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After countless tux rentals, countless entry fees and countless disappointing losses, PlattForm finally scored the elusive Emmy award Saturday night for our pro-bono work. I was beginning to think it wasn’t going to happen. So like any good optimist, I told everyone we were going to win. I willed it to happen. Well, that and the judging panel finally came to their senses.

Nothing is worse than losing when you’re oh-so sure you’re going to win. You’ve mentally prepared yourself and you’ve rehearsed your speech ad nausea. And then you lose and you still have to smile and politely clap. You’re forced to sit through 84 more categories while you are served coffee and dessert. Usually, I’m so disgruntled I’ll eat six or seven desserts.

On Saturday, all the planets were aligned. Every single nominee at our table walked away with their respective award. And my boss, who had never won an Emmy, was absolutely over the moon. We decided he would give the acceptance speech 1) because he had never done it before and 2) because he’s my boss and told me he was giving it regardless. I was thrilled for him.

The video was for SAVE, Inc. — a local Kansas City charity that does housing options for men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. It was the third video we’ve produced for them. Each of them had garnered nominations – so we were bound to win sooner or later. (Apparently later than sooner.) The Executive Director of the organization was on hand last night to accept the award with us … which was even more gratifying. You can watch the video here: http://creative.plattformad.com/tvFlash.php?id=8#creative

All in all, it was a great night. And it was great to see us finally bring home the gold for SAVE, Inc. They do such phenomenal things in the community with such limited resources. It’s been a privilege helping PlattForm work hand in hand with them for the last five years.

PlattForm is a very civic-minded company. They give all of their employees the chance to get out and about in the community and make a difference. It’s both a blessing and a perk.

Every year my team in the Video Production department puts together a pro-bono video for a local charity. The first video we produced five years ago was for a local organization that provides housing options for men, women and families affected by HIV/AIDS. To date, the video has raised nearly $900,000 for the charity, SAVE Inc. Over the years, PForm has wrapped its arms around this organization … and it’s been fun for us to watch them grown alongside us.

Over the weekend, we shot our fifth charity video in as many years. It was for the local Kansas City chapter of The Ronald McDonald House. It’s an amazing charity that was founded back in 1972 to help parents with gravely ill children. Now there are Ronald McDonald Houses worldwide … providing a home away from home for families who have children in need of critical medical care.

We spent a majority of the day in the neo-natal intensive care unit at Children’s Mercy Hospital. We were interviewing parents with kids who were clinging to life. Mercifully, most were being nursed back to health. Yes, it was better living through chemistry, technology and the sheer love of their parents. A lot of the moms and dads were teetering on the brink of tears through most of the interviews. It’s never my intention to make people cry while I’m talking to them … but you could tell the waterworks could start at any minute.

At any given point the Kansas City branch of the RMH houses upwards of 50-60 families who have kids in the hospital or receiving medical treatment. Parent after parent mentioned the same thing … we don’t know what we’d do without this place. Most of the families were from smaller or rural towns. Traveling hours to visit their sick kids is not realistic or practical. Heck, most parents refused to leave the hospital room. How convenient to have the Ronald McDonald House less than five minutes away from Children’s Mercy.

The experience was definitely and eye-opener. I’ve never had full access to shoot in a hospital … let alone an intensive care unit. But every one was very candid and honest and wanted nothing more than to tell us how much the Ronald McDonald House meant to them and their families. Keep an eye out for the video as we’ll be unveiling it later this year!

Every year the company meeting comes and goes. And every year most PFormers are forced – at gunpoint – to participate in skits highlighting their department’s good deeds.
Of course, it’s rife for mockery. Thus, I give you the 2009 Company Meeting Awards.

The MIA Award: Accounting – who somehow, miraculously managed to avoid doing a skit this year. I don’t know which was worse – Accounting getting off scott-free – or hearing Phil yammer on about EBITDA.

The That’s Whack Award: Turns out Steve Booth was pretty fly for a white guy. Who knew he could rap so eloquently? Although he did oversee the editing process from start to finish so as not to look foolish. As if.

The Gritted Teeth Award: Tricia Cooper who looked like she’d rather be enduring childbirth or a root canal than talking to the masses. You did fine, Tricia. At least you didn’t have to rap.

The Justice Is Served Award: Aaron Edwards was bludgeoned to death. Well, in a dragon costume, anyway. Townspeople, peasants and paupers rejoiced. I secretly did a little happy dance as well.

