By Dee Grano

Many people know I am from Louisiana, but most probably don’t know that my career in public relations actually started when I was a junior at LSU (Geaux Tigers). By sheer accident I was hired to be a reporter at my college radio station, KLSU, and eventually advanced to news director. Upon graduating, I moved to London where I came to the very rude awakening that in most places outside of Louisiana, Mardi Gras is just a regular Tuesday. 

Upon my return to the Bayou State, I got a job as a news producer at WBRZ, the ABC affiliate in Baton Rouge, where I watched Mardi Gras parades from the control room with new appreciation. That experience in broadcast journalism prepared me well for a career in public relations. So did 23 years of king-caking and parade-going. 

Here’s what Mardi Gras taught me about PR:

Beads are not worth a fight, but cups and doubloons totally are.

When you go to a parade, the best things that get thrown from the float are the branded cups and coins, called doubloons. A skilled Mardi Gras-goer knows that scrambling on the ground for mediocre beads means you might miss catching the best stuff. Pick your battles, especially if it means winning a war.

Sometimes you get hit in the face with beads.

Once I sent an email intended to prepare a client with talking points for a tough interview to the actual reporter, instead of my client. Occasionally, I mix up the names of media outlets. “Hit” happens. The best thing you can do is take another drink and put those hands a little higher.

There’s always someone drunker than you.

You may not be the drunkest person watching the parade, but you’re sure as heck not sober. Stay humble and be honest. Help wherever and however you can.

Only tourists flash for beads.

You don’t need to watch “Girls Gone Wild” to know that some think the best way to earn quality beads is to lift their tops. I have never really understood the logic here, because if your shirt is over your face, you can’t see the beads that are being thrown to catch them. Showy PR ideas are fine, but if they’re not rooted in strategy, they usually miss the mark.

If you show up too early for the parade, you’ll miss most of it looking for a toilet.

You know I love a good plan, but if you’re not willing to be flexible, resourceful and realistic, then sometimes your plan is not worth the paper on which it’s printed.

Having lived in the Carolinas since 2004, it’s been years since I’ve been to a Louisiana Mardi Gras. When I look back, I cannot recall exact krewe names, parade themes or what I even caught. I remember the people I was with and the fun we shared. Similarly, what I love most about PR is sharing stories with people I care deeply about.

In the age of COVID-19, carnival season will look different this year. Louisiana’s streets will be quieter, and traditional parades will be replaced by walking tours of elaborate front porch displays (#kreweofhousefloats #YardiGras). As long as you’re with the ones you love, laissez les bon temps rouler (let the good times roll). 

Happy Mardi Gras, y’all.

The post What Mardi Gras Has Taught Me About PR appeared first on Kelso Communications.

Marty Kelso – Partner/Creative Director

Jeep – “The Middle”
This year’s big anthem spot (2+ minutes!) delivered, mostly because it avoided the usual trap of the grandiose in favor of the highly specific. Bruce Springsteen, warily entering the world of commercial endorsements, spoke about a little chapel in the dead center of the U.S, and what it represents for a country struggling to meet in the middle. Stark wintry imagery fit the contemplative cadences of The Boss, and the kicker for me was seeing the words “The ReUnited States of America” appear on the map. Simple, powerful, and (almost) not spoiled by the final title card with the Jeep URL.

Marcie Kelso – Partner/Director of Accounts & Strategy

Rocket Mortgage – “Certain is Better”
Fun, funny, the entire commercial is focused on the point – Rocket Mortgage removes the doubt from buying a home. Who doesn’t love Tracy Morgan?

Dee Grano – Vice President of Public Relations

Indeed – “Rising Up”
For me, this ad did a great job of owning where we are as a country, while celebrating the ambition that makes us uniquely American. For many who lost their jobs last year, Indeed played an integral role in helping them find work, even if it meant starting over. The ad depicts people at home with their children, acknowledging the sacrifices working parents have had to make, whether it be keeping their families safe or managing remote learning. More aspirationally, I celebrate the creative team’s deliberate choice to ascribe admirable attributes to characters of color. The young pregnant woman is “determined,” the single Mom is “qualified” and the Black man is “experienced.” Well done, Indeed.

