REGISTER NOW: Uncomfortable Conversations: The Skills Crisis
REGISTER: 8THIRTYFOUR Skills Survival School Founding Cohort

Farewell Summer Associates!

Written by

Share This Post:

Here at 834 Design & Marketing, we continuously joke about having a “small army” of associates. Where other firms or agencies may offer opportunities to one or two select individuals, we always seem to be outnumbered by our ambitious student counterparts. This summer was no exception. In fact, we had more associates than ever before — seven. We know, what a bunch of crazies taking on that many learners. And perhaps we are a little crazy. The back-to-school departures began this week and we deemed it necessary to thank them the best way we know how — with words… and ice cream and pizza.
Before we kiss them goodbye, a short introduction to the 834 Summer 2014 Associates:

  • Kimberly Bueche, Graphic Design Associate (GVSU)
  • Rachael Crevier, PR Associate (GVSU)
  • Cara Lutz, PR Associate (SMC)
  • Ashley Marcangelo, Photography and PR Associate (GVSU)
  • Theresa O’Brien, PR Associate (GVSU)
  • Madeline Root, PR Associate (GVSU)
  • Rachel Valice, PR Associate (GVSU)

As a small agency, our semester interns become a part of the 834 team just as a new employee would. They help us with everything from design and writing to research and media relations, and their contributions truly are integral in allowing us to do what we do (and do it well) on a daily basis. Thankfully for us, we always manage to find eager students willing to go above and beyond for our team — working on assignments after hours, initiating new projects and running around the city of Grand Rapids when out butts simply cannot leave our desks. They keep our fridge stocked with creamer and our shelves lined with Biggby coffee — two things we need to function — and even make us treats that we can never have just one of. In short, they’re freaking awesome and we hate to see them go.
In case the food and sweets and parting gifts didn’t relay our message…:
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the 834 Summer 2014 Associates for sitting on top of each other in our old space and helping us move into our new one. Thank you for being eager to learn, even if some lessons are harder than others. Thank you for using your resources and thinking on your feet when our time was pressed. Thank you for answering emails promptly (or checking the damn thing at all). Most importantly, thank you for choosing to spend your summer with us. We wish all of you the best for the remainder of college and into your careers, and cannot wait to see your successes. But don’t be strangers, okay? We always need friends to drink wine with.
photo 1photo 2
 

Responses

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Recent Posts

Something on Your Mind?

The way you show up at work shapes how people remember you.

Last month, alyshiahull joined bodespeaks on Happy Hour Hustle to talk about what workplace authenticity really means. Alyshia is a New York-based freelance journalist who writes for Business Insider, Fast Company, USA Today, Inc., and Entrepreneur. If you are ready to bring your authentic self to work, episode #134 is for you. 

Listen to Happy Hour Hustle on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Youtube. Link in bio.
The power of the Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship, in a graduate's own words:

"Growth is never accidental, it comes from being willing to learn, adapt, and embrace change. After nine months of dedication, reflection, and business development, I proudly graduated from the Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship (WEF) during the Small Business Association of Michigan Annual Meeting.

Throughout the program, I challenged myself to evaluate every aspect of my business, celebrating what was working while identifying opportunities for growth and improvement. The journey was made even more meaningful through the support of an incredible cohort of women entrepreneurs, the guidance of mentor Gina Jacquart Thorsen, and the leadership of bodespeaks and her team.

A sincere thank you to smallbusinessassocofmichigan for investing in second-stage women business owners and creating opportunities that empower entrepreneurs to build stronger, more sustainable businesses."

— Mary A. Barton, President and CEO of Equitable Accounting Solutions and proud WEF graduate.

Applications for the next cohort are now open. Link in comments.
"Out of failure comes growth – you have to see it as an opportunity." 

bodespeaks joined cuzzinjustin on the strictlyfromnowhere Podcast for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, embracing your superpowers, and building a personal brand that's actually yours, the wins, the setbacks, and everything in between. And naturally, dropped an f-bomb or two along the way. You don't want to miss it.

Full episode in the comments 👇
AI doesn't treat every source equally; it trusts what's credible, cited, and current, like news coverage.

Showing up in the right places isn't just good PR. It's how the robots (and the humans) get you right.

Read the full blog at the link in bio.
"If you don't get up and grind every day, the needle isn't gonna move."

We sat down with brandonmccraney, founder and Master Blender behind olderaleighdistillery in Zebulon, North Carolina. Brandon spent fifteen years just thinking about whiskey before he finally opened his doors, and even then it took four more years, a dozen rejections, construction delays, and a global pandemic to get there. Two years later, Olde Raleigh had already won Best Micro Distillery in the US.

Check out the latest episode of Happy Hour Hustle, where Brandon shares what it actually took to grow a business through COVID, the military discipline that kept him going when everything else said quit, and how working with people turned out to be the hardest part of the job.

Listen to Happy Hour Hustle on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and watch the whole episode on Youtube. Link in bio.
It's 9 months that is impossible to sum up in a video - but here's just a taste. 

This Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship is resources, mentorship, and connections that you can't build anywhere else. We're so exicted for what the next cohort will bring.

Apply now at the link in bio.
smallbusinessassocofmichigan