An update and thank you from Rainbows United recently came across my desk. It announced that the nonprofit’s 8^th-annual Fashion Passion fundraiser drew a record attendance – and funds. The runway show and auction – appropriately titled “Runway” – sold out more than a month in advance and generated $190,000 in revenue, a 21 percent higher return. (more…)

Thanks to longtime client Patrick Sniffin with Signature Flight Support, my colleague Kevin Jenks and I are San Diego-bound next week. We’ll be attending our first-ever NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, January 14-18. Patrick’s been telling us how great the conference is, and we’ve decided it’s high time we experience it ourselves. (more…)

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

If you’re thinking of visiting the new Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas – do it. Chris and I recently went on a private tour arranged by the WSU Ulrich Museum and it is, without doubt, the Midwest’s most impressive major museum. Built by Walmart heiress Alice Walton, the building was designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie. The permanent collection spans five centuries of masterworks ranging from the Colonial era to the current day. And not all the beauty’s inside. The museum’s 120-acre grounds lets you immerse yourself in the Ozark landscape and outdoor sculptures nestled into the forest. The experience outweighs the almost 5-hour drive from Wichita. Go.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

With the New Year comes resolutions, a refreshed outlook on life and – new this year – sponsored stories in your Facebook news feed.

Starting in early January, Facebook users will start to see these ads. These sponsored stories will look the same as other postings appearing in the news feed, but will be distinguished by a link that reads “Sponsored” below the post. (Mobile users won’t initially see the stories, but that’s planned for later in the spring.) (more…)

Full disclosure. Growing up with an aviation photographer for a dad influences my belief in the power of visual storytelling. That said, the facts are also on my side.

The Wharton School of Business reports that quality video can increase retention up to 50 percent over print and accelerates buying decisions by as much as 72 percent. Forrester Research predicts a 70+ percent growth in online video advertising next year.

So, my question to you, what are your plans for video in 2012? If you’re still in the planning phase, here are some examples to prime the creative pump. (more…)

Straight-shooting, plain-talking Spirit AeroSystems CEO Jeff Turner summed up his aviation forecast in one sentence: “People want to fly.” Those in the full-to-capacity Airport Hilton ballroom signaled their approval of this frank phrase. (more…)

I received a T-shirt at a recent fundraiser. Smart, I thought. What a nice, useful thank you for my donation. More important, it gave me a way to further the cause. Wear the T-shirt the next time I went to the gym and chat up the event when I got the inevitable question. And, honestly, I would have. The color was good. The design was nice. But the size appeared to be XXXL and the neckline was humongous. Not crew. Not v-neck. But a deep, wide scoop. A man couldn’t wear it. And most woman wouldn’t want to.

So, what I’d like to say is if you’re developing a branded piece of clothing or a specialty item – sweat the details. Do all you can in the hopes the recipient will use it – and love it. (more…)

We do a lot of thinking about new business and what we look for in a new client. Which makes us think that current and prospective clients probably give equal thought to what they’d ideally like in an agency.

We’ll show you our list if you show us yours. (more…)

Greteman Group client United States Aircraft Insurance Group recently assembled all its managers from around North America to strategize and plan for its near- and long-term future. One of the many exciting initiatives USAIG has to share with company leaders is its dynamic, new brand. It truly soars.

A striking, unexpected look positions USAIG as the progressive, customer-first company it is. Equally important, for the first time in its long-and-distinguished history, USAIG has a consistent visual and verbal vocabulary. Team members across the country can now present a unified front. (more…)

Ashley Bowen Cook and Kevin Jenks congratulate Mr. Learjet himself, Clay Lacy.

We often say that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before. Usually we don’t mean that quite so literally. Seated randomly at a table for the Kansas Aviation Museum’s annual gala and Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame induction ceremony, I was greeted by a familiar face – one I hadn’t seen for many years. (more…)