a good time.

Where do you go to college? I attend Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. Tiger Up! I’m a huge OSU fan as well.

 

Phew. What a doozy. Catch your breath and tell us what you do at MurphyEpson.
I try to get involved in a little bit of everything. From sitting in on brand positioning meetings for specific accounts to data entry for metrics, I’m trying to experience the whole gamut of the company all while being a help to anyone who needs it!

 

What do you do outside of work?
Before anything else, I try to spend as much time as I can hanging out and going fun places with my friends and family. Whether that’s sitting on the back porch having a good conversation to going to a game or concert, I try to fill my time with enjoyment. I’m also really big on trying new restaurants (no preference on types of food, I like everything). Other than that, I play baseball for a college summer league here in Central Ohio.

 

You’ve got one day in Columbus. What do you do?
Breakfast at Jack and Benny’s with a couple friends is a must to start the day. Then we would take our talents to Goodale Park for a couple games of whiffle ball. After playing for a while, we would snag some tacos at Balboa on Grandview Ave. Then, before dinner, we would run over to Sole Classics for some new kicks and then end the night with a Dime-a-Dog night dinner at Huntington Park for some Clippers baseball action.

 

What’s one piece of advice you would give to an agency newcomer?
Be open to take on tasks that you may be unfamiliar with and ask a ton of questions; there isn’t anyone here that doesn’t want to help out and you can learn something from everyone!

 

Give us a note you’d like to end on.
“You’re never wrong to do the right thing.” – Mark Twain

 

That’s all for now! To learn more about #teamME, click here.

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 by Stephanie Tresso

Client Missions Turned Personal Passions

Here at MurphyEpson world headquarters, we’re pretty passionate about walking, bicycling and busing (AKA active transportation). Just ask any one of us, really. Because making our communities safer, healthier and smiley-er is our passion.

May is Bike Month, also known as the most wonderful time of the year. (Except of course for National Walking Day, International Bike to School Day and International Walk to School Day… but I digress.) Let us “walk” you through the “why” behind our passion.

While walking and bicycling are great ways to exercise, travel to familiar places, explore new places and stay (or get) healthier, (bonus points for walking or riding to the bus stop) the biggest benefit to walkers or bicyclists is how much fun it can be.

Whether you’re enjoying quality time catching up with a friend or learning new ways to get around town, it’s fun and much less stressful than sitting in traffic. There is also a ton of medical research showing that bicycling and other forms of active transportation improve your health – physically and mentally (British Medical Journal, 2017). And anything that we can do to de-stress is an ah-ma-zing thing in our book.

Kids benefit from some exercise before school, too. That’s why programs like Safe Routes to School with its “walking school buses” and “bike trains” are so popular and effective. Kids enjoy the opportunity to get outdoors, spend time with friends and work off some of that early morning energy.

And, if you still don’t understand the reasoning behind our passion, the US Surgeon General issued a Call to Action in 2015 to encourage more Americans to get walking and incorporate active transportation into daily routines.

Now that you know the secret sauce, join us! Channel your inner Freddy Mercury and sing along,

“I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike!”

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 by murphyepson

Wednesday Weigh-In: April Fools’ Day Shenanigans & Stuff

If you can’t laugh at yourself and the silly curveballs life throws your way, you’re doing it wrong. It’s a cornerstone characteristic in marketing agency pros because every single day has its own set of unique challenges and changes. Don’t get us wrong, we are suckers for random acts of kindness (especially when it comes to helping save the puppies) but we can appreciate some April Fools’ Day humor just as much as the next prankster.

Without further ado, here are our favorite pranks, publications and foolish moments related to April Fools’ Day.

 

Leah: My husband’s birthday is on April Fools’ Day and no one believes him when he says it’s his birthday.

Missi: I love the show “The Office.” Jim always played the best pranks on Dwight. My favorite was when he put his stapler in Jell-O! Classic, but still hilarious.

