Undaunted Courage

Stephen Ambrose

 
The gall! Imagine looking west from Washington D.C. at the turn of the 19^th century and thinking, “We just bought some land. Let’s just send an exploratory party from St. Louis to document everything we can from there to the Pacific Ocean.” Shouldn’t be too hard, right?
Undaunted Courage is a biography of Meriwether Lewis and the story of the epic journey he and William Clark took to understand a vast landscape, west of the Mississippi. What I love about this book is how the tale of adventure is told in both grand scale and minute detail.
President Jefferson had the vision, and Lewis and Clark had the fortitude to accomplish it. Of course, they wouldn’t have made it through the first winter were it not for Sacagawea, the indigenous woman who saved their bacon on more than one occasion. (A fitting reminder that the success of this, or any other culture is in the blending of perspectives.)
There’s also a poignant epilogue to the story that also has personal meaning. Just three years after their journey, Meriwether Lewis died from suicide after battling depression. Some philanthropic work I’ve done is to help to reduce the stigma of depression and raise awareness of suicide prevention. This epic tale offers both great promise and sober reminders. Not only the makings of important drama, but also dramatic importance.
 
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A New Republic

Kehinde Wiley

 
Great art shakes you to your core. It forces you to close your eyes and re-open them to a completely new perspective. That’s how the work of painter Kehinde Wiley impacted me when my family and I viewed his exhibit a few years ago at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Historic, heroic, larger-than-life portraits featuring young African American men and women, instead of traditional European royalty, was a reimagining that reawakened me. Wiley made me question my preconceived notions. This book is a collection of the pieces we saw years ago – and works that I still remember vividly today.
 

Cities of the Plain

 Cormack McCarthy

 
I am a big fan of Cormack McCarthy’s writing. Cities of the Plain is the final installment of his “Border Trilogy” and one that most reminds me of my New Mexico homeland.
Overall, I find his raw, rugged style appealing and I appreciate the way he blends the familiar with the mystical. On its surface, the novel is a simple Western — full of love and adventure — but lurking underneath is a visceral exploration of existentialism and mortality. The images conjured in the epilogue are haunting and inspiring at the same time. Anyhoo…perhaps I need to lighten up a little?
 

Goodbye to a River

John Graves

 
When the Corps of Engineers was planning to install a series of 13 damns on the Brazos River in North Texas during the late 1950s, John Graves wanted to capture his beloved landscape before it was forever changed. By documenting his solo canoe trip down a stretch of this waterway, Graves was able to weave an environmental record, a history of a region and a poignant memoir all in one short book. Goodbye to a River had an impact, too. The book’s popularity and the public response it generated helped reduce the number of damns ultimately built to just three — maintaining some of the wild stretches Graves celebrated.
There are many reasons I love this book and come back to its passages regularly. Chief among them, is the peace it brings me. It also reminds me of the valuable lessons my father taught me about the importance of nature.
 

The Hero With a Thousand Faces

Joseph Campbell

 
Thanks to one of the first creative directors I worked with, I’ve long believed that there are only seven original ideas in the world and everything is a derivation or combination of those seven.
Turns out, there’s some truth to that notion. Joseph Campbell was one of the first academics to document it.
The Hero With a Thousand Faces demonstrates how all great stories from all cultures, faiths and traditions share the same structure — the “monomyth.” The hero’s journey we see from Buddha, Moses, Mohammed and Jesus all share a narrative structure. Not only does Campbell expose similar narrative structure, but he also details consistency in the morality tales themselves. For example, there is an ancient African tale that is a near-exact match to the New Testament story of Jonah and the belly of the whale.
The universality of shared human experience captured in this book has both profound and practical meaning to me. I refer back to this book regularly when thinking through business challenges and persuasive arguments. However, I also find comfort in the fact that my personal struggles are not unique. We are all seeking truth and have been since the dawn of time.
 

Quiet

Susan Cain

 
Did you know extroverts have measurably cooler skin than introverts? This quantitative biological fact lends credence to the cliché about someone being “cool under pressure,” and was one of the fascinating finds for me in Quiet: Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain.
This book caught fire in business circles a few years ago and I was engulfed in its flames. According to Myers-Briggs, I’m an Introvert (on the edge between Intro and Extro), so why not understand myself better? Little did I know what I was in store for. It was like Cain wrote it for me! Turns out, I’m more of an “Omnivert” and while I get my energy from inside myself, I’m very comfortable presenting/performing in front of a crowd.
This book floored me, and I recommend it every chance I get.
 

