Schaefer Advertising Co.

Culture

Let’s start by getting to know you a little better. Tell us about yourself.

Hi! I am a mother, wife, sister, daughter, and friend to many. I like to think that I’m an open book and game to always be there for others and listen. I’m totally into the Enneagram – I’m a NINE! Because I am a nine, it was always hard for me to express my opinions, but I find that the older I get, the more I’m expressing those opinions. But don’t make me choose where to go for lunch – I won’t decide for anyone.

As I said, I’m a mom. I have three awesome, smart, funny and beautiful daughters. All three with completely different personalities and looks and are always going to live in different stages of their lives from each other (they are quite spread apart in ages). I’m also a dog-mom. I have two chocolate labs – Miss Mocha and Mister Boudreaux. I went to TCU (Riff Ram!) and post-graduation I went straight into the world of advertising in Dallas.

I had a four-year stint in the non-profit development world but have been in advertising ever since. Production is the coolest part. Come find me and I’ll tell you why. Fun fact – I can’t cook. Maybe I could, but my husband is the BEST at cooking, and he does it all. He is also the WORST at using every dish, so I am now the BEST at washing dishes.

What’s something you love to do?

For fun – I LOVE going to see live music in small venues, attending shows (ballets, musicals, etc.), being with friends and going to sleep watching Great British Bake-Off reruns.

What’s your favorite place?

Creede, CO. I have gone there just about every summer of my life. It’s the best.

What do you love about the job?

I love being creative without being the creative. I get to work with awesome creative people and help bring their ideas to life for the benefit of our clients. Each day is different and my workday can change in extraordinary ways with a single email, text or phone call. I really enjoy the rush of someone bringing me a crazy idea, crazy timeline or crazy budget and trying to figure out how to get it produced.

What is the last thing you binge-watched?

Schitt’s Creek. It took me a couple of years to get into and join that bandwagon, but I’m all in for the Rose family now. 

What’s your favorite book?

I can never choose just one, but here are some good ones I’ve read recently:

The Light of the World
Homegoing
Educated
Just Mercy

Are you a listener or a talker?

Total listener.

If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

So hard. Why the limit? I’d like to say, in general, it would be Italian food.  But if I had to pick one “dish,” I’ll say TACOS! I can’t limit myself to one type of taco, though. That’s impossible.

Why Schaefer?

I love Schaefer so much that I had to come back – this is my second stint here. Schaefer is a mighty agency doing big things. Our strategy and killer design work sing for our clients. It is filled with awesome and different people who are passionate about what they do and are here to support one another. I also appreciate how Schaefer has woven itself into the core of the city of Fort Worth through our clients, community support, etc.

Any words of advice?

Life’s too short to be mean. Think of others, but know you can take care of yourself as well.

Let’s start by getting to know you a little better. Tell us about yourself.

I’m a native Austinite and I enjoy working with my dog and doing therapy with him. I’ve been in advertising for just over 20 years, and I’ve been specializing in healthcare for the last 14 years.

What’s something you love to do?

I love to paint – I really do, although I don’t do it that often. Usually, I paint dogs – either Griswold (my dog) or somebody else’s dog, because it will bring them joy – it makes me happy to bring people joy. I really enjoy training with my dog, whether it’s agility training for Griswold, or dock diving – I’m very competitive.

What’s your favorite place?

I think it’s the Hill Country, like around Fredericksburg. It’s a fun little place to go and visit the little shops, Enchanted Rock, and there’s a ton of wineries to visit, and I’m not even really a wine drinker. I like going to try different things.

What do you love about the job?

I like that spark of “oh yeah!” One of my favorite memories is that I made a grown man cry during a presentation one time. I remember coming away from that presentation feeling like I had accomplished something meaningful. I really like the emotion that you can evoke when talking about your ideas, coming up with the one big idea that affects people.

If you could do anything besides what you are doing now, what would you do professionally?

Probably something with dogs. My friends and I seriously considered buying a doggy daycare that was closing due to Covid-19. We’ve also really considered opening a dog bar for adults and their dogs.

What is the last thing you binge-watched?

“The Twilight Zone” with Jordan Peele. Although we just got Disney+, so we just watched nearly all of the Marvel films recently, except for the Spiderman films.

Are you a listener or a talker?

I think it depends on the situation – I feel like I’m a big talker. I got in trouble at school a lot from talking. But, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that listening is far more important. When I’m in a client meeting, I can learn so much more from a client by listening to them and hearing about their needs. But, I started out as a big-time talker.