Rachel: I was quite possibly the most gullible child to walk the earth circa 1998. My two older sisters who thought they were fluent in French convinced me to go around the neighborhood and knock on our neighbors’ doors saying “Bonjour! Je m’appelle ‘chien.’” I later found out it meant “Hello, my name is ‘dog.’” #LittleSisterLife

Stephanie: Hmmmm. I think the radio DJ faking an on-air heart attack was probably the best prank I’ve listened to.

Angela: When I was twelve, I tried to prank my mother (I know, I know, bad idea). I put a rubber band around the handle of the kitchen sink’s hose and when she went to get herself a glass a water, she got a shower instead. We had a good laugh! But I’m still sleeping with one eye open. Payback must be coming soon, right?

Nick: When I was five years old I told my Dad his shoe was untied. He looked down at his shoe and it was still tied. I shouted “April Fools!”

Cam: My graduating class put alarm clocks in our lockers and set them for 12pm-2pm so that alarms would go off in our school’s hallway every 15 minutes!

Marie: The Onion always nails it!

Mindy: A couple of coworkers I used to know would routinely take turns swapping out keyboard letters when the other was away for vacation or work. I sat in between them so every so often I’d get to hear “Dammit Teresa!” or “Dammit Ron!”

Erin: My husband and I were both design majors at OU (Go Bobcats!!), and we would stay up really late in the design lab working on projects. If I would step out for a minute, he would take a screen grab of my desktop and make it my background image. I would panic, thinking my computer was broken when I couldn’t click on anything. I would turn around and he would be laughing. You’d think I’d learn, but it literally got me EVERY time.

 

May the odds be ever in your favor this April Fools’ Day.

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 by Marie Silver Keister, APR, AICP

From the #teamME CEO: Our International Women’s Day Checklist

Happy International Women’s Day! Crank up your favorite power anthem and do a happy dance for the women who have come before you. Then, join me in celebrating the women who push boundaries, make their marks and shatter the glass ceiling.

This year’s theme, #BeBoldForChange, calls for all to work toward a more gender-inclusive world. However, unless we know tangible ways to make progress, this theme is merely a mantra. So, make it your goal this week to check off a few of the following boxes and inch our world closer to gender equality.

  • Pay it forward. So many great women mentored me. Take a half hour and mentor the young women who will follow you.
  • Ask for a pay raise. Some studies show women don’t make as much as men because they aren’t as assertive in asking for more money.
  • Take risks. Don’t wait for others to give you permission to do what you know is right for you.
  • Raise your voice. Women won the right to vote because they kept demanding it. Live up to their example and be a force for positive change.
  • Pitch a big tent. Instead of focusing on being left outside the tent, bring everyone in with you: women, men, young, old, rich, poor, a rainbow of nationalities. Pursue equality by being equitable.
  • Create your own path. Are you frustrated by the glass ceiling? Smash it and create your own business.
  • Prepare for Takeoff: Launch or fund a women-focused scholarship — especially in STEM education and careers. Here’s one of my favorites: wtsinternational.org/assets/59/22/2016_Molitoris_Application.pdf
  • Inspire others: Share one of the International Women’s Day videos on social media.

Do your part. Pull your weight. Get it done.

 

And keep this quote top of mind:

“Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”

— Unknown

 

Deemed the “fearless leader” of #teamME, Marie has a way of translating technical jargon into language we can all understand. Also, she rocked colored pantsuits far before they were trendy. Click here to read more from Marie and her business approach and #teamME philosophy.

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 by murphyepson

Random Acts of Kindness Aren’t Just for Your BFF Anymore

The holidays are over, motivation from New Year’s Resolutions has expired and all of our anticipation is focused on a beach vacation; which is all the more reason to slow down and take some time to make those around you feel special.

Enter: Random Acts of Kindness Week.