Fort Worth has stolen her from Dallas twice, and Panther City says she’s here to stay. Her homegrown and Big D experience has given her a strong foundation to manage the digital efforts that come through our house. Bryn Townsend, our Director of Digital, knows how to balance being a team player and a team leader. Her love of family and her sidekick Labrador Retriever, Abby, serve as proof that she’s a loyal comrade here to stay.

Schaefer: Tell us about yourself.
I grew up in Dallas, and thought I was going to study film in college. So I was looking at schools all over, and really thought I wanted to get out of Dallas/Fort Worth. I ended up visiting TCU in high school because my sister was there for a volleyball camp. I fell in love with it and decided to go to TCU. It was 40 minutes down the road from home. I started as a film major for about a month [laughs] and then switched to strategic communications, and absolutely loved it.

Schaefer: Starting out in film and then moving into strategic communications, how did you land yourself in the advertising industry?
I did internships all over the map. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I graduated, so I interned for Texas Motor Speedway in their Events department. It was a fun gig because I grew up watching Nascar and going to races with my dad. We did the craziest race-day things. It was a blast. After that, I interned for a small Texas country music label here in Fort Worth, doing some PR and marketing.

After graduating, I ended up working for an agency in Dallas. It was a start-up agency and we focused on social and content marketing. I worked on many different clients from TCU, Dillard’s to SXSW. I had my hand in every type of client and account. Speakeasy merged with other digital marketing agencies, so I moved into digital strategy. I love digital marketing – I love everything about it. It’s measurable, and the analytics behind it are always so fascinating. It sort of marries art and science.

Schaefer: So why Schaefer?
I was commuting back and forth from Fort Worth to Dallas for two years, and finally decided I wanted to work back in Fort Worth. That is when I found Schaefer and I have loved it from the moment I met Ken and Sara. It just seems like a great fit.
I had known about Schaefer for a long time, specifically through the Strategic Communications program at TCU. Schaefer was always on my list to look at. With digital marketing, I was really excited to come here and really drive the strategy behind all of our digital efforts.

Schaefer: What is something surprising about Schaefer that you didn’t know until you started working here?
Something that is surprising is how hands-on everyone is from interns to all the way up the chain. There’s no sense of entitlement of things not being within anyone’s job description. I think that is so cool and you really only find that in small agencies. I really respect and enjoy that.

Schaefer: As you can tell, dogs are a welcomed pet around the office. Do you have any pets of your own?
Yes! I have a dog named Abby and she is awesome. She’s a 9-year-old half Labrador, half Golden Retriever. I took her through the time I attended TCU, and have had her ever since. I dress her in bandanas every day. She probably has more bandanas than I have outfits [laughs].

Schaefer: If there weren’t any more computers, what would be your new occupation?
If money wasn’t an issue, I would be a dog walker.

Schaefer: What is your go-to breakfast?
I am the worst about eating breakfast. I never do and I know it is awful. Probably iced coffee and a piece of fruit, if I’m having a REALLY good breakfast day [Ha!].

Schaefer: What would be your dream day?
My dream day would be turning my phone off and closing my laptop. In my field, it’s nice to disconnect. I would want to take my dog, Abby, and my sister, who’s also my best friend and lives down the street from me, to go hiking. Just being outside, and having a day off. With my job field, you have to be so connected that taking a break from it is really nice.

Schaefer: If you controlled the music in the office, what would you play?
[Ha!] There is some very interesting music in the office sometimes. Probably…this might sound nerdy. Maybe some relaxing country music like Chris Stapleton or Leon Bridges. The rule would be that every song only gets to be played once.

Schaefer: What character from The Office are you?
Hm, that’s tough. I would be Holly Flax because she is really quirky, but sweet. On the weekends, I’d be Meredith [Ha!]. I love the office. I could watch it, over and over again.

Schaefer: Given the opportunity, what is one piece of advice you would give to someone entering the advertising world?
Never assume that things are outside your job description. People will respect you more if you step up to the plate and take on more than your role includes. Secondly, don’t plan to work 40 hours a week, and you shouldn’t, especially if you are young and hungry. You should be first in and last out of the office. That is how you earn respect.