 
Karen Barrett – Brand Strategist

M&M’S – “Come Together”
When I saw this commercial at the beginning of the night, I thought it may end up being my favorite. It made me laugh, poked fun at my name (when is a “Karen” joke not funny) and included Dan Levy at the end. Now I want to eat some M&M’S.

Amanda Fowler – Digital Strategist

Toyota – “Jessica Long’s Story”
Toyota introduced us to 13-time Paralympic gold medalist Jessica Long as she swims through the phone call that would change her life. The stark contrast of water beneath visuals of her childhood is partnered with the audio of a call from Jessica’s adoption agency. You are pulled into the final moment of Jessica watching her mother excitedly agree to adopt her. The message of hope and strength was powerful enough to even beat out Amazon placing Alexa in Michael B. Jordan’s body. 

Carrie Hunt – Art Director 

Frito Lay – “Twas the Night Before Super Bowl”
This spot had me from the beginning with the uber competitive Manning brothers. The snacking, the matching pajamas, the snacking, the balls in the house destroying everything in their path, the snacking, the yelling, “Go to bed!”… I felt like this was taken right out of the playbook at my house. 

From a more serious perspective, I’m with Marty on Jeep’s “The Middle.” This one indeed delivered. The words really captured me and hearing it from the legendary Bruce Springsteen made it that much more impactful. My hope is that everyone in our nation heard those words and took them to heart. 

Kristi Sweeny – Account Supervisor

GM – “No Way Norway”
While I loved the message behind the Jeep ad, I was on the hunt for spots that made me chuckle this year. I mean, who couldn’t use a laugh these days? Both GM’s “No Way Norway” and M&M’S “Come together” spots were touchdowns for me. It’s hard not to resist Will Farrell, poking fun at “Karens” and gender reveal parties, and Dan Levy, of course. Both were funny, relevant (yay for more electric vehicles!) and stood out a bit from the rather ho-hum pack of spots during this year’s game.

The post The Best of 2021 Super Bowl Commercials appeared first on Kelso Communications.

We may not want to dwell on what we went through in 2020, but there’s a lot to be proud of in how we got through it. The Kelso Communications holiday card summed a lot of that up as we showed the perfectly coiffed Zoom view right above all the real-life craziness happening just below. 

Go behind-the-scenes with us as we show the full photos from our holiday card shoot and reflect a bit on 2020, including a cathartic look at what we’re happy to let go of and what we’ll bring with us into 2021. 

Marcie Kelso – Partner/Director of Accounts and Strategy

What will you NOT miss about 2020?

I will not miss not being able to meet new people. While Zoom and other technology have been fabulous ways to keep in touch and even get back in touch with old friends, I miss all the people you meet while waiting in line, mingling and going about what we used to call our normal lives.

What positive thing did you learn in 2020 that you’ll take with you into the new year?

I learned that I really like my family. Marty and I already had a high tolerance for each other, hence also being able to be business partners, but I’ve treasured the time we spent with each other and our adult children. As our kids go into the world I want to make sure we continue to frequently spend time together. I also learned that the talented members of the Kcomm team kick ass under crazy circumstances and for that I am grateful.

Marty Kelso – Partner/Creative Director

What will you NOT miss about 2020?

The apparently bottomless drop in the gut when contemplating all that has been lost. But we are also fortunate to have the example of countless generations who made their way through times of tragedy and adversity. Resilience can trump fragility. That’s just a dang fact. So, onward. 

What positive thing did you learn in 2020 that you’ll take with you into the new year?

Focusing on what matters. Family. Friends. Work. Down time. Simple pleasures. I’ve been amazed by the spirit, resourcefulness and good humor of my coworkers, rallying around our clients’ changing needs. Marcie and I have loved having our kids at home, for extended intervals, without always needing to dash off to meet their friends. Although the coffee consumption has been off the chain. That unwelcome icon of the pandemic, Joe Exotic, put it best: “I am never gonna financially recover from this!”

Dee Grano – Vice President of Public Relations

What will you NOT miss about 2020?

