PlattForm People

Nope, I’ll guarantee you we’ve collectively lost our ever-lovin’ minds. That translates in to chaotic fun and unrelenting frivolity almost on a daily basis.

On Tuesday, we had a meeting of upper management. It happens four times a year. There are about 75 of us who help chart the direction of the agency. We all get together for a “what-the-hell-is-your-team-doing-that-we-should-be-aware-of-and-gosh-have-you-lost-weight-you-look-good” mind meld.

After 30 minutes of pleasantries and agenda items, we were informed that we were going to be broken up into groups of five … for a “team-building exercise”. In most companies, this announcement is followed by an eye-rolling, groan-inducing wave of insubordinate dissention. At PlattForm, the last time we had team-building, there was ice cream involved – so how bad can it be? Although – come to think of it – two recent group activities have involved trips to the emergency room … less I digress.

This time around we had a good ol’ fashioned scavenger hunt. You know, where players have to scramble to find an arbitrary list of miscellaneous items in an allotted amount of time. Our team was determined to win no matter what the cost or what laws we’d have to break.

While I’m familiar with the premise, I’ve never been on a scavenger hunt before. This one seemed even more ridiculous and more random than usual. My team went for the big ticket items. Get a picture taken holding a snake. Get an authentic recipe from an Italian restaurant. Bring back the mayor. (Believe me, he wasn’t happy about it.)
And the list went on and on.

Picture of a mullet. Concert poster. Bird feather. Origami swan. A lock of hair from a stranger’s head. Photo of a family with four or more kids.

I found myself walking up to complete strangers like a crazy person and asking for things. Most obliged and didn’t ask questions. Obviously they had been on scavenger hunts before. In the end, we ended up winning by THREE points over our nearest competitor. It was our gas receipt for $.50 that helped propel us to victory.

If your company hasn’t had fun lately … I’d strongly suggest a scavenger hunt. PlattForm’s motto? “That which does not kill us — only makes us win more gift cards!”

Think back to the first day of school, possibly where you didn’t know anyone, and you sit there staring at the wall, your hands, the desk or anything else to avoid eye contact. One would think this wouldn’t ever happen again once school is completely over but that is not the case.

As most new kids in class, you feel this anxiety of starting your first day in a new environment and ask yourself: “Was this the best decision?” “Will I get along with everyone?” “Why does it feel like I’m starting over again?” The anxiety just keeps building and building.

Lucky for me, I knew the moment I sat down on my first day with Jan that this was the place for me. I came from the event marketing world and had background in Higher Education, so it just makes sense professionally to combine my experiences into one. That is why I am excited to be at PlattForm!

How can I describe this place? Typical ad agency? Kind of, but not really. We dress more casual than most businesses, which means jeans are allowed every day of the week! On our breaks we can enjoy a game of ping pong, playing video games on the Wii, and even relax in the yoga room. We have random eating competitions between departments, video messages about fun events, and occasionally costume contests. PF is so much more than a ‘typical’ ad agency!

Everyone is on the same side, willing to put forth that extra 150% and strive to meet the needs of our clients. Not to mention, I was welcomed into the company with open arms and everyone is willing to takes steps to ensure my success.

A main goal within the company is to dive right in, get involved and progress quickly. Goals are posted all over the company, which is very motivating and inspiring. I have goals in my life but keep them to myself until they are achieved and then create new ones. Now, I have weekly, monthly, and annual: team, department, company, internal client and external client goals. It is definitely a shift from the average, “Set three goals and we will review them sometime” business style. It is actually refreshing to have a breakdown of these goals to really achieve.

Goal: writing a Blog. Mission accomplished!

Wow, over 2 months ago I started at PlattForm! Achieved a few goals, and with all the experiences I have gained I feel like I have worked here for years, but in a good way!

KC Magazine Honors Tracy Kreikemeier with selection to 50 Most Influential Women List

This March, our favorite Cornhusker fan finally gets her due. KCB Magazine announced its fourth annual list of the 50 Most Influential Women in Kansas City and it includes our CMO, Tracy Kreikemeier.

The publication’s selections were taken from nominations made by local business executives and ultimately decided by ranking the candidates according to the following criteria: business acumen, career advancement and/or entrepreneurial spirit; board affiliation; community involvement; and awards and recognition.

“It’s an honor … and it’s exciting, but it would have never happened without the support of so many other people who believed in me and who helped point me in the right direction when I needed it,” Kreikemeier said.

KCB Magazine, published by Anthem Publishing, Inc., is a monthly business lifestyle magazine available at bookstores and newsstands in greater Kansas City, and via subscription.

Tracy’s work ethic and sincerity in relating to her friends and coworkers here have already taken her to the top of the PlattForm organization and increased her profile within the career education sector. But outside our company’s walls, Tracy has been a quietly kept secret of corporate achievement in the local business community.

