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Meet the new badass.

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Sarah Abel poses for 8THIRTYFOUR in Grand Rapids.

It’s official!

Our wolf pack has expanded! We’re excited to officially announce the hiring of Sarah Abel as Managing Director

As managing director, Sarah will serve as the team senior-leader, tasked to drive the agency strategy, positioning, client retention, and employee support. Abel brings extensive experience in communications, marketing, public relations, programming, and community engagement to 834.

“I am thrilled to join 834. I’ve worked with Kim and members of her team throughout my career on different projects, and they are incredibly innovative and smart. The energy, creativity, and talent in the firm is really unique, and I am looking forward to being a part it.”
-Sarah

She has street cred.

In her previous role, Sarah served as the development communications manager at Rockford Construction. She joined Rockford to launch and manage Blue35, an innovative office environment, before moving into the role of communications manager for real estate development. While at Rockford, Abel led marketing, branding, and communications efforts in support of Rockford’s expanding residential portfolio, strategic communications initiatives, and engaged in Grand Rapids’ west side neighborhood.
She has also held positions at the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Community Leadership and Grand Rapids Public Museum. While at the Chamber, Sarah oversaw the communications support for the launch of “Hello West Michigan,” an employer-driven regional talent attraction and retention initiative, in addition to her role as the marketing and programming coordinator for the Chamber’s leadership and community orientation programs.

“834 has grown due to their strategic understanding of how to meet client needs, and the team’s ability to stay ahead of trends in an ever-changing world of communications. What I love about the method is that it is never ‘business as usual’. As communication channels and tools continue to evolve, so does 834.”
-Sarah

And she’s involved in a lot of shit.

She is a graduate of Huntington Bank’s Rising Woman Leaders Program, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Healing Racism, and Saint Mary’s Up Next program. Sarah is the co-chair of Gilda’s Club West Side Walk, and volunteers for the West Side CID Marketing Committee and the West Side Clean Up. Abel holds a B.S. degree in public relations from Northern Michigan University. The list goes on and on…
 
Shoot Sarah an email at sa***@*******gn.com.

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