VIRTUAL LEARNING! My family is full of dedicated educators, and never once in my life have I thought, “Teaching can’t be that hard.” Having to promote my own children’s learning has given me an even greater appreciation for our principals, teachers, teaching assistants, speech and occupational therapists. Educators are extraordinary and they have met every challenge of 2020 with creativity, grace and patience. I also won’t miss working at home in my dining room/virtual learning cave/playroom/cardboard box repository, and taking phone calls in my laundry room.

What positive thing did you learn in 2020 that you’ll take with you into the new year?

We are all helpers. During the challenges of this year, many of the people we have the pleasure of working with have sacrificed a great deal to step up. We work with nurses and doctors who raised their hands to work COVID-19 testing clinics. We’ve helped advocates trying to get the word out about stimulus checks, unemployment benefits and other life-saving supports for working families. We’ve told the story of the people behind the facemasks who work tirelessly to keep our community safe. And others who kept working, even during a furlough, to move forward. Our capacity to care and fight for others gives me hope for the future.

Karen Barrett – Brand Strategist

What will you NOT miss about 2020?

I will not miss the range of emotions felt this year: disappointment from canceled trips and missed opportunities for my kids, sadness over all the people lost this year and others sick from COVID, concern over making sure all of my family and friends remain healthy and safe, and the overall politicization of the pandemic. Ugh to all of it!

What positive thing did you learn in 2020 that you’ll take with you into the new year?

My number one takeaway from this year is learning how resilient and adaptable we can be. My kids have embraced virtual school and their teachers are working so hard. We have loved being together as a family and taken the time to appreciate the perks of being home 24/7. And Leo the basset hound has never been happier! While beach vacations were canceled over the summer, we made wonderful new memories, like outside movie nights and roasting s’mores. Attitude can be a mindset and it’s much more tolerable to be a “glass half full” kind of person (especially during a pandemic).

Amanda Fowler – Digital Strategist

What will you NOT miss about 2020?

I won’t miss reading a CDC study on the time COVID-19 stays active on surfaces just to help me decide on the best way to check the mail. Or having a system to separate clean and contaminated items in my purse. There’s a constant anxiety that has weighed on every choice and I will not miss giving up the space those things occupy in my brain.

What positive thing did you learn in 2020 that you’ll take with you into the new year?

I’ve learned that it doesn’t take elaborate planning, a vacation, or dinner and a concert to spend time with people I love. We’ve had just as much fun playing cards in the basement and learning to make ravioli. I bought one of those five-year journals where you write just a sentence or two and it’s been nice to end each day finding the little things that have been special or made me laugh.

Carrie Hunt – Art Director

What will you NOT miss about 2020?

The plethora of vocabulary words and phrases we’ve had to add to everyday life: SOCIAL DISTANCING, REMOTE LEARNING, QUARANTINE, CDC, WHO, WFH, WTF(!), SHUTDOWN, SH*T SHOW (that may just be me). There are many more, but I need to stop. I can feel my blood pressure rising. 

What positive thing did you learn in 2020 that you’ll take with you into the new year?

I am in gracious awe of watching my little family come together through 2020. Not once have my boys complained about remote learning, missing sports and vacations, or simply doing things differently. We’ve had bigger belly laughs, warmer hugs and more conversations. We’ve slowed down the crazy schedules and had more dedicated time together. I will forever be grateful for time to stand still long enough for us to realize just how much we love each other. I hope we can all recognize the need for that as things slowly get back to normal. 

Kristi Sweeny – Account Supervisor

What will you NOT miss about 2020?

I won’t miss the extreme planning that had to go into every.single.thing throughout 2020: which school plan to choose for the kids, making sure you had enough toilet paper well before you may run out, ALLLLLLL the meal planning, etc. I also won’t miss the lack of human connection. I’ve always been a people person so this year has been particularly hard. Technology is amazing but there’s nothing like sitting in a coffee shop enjoying a great conversation with a friend. I’ll never take that or seeing someone’s smile for granted ever again!

What positive thing did you learn in 2020 that you’ll take with you into the new year?

Believe it or not, there were lots of positives in 2020. For one, I’ve never been more grateful for my family and how we’ve come together during this crazy, bizarre time. Definite silver linings of this challenging year. I’ve also learned that it’s okay (and necessary) to slow down and just be. I’m a non-stop kind of woman but being forced off the crazy hamster wheel has been a very good thing.