If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Tacos, because you can taco anything – you can have breakfast tacos, crunchy tacos, corn, flour tacos, fish, vegetables – I wouldn’t say one specific thing, but I’d eat tacos in general.

If there weren’t any more computers, what would be your new occupation?

Dog bar, here I come.

What’s your favorite children’s story?

Any of the Berenstain Bears stories.

Any words of advice?

“You can’t sell sausage sitting down.” 

If you had an extra hour of free time every day, what would you spend it doing?

Walking the dog, which is probably one of the things I feel like I don’t do enough. If I had an extra hour, I’d probably walk Griswold in the evening, too.

Why Schaefer?

I wanted to use all of my healthcare knowledge, stay in Texas and I believe in the clients I’ll be working with. I’ve worked with the people at Sight Sciences and Galderma, and both are great companies full of good people that know how to do things the right way.

Let’s start by getting to know you a little better. Tell us about yourself.

I’m a Texas girl, but I’d like to become a world-traveler, and I’d like to begin in Egypt. The only things that prevent me from traveling now are my responsibilities to family and pets – I really like being home and close to them.

What’s something you love to do?

I like to rock climb, actually, if it’s vertical, I’ll climb it – trees, rocks, mountains, whatever.

What’s your favorite place?

Anywhere outdoors, really. If it has a soft patch of green grass and a blue sky, I’m happy. I still really enjoy going home to Acton, Texas. It’s one of my favorite places to be.

What is the last thing you binge-watched?

I binge-watched all of the Resident Evil franchises. I like Milla Jovovich, but I’m not sure why I did it, it’s not my normal genre. I usually gravitate toward drama, comedies, and action films.

What’s your favorite book?

My favorite book would be the one that made me fall in love with reading, The Secret Garden. I haven’t read it in like 20 years, but I still remember it well.

If there weren’t any more computers, what would be your new occupation?

I’d probably be a farmer — likely a beef cattle and hay farmer. My family has done it for six generations here in Texas, so it makes sense.

What’s your favorite children’s story?

My mom used to make up stories about two characters from Looney Tunes – Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner. She would sit at the edge of my bed and just make up stories off the top of her head and they were so engaging and detailed, it was awesome.

If you had an extra hour of free time every day, what would you spend it doing?

I’d spend more time with my dog Pancake and take him for an extra-long walk.

If you could do anything besides what you are doing now, what would you do professionally?

I’ve always loved history, and if I could anything other than what I do now, it would be working as an historian, specifically an Egyptologist.

What do you love about the job?

I love the people that I work with, and the environment that we work in. I love seeing warm, friendly faces every day, and the sense of camaraderie and the feeling of being a part of a team. I love the people here.

Any words of advice?

You don’t have to learn things the hard way. 

Why Schaefer?

I had an instant connection with Debbie, our Controller, when I interviewed on the phone. I love the work and the people I work with, plus, “Dog Fridays” are awesome.

Let’s start by getting to know you a little better. Tell us about yourself.

I’m a Libra and an ENFP. I’m married with an 8-year-old daughter named Brielle and a little baby lady due in July. My husband Stephen is a comedian and the head chef of our household; he currently specializes in creating culinary masterpieces based on my vague cravings.

What’s something you love to do?

I love hanging out at “The French Salon” with my friends and cousins…which is anywhere we post up together to discuss all things life. It’s our take on the French Salons of olden days where thought leaders discussed politics, art, humanity, literature, and social change… the place where democracy was born. Although we’re not always discussing such heavy topics— sometimes we just quote Billy Madison or talk about which Vanderpump Rules cast members we are most like.
I also love spending time with Stephen and Brielle, making them indulge my lofty craft ideas, the latest being “Valentine’s Day Fondue Craft Party,” and the next being “St. Patrick’s Day Lucky-To-Have Box and RAK (random acts of kindness) Day.”

What’s your favorite place?

At any family get together, surrounded by my loud, hilarious, and loving family, who I refer to as “my people.” The food, the company, and the conversation are what make it my favorite place to be.

What do you love about the job?

In general, I love the psychological aspects of digital marketing, figuring out what people like and staying in tune with the constantly changing landscape. I’m a learner by nature, so having a continuous need to develop new skills is something I need in a role.

If you could do anything besides what you are doing now, what would you do professionally?

