Purpose-Driven Branding Agency, Johnson & Sekin, Expands their Footprint to Denver with the Launch of Camp Purpose

Johnson & Sekin Camp Purpose

DALLAS and DENVERNov. 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Johnson & Sekin, a purpose-driven branding and advertising agency creating impact for brands and causes, announced today their expansion to the Denver region with the launch of Camp Purpose, an immersive workshop experience tailored around the discovery of purpose for brands, teams, and organizations. Located on the mountainside in Pine, Colorado, the 34-acre property, known as Meadow Creek, will serve as Johnson & Sekin’s first-ever satellite office outside of Dallas and as the off-site location for teams from around the country to travel to and experience Camp Purpose.

“We are incredibly proud to be making this investment in the Denver region,” said Chris Sekin, co-founder of Johnson & Sekin. “For more than twelve years, we’ve brought purpose-driven campaigns to life for our national and local partners, their employees, and customers. Camp Purpose allows us to scale that impact to more companies, enabling teams and individuals to do their best and most fulfilling work in their career and in life.”

Part experiential retreat and part strategic brainstorm, Camp Purpose is a defining experience where leaders and team members connect for multiple consecutive days at Meadow Creek. Camp Purpose is led by an experienced branding and positioning team that coordinates a custom multi-day experience for teams to get a fresh perspective, create new connections, and walk away inspired to build a better future.

“The world looks different today because the pandemic changed all of us,” said Kat Kornegay, chief purpose officer at Johnson & Sekin. “Camp Purpose offers a new approach to company impact, employee culture, and social issues through guided conversations and creates a space where people can speak their minds freely. We’ve spent our careers helping organizations find their purpose and we have seen firsthand the impact that defining purpose can have on a growing business. We are excited to launch this new offering and expand our purpose-driven impact and reach around the world.”

Founded in 2008, Johnson & Sekin has built a trusted name in the advertising industry through their award-winning work with big-name brands such as Caliber Collision, JCPenney, Fossil, and Chili’s. The agency has also led initiatives to raise awareness for the American Heart Association, The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, Genesis Women’s Shelter, and the National Down Syndrome Society. Their expansion to Denver follows the agency’s growing presence in the Colorado region, working with brands like Local Hive Honey, Butterfly Pavilion, and Boyer’s Coffee to create a more sustainable future.

About Johnson & Sekin
Johnson & Sekin is a purpose-driven advertising agency focused on helping brands articulate and amplify their purpose, both internally and externally. Led by distinguished creatives, Kent Johnson and Chris Sekin, the agency channels a passion for people, purpose, and unexpected ideas to fulfill its mission of growing good. Founded in 2008, Johnson & Sekin has become a trusted name in the advertising industry, earning countless awards for their work driving impact across a variety of industries including consumer packaged goods, restaurants, automotive, arts & entertainment, higher education, and nonprofits. For more information, visit johnsonandsekin.com.

SOURCE Johnson & Sekin

Purpose-Driven Branding and Advertising Agency, Johnson & Sekin, Announces the Formation of its C-Suite

DALLASJan. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Johnson & Sekin, a Dallas-based advertising and branding agency championing the power of purpose in business, announced today the formation of its C-suite appointments.

  • Shannon Phillips is appointed chief design officer and will oversee all design and innovation aspects of products and services. She has been with Johnson & Sekin in leading design roles since 2010.
  • Kat Kornegay is appointed chief purpose officer and will oversee all functions of helping brands, teams, and organizations uncover and amplify their greater purpose within business models and across industries. Kat joined the company as an account director in 2013.
  • Emily Florio is appointed chief strategy officer and will provide transformational business strategy and data-driven insights across their brands and teams. Emily joined the company in 2020 as director of strategy.
  • Jessica Wescott is appointed chief financial officer. Jessica joined Johnson & Sekin in January 2022 to lead the financial strategy, planning, and growth. She previously served as COO and CFO of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop.

“We are extremely proud to put a strong C-suite team in place to support the growth and impact of our business,” said Kent Johnson, co-founder and art director for Johnson & Sekin. “Our vision of the future begins with purpose and all four of these individuals bring a high level of expertise that is unmatched across the industry to the brands we are privileged to work alongside.”

The formation of the C-suite comes on the heels of the agency’s recently announced expansion to Denver and the launch of Camp Purpose, an immersive workshop experience where brands, organizations, and people can uncover and articulate their purpose in work and life.