The post Lessons From 2020 (+ What We’re Happily Ditching) appeared first on Kelso Communications.

So many well-planned projects, plans and strategies haven’t just been put on hold. They’ve been placed squarely in the trash as the pandemic we’re in continues. The bright side? Many of the lessons we’ve learned are ones that will continue to serve us well after the pandemic has ended. 

As you’re building your “new normal” (also on the cringe list), here are four things we’re taking away from this “unprecedented” time.

1. An AUTHENTIC Picture Speaks 1,000 Words

Today, we are well-conditioned to mask-wearing when social distancing is not possible. As the pandemic hit, the importance of wearing a mask was only starting to become common knowledge as healthcare professionals educated the public. Suddenly, brands found themselves at a loss for up-to-date imagery that included masked individuals in a variety of situations. 

While there was a period of time where continued use of “unmasked” photography may have been permissible for many organizations, that was not so with our colleagues at Tryon Medical Partners. Tryon communications bore a responsibility to educate the public as we moved quickly to share the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 from common symptoms to the satellite testing sites that opened just four days after the first confirmed case in Charlotte. It was our responsibility to share and model safe practices not just in our written messaging, but visually as well.

Rather than taking the time of Tryon’s medical staff for a photoshoot in the midst of a pandemic, we coordinated with staff who shared their own photos right from the front lines. As marketers, we often put pressure on ourselves to preen every visual to perfection, but authentic imagery sends a stronger message than any perfectly produced photo ever could. And this proved itself true in the analytics. 

Texted selfies from masked team partners became the key imagery on Tryon’s homepage and, month after month, the content we’ve curated in partnership with staff has been the most popular across all social media channels. The story of nurse Janet Cline who created homemade masks with clear panels to allow deaf patients to lip read became the most popular piece of content ever shared.

For an organization that prides itself on putting patient relationships first, authentic communication is a linchpin of our style and tone. While in some cases these images may be considered “unrefined,” they have done nothing but refine our process and put into practice the strategies we’ll use well beyond the pandemic. 

2. Think About Who You’re Pitching FOR as Much as Who You’re Pitching TO

Audience definition work is the critical infrastructure upon which any successful communications work is built. In traditional public relations, we talk a lot about who we are pitching TO, but not as much about who we are pitching FOR. Both are equally important and our work with Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy illustrates that point.

In a prior engagement, Kcomm assisted Legal Services of Southern Piedmont with rebranding efforts, including the decision to change its name to “Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy.” As part of this process, we worked extensively on identifying and personifying their audiences – who they were, what they needed to hear and most importantly, what we wanted them to do. 

Fast forward to this year. When Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy needed to educate the public on the availability of their COVID-19 related legal services, they reached back out to Kcomm. Our prior research and experience helped them with communicating their commitment to changing the systems that disproportionately challenge the generationally poor. It also helped us create an emergency PR plan focused on media relations, ready to implement within days. 

In four months we earned more than 20 placements. Beyond the number and high quality of the content, our success is measured in the careful crafting of stories perfectly matched to the outlet designed to generate awareness and requests for help among those who need it most.

3. Don’t Throw Out the (Branding) Baby

Canopy Realtor®️ Association is one of the Southeast’s largest trade associations for Realtors®️, with more than 12,000 members across the Charlotte region and western North Carolina. We kicked off 2020 by developing a campaign to illustrate the value of working with a professional when buying or selling a home, anchored by the theme, “With a Realtor®️, you see it all.” Graphics focused on the deeper understanding a Realtor®️ brings to the issues you may not see at first glance or under the surface: confusing words in a closing contract, highway expansion encroaching on an otherwise idyllic dream home, faulty wiring or foundation settling in a seemingly picture-perfect kitchen. The campaign launched and all was good. Then March hit. 

Suddenly, the mere thoughts of visiting a home, welcoming strangers at an open house, or even standing within six feet of your Realtor®️ all sent up big red flags. We needed to communicate a message of safety and reassurance, which was especially important in the spring, the year’s most active real estate season. 