I’d be a writer because I feel like I have a lot of stories to tell. I play it pretty fast and loose with grammar and punctuation, so that could be a hurdle I’d have to overcome if I were going to be a successful writer.

What is the last thing you binge-watched?

Fleabag. The main character is really crass, and she’s humanly awkward – which I relate to. She doesn’t have a manufactured sense of awkwardness or nerdiness, and her life is messy with a lot of gray areas which I think makes her character so relatable.

What’s your favorite book?

I don’t have a specific favorite, but here’s my top 5:
Frannie and Zooey, by J.D. Salinger
All Over but the Shoutin,’ by Rick Bragg
The Liars Club, by Mary Karr
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari
The entire Harry Potter series

If you could live in any sitcom, which would it be?

The Office, because it’s one of my favorites.

Are you a listener or a talker?

I’m a listener because I love people’s stories.

If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

This is a very difficult question, I’m a very food-driven person. The meal that I don’t get tired of is homemade fried chicken, with chipotle mashed potatoes, two yeast rolls, and peppered gravy.

What’s your favorite children’s story?

“The Giving Tree.” It was the first book I read out loud to my dad.

If you had an extra hour of free time every day, what would you spend it doing?

Writing, reading, or doing puzzles – I love jigsaw puzzles. Realistically though, I’d end up spending the hour playing with my dog Jackson, he’s a good little buddy who loves all of my silly made-up games such as “Threshold” and “Puppy Parkour.”

Why Schaefer?

I’ve been looking for the right agency fit for about five years, but I haven’t wanted to compromise what I want in company culture or core values. I follow DFW “Best Places to Work,” and Schaefer was on the list. After doing some research, Schaefer seemed to check all of my boxes and the whole portfolio of the agency’s work was so impressive. As soon as I met the team, I knew this was the exact place I wanted to be!

Let’s start by getting to know you a little better. Tell us about yourself.
I’ve been married for about five years to my husband Joshua, and we have a two-year-old daughter named Avery. We’re very much in toddler mode right now— she’s 2 going on 22, and she shares a lot of my same qualities – she’s very independent. We spend a lot of our time in Keller and Southlake, and we lead worship at Milestone Church in Keller. Joshua plays guitar in the band, and I’m a singer, mostly backup (laughs), but I also play piano and enjoy playing it with Avery. I spend a lot of time with my family and my twin sister either shopping or just hanging out – we’re connected at the hip.

What’s something you love to do?
I make a lot of stuff – I’m very crafty. Hobby Lobby and Michaels are my happy places, and I get strange angst when I can’t go to Hobby Lobby on Sundays. You name it, and I can make it. I’ve made mums, wreaths, planned events like baby showers and wedding showers. I’m the crafty person in the family, I can literally make anything.

I also really love to travel – Italy and Spain are my favorite places to be. My husband and I really love Europe.

What’s your favorite place?
I’m kind of a homebody. As much as we go out and do things, my favorite place to be is at home on the patio with my family. We love to crank up the music and garden together. You show me an outdoor plant, and I can probably name it. I worked for a landscape architecture firm in Newport, Rhode Island, which I really loved. I grew up going to my grandmother’s farm in Missouri, and we’d go crazy picking fruits and vegetables and flowers together.

If you could do anything besides what you are doing now, what would you do professionally?
Voiceovers (begins singing ‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman’), I think about being Kristen Bell every single day. I guess it’s not too late to go that route, but I don’t know how I’d get started with that. I acted a lot in high school performances, and at Texas Tech I went to the theater and saw that they were having auditions, and I just had to go in and audition to see if I could get in and have some fun – and I got the lead role! I played in Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. It is a riot of a performance. I just love acting, it was the best experience ever.

What is the last thing you binge-watched?
I watched all three seasons of The Marvelous Miss Maisel. It was so good, and I identify a lot with the lead character, “Midge.”

What’s your favorite book?
It goes way back – my favorite book was always Little Women. I’m such an old soul, I love reading classics. Growing up, we visited Boston and went to Louisa May Alcott’s house. In Concord, Massachusetts, we visited Walden pond where Emmerson and Thorough lived and worked – it was incredible.

What’s your favorite children’s story?
With Avery, there are so many children’s stories right now. We love Goodnight Moon. There’s something so special and timeless about it. The illustrations are just so magical. There are also two little kittens in it, and one looks just like our cat Penelope.