Shannon Phillips, Chief Design Officer 
Shannon has been with Johnson & Sekin for more than 11 years, and as the design conscience of the agency, leads a talented team that designs everything from logos, labels, packaging, print ads, and websites to full brand identities. Her creative work has been recognized by The One Show, Lürzer’s Archive, AAF ADDYs, and more.

Kat Kornegay, Chief Purpose Officer
Throughout her nearly decade-long career at Johnson & Sekin, Kat’s creative strategy and calculated execution has been instrumental in growing the agency’s client services and its digital experience arm. She has become a voice for purpose both internally and externally, helping team members and clients find and articulate their purpose, leading to more fulfillment and brand success. In 2020, Kat was named a Top 20 Women in Advertising by AAF Dallas.

Emily Florio, Chief Strategy Officer
Since joining the team in 2020, Emily brought more than two decades of experience working on both the agency and client-side in a number of strategy and marketing positions. She loves understanding the “why” and shaping the “how” for brands big and small.

Jessica Wescott, Chief Financial Officer
Jessica previously served as the chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, where she was instrumental in bringing on Johnson & Sekin as the current Agency of Record. She brings more than a decade of operations, financial and client-facing experience with a focus on data-driven insights to analyze businesses and make growth decisions.

About Johnson & Sekin
Johnson & Sekin is a purpose-driven branding and advertising agency focused on helping brands articulate and amplify their purpose, both internally and externally. Led by distinguished creatives, Kent Johnson and Chris Sekin, the agency channels a passion for people, purpose, and unexpected ideas to fulfill its mission of growing good. Founded in 2008, Johnson & Sekin has become a trusted name in the advertising industry, earning countless awards for their work driving impact across a variety of industries including consumer packaged goods, restaurants, automotive, arts & entertainment, higher education, and nonprofits. For more information on Johnson & Sekin, visit johnsonandsekin.com.

SOURCE Johnson & Sekin

New Kid on the (Zoom) Block: Starting a Job Remotely

JandS Zoom

Some folks would say the most nerve-racking part about landing a new gig would be the interview process that precedes it. And—in most circumstances—those folks would be right. But this year, in true 2020-2021 fashion, things look a little different and the only challenge bigger than those countless rounds of interviews is actually starting your role…from home.

Beyond the gratitude, excitement and readiness to start a new job at Johnson & Sekin, I very quickly realized that, without the chance to meet in person, there wouldn’t be a happy hour for me to shake hands, share a drink and introduce myself to my new coworkers. And as a true “people person,” I knew I needed to find another way.

And so, thanks to my welcoming coworkers, the power of technology and a company built on relationships, I’m able to bring you…

Rosie’s “Meet and Greet from your At-Home Seat” Method:

Step 1: Join a company full of people who genuinely care about building relationships.

Step 2: Don’t underestimate the power of initiative. If you want to learn the processes, customs, inside jokes and office dynamics of a new company—you’ve got to take the first step.

Step 3: Send a *gasp* all-agency email to say “hello.” Scary? Yes. Worth it? Also yes. Nearly moments after I clicked “send,” my inbox was flooded with responses from copywriters, art directors and producers alike.

Step 4: Regardless of your position, put on your account service hat and start scheduling meetings “Meet and Greets.” Despite their busy schedules, everyone accepted my 30-minute personal invitations to say hello. Even more, my new coworkers didn’t just hit me with a “Hi, nice to meet you.” In fact—they did anything but. I learned the latest agency news, the timesaving tips, backgrounds, hobbies, favorite Dallas spots and more. After each call, I felt more and more like part of the team.

And so, while this first week of work was like nothing I’ve experienced before, my new J&S team turned it into something special.

The happy hour I was accustomed to was replaced with a group of people dedicated to extending their hospitality and good manners. People that were more than happy to help a new face. People whose actions reflect what Johnson & Sekin represents: The purpose to better their community, work and the very people around them.

Sincerely in seclusion,

Rosie Rosales, Associate Creative Director

Johnson & Sekin Welcomes Two New Creative Directors to Agency

Creative advertising veterans Patrick Murray and Mike Payer have joined Johnson & Sekin as the agency’s newest Creative Directors. With more than 30 years of experience, both award-winning leaders possess a wealth of knowledge and a handful of coveted Super Bowl spots. More importantly, the two seasoned creatives bring a commitment to producing stellar work and leading with heart.