So we created a sub-campaign with the same look and strategy, but with one essential word added: “With a Realtor®️, you see it all safely.” The graphics evolved to creatively reveal the CDC-recommended guidelines that Realtors®️ would follow in the new no-contact, hand sanitizer-drenched world, and a primary visual featured a welcome mat proclaiming, “Home Safe Home.” 

Thinking fast is the name of the game in marketing. With Canopy, we took a hard (and quick) look at the landscape in order to truly “see it all,” and the resulting sub-campaign supports our client’s time-sensitive message without diluting the impact of their core brand promise. 

4. There’s Strength in Sensitivity

Without a crystal ball in hand, we started the year with a new campaign to attract police officer recruits to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD). It was all about the benefits of life in the dynamic, fast-growing city of Charlotte. This Work/Life concept focused on the off-duty hours, and officers were invited to… Mingle with the crowd at an NBA game! Gather with friends at a brewery! Hit the soccer field with the team! Meet a date at a trendy (and packed) restaurant!

We could go on, but you get the idea. And the challenges. Maskless communal life just couldn’t be a thing anymore, especially when advertising for a police force, where safety is a fundamental part of the mission. 

But even in a pandemic — especially in a pandemic — we needed to communicate that Charlotte is still a dynamic place. The necessary change would come from showcasing the spirit of a strong community, if not the up-close-and-personal aspects of it. Masks became part of the CMPD uniform, and we hit the streets on foot and on bikes to photograph officers against the skyline, as well as in conversation with (also masked) citizens. 

Messaging conveyed Charlotte’s ability to come together to face any challenge: “A community of strength.” “Stronger together.” “In this together.” Yes, the look is more severe. But the compassion and support inherent in civil service work now shines through in a whole new light.

The post Four Takeaways From Communicating in a Pandemic appeared first on Kelso Communications.

As Tryon Medical Partners’ agency of record from the inception of the practice, Kcomm has played a pivotal role in brand development, messaging, patient communications and public relations. Even before the practice opened its doors on September 5, 2018, Kcomm has worked with physicians and leadership staff to differentiate the independent practice, founded on the principle that stronger relationships lead to better health. From the Tryon Medical Partners logo to the website photography and award-winning digital strategy, all communication and content is rooted in honesty, warmth and encouragement. As we faced the unprecedented challenge of communicating in a pandemic, we stayed true to these ideals – thinking first and foremost of how to strengthen and support the patient-doctor relationship.

In the early weeks of coronavirus communication, we released information via Tryon Medical’s “Health Hacks” email newsletter and dedicated a page of its website to COVID-19 updates and FAQs, updated daily, with relevant links to the CDC and NCDHHS. As we told patients to “put aside panic and prepare,” Tryon Medical’s coronavirus task force was stockpiling PPE, troubleshooting “drive-through” testing and drafting protocols for staff to follow. We defined and continued to refine what patients and the public would need to know in worst-case scenarios. By the time coronavirus was confirmed in Charlotte on March 12, we had patient-facing email drafts ready for review and a press release prepared to announce Tryon Medical’s first remote testing site to keep COVID-19 out of the offices, and healthy patients safe.

Four days later, Tryon Medical opened one of Charlotte’s first satellite COVID-19 testing sites at an abandoned Rite Aid. Again, an early-morning patient email dropped hours before the media was notified that patient testing would start at noon. We knew the media would be hungry to localize this global story, with easy outdoor shots of people “getting swabbed” in a parking lot. It was important that we helped the media tell the story of COVID-19 testing, without divulging patient privacy or contributing to the anxiety of the sick and scared. In two hours, we filmed, edited and distributed an electronic press kit of Tryon Medical’s first remote testing clinic. 

In the weeks that followed, in-office visits for well patients converted almost entirely to virtual visits in compliance with North Carolina’s stay-at-home order. With so few office staff needed and no COVID-19 end in sight, Tryon Medical made the gut-wrenching decision to lay off 25% of its staff. We communicated that news to the media with transparency and industry insight. When the doctors determined it was safe for patients to return to the offices for their annual wellness checks, we changed gears immediately telling the story of Terry Brown, a patient whose annual wellness check revealed an asymptomatic and potentially life-threatening condition. Terry’s story and “Five Reasons to Schedule Your In-Person Annual Wellness Check” have registered more than 10,000 pageviews.