If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It’d be a Neapolitan style Margherita pizza – I could eat one every day.

If you had an extra hour of free time every day, what would you spend it doing?
Probably craft time at Kimberly’s Craft Corner.

If there weren’t any more computers, what would be your new occupation?
Voice overs, for sure. I’ve always been told that I have a really good voice.

Any words of advice?
Something I’ve learned over the years is, it’s not necessarily about the work that you’re doing – yes that’s important – but it’s how you get there. I don’t think anything we do can be done alone, but I really lean on the team around me to accomplish things.

As I get older, I try to begin every day with gratitude by trying to be actively thankful for the people in my life, our health, and everything else It helps keep me positive.

What do you love about the job?
I love that my focus is on analytics and insights – which is my strength – but I’m also focused on how I can help out in other areas. I just like to be able to offer my expertise whenever I can. I love the fact that everybody is so receptive to hear what each other has to say.

Why Schaefer?
Being a Fort Worth native, I wanted to get back to my roots. I grew up going to the Fort Worth Zoo, the Kimbell Art Museum, and other key areas of Fort Worth – all of those are my first memories. So, when the opportunity arose to work close from home, I jumped on it. I just wish I got here sooner, really. I really love the culture at Schaefer, it really feels like you’re at home. Everyone goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome.

Let’s start by getting to know you a little better. Tell us about yourself.

When anyone asks me “where I’m from,” it’s sometimes hard for me to answer. I grew up living in Dallas, Fort Worth and several cities in between, so many areas of DFW feel like home. Growing up, I played every sport I could – volleyball, gymnastics, cheerleading, soccer, and track. I made so many lifelong friendships and learned a lot about work ethic through playing sports; that really has a lot to do with who I am today.

What’s something you love to do?

Honestly, just being outdoors anywhere I can, and living in Austin, that’s pretty easy to accomplish. There’s so much in Austin to do outdoors – from random concerts in the park to hiking and yoga, really anything. I love Barton Springs Pool – it’s the best thing to visit after work and just jump in and relax. That’s the place I recommend anybody to go when they’re visiting Austin.

What’s your favorite place?

Probably Paris, France (not Texas). My husband Adam proposed to me there, so it is where I spent one of the best days of my life.

What is the last thing you binge-watched?

I am borderline obsessed with Shark Tank, and I probably watched nine in a row. I love thinking of [good and bad] invention ideas. Most recently, I’ve thought of a device that puts sheets on people’s beds automatically and I would name it “Oh Sheet.”

What’s your favorite book?

I like to read to learn. I love many books written by John Piper, but the latest book I’ve read is called Switching on Your Brain, by Dr. Caroline Leaf. I enjoy reading about how your beliefs shape your abilities. 

If you could live in any sitcom, which would it be?

Friends, it just gets better every time I watch it.  

Are you a listener or a talker?

I’m a listener.

If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Cheeseburgers. Clark’s in Austin is especially awesome, I love it.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve done for fun?

On one of my birthdays in college, I convinced one of my friends to skip class and go skydiving with me. Long story short, we probably shouldn’t have used a Groupon on such a life-risking activity. We were fine, but you couldn’t pay me to do it again. 

If you had an extra hour of free time every day, what would you spend it doing?

I would spend it on improving my cooking skills and making new recipes of my own. I think it is such a gift to have the ability to pass down personal recipes to friends and family.

If you could do anything besides what you are doing now, what would you do professionally?

Architecture has always interested me. Similar to what I do now, there are no real black-and-white answers. Thinking of how complex and the number of people involved in a project is beyond comprehension.

What do you love about the job?

I think that every day is different. I look at the clock and can’t figure out how the time passed. Most questions or problems we face on the account service team aren’t black-and-white, and that really energizes me. I love working with clients to make complex brand priorities into simplified, powerful strategies and with the creative team to turn highly technical medical jargon into a compelling brand story.

Why Schaefer?

“Leave it better than you found it,” is somewhat of family motto I grew up with. Everyone who makes up the Schaefer team shows up every day with genuine and purposeful intention to do just that.

Let’s start by getting to know you a little better. Tell us about yourself.

I’m a native Texan, and I’m full of Lonestar pride. I’m the oldest of three children, and my younger brother was my “archrival,” in school at Baylor. I met my boyfriend in high school and we have been dating for seven years. I was always a TCU fan growing up, but never thought I’d end up attending. But, long story short, I wound up loving the school of communications and became a Horned Frog shortly thereafter! I’ve also danced all of my life, but I stopped in college because I thought I was done with it – I was just tired. However, I missed dancing so much that I began teaching dance at the studio MoveMINT in Fort Worth.

