‘Twas the week between Christmas, Hanukkah, & New Years
And all through the agency
Just a few creatures are stirring
Ensuring not e’en an ounce of complacency.
Ornaments on the lobby tree still carefully cling
In hopes that someone else will remove them by spring.
Most coworkers are still nestled at home in their beds
While visions of New Year’s parties dance in their heads.
—
Ah… the joys of working the last few days of 2016. Not only can you find the extra time to butcher treasured old poems, but you also can take a few moments to reflect on the past year. Sitting back to think on the last 12 months of planning and executing corporate engagement experiences and strategies, here are 5 key moments that give me an extra large smile.
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We launched a new name and a new identity
Over the last 30 years, we’ve learned that you must continue to shift and evolve in order to remain relevant. Over that period, we’ve introduced new engagement solutions, new team members, and new partnerships. In 2016, we took things to a new level by rebranding and intentionally dropping the name Creative Producers Group. With expanded capabilities beyond our core Event Production services, our new CPG Agency identity and story more properly reflect the value of how we Connect People and Grow Business for our clients.We executed our largest event in the last seven years
In February, we partnered with our friends at Southwest Airlines to execute six events in six cities in 17 days! Some of those events took place concurrently as satellite technology was leveraged to broadcast live to remote venues. With a robust internal communications campaign that drove early engagement, 15,000 team members experienced one of the SWA Rallies.We refused to let Mother Nature derail us
In early October, we were scheduled to produce the Franchisee Convention for Goddard School at the Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, FL. All systems were a go until Hurricane Matthew’s category 5-storm set its eye on the entire Southeastern United States. While the Convention itself was cancelled, CPG immediately shifted into Plan B mode that involved creative use of video and live streaming technology. While nothing replaces face to face, the virtual solution allowed the Goddard School team to connect with its franchisees in new, creative ways.
We gave new life to our passion projects
Each year we purposely partner with a handful of organizations whose mission is near and dear to our hearts. This year, our efforts on behalf of Pedal the Cause and the BJC Illumination Gala were especially meaningful as several CPG family members battled cancer. Collectively over the last seven years, Pedal the Cause, which provides funding for cancer research through an annual cycling challenge and the Illumination Gala, which raises money for cancer research at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, have raised nearly $25 million!We started and ended the year in the same fashion… delivering an incomparable live experience for two new clients
Whenever a new client places their brand in our hands, we feel especially fortunate. In late January, O’Reilly Auto Parts initiated a new relationship with CPG to create and execute their Managers Conference and, in November, Planet Fitness, entrusted CPG to design and deliver their Annual Franchise Conference. While O’Reilly’s event for their 7000+ store managers was in our backyard here in St. Louis, the Planet Fitness Conference was in the Bahamas at the Atlantis. Year two with O’Reilly is right around the corner and we look forward to building towards the same with Planet Fitness.—
A year of learning, growth, and excitement indeed!
A BIG thanks to our CPG team for all each does to lead.
Before we officially close the door on ‘16 and drive out of sight
Happy New Years to all, and to all a good night!