Our communications team continues to respond to countless requests from the media on everything from antibody testing to COVID-19 pool safety. We earned more than 200 media placements and registered in excess of 100,000 pageviews on our COVID-19 webpage. Our email communications average open rates around 50%, and patients often post messages in appreciation of our communications balancing the honesty and reassurance they have come to expect from their Tryon Medical care teams.

As the pandemic progressed, it became challenging to discern whether or not it was appropriate to communicate non-COVID-19 topics. We surveyed doctors to see what issues were of most concern to their patients. The results were clear: patients were struggling with their mental health, depression, anxiety and isolation. We worked with a Tryon Medical physician double-boarded in internal medicine and psychiatry on a May 19 Facebook Live event titled, “Tryon Talks: Mental Health in a Pandemic.” Feedback was extraordinarily positive and the broadcast earned 1,100 views on Facebook alone. 

Throughout the summer, our communications have balanced keeping patients updated on COVID-19 with helping them find a new normal. From “Face Mask 101” to COVID-19 safe travel tips, our resource articles, patient profiles and social media content continue to receive thousands of pageviews. 

This fall, we eagerly await confirmation that our next message will be welcome news to the whole world: that Tryon Medical and their clinical partners will have found a COVID-19 vaccine.

The post Communicating From the COVID-19 Front Line with Tryon Medical Partners appeared first on Kelso Communications.

Marty Kelso, Partner/Creative Director

A 678-page novel about the origins of a superhero comic book?

Yes, please.

Finally digging into “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.”

Michael Chabon packs more gorgeous, evocative language and imagery into one paragraph than you’ll find on an entire library shelf. 

Dee Grano, Vice President of Public Relations

Though a great student in performing arts, math and science, I never enjoyedsocial studies or geography. I find historical fiction to be a great way to study an imaginative snapshot in time and motivate my own research. The “Narcos” series on Netflix is the best of both worlds. The original series about the rise of the Columbian cartels and spin-off of the Mexican cocaine trafficking machine is endlessly fascinating. Of course, one should never watch a TV show and take it as fact; for me, reading the real history, context and backstory is part of the fun. 

Bonus pick: As a working mother of a two-year-old and a special needs child, balancing everything is hard on a good day, let alone during a pandemic. I highly recommend the series “Workin’ Moms” for other mothers who need a 30-minute laugh. It’s raunchy and ridiculous, but rings totally true. An episode with a cocktail after a bubble bath is like a little vacation!

Amanda Fowler, Digital Strategist

Something has died during quarantine and it isn’t just your social life. I’ve been playing Hunt a Killer, a game where you join a detective agency and sort through evidence to solve a murder. Each “episode” in a series of six comes in the mail and you work to eliminate suspects. Your evidence locker might include police records, maps, witness statements and phone records.

My husband and I work the case together and, dare I say, we’ve been watching less TV during the stay-at-home order than we do on a regular basis. You can also order all six episodes to come at once so instead of binging “Tiger King” you can binge an entire murder case. If you’re a true crime fanatic like I am, this is a fun way to play along, rather than just listening to a podcast.

Karen Barrett, Brand Strategist

I’ve had Celeste Ng’s “Little Fires Everywhere” on my reading list for years now (it came out in 2017, after all) and yet I could not resist watching the newly released eight-episode miniseries on Hulu, starring and produced by Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington (among others).

The show follows the life of these two mothers of different backgrounds in 1990s Ohio, and is so perfectly cast and bingeable. I feel like it’s always a good sign when the author signs on to the project and Ng is a producer here. With two episodes left to go, I’m trying to savor it before moving on to the book. I know, I know, you’re supposed to read the book first and then watch the movie (or show) but I can’t resist a Reese Witherspoon production (“Big Little Lies,” anyone?! And that is one where I did read–and love–the book first!).

Kcomm looks forward to seeing our friends and clients in person again soon. Until then, happy reading and watching and playing. We are hoping everyone is safe and healthy. And now, just a little less bored.