Jake Yarbrough is a very polished ad man, but don’t let his vast knowledge fool you. Most of the time, he’s just his quirky, down-to-earth self. Either way, he brings dedicated success and unrelenting humor to the day-to-day.  His experience has made him a reliable lead and director on our healthcare team, as well as, a strong steward of sending agency-wide calendar invites reminding all to get away from their desks just to chat. He describes himself as a “fish out of water,” no matter the environment he’s in, but he’s planted his seat in our house, and we like to think he fits in pretty well.

Schaefer: So Jake, tell us about yourself.
I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and graduated from TCU. I met my wife on a blind date, and have been married 21 years – 22 this summer. My wife and I have two daughters, one 17-year-old and another 14-year-old. They are truly really great kids.

I am a dad and a husband who works in advertising. I have worked in the business a long time and spent about half of my career in healthcare, and the other half mostly in hospitality, tourism and nonprofit. All have been small to mid-size agencies, because I love doing diverse work. I’ve always worked in account service, marketing strategy and brand strategy.

Schaefer: When did you decide that advertising was the route for you?
Honestly, it was a slow burn. When I first got to TCU, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go career-wise. I took a one-hour “find yourself” course, and took tons of aptitude tests, and the test came back that I would be most satisfied in a career that combined business, art and communications. That led me on the advertising track. As I reflect back on my childhood, I was the kid who always watched the ads, memorized the ads and was fascinated by them. It started to really snowball, and after a couple of internships, I realized that I really enjoyed this.

Schaefer: What has kept you in advertising over the years?
You have to have a bit of adrenaline junky in you to enjoy this, because of the subjective, deadline-nature of what we do. There must be something in me that enjoys that rush. The first time I made a presentation to a client, I looked into their eyes and saw the lightbulb go off in the back of their head. It was impacting them, and they saw the possibility, because they could see something working toward their goals. Being able to bridge that and finding ways to connect to our clients’ people, that is what keeps me coming back every single day. The point of realization when someone gets what you are trying to share with them and it means something to them – that’s my drug.

Schaefer: So apart from the size, Why Schaefer? What caught your eye?
So I met Ken through somebody who used to work here and have always had a great respect from this agency from afar. When he reached out to me about a year ago, I truly enjoyed hearing his philosophy, which translates to the culture of this place.

Schaefer had a great reputation, seeing it and experiencing it confirmed that for me. The best description I have come up with so far is that there is a warmth in this place that doesn’t exist in other places, and I really cherish that. It is a really exciting time to be here, and I am so thrilled to be a part of a team that is growing this part of the healthcare business. I feel energized in a way I haven’t felt “professional-energized” in years. A different kind of youth and vigor.

Schaefer: What is the most fun you had while at work?
The best times at work usually have nothing to do with work. Camaraderie and belly laughter. I think we spend so much time at work, so those moments of letting off steam and connecting about non-work things is the best. We are a merry band of soldiers in an agency. We are in the fox hole together, and you develop a bond that is so different than what I have seen in corporate settings. There is just something about the need to persevere in spite of all the challenges that come our way, where you have that moment of release, and it’s great. That’s part of the fun of this business.

Schaefer: What’s a random fun fact people wouldn’t know?
I did improv comedy for a little while. I took classes at Four-Day Weekend downtown. They go by levels, so I got up to level 4 out of 5 before I dropped out. It is such a different mindset. It was really challenging for me and fun. I don’t know if I was any good at it, but it was a nice way to exercise a creative muscle I wouldn’t otherwise.

Schaefer: I notice you have a signature look with your glasses, how long have been wearing glasses?
I had better than perfect vision until I started spending late nights working on a computer. This might give away how old I am, but I have been wearing glasses for 25 years. But the mustache… is a relatively new phenomenon. I can’t grow a beard very well, but one November I just kept going and going, and then it stuck. Frankly, it is more effort than shaving it is. It takes me as much time and effort to groom my mustache as it would to shave my whole face every day.

Schaefer: And what about your hair?
As a kid, my parents told me, “do whatever you want to do with your hair.” Their philosophy, which they told me later on, was that if we let you experiment with your hair, maybe you won’t get a tattoo and, luckily, hair grows back. That being said, I have had so many different types of hairstyles. At my last agency, I actually would email out a weekly story related to my hairstyles. I’ve had a mullet, butt cut, frosted tips, reverse mullet – party in the front and business in the back, buzz cut and slicked back.

