May
25
2011
As Tom Hanks said on an Oprah show earlier this season, the phrase “Did you see Oprah today?” is going to be removed from our vocabulary after today. Today marks the end of the 25 year run of The Oprah Show.
Let’s take a moment to relive some of our favorite moments. You get a car and you get a car. Tom Cruise jumping on the sofa. Johnnnnn Traaaaavollltaaaa. Oprah’s Book Club (who read A Million Little Pieces and loved it as much as I did?). Mattie and his poems. Oprah in Texas. Oprah and Tina. Dieting Oprah who made us all feel better about our struggles. The a-ha moments. Oprah’s hair through the years. The ugly cries, especially when Mary Tyler Moore surprised her.
In 25 years, it is not just the show that evolved but also her brand. The Oprah show initially was a little risqué and reminiscent of what became the Ricki Lake show. Slowly over the years, it evolved into a self-help, mentally stimulating, celebratory show. The Oprah brand launched the careers of personalities like Dr. Phil, Nate Berkus, Bob Greene and Dr. Oz. Her endorsement is the golden touch. Marketers strove for just one mention of their brand on the air to have sales explode.
Love her or hate her, you must recognize the impact she’s had on the world. Oprah is a big part of everyday culture (Did you see that on Oprah? Did you read that in her magazine? Did you watch OWN last night?). She used her brand to successfully launch both a magazine and a network at a time when many were struggling to stay afloat. She made topics once considered taboo easy to talk about with friends and family. She told great stories by asking provocative questions. She had the knack of presenting topics or guests in a way that helped people think about them a little differently.
As someone who has grown up watching Oprah, my life has been impacted in a few small ways. I didn’t sleep for a year after watching a show about ghosts when I was younger. I DVRed the Favorite Things episodes so that when I have a bad day I can see the crazy excitement in other people’s faces. I realized (at a young age) that my actions impact the world around me. I can choose for that impact to be positive or negative. And my favorite lesson, “No is a complete sentence.”
No one but Ms. Winfrey knows what her next move will be, but there are millions of people out there eagerly waiting for it. How do you think Brand Oprah will evolve?
Use the comments section to tell us your favorite memories from The Oprah Show.
May
09
2011
Through AW Helping Hands, a company-wide volunteer initiative, Addison Whitney employees jump started the month of May by throwing a birthday party at the Salvation Army Center of Hope in uptown Charlotte . Bright Blessings is a non-profit that operates projects for thousands of homeless children across the Charlotte region. Its core program “Bless-A-Birthday,” is a monthly birthday party given at a homeless shelter to enliven the spirits, and celebrate the birthdays of the shelter’s children.
Many Addison Whitney employees volunteered to attend the party at the Center of Hope, home for women and children. The team assembled goody bags and transformed the home into an energetic party scene. The party included tables for crafts & coloring, game spots, and of course, cupcakes! Volunteers and kids alike spent the evening enjoying their time together playing games, mini-bowling, competing for prizes, and to see who could walk away the most candy.
As the 50 children sang a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” to this month’s guests of honor it was especially touching to see the grateful and happy smiles projected from every mother’s face. Judging by the happy parents and chocolate covered faces of the children the party was a huge success! We at Addison Whitney are so glad we got to celebrate the May birthdays with the children, and look forward to the next opportunity to lend a helping hand to our community.
Contributed by: Emily Hassell
Apr
07
2011
Tonight marks the kick off of Charlotte’s biggest summer happy hour – Alive After Five. This weekly celebration allows corporate America to roll out from their cubicles, crawl down their concrete towers, and indulge in post-office beverages, laughs and feel good music. Not particularly kid-friendly, unless you want ‘you-have-a-baby-in-a-bar’ stares, this outdoor festivity has increased in popularity over the past several years, especially among young adults.
During the month of April and to help celebrate its 10th anniversary, AA5 will warm up its concert series at Wachovia Plaza on Tryon Street. This is where the excitement began back in 2001 and has since grown massively in reputation and size. Beginning May 5, the party will relocate to its latest three-story home of the EpiCentre, a newly instated icon of Uptown, only a few blocks over on College Street. The party will remain at this self-proclaimed Mecca of social gathering for the remainder of the summer.
Though the drink specials are anything but ‘special’, the bands are anything but spectacular, and cash is king at this weekly event, it’s a wonderful place to unwind with coworkers and friends. Also, if Thursday is the new Friday, it’s good to note that the AA5 wrist band offers admission into any designated after party bar sans a cover charge.
If it rains? No worries, the EpiCentre location has instituted a new “When it Rains, We Pour” promotion by purchasing two large tents and promising discounted drink specials during inclement weather. (Wachovia Plaza better hope for a dry April.)
The festivities begin at 5pm tonight and host Liquid Pleasure, a North Carolina-based band versed with an upbeat R&B and Motown vibe that has proven to be an AA5 favorite.
For more information or a list of performances at both the Wachovia Plaza and the EpiCentre, please check out their website.
The AA5 season spans every Thursday afternoon at 5pm from April 7th to September 15th in Uptown.
Contributed by Keri Lynch
Mar
24
2011
On March 3, 2011, the Administaff family gathered to celebrate 25 years of success and a new beginning as Insperity. Some members of the Addison Whitney-Insperity team were lucky enough to attend and witness this magical evening.
Picture this – Minute Maid Park home of the Houston Astros, deep in the heart of Texas, buzzing with the excitement of more than 3,000 people. As we all filed into seats along the third baseline, we were met with an incredible program. Hosted by new Insperity spokesman Jim Nantz, it featured a conversation with Steve Forbes and presentations by company leadership. Saying the presentation by Chairman and CEO Paul Sarvadi was inspiring and energizing just does not do it justice. He passionately talked about the company’s evolution over the past 25 years and his vision for the years to come. This new vision coupled with the new corporate identity was unveiled in 3D – yes, thousands of guests put on branded 3D glasses for the unveiling.
The night featured an amazing spread of food, dancing and festivities. As we headed out to left field to get our souvenir – an Insperity-branded box filled with mementos celebrating the company’s history – Michael McDonald took the stage to cap off the night.
Often times when our clients launch new brand strategies or corporate identities, we do not get to witness the excitement of the event. So being able to attend was very special for our team. Every detail of this event and the Sales Convention happening at the same time were so well thought-out and very impressive including the signs, stage lighting and the entire color palette – all of which changed overnight.
To borrow something we overheard employees saying that night: here’s to Insperity – cheers!