Carrie Hunt, Art Director

Coincidentally like Karen, I’ve also had Celeste Ng’s “Little Fires Everywhere” on my reading list. It’s been sitting on my nightstand for almost a year now, desperately wanting to be read. I had every intention of reading it before it came to the small screen. But even now with all of this time at home, I haven’t picked it up or even looked at the ten other books stacked up with it. I haven’t updated my watch list on Netflix or even really indulged in my old lunchtime favorite, “Days of Our Lives!” No, I have been channeling my inner Martha Stewart and Bob Villa.

For my birthday in March, I bought a 12″ sliding miter saw and a pneumatic brad nailer. I’ve built myself a new workbench and plan on refreshing my house, starting with my powder room. Board and batten measurements, check. New light fixture, check. Fresh paint, check. Sketching out plans for the rest of the downstairs, check check. 

Pretty sure I’ll be a shoo-in for the next HGTV show where they rescue poor DIYers that have gotten in over their head. 

Marcie Kelso, Partner

The phenomenon of the virtual happy hour has allowed me the opportunity to continue a 40+ year conversation with some of my best friends. Every Thursday, Kempsville High School’s finest are talking about current events, politics and life, just as we have since the eighties around a lunch room table.

Yes, we were the nerds, and we’ve stayed close. We are college English, African American lit and gerontology professors, a K-12 teacher, an attorney, a newspaper editor, a leader of drug distribution in Africa, and an agency partner. I am grateful for the gift I’ve had of great friends throughout my life and for the ability to maintain close friendships over time.

Kristi Sweeny, Account Supervisor

Now that our kids are getting a little older, we’re always on the hunt for fun family games –  especially these days. Thanks to a friend’s recommendation, we discovered our newest fam fave: Not Parent Approved, a hilarious, kid-friendly take on Cards Against Humanity. It’s perfect for kids ages 8+ and doesn’t take forever to play (I’m looking at you, Monopoly). I mean, whose kid doesn’t love an opportunity to say booger juice, fart and grandma in the same sentence? We’ve been laughing our way through quarantine after this gem showed up! 

The post Gimme Shelter – Kcomm Recommendations for Quarantine Survival appeared first on Kelso Communications.

Art also defines cities and Charlotte is home to vibrant, talented artists and organizations creating and developing work that is uniquely ours. As Charlotte has difficult conversations about how we’ll fund the arts in our community, we’ve thought more about how art has impacted each of us. Members of Team Kcomm asked ourselves the question, “What does art mean to you?” We hope you’ll ask yourself the same and share your own thoughts.

Marty Kelso
Partner/Creative Director, The Greaser and The Pirate 

What does art mean to you?
“The only way for me to answer this is to picture a world without art. And the only picture that emerges is drab Soviet Bloc architecture with everyone shuffling around zombie-like in the same shapeless uniform. Real 1984 stuff. Sure, you may be alive, but are you living? 

The arts add the color, the jolt, the joy, the danger, the comedy, the search for meaning and the brain-bending perspectives that make us question, but more importantly, make us free. We’re talking about a primal need here. I agree with Dutch philosopher, Erasmus: “When I get a little money, I buy books; if any is left, I buy food and clothes.”

Marcie Kelso
Partner/Director of Accounts and Strategy, Sarah Heartburn/Eva Green (pet names from my mother and father respectively)

What does art mean to you?
“My father was an engineer who went to college on a music scholarship. My mother was a ballerina in her youth. Sundays in my house were filled with Broadway show tunes from my father’s cast soundtracks, accompanied by my mother dancing. My first experience with theater and film was as a three-year-old on “Romper Room.” 

Film and theater allowed me to catch early glimpses of the world, gave me my closest lifelong friends, and influenced my views socially and politically. My love of the arts even led me to Marty Kelso – we met in an acting class in college, performing a scene from “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” How’s that for an auspicious first date? (If this play is before your time, Google it).”

Dee Grano
Vice President of Public Relations, Award-Winning Madonna Impersonator  

What does art mean to you?
“This may come as a shock to everyone, but I was a theater major. I discovered my love of the performing arts in eighth grade, shortly after I transferred to a Catholic school in the middle of the year. Everyone already had their friend groups and not many were willing to reach out until I was cast in a school play. I found myself on stage, in a red formal dress and blonde wig, covered in thick makeup and rhinestones, lip synching to Madonna’s “Material Girl.” (Performing this at a Catholic school was my first introduction to dramatic irony.) The next day, I was invited to sit at the cool kids’ table for lunch.  