What’s something you love to do?

I love listening to country music because it brings up a nostalgic, summer feeling– it just sounds warm for some reason. I really gravitate toward Texas country music because of the grittier sound that doesn’t sound too “pop-y”. My boyfriend and I are constantly going to country concerts around town, and it always reminds me of being at the lake or driving in a Jeep with the top down. My musical taste is pretty wide because of my history with dance, but a country song is always mixed into my playlist somewhere.

What’s your favorite place?

My favorite place is my grandparent’s lake house in Granbury. It’s close to the metroplex, and it’s the perfect mix of being at the beach, and in the country – it’s such a weird, great little sweet spot. My grandmother calls it her “little cottage.” It’s great having coffee on the boat or the dock. It’s also super fun to go out there with my siblings to just have fun and spend time together. As I’ve gotten older, I really appreciate how slow the pace is at the lake house, it’s incredibly relaxing.

What is the last thing you binge-watched?

Jack Ryan, but I mostly binged it because I wanted to find out how it ended. However, my favorite show that I’ve binge-watched recently is The Marvelous Miss Maisel.

If you could live in any sitcom, which would it be?

Friends, because I have this side of me that wants to pick up and move to New York, which is largely due to Friends and Frank Sinatra. There’s a charming, elegant side to the city. Plus, I grew up watching – it brings a sense of comfort. People would call me a Monica, but I really try to be more like Rachel.

Are you a listener or a talker?

A talker. But I am so aware of it that I am CONSTANTLY challenging myself to talk less in conversations. From what I’ve gathered, I am an enneagram 3 wing 2, so that is very on-brand.

If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Italian food. My dad’s family is Italian, and I couldn’t imagine life without it. After traveling to Italy, I acquired more of an appreciation for the culture around the food rather than just the taste. Plus, learning about the culture has made cooking Italian food with my grandmother even more special, as she did the same with her mom.

What’s your favorite children’s story?

You are Special, by Max Lucado. I used to go to this Fine Arts camp at our church every summer and the woman that ran it would read this book to us every year. Reading it now, even the summary, makes my heart swell and my eyes well.
In a village, there live many different Wemmicks. The Wemmicks walk around all day and give each other either a gold star or a gray dot sticker. A Wemmick named Punchinello always tries his best to receive gold stars from the other Wemmicks but only receives gray dots for not doing well enough. One day, he meets a Wemmick named Lucia who doesn’t have any gold stars or gray dots because they don’t stick to her. Punchinello doesn’t want any stickers on him either so Lucia tells him to visit their maker, Eli. Eli explains to Punchinello that if he is not bothered by what the other Wemmicks think then the star and dots will not stick to him either.

If you could do anything besides what you are doing now, what would you do professionally?

Something culinary. If I have a midlife crisis, I imagine I’d go to culinary school. I’m not the type to do anything crazy like that, but if I did, I’d love to pursue a culinary profession.

What do you love about the job?

I love the people – everybody has been super nice, especially my direct teammates Krista, and Ali. They’re very considerate and understanding that this is my first real work experience, but also guiding me along the way. It’s great because I’ve always wanted older sisters, and they really feel like that to me. I love the culture here at Schaefer, it feels like a family.

Why Schaefer?

Right off the bat, I loved the building. I interviewed during Christmas time, so I was able to see it in all its’ decorated glory and that hooked me from the beginning. The intentionality behind each process and person really sealed the deal. This opportunity was dropped in my lap when I wasn’t expecting it and things like that are usually the best blessings.

Let’s start by getting to know you a little better. Tell us about yourself.

My name is Matt, I’m a rock climber, writer, and unprofessional cook. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, but I officially began publishing at 19 in the Dallas Observer, doing editorial pieces about art installations, concerts, and a little bit of everything else, too. The Observer was a lot of fun for a college kid, but ultimately, journalism just wasn’t worth the byline for me. There were a lot of late nights, all of the deadlines were hot, and the pay just wasn’t worth it.

What’s something you love to do?

I love learning, anything that stimulates the left side of my brain, really. I learn something every time I cook, climb and read or write. Learning plays a huge role in cooking, and every time I try a new recipe, I’m learning about the smells, geography, and people of a place. It tells me about what ingredients surround some far-off location, informs me about the tradition and values of an area. Cooking really is an amazing tool for exploration.