As CMO, Kreikemeier oversees the Client Services, PR & Marketing divisions of PlattForm. She is deeply involved in forming marketing strategies for PlattForm clients, and everyone knows she logs thousands of flying miles every month for client visits. But she is also responsible for guaranteeing consistent sales and marketing materials.

She said her favorite aspect of her job is people, both her PlattForm coworkers and the company’s clients.
While she’s not one to attract attention to herself (we had to convince her to go through with this article), the corporate world has taken notice anyway. Congratulations, Tracy!

On August 4th 2009 my cousin (apparently we look more like sisters) Lindsay and her traveling bake sale “Gus’ Goodies” came to Plattform to share their knowledge on Autism and delicious treats! They had anything from Chocolate Chip cookies to Monster cookies, and of course it wouldn’t be a bake sale if Rice Crispy Treats weren’t involved! YUMMY- my mouth is watering thinking about the great goodness!

Lindsay, who is a 3rd Grade Teacher at a local elementary school, started the traveling bake sale to raise money and awareness for autism, as well as improve the social and communication skills of one of her students (Gus) who has autism.

Once I heard about what Lindsay was doing, I suggested she should have Gus and his goodies come to Plattform. The people here are so nice and it is a great environment for Gus to be around – I mean c’mon, we have a WII! Boy was I correct! Not only did we raise $400 worth of donations, but one person in particular made an impact. A woman came up to Gus- who at the time was more intrigued by the red balloons than the bake sale- knelt down to his level and said “Hey Gus, how are? Can you tell me more about Autism?” This unknown person was wearing a gray cardigan and had “cute” short black hair (can you tell that this is the portion of the time I was not there?). This really made an impact on Gus. Anyhoodles, to the gray cardigan, cute-haired girl, as well as the rest of the great employees of Plattform, myself and Gus’ Goodies say thank you for your generous donations and participation! It was definitely a successful event – Gus got to play WII, while the Plattformer’s had a sugar overdose and expanded their knowledge on Autism!

Yanni?
Yawn-y, right?
Surprisingly, no! And I’m the newly-eyes-opened witness to tell you why.
Until last Tuesday night, all I really knew about Yanni was that he produced some distinctive New Age CDs, keyboards mostly, awhile back and that his trademark look was long-hair. My only example of his work went MIA when I left it in the CD player of a car I traded off—two vehicles ago.
So, when an Email popped up offering two tickets from Danny Pumpelly to the Yanni Concert at KC’s Sprint Center that night, I mused aloud, “Hmmm….Maybe I should go get those tickets.”
It was already after five, but my ICD compatriots still at their desks, Erin Sullivan and Tracy Benbrook, urged me on–with equal parts ridicule and ‘we dare you’—to risk it for the tickets.
I shoved my way into Danny’s office to discover only one rival for the tix: Shana Kreikemier. She had them in her hand, waving them thoughtfully. “Oh,” I said, not sure if I felt deflated or not, “I guess they are taken.”
Shana offered them to me, saying, “Actually, I’m not sure I can make it to the concert tonight.”
From that moment on, the musical planets aligned. En route to change clothes, I called a friend, who stunned me by saying, “Yes, I’m available for the concert tonite,” despite not knowing the first note about Yanni. We readily found parking and our seats, bought a tee shirt (at Danny’s request)—all good.
The concert itself, styled Yanni Voices, started off with a long, slow bluhh number performed behind a transparent curtain. “Gonna be a long night,” I thought.
It wasn’t. Once the curtain rose, the tempo did, too. The voices: Nathan Pacheco, Chloe, Leslie Mills and Ender Thomas—seen and heard on at least one PBS special of the same name—stunned. The staging turned clever, the camaraderie among performers zoomed to the height of the top tier seating and the level of musicianship astonished. World class!
One highlight—a performance progressing through every Latin dance I could name and a couple I couldn’t—featured Chloe (I think) dancing and singing and vamping through a 10-minute segment that took my breath. (How she had the pipes to keep singing I’ll never know.)
By the second half of the show, audience members were on their feet, moving, grooving and keeping the beat, rapt at the variety of music ethnicities that Yanni and his troupe so powerfully displayed.
I stood, applauding and whooping, for two curtain calls.
In the bathroom, I ran into an exotic woman with a heavy Cuban accent, from Miami. She purred, “I first saw Yanni in MeeAHme (she rhymed) nine years ago and wherever I’m near a concert of his, I go. I just happened to be in Kansas City this week, and look, here I am.”
Indeed. And so was I. Amazed. Thankful that Danny Pumpelly couldn’t make the show. (And yes, Tee, I really WAS sorry that I got those tickets instead of you, but only for two seconds Next time you need to work late so you too can scramble for the tickets…..)