Being in that play didn’t change who I was. It helped me see that being myself was plenty good enough. At a very difficult time in my family’s life, theater gave me a place to escape, make new friends and create something magical. I performed all through high school, college and beyond. I acted professionally here and there, and even won a couple of awards. 

My theater experience taught me confidence, teamwork, resilience and how to think critically, making a dramatic impact on my life, pun intended.”

Karen Barrett
Brand Strategist, Broadway Musical Fangirl 

What does art mean to you?
“It’s almost impossible to define what art means to me and my family in just a few words. I have loved theater all my life, performing in musical theater in high school and college and minoring in it, as well. My husband is an artist with a degree in illustration so art is something that is a vital part of our children’s daily lives, whether it be singing along to Broadway soundtracks, drawing or painting at the kitchen table, seeing live theater (which we do often) or visiting museums (also a family favorite). Art is excitement, art is passion, art is unifying, art is the element of surprise, art is open-minded, art is motivating, art is universal, art is a teacher and guide, art is impactful and art is everything to us.”

Amanda Fowler
Digital Strategist, Living Room Interpretive Dance Performer 

What does art mean to you?
“I grew up with an appreciation of art but my relationship with it deepened during a six-and-a-half-year tenure on the marketing team at Charlotte Ballet. As a bit of an introvert, my emotions are less on my sleeve and more encased in Russian doll layers of boxes. My first day on the job, I sat in a dress rehearsal of a performance showcasing new works for the company. Enthralled in the artistry, I found myself with tears rolling down my cheeks next to the boss I’d just met hours before. Since then I’ve been known to cry in public at countless performances and exhibitions.

Art has the ability to elicit emotion like little else I’ve experienced. It mutes the activity of the day, the relentless spinning thoughts in my brain and the anxieties of everyday life. It catapults me into stories, realities and relationships outside of my own experiences and my life is richer for it. 

Though I haven’t performed publicly since a choreographed routine to C+C Music Factory’s “Everybody Dance Now” in my elementary school talent show, I will continue sharing new moves with my dogs in the living room.”

Kristi Sweeny
Account Supervisor, Dancing Machine 

What does art mean to you?
“My mom loves to tell the story of my first dance recital at age two when I was petrified to walk onto the stage at the Theater of Performing Arts in New Orleans. I cried and cried but finally joined the others and once I stepped foot on that stage, I didn’t want to leave. I guess you can say the rest is history as I went on to dance for more than 20 years and never passed up an opportunity to be on stage – whether it was my debut as Diana Ross in the middle school lip sync contest (took home the gold two years in a row) or dancing with a group of California Raisins (remember those?!) in the summer camp talent show. I’ve even been known to put brush to canvas from time to time. 

During my formative years, the arts gave me a way to develop and express my creative side, helped me gain confidence, gave me a community that became like family and opened my eyes to the beauty that surrounds us – and for those things I am eternally grateful. These days, I love sharing my passion of the arts with my two children by enjoying cultural experiences of all types with them.”

The post Kcomm Loves the Arts appeared first on Kelso Communications.

Here are the Kcomm team’s favorite Super Bowl commercials of 2020:

Marty Kelso – Partner/Creative Director

Winner: Jeep’s “Groundhog Day”
“It took Bill Murray to rise above the evening’s aggressive parade of camp and cheese, with a well-edited rehash of the 90s hit movie featuring some lovable moments with a remarkably expressive critter.”

Runner-Up: Mountain Dew’s “As Good As the Original”

Karen Barrett – Brand Strategist 

Winner: Hyundai’s “Smaht Pahk”
“This commercial captured my attention immediately for two reasons: 1) I’m originally from Massachusetts so it made me smile and I appreciated those Bostonians featured and 2) the commercial clearly showcases a solution to a very relatable problem (needing some extra assistance with parking). Due to its creative, comic approach (playing off the old SNL sketch), I easily remembered the name Smart Park and that it was from Hyundai. Well done.”

The post Our Favorite 2020 Super Bowl Commercials appeared first on Kelso Communications.