Schaefer: Alright, what is your alter ego?
Jeffrey Lebowski. He’s the dude. He is the world’s laziest, spaced out, California guy that gets mixed up in a kidnapping case. It’s a classic movie. Some days, I just really like his style.

Schaefer: If you were able to relive the same holiday every day, what holiday would it be?
Thanksgiving. I just love that holiday because the pressure is off. It’s not the commercialized Christmas or Halloween, Thanksgiving is chill. It’s a good time and brings people together.

Schaefer: Given the opportunity, what is one piece of advice you would give to someone entering the advertising world?
Ask WHY. That’s my advice. The more you can ask why, and understand the reasoning behind something, the better able you will be at solving a problem.

Julia Cooper is a UTA grad who got her feet wet in the design world working in Dallas. She’s decided to plant firmer roots and made the jump to Fort Worth, Texas, to build on her strengths. Armed with a Canon 5d Mark II named Gatwick, her ultimate goal is to marry graphic design with photography.

For work and play, she’s driven by capturing the root of what matters from varying angles, with her K-9 comrade, Toki, by her side. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words. Julia’s philosophy behind her creative drive is what keeps the team on their toes for new and fresh ideas.

Schaefer: What was your first week like at Schaefer?
It was so great! I was initially in Deep Ellum, Dallas, when I got the green light that I was hired at Schaefer. Within three weeks, I secured a new apartment in Fort Worth, took a vacation to Colorado with my dad and Toki, packed up my apartment in three days, moved, unpacked and started work at Schaefer. It was a lot of hard work getting here, and so worth it. My first week was exhilarating, exciting and absolutely a breath of fresh air.

Schaefer: So, tell us more about that.
I have a lot more creative autonomy here, and have already learned so much from the other creatives. I didn’t have a boss at my first job out of college, so I had no one to look up to for creative guidance. Here at Schaefer, I have multiple people on the team I can turn to.

Additionally, I feel very blessed and happy to be in an environment where work culture is of tremendous importance.

Oh! I now have windows! The last place I worked was windowless and it felt like a cave or closet.

Schaefer: People around the office always admire your sense of style. Where did that derive from?
Ever since high school, I always loved funky combinations – like a spaghetti strap tank tops over polos. Of course, I was 16 when I thought that combo was cute.
I guess when I went to college, I fell out of taking care of my appearance and how I dressed, so when I went back for my second degree, I started feeling more inspired and maturing into the woman I am today. I learned the value of dressing well. It’s a form of good manners, in a sense. That’s sort of become my motto now, “dressing well is a form of good manners.” Even though that was originally said by Tom Ford. (laughs).

Schaefer: What drew you into creative work?
I’ve always had a creative disposition and my parents nurtured that throughout my childhood. I’ve been drawing since I could pick up a pencil. As an adult, I love watching the transformation of a project from start to beginning, and figuring how to solve problems in a visual manner.

Schaefer: Can you tell me about a project you worked on that you were really proud of?
It was a branding project for Taiheiyo Kensha, a Japanese Akita kennel in Los Angeles. It was a passion project I did my last semester in college, which turned out to be a huge milestone for me, because it was the first assignment where things started to “click” as a graphic designer.  I designed the logo, and created all other assets, including a puppy packet and an owner’s folder.

Schaefer: What would be the “dream project” that you would love to work on or create yourself?
That’s tough for me to say. Just as if you were gonna ask the question, “Where do you want to be in 5 years,” I don’t want to pigeonhole myself.

In general, though, I love working on logo designs and branding. I’ve already had the opportunity to work on those, so I feel pretty good.

Schaefer: Since you’ve been at Schaefer, what’s been your favorite project you’ve worked on yet?
I’ve really enjoyed working on the Schaefer Christmas Card and the Near Southside’s “Crazy” invitation for their fundraiser.

To be honest though, there is something I have loved about every project. With each new assignment, there has been something new and profound to learn. It is like I get a new tool for my toolbox with each new project. That is really exciting.

Schaefer: So you’re new to Fort Worth, how have you adjusted?
I’m definitely still acclimating. Having just moved from Deep Ellum, Fort Worth is so different from Dallas. It’s obviously smaller, and feels more like a town than a city. Toki, however, really loves Fort Worth. His disposition is more happy since we have moved.

I’ve enjoyed exploring the different communities within Fort Worth. Some areas are more up-and-coming and going through their own renaissance. I witnessed that when I lived in Deep Ellum for five years. It was similar to the Near Southside district, where it’s just continued to draw more people and blossom with new businesses and retail.

