A few goings on of note:

1. We’ve gone social!  Check out @Thingnamer, @Stokefire, and our shiny new Facebook Page (We could do with a fan or two.)
2. Stokefire signed our first social media client, so we’re no longer purely old school. We’re even looking at bringing on a social media consultant and providing social media management tools to address the new demand for low-cost marketing options that can be run in-house.
3. iMAGINE Alexandria (a past Stokefire client, and one on which I serve as a board member now) is going to get some more ink.  This time in the Washington Post.  Should be out this Thursday.  The pattern is developing… once again I play the role of the bald-headed goof in the photo shoot.
4. Another Stokefire client – Wordnik.com got ink in the New York Times Sunday Magazine.  Very cool.  Go check out the site if you like words.  They’ve got lots of them – it’s like a living dictionary.
5. Still another Stokefire client (launched just a few months ago) is experiencing such rapid growth that his suppliers are calling and asking how the heck he’s doing it. Seriously, this company is gaining customers so fast that we’re pretty sure he’s setting growth records in his industry.  When we get the confirmed figures we’ll post more.
6. What? Another client finished up?  Yep.  AAOE.net (we didn’t name ‘em, but they still rock) launched a conference campaign we developed that has gotten unsolicited feedback that it’s the best in 17 years.  It would be longer, but that’s how long the commenter had been in the industry… We’re shooting for 18 next year.
7. We’re finishing up projects for a technology company, a staffing franchise, and a loan provider.  More details on those as they come out of the gate.
8. We’re going to be featured today in a crowdSPRING interview by one of the founders.  Seems we’ve been pretty active in the crowdsourcing community and he figured it was time to check us out.  Thanks Ross!
9. We’ve had some inquiries by a couple VCs that could lead to us actually getting the crowdsourcing solution we’ve been asking for… because we’d be building it. Here’s to hoping crowdSPRING, GeniusRocket, and/or Kluster end up getting to where we need them to go so we don’t have to.
10. Oh… we’re not sure, but we think we may just be the most experienced director of crowdsourced branding projects. If you think we’re wrong please let me know.
11. Stokefire is beginning the gradual transition from a consultancy to an agency model.  Most folks who know us know that we’ve been doing a lot more than naming stuff for the last year and change. That’s led to the development of partnerships and internal capabilities that have just reached a level I’d call mind-blowing.  (Stokefire backed by an astoundingly good creative department with more than 100 people?  Yep.  It looks like it may just happen.  And soon.)
12. Stokefire HQ is up to three FT employees, with a satellite office in New Hampshire and consultants sprinkled across the continental US.  If things continue as they are today we should be adding more soon.  Welcome aboard, Eric L. Frost!  He’s our new account director.  If you’re a client, prospective client, or past client chances are good you’ll be hearing from him very soon.
13. We’re just starting an informal search for a kickass creative director that can embrace our vision and stand up to… well… me.  Quite frankly the salary will be lousy, but we do provide full healthcare and some other nifty benefits (PTO, free sodas/coffee, nice computers, flexible hours, 1 block from the Potomac in Old Town Alexandria…).  And since Stokefire is preparing to rule the world you’ll have that going for you.  Other positions also to be considered.

That’s it.

So… yeah.  Nothing much to speak of.

Next update sooner than the last.

I was asked to create a video answer to this question for Imagine Alexandria.  I figure since I spend almost all day every day flapping my lips about stuff I’d do something a little different. 

This was my answer:

Yeah, it’s a bit hard to read, and there was a shadow over the top quarter of the white board… but that’s what I get for doing a spur of the moment unscripted piece.

How better to show what creativity is than to attempt to show it on the fly?

That’s going to change.

I’m proud to announce my affiliation with Imagine Alexandria – currently a grassroots movement to create the world’s first center for commercial creativity.  Its location in Alexandria is a wonderful balance to the existing Torpedo Factory – a regional project that exists to encourage, support, and teach the non-commercial arts.

The facility will have features such as a creative incubator, a speaking venue, classrooms, testing labs, and a museum where judged competitions share space with exhibits that show how some of the best creative work was developed.

The final name of the facility has not been determined yet – we’ve just given the campaign a ‘handle’ so people can reference it (and write checks to it).  The name of the center – when built – will be determined through a combination of sponsorship and the traditional branding project that inevitably precedes the opening of a major design-oriented project.
 

So – (Shameless Plug Alert) – Please visit the website and consider donating any amount to the cause.  Those who donate a minimum of $100 are added to the online rolls and given an invite to the grassroots party – and for a little more investment can receive recognition like web links, logos, and mention on the home page of the site.  (The organization is set up as a non-profit – so the funds may be tax-deductible.  Ask your tax professional to be sure.)

Whether you’re in Alexandria or across the globe – a center such as this can benefit every company and organization in search of improved creativity.

Full disclosure:  I’m on the board of directors of Imagine Alexandria, and have personally donated to the organization.