“It was only natural that Patrick and Mike would one day join our team. We have a long history and know they have always shared our passion for building brands with purpose,” said Chris Sekin, Owner/Partner/ECD at Johnson & Sekin. “Our agency has proven to be resilient, even during a global pandemic, because we hire like-minded people.”

Murray has worked the last 30+ years as an Art Director and Creative Director at The Richards Group in Dallas. His impressive roster of client experience spans multiple industries and includes brands such as Bridgestone, The Home Depot, USA Today, Hummer, Hyundai, HEB and TXU Energy. Murray’s passion for cars and creating art extend beyond his clients and career as a hobbyist mechanic and guitarist.

“I have admired Johnson & Sekin and the innovative work that comes out of it for many years,” said Murray. “I love that the agency puts their clients first and aligns with brands that do the same.”

Although Payer has been a Creative Director for more than two decades—his favorite title has always been Copywriter. He spent the last 17 years writing ads for brands such as The Home Depot, Jeep, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Patrón, Ram Trucks, Comcast and TGI Friday’s at The Richards Group, as well. Prior to that, Payer worked at agencies such as Square One and Second Shift.

“Johnson & Sekin has a commitment to producing great work,” said Payer. “More than that, they believe the best brands have a bigger reason for being. They truly want to help good companies succeed beyond the bottom line. I’m proud to be a part of that.”

With the addition of Murray and Payer, J&S has formed a third creative group to better position the agency for growth and serve client needs. As longtime friends of the two, owners Kent Johnson and Chris Sekin feel more than comfortable with the team as they hit the ground running to create beautiful work, mentor teammates and drive change for our clients.

Observations from the dining room table

By Emily Florio

Like all of us, I was not prepared to spend the spring in quarantine. I was not prepared to have two adults working in my home. And I was definitely not prepared to homeschool my kindergartener. I have been worried about my aging parents, terrified for my family in New York and missing my weekly coffee dates with friends. But between cooking nineteen meals a day, managing a triangulation of Zoom calls and trying to maintain minimum standards of organization, I can’t help being held captive by the stories filling my social media feeds. I can’t turn off my news alerts from dozens of media outlets. I battle rising anxiety with each click, every scroll and every breaking news alert. And I know I am not alone, but when I saw this alert hit my email, I was still shocked by the toll this year has taken on society’s mental health.

Pandemic Causes Spike in Anxiety & Depression

And this data was gathered just a week after the beginning of national coverage of Ahmaud Arbery’s murder. Before George Floyd was murdered. Before the tsunami of necessary coverage of police brutality, systematic racism and protests that is awakening public consciousness to the realities of our country.

To battle this anxiety so that I can face and stay actively engaged in this new and overwhelming reality, I force myself to focus on the good that is coming. To think about the ways we will be shaped, the ways we will grow and the learnings we will take forward as we come into this next season.

Google says it takes 66 days to form a new habit. We are now approximately 68 days into our quarantine routine. Here are the habits I hope we keep.

There’s no place like Home.  Searches for single family homes and townhomes have increased 40 percent since March. The number of searches for homes with pools has tripled and searches for outdoor space has doubled1. In the first weeks of the second quarter, Wayfair sales have increased 90 percent versus last year2. Yelp searches for Mortgage Lenders are up 82 pecent3.

Being locked in a house for months will certainly make you appreciate a spare room or a bigger backyard. And it’s certainly harder to ignore the Honey-do List when you can’t leave the house. But we’ve also enjoyed more meals together, played board games, built blanket forts in our living room and snuggled up in bed for mid-morning reading time. Having no commute, happy hours, soccer games or trips to the playground has given us time to reshape our priorities and forced us to rebalance our lives. And while I long for the days when I can send my daughter on carefree playdates, there is a part of me that has fallen deeply in love with the home we’ve created. And my flower beds look amazing.

Just be outside. Google searches for inflatable pools has increased over 400 percent since March. Burpee & Co sold more seed than any time in its 144-year history in March4. And over 82% of surveyed individuals indicate they will stay engaged in outdoor activities as restrictions lift5.

My mother now walks almost three miles every morning. After living in my neighborhood for over a year, I finally know each of my neighbors on the entire block. We’ve gotten our bikes out of the garage for hours-long rides. My daughter’s favorite “science class” is observing and classifying leaves and rocks during our evening walks. There is overwhelming research supporting the benefits of outdoor activities for childhood brain development as well as research supporting outdoor activities to reduce stress and anxiety and elevate mood. There are even numerous studies that have reported restorative benefits for patients suffering from PTSD and major depression6. As the summer promises to be filled with more anxiety-inducing headlines, I hope we all we’re all lucky enough to continue falling in love with Mother Nature.