The Sugary Goodness Award: Mike Joseph hurled stale Peeps to the peeps in the audience as part of his routine. Kari Fajen lost an eye. And that was just because she stabbed herself with a pencil to go home early.

The NKOTB Award: Caleb Brattrud, who has quickly become the most popular boy in the whole school. Who the hell is Caleb Brattrud? I’ve never seen anyone so adored in this building since Sarah Dehart worked here. It’s nauseating really. Stephen Kent – take notes.

The Clutch The Pearls Award: There was an audible gasp from the audience when Dave Admire announced we’d be getting the entire week of Xmas or New Years off. Yes, it’s like Xmas came early.

The Charm ‘Em If You Got ‘Em Award: The oh-so clever Kevin Kuzma and Jenni Valentino managed to wrap everyone around their little fingers. They’re comedy gold. Like Cheech and Chong. Or Abbott and Costello. Or Shields and Yarnell.

The Most Improved Award: Sales/Marketing brought their A-game to the table this year. Who doesn’t like a rousing game of Family Feud? It’s like one big family around here anyway. The feuding part comes naturally.

Brant Burt is the manager of the Web Design team here at PlattForm. He was involved in a horrific car accident on January 27. Brant’s injuries were so severe that the police had started filling out the death report at the scene. Miraculously, Brant survived … but with serious head trauma.

After a nearly month-long coma, Brant started to stir. Of course, no one knew the extent of his brain injury or what to expect. One minute Brant was minding his business driving to work on a snowy January morning. The next minute this father of three was fighting for his life.

Brant’s condition continues to improve every day. He’s awake, alert and is constantly trying to hug his kids. He’s also becoming a bit more chatty as he starts to remember things. If there was ever a poster child for a miracle — it’s Brant — or as his family calls him “BB”.

Brant’s wife keeps friends and family (and the entire ad agency) up-to-date about Brant on a website. It’s a novel and new fangled approach to giving status updates. You can read more about Brant at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brantburt.

From my time working with him at PlattForm, I found him to be a social, gentle spirit with an extreme passion for his family and all things outdoors. Brant has months and months of recovery ahead of him. PlattForm continues to help in any way they can. And the family is holding a massive fundraiser on May 16 to raise funds for much-needed therapy and continued rehabilitation. A slew of PFormers will be involved and yours truly is emceeing the event. It’s just reinforces how close-knit our agency really is.

If anyone can survive a horrendous car accident and live to tell about it … it’s Brant. The man has a lot to live for. His brain spent nearly a month re-wiring itself. And now the prognosis for recovery looks promising. So we’re all keeping our fingers crossed and wishing the best for Brant. We miss you! And, for the record, I’ll never look at a mountain biker the same way again. The next time I think I have a hurdle to overcome, I’ll think of Brant. Everyone appreciates his amazing strength and fortitude. Looks like this is just one more mountain he’ll tackle and overcome.

Now that Obama is in the White House, how does that bode for the career colleges across the U.S.?  Well, that was the million dollar question this week in our nation’s capitol during CCA’s 2009 Hill Day.

Every year, the Career College Association brings together the who’s-who of career colleges to rub elbows with our nation’s senators and congressmen.   It’s a chance for school groups to have their voices heard and ensure students get what they rightfully deserve.  Is there upcoming legislation that could affect today’s career college sector?  Well, with more than 1,300 accredited postsecondary institutions in the U.S., many of them could feel the affect of any changes in the law.  That’s why Hill Day 2009 was of the utmost importance.

As in years past, the Career College Association, the flagship organization for career colleges in the U.S., put together the two-day event in Washington, DC.  The meetings aligned career college officials with their state’s local decision-makers.  And there I was in the middle of all of it taking stock.  I had an easy assignment this year – I got to hobnob.  Last year, I was traipsing all over Capitol Hill reporting on the day’s events.

Who knew school groups had so many concerns?  There were a wide variety of issues to be discussed – which similar to last year – included changes in student loans and lending issues.  And that’s why these annual face-to-face discussions have become so important and popular.  It’s an opportunity for all parties to understand everyone’s respective points of view.  With the recession and the credit crunch in full swing, lenders have resulted to tightening their belts.  That’s problematic if you’re trying to secure student loans nowadays.

I think it would be interesting to talk to the new guy in charge of education and pick his brain.  I’m going to put that on my to-do list.  I’m going to secure an interview with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan if it’s the last thing I do.  He seems smart and affable.  And me thinks after this week, he’s got his hands full.  Maybe I’ll wait a couple weeks before I invite him to lunch.