We challenged #teamME to do something nice for someone in their lives; whether it’s in the office, at home, at the gym, in line at the coffee shop, you name it. Some bought flowers for the office to enjoy, and others brought enough snacks to keep us well-fed for weeks. Marie, our fearless leader and CEO, was the proud recipient of a sleep mask for the beauty rest she deserves, Jeanna, account manager here at #teamME, received flower seeds to get her green thumb moving and our trendy social media strategist, Angela, was gifted a tiny, crocheted cactus so she finally has a plant she loves so much, without the worry of killing it. (Hey, we all can’t be great at everything.)

“RAKs” are so beneficial in building, not just personal relationships (who doesn’t want to be on the receiving end of kindness?), but also business/consumer relations; so much so that companies have increasingly adopted RAKs into their marketing strategies and public relations efforts. A few of my favorites include:

  • Panera Bread’s program, “Panera Cares,” a pay-what-you-can café at certain locations
  • AirB&B giving 100,000 costumers $10 to do a “unique act of kindness” for their #OneLessStranger campaign
  • Marks & Spencer making it snow on Christmas in Southern England where they rarely see snow
  • McDonalds starting its “Pay with Lovin” campaign which allowed random costumers across America to pay in acts of kindness, like a call to Mom

Random Acts of Kindness campaigns famously generate a lot of attention and profit for brands. Millennials are especially more concerned with what a brand stands for. Brands like TOMS, Love Your Melon and Warby Parker — all are booming in business due to their charitable efforts. Just like we want to keep the friend around who actively makes us feel appreciated, audiences want to keep the brand around that either makes them feel appreciated or makes them feel like they’re doing something good.

This might not work with every brand, business or campaign goal, but trying to incorporate more kindness is the type of marketing the world needs more of.

 

Cam Householder is a Sophomore at The Ohio State University majoring in Strategic Communications and Pre-Business. Cam has interned for #teamME for a year and never ceases to be a light in the office. (And she has some of the most beautiful calligraphy skills this side of the Mississippi.)

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 by murphyepson

Dating is Pretty Much the Same as Finding the Right Workplace for You & Here’s Why

As college seniors prepare to turn their tassels and venture out into the wild, wild workplace, we wanted to shed a little light on the job search process, highlighting how dating is pretty much the same thing as finding the right professional environment. Because even though you may not have shined your pumps and polished your tie clip for an in-person interview, you’ve probably gone on a date that ended in either googly eyes or a pint of ice cream consumed on your kitchen floor (Speaking from a friend, of course.)

 

Here’s how you can boost your chance of finding a workplace you’ll love.

 

1. Is What You Hear What You Get?

Let’s face it … things get twisted through the grapevine. Even though your friends may think they’ve found your love match, it doesn’t always mean the chemistry is present. Similarly, it’s easy to get caught up in what you’ve heard about that big, flashy agency in the heart of downtown. It may seem like glitz and glam on Instagram. And your friend may love every second of it. But that doesn’t mean that it’s the best fit for you and what your priorities are.

On the contrary, if a workplace wasn’t the best fit for your mentor or friend, don’t count it out just yet. Ask for an informational interview, grab a cup of coffee and get a firsthand account from someone you aren’t directly connected to.

 

2. Do the Sparks Fly or Fizzle?

Whether it be a restaurant or a workplace, stay in tune with how you feel from the moment you walk in the room. Does the environment energize you? Comfort you? Confuse you? Are you greeted by a smiling face? Or no one at all?

None of these answers are better or worse than another; it just depends on what you’re looking to get out of it. Just as you’ve thought about the non-negotiables in someone you would like to be with, it’s important to think about your must-haves in the place you will spend most your time.

 

3. What Exactly Are Your Intentions Here?

If you don’t see your future aligning with your current crush’s, you probably won’t waste much time pursuing him or her. Along the same lines, if you don’t see room for growth at a prospective workplace, it may not be for you. Although it can be difficult to resist the first company who takes an interest in your skillset, keep in mind that it must always be a mutually beneficial relationship. You are interviewing an employer equally as much as they are interviewing you.

 

Not every workplace you fall in love with will work out flawlessly, but if you follow your heart and never settle for less than the perfect fit, you’ll have a pretty great shot at a match. Now start asking for informational interviews and perfecting your resume. Your glass slipper (or loafer or sneaker) awaits.