The new office. In 2019, a Gallup poll noted that 39% of workers were working off-site at least some of the time. As of April, that figure had jumped to 62% of people working full-time off-site, making this time, “the world’s largest work from home experiment7.” The Cloud, Zoom, Slack, Teams—the process of the digital revolution was fast-tracked by COVID. During a recent meeting with analysts, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that COVID-19 accelerated two years of digital transformation in only two months. MSTeams hosted a record 200 million participants in a single day during the last quarter and active daily users surged to 75 million. Zoom recently claimed 300 million active daily users8.

I’ve been speaking with team leaders across multiple industries. Even the most skeptical leaders are surprised by the ease with which their teams transitioned to work from home. More than half even noted an actual increase in productivity and responsiveness. With modern office space not designed for social distancing and a vaccine still 12-18 months away, many leaders are taking a “wait and see” approach to coming back to the office.

Here at J&S, Chris and Kent have advised teams not to worry about coming back to the office in the immediate future; only when and if they feel completely comfortable doing so. I am looking forward to returning to the camaraderie of the office…and escaping the chaos of working with a kindergartner interrupting every 3.8 minutes. But I am grateful for the flexibility of remote working and for the empowering of the workforce to responsibly manage workloads.

Savings are a necessity. As of December 2019, 70 percent of Americans had less than $1,000 in savings, almost half of that number had none9. And then came COVID. As of May 21st, 43 million American workers had filed for federal assistance—that is one in four US workers in 10 weeks10. One in four Americans have tapped their retirement accounts11. Dramatic images of lines at food banks illustrate the desperation of the aforementioned financial figures. Anna Kurian, senior communications director at the North Texas Food Bank, says they’ve distributed 6 million pounds of food in about a month, compared to 1.5 million pounds in the prior two months11.

We have created an entire generation that knows what it means, what it really feels like, to have no money. My grandmother—born 10 years before the Great Depression—keeps one credit card she pays off monthly, paid for her house and cars with cash and still steals all the sugar packets at restaurants. Financial planners have long advised to have three months of expenses in savings. Instead of viewing savings like a luxury, saving accounts now feel like emergency essential to be listed alongside batteries and flashlights. Consumer spending dropped over 13 percent in April. Conversely, the rate of Americans increasing their personal savings hit a record 33 percent12. Luckily, my grandmother taught me how to wash, fold and store aluminum foil. Greater awareness and appreciation of resources feels like a positive habit to hold onto.

Technology shapes us. We hosted my grandmother’s 101st birthday via Zoom. Online grocery sales have grown over 40 percent in five weeks13 and Americans have increased their mobile and streaming video use by more than 40 minutes14. But technology also drives inequalities. 40 percent of kids from low income families and 35 percent of kids in special education are doing little to no remote learning. 83% of kids from America’s wealthiest families are doing it daily15. School systems rushed to buy laptops for students and even converted school buses into mobile wifi hotspots. But Paul Reville from the Harvard Graduate School of Education recently stated, “students without access to education of quality will be at an enormous disadvantage for years to come.16

Connecting to family, remote work, distance learning, online religious services, exercise classes, grocery shopping, entertainment and even medical services have all been transformed by the pandemic. Almost every aspect of modern American life has shifted online. Adoption of technology and online services has accelerated by almost two years in 6 weeks17. And given this is an acceleration of adoption trends and not a change to the technology landscape, we can expect these behaviors to hold steady and continue to increase even after restrictions are eased. The question of the role of technology in our daily lives—how much is too much?—has been tabled for the foreseeable future. The necessity to capture, maximize and solidify relationships with customers in the digital space has never been more vital. The opportunity to differentiate a brand via experience and purpose has never been greater.

We are living through a global pandemic, historic unemployment and economic insecurity, racial equality and social justice protests …. and it’s only June. We still face what will most certainly be a divisive election season, racial social reckoning and justice, the fall flu and virus season, re-opening of schools and continuing economic hardship. There will be many more lessons learned in 2020. Many more challenges to overcome. Brands that use challenges to innovate, that embrace changing consumer behaviors and brands that follow their purpose to engage and strengthen relationships with stakeholders will survive and flourish in 2020.