Schaefer: If you could get an all-expense paid trip anywhere, where would you go?
I would go to Japan as a bit of a pilgrimage to my dog, Toki, a Japanese Akita! As a bucket-list item, I absolutely have to see the Hachiko statue at the Shibuya train station. Gotta make Toki proud!

We sat down with our newest production artist, David Jean. “Old Fashioned Dave” has worked many years in the business, but maintains a childlike enthusiasm with each person and project he comes into contact with. He’s sure to be the one to round the corner with a deadline in hand and a smile to brighten your day.
 
Schaefer: How did you start in your background as a production artist?
David: Well I started as an illustrator, actually. My sister worked at an agency in Arlington for many years, and I always wanted to get a job there. I’ve worked in the “artsy type” business for years. First, I worked in a music store off and on for 10 years, and worked at photo labs in between.  My brother owned a photo lab and I would run all the film for him. Finally, he said, “You can come on board to help out more,” so I worked there for a while just to get my foot in the door.
Then I started showing he and his team my illustrations and they started to get me to do them. After a while, I left the lab and went on my own, because I would make more money that way. I networked through my siblings and I soon became a graphic artist for Six Flags. It turned out to be a great job, and I did it for 11 years.
 
Schaefer: Everyone around the office knows to send all the dogs your way. We know you’ve had both cats and dogs. Which do you prefer?
David: Ah. I love them all equally, but Chim Chim – my kitty – has a special place in my heart. He’s kind of crazy and thinks I’m his momma. He’s the one that wakes me up in the middle of the night standing on my back – he’s also 18 pounds.
 
Schaefer: Did you have any weird pets growing up?
David: Yeah, when I around 8 or 9, I had a dog named Ginger that bit everyone but me. He was such a mutt. My parents wanted to get rid of him [laughs]. I remember getting him too, because my neighbors just handed him through the fence and said, “Hey do you want our dog?” and we said, “Sure!”
 
Schaefer: After working in a music store for a while, did you manage to pick anything up yourself?
David: Guitar, piano, and drums. It was a great place to work, because I actually met a few famous people like Doyle Bramhall, the guy who wrote a lot of Stevie Ray Vaughn songs. We ended up becoming really good friends. I was only 18 or 19 years old and Doyle was in his thirties. He would always come up to the shop and I always thought he was just a local musician.
We would go across the street and play pool together and just talk. After I had known him for like 5 years or so, I was with one of my other friends who worked at the shop and we were listening to a Stevie Ray Vaughn song and he goes, “Yeah I can’t believe that Doyle wrote this song.” It completely shocked me. That’s how I found out this guy who I had known for years and hung out with, talked music with and jammed with actually wrote 4 or 5 Grammy award-winning songs for Stevie Ray Vaughn’s album… and he grew up with Stevie. He was a drummer, kind of a guitarist, but mainly a drummer and also sings in the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s. That shows how humble the guy was.
 
Schaefer: If you could move anywhere in the world for a month, where would it be?
David: Japan – anyplace in Japan. Tokyo would be cool, because of how fast-paced the culture is.
 
Schaefer: Which office dog is your favorite?
David: Lulu. Ya know – I really did love Boone so much because he just did his own thing. He reminded me of my old dog, Abby.
 
Schaefer: What has been your favorite project that you have worked on?
David: I would say any of the illustration or 3-D projects. I did some mock-ups for the American Leather logo and also really enjoyed doing the Nuvothera bottles as well.
 
Schaefer: What is your favorite part about being here?
David: The team. I love everybody here. I was talking to my wife about it not too long ago and she said, “Who’s your favorite up there?” I said, “I don’t think I can pick one, because everybody is so unique.” As many places as I worked, and as many cool jobs that I’ve had, who you work with has become super important. I’m so lucky. I whistle on my way to work and skip when I go to my car in the morning. I’m just always happy coming here.
 
Schaefer: Any final thoughts?
David: I’m blessed. In the last year, a lot has changed with how I look at things – how I look at life. I’m 53. I remember so clearly turning 30, like it was a year ago. I remember people saying, “You’re going to turn 30!” Then I got worried because I was like, “I’m never going to be 20 again!” But it goes by so fast, and it’s so cliché, but life goes by fast.
There’s so many things I would have done different, but being here at Schaefer made me realize that I don’t think I would change anything, because otherwise I wouldn’t have wound up here.