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 by murphyepson

Meet Our Cbus Loving, Craft Coffee Brewing Account Manager, Mindy!

Welcome to #teamME! Tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve spent most of my life in Columbus, but also some time living in Cincinnati and the Dallas/Fort Worth area. There’s just no other city I love more, and in fact, I’m kind of an extra passionate nerd for this place!

I started my marketing and PR career at a civil engineering and architecture firm then went on to work in a similar role at the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. After that, I ventured into the world of travel and tourism, working for Experience Columbus, which is the convention and visitor’s bureau for greater Columbus.

I’m lucky to be married to my wonderful husband Ryan for nearly four years and I’m a proud fur mama to two spoiled house cats – Lexi and Chase.

 

OK, now it’s time for some rapid fire.

If you could have a cup of coffee with anyone, who would it be? Luke Fickell (I think he’s dreamy)

What’s your spirit animal? My own cat, Lexi

What was your first email address? (Don’t be shy.) mindae04@aol.com (my high school nickname was mindaaaaay and yes, I’m old enough to have been an avid aol user)

What was your first job? Dishing out soft serve ice cream at the Dairy Cream in New Albany

What’s the next country you want to travel to? It’s cliché, but France is high up on my list

If you were a Crayola crayon, what would your name be? Strawberry Red

Where did you go to college? It’s complicated! I spent four years at Miami University (Go Redhawks!), finished my undergrad at THE Ohio State University and then recently received an MBA from Ohio Dominican University.

 

Phew. What a doozy. Catch your breath and tell us what you do at MurphyEpson.
I work with a lot of our public-sector clients, coordinating outreach and engagement. I’m also part of the business development and sales team.

 

What do you do outside of work?
My more recent obsession is CrossFit. I absolutely love not just the fitness, but the fantastic community of people! Sipping craft coffee and local beer is high up on the list too. And, I’m a huge fan of binging on some Netflix. My go-to is rewatching episodes of Parks and Rec.

 

MurphyEpson has cultivated quite the culture of philanthropy. What’s your favorite way to give back to the community? Volunteering time and talent with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. They work tirelessly every day to feed our hungry neighbors and deserve an extra set of hands that can help deliver on that mission.

 

You’ve got one day in Columbus. What do you do?
I’d start the day with a craft coffee concoction from Mission Coffee. Then, I’d go to COSI for a show in the planetarium or see what’s playing on the 3D IMAX screen. Afterward, I’d hop on a Columbus Historical Society bus tour of the city or take in a Landmarks Foundation walking arts and history tour. In the evening, I’d either have dinner at Strongwater followed by drinks at Land Grant Brewing, or mosey over to German Village for Dinner at Harvest Pizza and drinks at Curio next door.

 

What’s one piece of advice you would give to an agency newcomer?
I’m one myself as I’ve spent most of my career on the client side of marketing, so share your advice with me @mindyjustis on Twitter!

 

Give us a note you’d like to end on. Don’t wish for it. Work for it.

 

Awesome! To learn more about Mindy, connect with her on LinkedIn!

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 by murphyepson

Wednesday Weigh-In: Our Must-See Holiday Movies

There’s nothing like piling on the couch with those we love and turning on a tried-and-true, favorite holiday movie as the snow falls outside. (You can’t deny that just thinking about it probably made you smile!)

So snuggle up, grab a cup of hot cocoa and add these holiday favorites to your queue from the jolly #teamME.

 

When You Need to Chuckle like Santa
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

 

When You Need a Bit of Nostalgia
It’s a Wonderful Life
Home Alone

 

When You’re Exchanging Gifts with Your Gal Pals
The Holiday

 

When You Need a Little Hope
Miracle on 34th Street

 

When You Need Your Heart to Grow Three Sizes
How the Grinch Stole Christmas

 

When the Family Gets Together
Polar Express
Elf

 

From all of us at MurphyEpson, we hope you enjoy the time you have with your families and friends this holiday season.

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