Happen helps United Way do more
September 2010
Happen has been working with the Heart of West Michigan United Way in Grand Rapids on its “Do More” campaign. Here is a nice article on the organization’s efforts.
http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/09/united_way_does_more_to_engage.html
Ready to take off
September 2010
After a few rounds of pitching, Happen (working under the Clark Communications moniker) was selected as the agency of record for the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Our charge is to help the state's second busiest airport establish a new brand and promote the airport's assortment of amenities. We are very excited for this account!
Finally, we get paid to act up!
August 2010
Happen has always been known as a group of characters, so we stood and took a bow when we were tapped by the Civic Theatre to help this community theatre promote its plays for the organization's 85th season. Using a variety of paid advertising, special events, online communications and media relations, Happen is sure to drive new audiences to this nationally-known theatre. We're hopeful for a curtain call, too!
Happen has gone to the dogs (and cats)
July 2010
After a very competitive bidding process, members of the Happen team were selected by the Humane Society of Kent County to help change their name and look, and expand their messaging to more audiences. Being animal lovers ourselves, we've taken this project to heart and remain hopeful that our efforts will help this worthy animal rights organization to raise more money so they can help more people become better pet owners.
Happen lands a pretty sweet gig
June 2010
Privately-owned Bremer Sugar, located in Zeeland, Michigan, asked Happen to help them develop a new brand and create their first-ever marketing materials. This food ingredient distributor, who mainly supplies large restaurants and commercial bakeries, needed their key audiences to know that they supply more than just sugar. Happen developed a series of new positioning statements and identities to help reflect that comprehensive offering. Future efforts will include taking the Bremer message to key audiences through more direct marketing efforts.
Getting to the heart of the matter
May 2010
In May of 2010 Happen was engaged by the Heart of West Michigan United Way (based in downtown Grand Rapids)to help update the national nonprofit's somewhat tired brand and message. Happen has been working with a dedicated team of communicators to help refresh the message and communicate their offerings to new audiences using new channels. It's a tough challenge, especially when fundraising is involved, but Happen has stepped up to get to the heart of their story and help raise funds.
Happen's ad guy honored with lifetime achievement award
February 2010
Frank Blossom was awarded by the local chapter of the American Advertising Federation with its prestigious Silver Medal at their annual Addy Awards in February of 2010. Frank joins an exclusive club of genius ad men and women of West Michigan who have proven to be masters of their craft. With over 35 years of experience in the advertising world, with many years at national agencies working on national brands, Frank knows a thing or two about how to communicate. Frank prefers to maintain a low profile, simply letting the work speak for itself, but his fellow Happen teammates couldn't let his accomplishments go unnoticed so they nominated Frank for the award. Happen is honored to have this creative genius, who splits his time between his independent consulting and marketing communications company and teaching at The Polishing Center and Grand Valley State University.
Every day is a holiday in downtown Grand Rapids
October 2009
The ownership of the Days Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids was looking to brands in the fall of 2009. They knew that switching to the popular, family-friendly Holiday Inn brand would require some publicity. The ownership was also dedicated to adding environmentally-conscious attributes of the newly-remodeled hotel. So, to help promote those two messages they hired Happen. This was a full-service endeavor that required us to develop an ad campaign, place media in a variety of formats, hold a series of open houses and promote to several audiences. The result was a successful grand opening and ongoing high traffic volumes.
Happen partners are all about the ladies at inaugural ArtPrize
September 2009
Happen's very own Jeff Hage and Mark Bird entered individual exhibits in the inaugural ArtPrize art competition in downtown Grand Rapids, each paying homage to the beauty and strength of women. Hage entered a thought-provoking "Everyday Wonder Woman" photo exhibit that showed the typical stay at home mom going about her every day routine, only she was wearing the legendary outfit of the famous comic book character Wonder Woman. Bird's exhibit "Painted Ladies" would have won the "tallest naked lady" award had ArtPrize created such an honor. Bird took his love of fine art to a new canvas: women. He painted (yes, from head to toe) 9 female models in a variety of colors, covering every part of their body. Each painting was photographed and output on to 9' high posters that were hung from the ceiling of the exhibit. To accentuate each piece, both Hage and Bird exhibited in the same venue. Quite a site!
