Changes

The idea behind this blog was that if it just existed for long enough, it was bound to capture all of the changes that happen to families over time. Hopefully most of those are good-news kinds of changes. But occasionally there are bound to be sad things to report as well. It's just the nature of life. This week is a good example of that. First Matt had a promotion and now Stephen has been promoted as well. But sadly, we've lost Bill, Grandpa Thompson's beloved brother, and the second of his brothers to pass away. I hope nobody minds me making mention of both the sad and good news in the same post. To me, it makes more sense that way because it's an analog to life.

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Bill was suffering from complications from Vascular Dementia. The condition causes his blood vessels retract and the blood flow to be cut off to his brain. It apparently affects different people different ways. With Bill affected his muscles and caused him to draw back and have spasms. It can progress slowly or go fast. In the end he would sometimes contract into a fetal position and could not or would not eat. He eventually developed pneumonia and this is what too his life.

In the next day or so, we are going to have some of Grandpa's recollections of Bill posted. I wish I would have gotten a chance to know him as an adult, and I'm looking forward to learning about this great uncle of mine who I never knew.

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Many of us were waiting to find out the news on Stephen's pitch that he had been preparing for just before the Thanksgiving break. I still haven't gotten a final word on this, but his performance for the company must have been exceptional because he's just been promoted to Executive Creative Director. I know we're all in awe of Stephen's talents and the hard work he puts into his career. Congratulations!

Here is the note that went out with Stephen's promotion, within the company.

As iCrossing continues to build its reputation as a full service digital agency,
we must consistently perform on the promise of our key differentiator: deliver
informed creative that leads to measurable results. In parallel, we must fine-tune
our staff mix to reduce overlaps in roles and responsibilities, put the right people
in the right positions, and spread our most experienced staff across accounts.
To these ends, I am pleased to announce the promotion of Stephen Thompson, currently
senior vice president and executive creative director, to executive vice president
(EVP) and executive creative director. Since joining iCrossing in August of 2007,
Stephen has worked to build, reinforce, and sell our strategy as well as redefine
our creative processes and deliverables. As a result of his leadership, we are seeing
interactive agency of record opportunities and increased consideration as a full
service digital agency.
Over his 25-year career, split almost evenly between traditional advertising and
interactive, Stephen has led award-winning creative for such notable clients as
Intel, Iomega, Kellogg's, Hewlett-Packard, Keebler, Red Lobster, and most recently,
Vail Resorts. His personal mantra, be religiously strategic and wildly creative,
has served him and his teams well over the years. Stephen knows what great work
is and how to produce it.
Reflecting the increasing strategic prominence of creative, Stephen now oversees
all creative in North America. He will proliferate and reinforce our differentiator
of delivering informed creative both within iCrossing and to external audiences,
and he will ensure that we consistently perform on this promise in our work for
clients. In addition, Stephen will be a key contributor to iCrossing strategic
initiatives including helping to manage key accounts, developing new business, implementing
standards and best practices, improving processes, increasing performance to our
values, furthering our thought leadership, and guiding our corporate branding.
Stephen will continue to report to Ann Gaglioti, EVP, delivery.
Eric Wegerbauer will continue working closely with Stephen to build our design capabilities
and reputation. Eric will report to Stephen, and will help him lead our talented
team of group creative directors and their staff.
Please join me in congratulating Stephen on his promotion and offering support as
he transitions into his new role.

Don