What’s your favorite place?

Nocelle, Italy, which is up the mountain from Positano on the Amalfi coast. The natural beauty combined with the hospitality of the people, the food, and the laid-back attitude is everything to me – everything I want from life can be found there. It’s an other-worldly, ethereal escape. Plus, they have incredible coastal climbing there.

If you could do anything besides what you are doing now, what would you do professionally?

Probably cook, but I would try to do it in a place where local ingredients and techniques mean something more than profits. This is definitely a “pie-in-the-sky” sort of dream because commercial restaurants are all about the bottom-line. I’d be completely happy with a shack by the coast that cranks out good, local, authentic cuisine where people can relax and share a quiet meal and some killer wine.

What is the last thing you binge-watched?

The Boys, on Amazon. It’s a show that asks the question “what if superheroes lived among us, and had real human motivations?” It’s great – it’s cool to see what would happen if someone with superhuman powers was tempted by social power, money, lust, etc. I strongly recommend it. Plus, it has an amazing, dry sense of humor and fantastic cast.

If you could live in any sitcom, which would it be?

Community. The humor is off the wall and there’s an irreverence that exists in community college that they really lean into. The world they’ve created is lighthearted, good-natured and idyllic, so it just speaks to me. In spite of all of the weirdness and wild plot-points and disfunction, the show is character-driven by a small group of students that care about each other and their school. 

Are you a listener or a talker?

Listener, full stop.

If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

This is really hard. My dad is my primary culinary influence, and we’ve always played this game where you have to describe everything on your plate that you’d eat for your final meal. Over the years, that food has changed.
My dad’s cooking is southwestern, focused on green chile and traditional New Mexican food. It’s a family staple, and I can’t recall a time when he didn’t roast and press his own red chile. So, it would be red chile enchiladas from Big John’s Chile Farm in Las Cruces, with a fried egg on top and a glass of milk for the heat. If it were something that I was cooking, it’d be homemade pasta and pesto. But, I gotta give this one to my dad.

What’s your favorite children’s story?

Jack Tales, from my Grandpa T, which is a book of folk tales he used to tell us as children. They’re Appalachian folktales from the Blue Hills region – Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, all those Smoky Mountain states. They’re the earliest stories I can recall, and my grandfather is an amazing orator – he was a physics professor for years and has a rich voice and enjoys telling stories. It’s just a magical book, and I don’t think I will ever be able to locate a copy. 

If you had an extra hour of free time every day, what would you spend it doing?

Definitely spend quality time with my wife, Blair; probably cooking, hiking, or gardening.

If there weren’t any more computers, what would be your new occupation?

I’d probably still be a writer in some capacity, I would just use a pen and paper instead of a computer and accept the carpal tunnel consequences.

What do you love about the job?

I love using both sides of my brain to tell stories and earn results. My role is a blend of analytical crowd trend analysis and branded storytelling, so it’s fun to research and learn about the market, and then create strategies and content that performs within the vertical. Both sides of the job present different challenges, and I love that – it’s never boring.

Why Schaefer?

Good people and good challenges.

February 4, 2020

The commercial kid

Let’s start by getting to know you a little better. Tell us about yourself.
I’m a writer, and from San Antonio originally. I love dogs, and I have two of them. Every dog I’ve ever owned has actually found me. I’m married to Matt Arnold, and we’ve known each other since we were in seventh grade, but didn’t get together until we were in college at UTSA. I got my start in PR, but transitioned into advertising because I was more curious about it, and I’ve always had a pension for ads. When I was little (like watching Nickelodeon little) I would get excited about the commercials, and when we eventually got a TiVo, I would fast-forward through the boring parts of the shows to get to the commercials.

What’s something you love to do?
I love vacuuming, because there’s something so cathartic and therapeutic about seeing a floor before and after it’s been cleaned. But not just floors, I would vacuum any surface. I love finding new music and sharing it with someone I know will enjoy it. I love listening. When you truly listen, people tell you their story—how they got here, what their opinions are, their world view. But my favorite stories always involve what someone learned from an experience. I love asking questions—the “why” behind something is a huge driver for me. My mom definitely got annoyed with that one.

What’s your favorite place?
This is a funny one, and so generic but, home. Home is San Antonio. When I think about it, it warms me up. My family and friends, the scenery, the familiarity of the routes you drive, all of it makes me warm and fuzzy.

