Small World

Cherrie, our new designer has a Chilean background. She is engaged to Yolandri, one of the Cuban athletes who defected during the Pan Am Games in 1999. Those who have known me a long time will know that I was involved with the Pan Am Cubans, and indeed visited Yolandri's mother in Havana back in 2000.

In other news, we heard from Lightworks today and a large US Syndication company is very interested in Shea's Rockin' World Tour. They are meeting on Tuesday to further discuss.

FINALLY!!!

I got a post on the blog! Woot woot! I find it funny how for someone who uses a computer daily, I had so much trouble getting on here! Just wanted to apologize to everyone for taking so long. But I'm on here now!

Things at the Picanteria have been cookin'. With the wonderful help of Cherrie - our newest designer, and Travis - our work experience student, things have been zipping along quite nicely! It's also nice having some more company on the third floor :) Many exciting new jobs are on the horizon and I can't wait to get them started. 

Anyway, just thought I'd drop a quick line to say "hello" to the Picante blogging audience and to let you know that, yes, I can figure out how to use a blog!

Amanda ;)

What happened to October?

Man o' man this month has flown by.

Starting new branding for a Manitoba credit union. I love when we have an opportunity to be part of something so important. We're also embarking on creating a new look for some very special friends of ours. I think I'll keep that one under my hat for a bit.

We created a refreshed logo for Teen Touch and will be developing a print campaign for Manitoba high schools. We're just fine tuning the new creative now. Concepts have been submitted for the new Massage Therapists television campaign. We'll be shooting in a few weeks.

Work continues on the Role Models materials and profiles. The Centre Mall in Saskatoon Christmas is looked after as is Grant Park Shopping Centre in Winnipeg. AgMPower trade show materials are being reviewed.

CTV outdoor is on the street and looking magnificent. Of course, it helps that they have such good-looking anchors.

Heard unofficial word that we won a new piece of business from a recent RFP. Will make it official when it's officially official.???!!

Big shout out to Travis and Cherrie who have been helping out so much on the 2nd Floor. I know Amanda is feeling relieved to have some help.

New Process Software

It's time to show the old dogs (me and kath) new tricks. We're implementing new software to help us with job tracking, time tracking, estimating and invoicing. It means (gasp) a little discipline that yours truly is not really used to....but I know it's going to be a big help particularly with longer term and multi-layered projects. So we're having our tutorial this am. Kudos to Shaun for doing the research and getting us set up thus far. Now it's going to be up to us to make it work. This is my personal commitment in writing.

Internet Advertising Bureau conference.

Kathryne was out in Calgary last week attending a timely conference on Internet Marketing and Advertising put on by the Internet Advertising Bureau.

Here's their blurb - "When looking for marketing success, advertisers know that a mix of both offline and online tactics boosts response rate and sales. The same goes for within online: mix Dieplay, Search, Email, Video, Sponsorships, Widgets, Wikis, User-Generated Content and Social media Marketing - and what you get is awarenes and impact that is light years beyond the sum of its parts.

Stay ahead of the curve...
Knowing that the Interactive Media advertising landscape is changing at a faster rate every year, our new IAM Canada MIXX Canada Conference Series is designed to keep marketers and advertisers ahead of the curve, by focusing on leading-edge speakers from both within Canada and around the globe.

Whew!

We think it's really important that Kath participates in these conferences as keeps up as this exciting media option evolves!

She recently attended other conferences in Las Vegas and in New York City.

Election Day in Canada.

I (Laura) worked all day election day and my candidate, Rod Bruinooge was returned to his rightful place as MP for Winnipeg South. Ie did everything from act as Poll Captain to running errands (photocopies and felt pens) to decorating campaign headquarters to scrutineering. It was a full day but a lot of fun. Ran into so many people I knew.

I'm heading back to Saskatoon on Sunday to direct the voiceovers of the first round of Role Model profiles for ESB. That'll mean we'll be ready to launch soon. I can't wait.

Grant Park and The Centre Mall Christmas plans are coming together and Wayne Babych has just agreed to appear in our Massage Therapy commercials. Turns out he's a big fan.

Amanda's working on a new logo for Teen Touch and then we'll be quickly putting some support materials together. We're hoping to get posters on the inside of high school bathrooms.

That's the news for this week.....oh yeah....I picked up my new car today! YAY!

So much going on!

Where to start?

Next week we'll launch Saskatchewan Rocks! This exciting viral campaign was created for the Saskatchewan credit unions. You can find it at http://www.saskatchewanrocks.com/ We urge you to check it out and send it out to YOUR friends and family in Saskatchewan.

We're diligently working on trivia questions for the Sask CU sponsorship of the SJHL. Thanks
Paul at Dacapo for your AMAZING patience and Norm and your BIG VOICE - and grace and charm under pressure. From special people come special things. You have my sincere thanks and undying gratitude.

The Edwards School of Business Role Model campaign is building momentum. The website is taking shape and the profiles of our amazing Role Models are being completed daily. As soon as te website is launched I will definitely let you know. It's one of the most rewarding projects I've ever had the privilege of working on. I want to gush and gush. About Leanne Bellegarde and her team. And about Elemental Motion Media. I feel pretty gushy these days.

If you're a Manitoba resident you can now catch Street Tales - our 10 episode exploration of the history of Winnipeg streets, hosted and edited by our own Denise Meilleur, written by yours truly and shot by Clark McCaw. It's a bit of a challenge to find Street Tales so this is the roadmap.....if you're an MTS tv subscriber go to Video on Demand. Go to FREE STUFF. (Shea's Rockin' World Tour is there too! (#2 on page 2 but I digress.) But move on to Winnipeg On Demand. Go to In the Community and you will find Street Tales. I luv 'em.

Shaun is busy with setting up a new Business Process Program at Picante. He's done a great job and soon the rest of us (particularly me) will see if we can keep to the organization. Not my best thing. Can the old dog be taught new tricks?

Grant Park Shopping Centre in Winnipeg and The Centre Mall in Saskatoon are gearing up for Christmas. And we applaud the initiative of Kelly from Teen Touch. More on that later.

Amanda is working on two important projects for the Victoria Hospital Foundation. The newsletter and calendar are key fundraisers for the Foundation and Amanda and Shaun take these projects very personally. And that's why they're the best.

Kath came in early this week taking charge and encouraging the rearrangement of my office - MUCH better Feng Shui. I am a new woman! I face the window! Thanks Kath and Shaun for the brute force and Jorge for the details.

Life is definitely good.