In the meantime, take a walk outside, check on your friends, wash your hands and stay healthy!

  1. compass.com
  2. Q1 2020 Wayfair, Inc. earnings report
  3. Yelp: Coronavirus Economic Impact Report
  4. Reuters “Home gardening blooms around the world during coronavirus lockdowns”
  5. May 2020 CGPR Study
  6. Psychology Today “Nature’s Role in Mental Illness” September 2019
  7. Gallup Remote Working Trends, April 24, 2020
  8. Forbes, “How Zoom Doomed the Airlines” May 26, 2020
  9. GOBankingRates’ 2019 savings survey
  10. S. Department of Labor
  11. Vox “The Current Hunger Crisis in the US” May 9, 2020
  12. BankRate April 2020 savings survey
  13. S. Department of Commerce
  14. Coresight Research U.S. Online Grocery Survey 2020
  15. eMarketer US 2020 Media report April 2020
  16. ParentsTogether via SurveryMonkey as reported by NPR
  17. The Harvard Gazette, “Time to fix American Education” April 2020

Purpose-Driven Marketing, Guac on the Side

Coronavirus is re-shaping our world. While people are modifying the way they shop, work and date, companies are pivoting with purpose. Breweries are creating hand sanitizer. Restaurants are delivering free food to front-line workers. Gyms are taking their fitness offerings online and countless retailers are offering DIY face masks as we struggle to measure the gravity of the situation we face.

Some purposeful contributions come in the form of levity and escapism, which is just as important for our health. Our client, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, known for great food, fun, and making every day badass, had an opportunity to combine their mission and irreverent personality with a new way of communicating in the days of Coronavirus. Enter “Two Screens. One Date.”

In this digital age, it is easier than ever to date. Dates via Match, eHarmony, Farmers Only [judge if you will], and Tinder are all a click or a swipe away. But with a worldwide pandemic impacting every facet of life, dating has dramatically changed. Coffee dates and movie meet-ups have given way to FaceTime hang-outs, Zoom calls and even vintage phone call dates. It’s a different world we’re living in.

Through Instagram and Facebook, we drove our fans to the “Two Screens. One Date.” landing page where they can get fun, randomized quarantine dating ideas, and of course, order delicious Fuzzy’s tacos. It’s nothing complicated, but neither is Fuzzy’s approach to food and the laid-back way of life.

We talk a lot about purpose at J&S. It is the foundation on which we build strategies and develop our work. What we’ve learned is purpose can manifest itself in many ways. Sometimes it’s charity or consciousness, but sometimes, like with Fuzzy’s, it’s simply making someone’s day a little bit better. Besides, tacos and dating are a pretty amazing combo. Check it out.

Ring the Bell

I have always believed in doing the right thing for the client. That if I am developing work for the client that solves a problem, I am being the best creative partner. I have also believed that the good guy does always win. Maybe not in the sprint, but always over the long distance. That is why the principles of purpose-driven marketing resonate with me on such a deep professional and personal level.

Our agency has had the privilege to partner with Caliber Collision for almost a decade. Over the years, our marketing efforts have had an unwavering focus on the vital role their teammates play in fulfilling Caliber’s purpose, Restoring the Rhythm of Your Life®. It is no coincidence that Caliber is now the nation’s largest collision repair company. We’ve seen the power of purpose in shaping a brand across every touchpoint and with every stakeholder. It’s this first-hand experience that has crystalized Chris’ and my commitment to purpose-driven branding and marketing. We advocate for this approach with every client and every brand.

Our commitment to purpose-driven marketing has only been strengthened in the past few months. Crisis has a way of sharpening your focus, rewarding ingenuity and repaying persistence. Companies that embrace their core purpose to lead decisions and guide relationships with stakeholders will see greater rewards, lower employee attrition, more long-term investors and tighter connections with their communities.

At the beginning of this year, our friends at Pecan Lodge were preparing for a celebration. Ten years ago, Justin and Diane Fourton left their high-pressure careers in business consulting to spend more time focused on the things they love the most—their family, food and community. And for the past decade, Pecan Lodge has grown, won faithful customers and received endless accolades. They decided the best way to celebrate this achievement was to launch a non-profit foundation to share their success with their neighbors.