Helping make the BRA better
August 2009
No, we weren't hired by Hanes to make better women's undergarments. Rather, we were hired by the City of Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (B.R.A.) to develop a new logo and create an overview brochure. This important economic development agency is charged with helping real estate developers gain important tax credits in exchange for the developer agreeing to build or renovate on a designated brownfield site (usually a contaiminated or environmentally-challenging site). The agency never had a solid identity or story, so Happen was brought in to help.
Moving to MoBevy
June 2009
Happen relocates from a small office suite near the Van Andel Arena to the bustling Monroe Center and the larger shared office setting called Mobevy. MoBevy provides closed and open office space for creative types. The suite provides us with larger conference rooms, more open space and a great view of all the interesting people that walk in and out of the Grand Rapids Police Deparment building across the street
Craig Clark receives "Public Relations Professional of the Year" award from WMPRSA
April 2009
Happen public relations guru Craig Clark was selected in April 2009 as West Michigan's best PR practitioner by the West Michigan chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Clark was recognized not only for the growth of his firm, Clark Communications, but also for initiating an online media matchmaking service called GR Media Match. He put the special award on his mantel near his many leather-bound books. He still goes by "Craig" although his handlers say to never look him in the eye.
Grand River Bank selects Happen
May 2009
Michigan's newest bank, Grandville-based Grand River Bank, was looking to make things happen quickly this spring when they got the green light to begin formulating a marketing strategy for their early summer opening. So who better to help than the region's newest marketing agency, aptly called Happen. The bank met with Happen's seven partners in February to get acquainted. Shortly after, much to the firm's promise of 'bringing more ideas to the table early on', Happen had created a marketing platform for Grand River Bank to use for its May opening.
Happen wins Silver Addy
February 2009
Happen was awarded a prestigious Silver Addy by the Ad Club of West Michigan at the organization's annual gala. The virtual marketing agency won for the team's overview brochure. The brochure plays off of the toolkit theme, with the cover resembling a "Happen" brand toolkit. The tool analogy works well for Happen, as it best describes how this virtual marketing collaborative brings only the tools necessary to get the job done.Local marketing professionals makin it Happen
December 2008
After nearly a year of an informal collaboration, seven West Michigan marketing professionals formalized their partnership and created a limited liability partnership called Happen. The collective is made up of the following individuals:Mark Bird - Bird Design - design, art direction
Frank Blossom - Frank Communications - copywriting, creative direction
Craig Clark - Clark Communications - public relations
Jeff Hage - Green Frog Photo - photography
David Kettler - Media Place Partners - media services
Lisa Schrotenboer - Rocket Science - project management
Happen takes it to the masses
July 2007
In mid-2007, national retirement planning giant Mass Mutual hired members of Happen to develop a printed direct mail program aimed at encouraging employees and small business owners to use their 401k program. Happen developed a fun-loving "know it all" character in Aunt Massie, that aunt we all know who has made smart financial planning decisions and isn't afraid to remind you. The business reply card endeavor we a successful 3-part mailing in July of 2007. Although that campaign is over, we can still hear Aunt Massie telling us what to do!
Something's happenin with VSA
May 2007
Local nonprofit, VSA Arts, which provides arts education to intermediate school district children with disabilities, is the reason Happen is around today. In the Spring of 2007, VSA called on the professionals at Bird Design, Clark Communications, Frank Communications, Green Frog Photo, and Jeff Tow Creative to increase VSA's presence in the community. The result? An inspiring campaign, called Disabling Disabilities with Art, complete with the popular "lend a hand" painted hand posters, and the creation of Happen.