If you could do anything besides what you are doing now, what would you do professionally?
I don’t know what it’s called, but the people who create soundtracks for movies. Not a composer. But the people that select the music from an existing library to set a tone in a moment or even the entire movie. The people that see a script and decide what musical emotion needs to hit the hardest to make this movie/scene/feeling ‘pop’ or resonate. I don’t know what they’re called, but I would love that job.
(After post-interview research, we found that the title is ‘Music Director’ or Music Supervisor)

What is the last thing you binge watched?
Cheer, don’t judge.

What’s your favorite book?
My favorite book is actually a children’s book called Where the Sidewalk Ends. It has a lot of poems and life lessons and it still holds up well in adulthood. I think there’s something lovely about finding something really enlightening in something so simple.

If you could live in any sitcom, which would it be?
I honestly would say Boy Meets World. It’s kind of like a throwback to growing up: your problems are simple, life is light and every day is a new adventure with your best friends so definitely Boy Meets World.

Why Schaefer?
The camaraderie, and that it feels like a home. Culture is something every agency talks about, but at Schaefer you can feel it. And right away. I love that we do projects that extend into the community, and at a higher-level, I really think that we live our motto and make life better for people all over the world.

If there weren’t any more computers, what would be your new occupation?
Couldn’t I still do the same thing? Put pencil to paper, you know what I mean?
(She’s right, she could still be a copywriter.)

What’s your favorite children’s story?
Clown Arounds Go on Vacation, it’s a riot. And the first book I ever read. The whole thing is told through a series of jokes. It used to make me laugh out loud as a child. It’s kind of a family heirloom. Complete with family drama and everything! When my cousin found out my aunt had given me the original from our childhood, dinner got uncomfortably tense… we still don’t talk about it. You can get a copy on Amazon, but it’s not the same.

If you had an extra hour of free time every day, what would you spend it doing?
I would spend it talking to my granny, my mom’s mom. She lives in San Antonio, and my favorite memory of her is getting in the car with and belting the entire soundtrack of the “Sister Act,” which by the way is a great album. It has a lot of pop-y renditions of church hymnals that you can’t get out of your head.

Let’s start by getting to know you a little better. Tell us about yourself.
I’ve lived all over – from Oklahoma to Colorado, Ohio to Indiana, and finally, we settled in Texas, which is always where I wanted to be. My desire for design goes back to when I was a child. My first project was building a matchbox city with my brother, and I got to create logos and billboards for the faux businesses in the city. It was a lot of fun.

What’s something you love to do?
I enjoy photography and playing games with my family. Lately, we’re enjoying playing Ticket to Ride, which is the perfect balance of strategy and enjoying each other’s company. It’s not so demanding that you can’t visit with people at the table.

What’s your favorite place?
The Rocky Mountains. I just love the experience of the mountains. When I was growing up in Denver, we’d go into the mountains just about every weekend to camp, and fish in the streams. I spent a lot of summers near Aspen, and I just fell in love with the experience.

What do you love about the job?
I love working with the creative team to help deliver high-level solutions for our clients.

If you could do anything besides what you are doing now, what would you do professionally?
If I weren’t in design or production, I’d like to be a writer. I have written a children’s book, and I just really love writing. I like being able to get all of the ideas out of my head. I have notes everywhere because I’m thinking all of the time.

What’s your favorite book?
Rework, by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. I really love the concept they present about viewing our work and approaching it from a healthy perspective.

What’s your favorite children’s story?
Oh, the Places You’ll Go, by Dr. Seuss. I love all things Dr. Seuss, but that one is my favorite.

Are you a listener or a talker?
I’m a better listener than a talker. I love learning about things and people. My dad taught me that I need to approach interacting with people like a news reporter – to ask questions and seek to understand people.

If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pizza, because you can use it as a platform and customize with whatever toppings you like.

If there weren’t any more computers, what would you do with your time?
Either researching or writing about something having to do with social studies, history and how people interact with each other.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve done for fun?
The only thing I can think of isn’t all that scary. A friend of mine took me and some of my kids rock climbing in Oklahoma. He was really good at climbing and setting up everything and teaching us about climbing – it was just a really neat experience.

Why Schaefer?
I was introduced to Schaefer through a creative placement opportunity, where I was able to work freelance for just over a year. I was extremely impressed with the culture and the people.