And then COVID came to Dallas and thousands of local restauranteurs faced business closures, terrified employees and questions about keeping their businesses alive. Justin and Diane faced this pivotal moment in their family business by looking inward, focusing on why this business was so important to them, and doing some soul-searching on why Pecan Lodge should survive this crisis. And it took them no time to realize, Pecan Lodge’s purpose is to serve.

Justin and Diane reached out to Chris and our team with their idea. Of course, we were eagerly on board because our purpose at Johnson & Sekin is to grow good. This was an opportunity to live out our purpose by serving that of our client’s. Chris made introductions to his niece’s charity organization who works to assist first responders. Within days Justin and Diane launched their non-profit, The Dinner Bell Foundation, to fulfill Pecan Lodge’s purpose during the COVID crisis. Their mission is twofold: to feed first responders on the front lines in Dallas and to provide supplemental bridge funding to independently owned local restaurants. The Dinner Bell Foundation is serving meals to healthcare workers, fire fighters and police officers. They are keeping their employees working and their vendor partners, competition and friends viable. In short, Dinner Bell is ensuring a vibrant, local restaurant community will be a part of Dallas’ recovery.

Our team created the logo, messaging, website and social media footprint to support the foundation. We leveraged our relationships in Dallas, as well as with our clients to secure the first significant corporate donors for the foundation. This included the online dating service, Match, who gave—and matched, of course—a generous donation. Our friends at Local Hive Honey surprised us with a monetary and honey donation as well. And while both donations were given selflessly, these organizations received an abundance of PR and goodwill. This is proof that serving your purpose and supporting other organizations in theirs results in the growth of good for all.

Learn how you or your company can help serve our community at dinnerbellfoundation.org

I believe purpose defines who we are as individuals. And I believe in the power of purpose to accelerate businesses. A clearly articulated purpose empowers your business to quickly and seamlessly adapt to disruptions and challenges. While no business is immune from struggle, purpose provides the framework to make decisions and recover quickly from mistakes, while maintaining a consistent brand voice with employees, customers, investors, vendor partners and the community. It is this purpose that enables results in greater value for all stakeholders.

Johnson & Sekin is committed to helping brands discover, articulate and amplify their purpose. Our team has worked with clients big and small across a wide spectrum of industries, and our greatest success stories emerge when we partner to elevate the brand’s purpose. Clients like Justin and Diane are the reason we face tomorrow with optimism and energy for the work we will do together as a team and as friends.

Pandemic Production Panel: Key Takeaways

This week, our very own Chris Sekin joined a panel of advertising professionals to discuss the rapid evolution of messaging and production during this pandemic. Moderated by Keith James of Republic Editorial, the representatives from brands and agencies dove deep into the new creative and production process.

There were so many great insights that we decided to create a list of the key takeaways from their discussion.

Trust and technology
Shooting any type of content has become more challenging than ever. Due to travel restrictions and the shelter in place order, we can’t be on location or in a packed studio for production. Because of that, we are having to rely on partnerships that we’ve built in the industry to get work done quickly. Without the technology we have today, it wouldn’t be possible to work remotely with those trusted partners around the globe.

Purpose
In a way, every brand is working off the same creative brief right now. As every brand is jumping in to make a comment on how they’re dealing with this pandemic, a lot of the content has looked the same. However, brands that have an established and powerful purpose have stood out in the crowd. Purpose-driven companies who know why they exist are able to make a stance and consumers take note of that.

Imperfection is real
With shorter timelines and smaller budgets than before, it’s impossible for brands to create work that is perfect. As opposed to showing products in the perfect light or taking all day to nail a shot, everyone realizes that time is of the essence and the message must be delivered quickly. In turn, that has created more authentic work that’s genuine to the times we’re in.

No time for timelines
These days, timelines are shorter than ever before. What once took a week or two is now being produced in a day or two. However, agencies are happy to commit more effort and work longer hours because clients are dependent on our partnership right now. It’s increasingly important to get the work right the first time because clients can’t afford to go through multiple rounds of review.

Post pandemic
As we see the government begin to slowly start the process of returning to normalcy, it’s easy to see how production won’t be the same. There will likely be regulations placed on the crew size for a shoot and permits will be tough to obtain if a project requires shooting on location. Therefore, shoot times will be increased and our creative teams will have to adapt to whatever production restrictions teams face.

Long term impact
To wrap up, agencies and brands will have to realize that our industry will see changes for more than just a few months. More than likely, we will have to adapt to this new way of working for many years. We’ve learned that it’s not always necessary to push work to absolute perfection every single time. Plus, thanks to trusted partnerships and reliable technology, we’ve seen how efficient working remotely can be. Most importantly, during the coming months and years, we will have to be patient.

These changes to our process don’t have to be negative. While it can be scary to face a new normal, brands and agencies have proved that everyone can still produce great work and create impactful messages. At the end of the day, as long as we work together and strive to find a purpose in everything we do, our industry will thrive.

Purpose Leads the Way

Spring Renewal

Hello friends—

It’s April. The March rains have brought out the flowers and the electric greens of new leaves and grasses. Days are longer. The air is warmer. This is my favorite time of year. Rebirth, renewal, optimism.

This spring is no different. Our society is being reborn as we reshape the way we work, the way we shop and the way we connect. Our communities are being renewed. We are taking responsibility for the elderly and the ill. We are checking on neighbors, leaving teddy bears in our windows and drawing messages of encouragement on our sidewalks. And I am feeling optimistic. We will weather spring storms and be reborn a culture more conscious of our purpose.

I see the signs everywhere. Our team has rallied to grow good for each other and for our friends and clients. Kim Flores, our Director of Happiness, is embracing her signature purpose with renewed fervor and joy checking on the team daily. Our teams joined together to develop amazing content for our social media channels bringing humor and awareness to social distancing, shelter in place and reminders not to touch our faces.And this was only after we helped our clients grow some good too.

Our friends at Pecan Lodge, the best barbeque joint on the planet, faced this pivotal moment in their family business by discovering the purpose that drives them at the core. They went to bed a few Friday nights ago knowing they were, like most independent restaurants, facing a rough road ahead. But they woke up Saturday morning and embraced their purpose, the love to serve. And with hearts as big as their smokers, they launched the non-profit Dinner Bell Foundation. Their mission is twofold: to feed first responders on the front lines in Dallas and to provide financial assistance for struggling restaurants in the area via corporate grants. The team has served hundreds of meals throughout our community during this most uncertain time and is grateful for the local corporate donors, such as the online dating service Match, who gave a generous donation which they’re also, of course, matching. Our friends at Local Hive Honey surprised us with a generous donation as well. Learn how you or your company can help serve our community at dinnerbellfoundation.org.

Yes, we are facing unprecedented storms this spring, and no one can predict how long they will last. Each and every organization will be faced with tough decisions and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But a commitment to purpose will give us a path to follow. We are dedicated to helping each of our partners, including those we haven’t even met yet, bring their brand’s purpose to life like never before, or even discover it for the first time. And we are committed to growing together as a team.

The signs of renewal are all around us. Kent and I founded our agency with the idea that good friends could move faster, be smarter and create better. And with the notion that simple ideas shine brighter than all the rest. We built our business working with clients that we could share a beer (or wine) with and hired brilliant friends who shared our vision for creating good work. And 10 years later, we have created an agency of friends who are smart, enormously talented and just good people. Johnson&Sekin is facing this spring committed to our purpose. We will grow good in the world. We will build upon our strong foundation of purpose driven marketing to act as a catalyst to identify, articulate and amplify a brand’s purpose.

Stay healthy my friends!

– Chris

DSVC Dallas Show: Honored to Bring Home a Bulb

For the second year, J&S entered the esteemed Dallas Society of Visual Communications competition. Just 37% of this year’s DSVC entries were selected for the 51st Annual Dallas Show, including six entries for three unique J&S clients. 59 of 144 entries medaled, including our work for the Dallas Zoo, which was the recipient of a coveted Bulb for superior design.

News from District 10

AAF Dallas was the most-awarded ad club at the recent District 10 ADDYs, receiving 54 total awards by 18 different agencies. We couldn’t be happier for our clients at Chili’s Grill & Bar, Local Hive Honey American Heart Association and Meat Fight whose work collectively received nine District awards. The District Show encompasses local winners from clubs throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, and is the second phase of the American Advertising Awards. Five of J&S’ entries will now advance to the National Show this June in Florida. The American Advertising Awards receives approximately 35,000 entries each year at the local level, with a select few moving on to the District and National competition.

An Award-Winning Night at AAF Dallas

Johnson & Sekin had quite an exciting night at the 57th Annual AAF Dallas American Advertising Awards. We couldn’t be prouder of our team for bringing home 30 awards for nine deserving clients, including “Best of Show” honors for our client Local Hive.