It’s the most wonderful time of the year – as the song goes. At McKeeman, we wholeheartedly agree. There’s a feeling of accomplishment about the previous year, and a sense of wonder about what the new year will bring. We’ve included some reflections, some musings, and some “must-haves” for 2018 from each McKeeman team member. Thanks for letting us share them.
Kim McKeeman
- What’s your most memorable moment of 2017?
- Celebrating the power of choice. From who you surround yourself with at work and at play, to how you spend your time – I was reminded that I get to choose. And I’ll take that straight on into 2018.
- What was your personal best for 2017?
- Seeing my oldest son, Kenton, use his degree in psychology in his first job fresh out of Indiana University — and be really good at it. Celebrating as my youngest son, Max, was accepted into his first-choice college — University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Go Vols!
- What was your professional best for 2017?
- Officially opening our Nashville-area office, and welcoming great-fit new client partners as we head into 2018. Having the honor of leading one of the best teams I’ve ever worked with. I’m thankful for these amazingly talented, big-hearted and hilarious women every day.
- What is one thing you hope stays in 2017?
- That relentlessly-played NFL Shop Chiefs-Raiders Christmas Dinner commercial, where the husband wears the light up sweater. I love humor. When it exists.
- What’s your resolution for 2018?
- Embracing a “culture of appreciation.” Every. Single. Day. I have so much to be grateful for.
Caroline Schmid
- What’s your most memorable moment of 2017?
- I’ve been very fortunate this year to take several special trips with very special people in my life. From a quick adventure to Tulum, Mexico with my sweetheart and a cross-country flight to California with two kids under 3 to a long weekend eating and drinking our way through NYC with my mom and siblings, I’ve had some pretty fantastic moments in some amazing places.
- What was your personal best for 2017?
- Hands down – it was our move into our new house. We sold our old house and closed on the new house all within a six week timeline. In fact, the closings on both homes were within four hours of one another. Not to mention, we moved everything out of the old house and into our new house within 36 hours. And, although I have no regrets and LOVE my new house and neighborhood, I don’t want to do that again for a very long time.
- What was your professional best for 2017?
- My professional best, and I hope Kim would agree, would be streamlining our company’s operations and managing our operating budget. Although many of the processes were new to me, I was able to apply the same skills I use for client work (organization, efficiencies, etc.) and improve what we currently had in place.
- What is one thing you hope stays in 2017?
- Shoulder cut-outs. Sorry – I’m just not a fan.
- What’s your resolution for 2018?
- I want to be more present. I definitely need to work on making this resolution more SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely) but it’s something that I’d like to work on especially during the times that I’m with my littles. They’re growing so fast and I want to be sure that I’m soaking up as much time as I can with them.
Whitney Williams
- What’s your most memorable moment of 2017?
- I’ve had many memorable moments as this year was the year of travel and my work sabbatical! I went to Punta Cana with my husband to celebrate the marriage of some of our best friends and then convinced (haha) him to take off two weeks to travel the world with me during my one-month sabbatical. We ate, drank and explored our way through France and Belgium.
- What was your personal best for 2017?
- Did I mention I had a work sabbatical and traveled for two weeks straight? Well, if that wasn’t enough, I also was in my sister-in-law’s wedding and celebrated my ten-year high school reunion.
- What was your professional best for 2017?
- I jumped in to help lead more of our sales and marketing efforts for our own business, which at first, was a bit scary since I hate the idea of “selling.” However, I think I’ve really come in to my own and figured out that i’m pretty good at building trust with people in a way that’s not “selling,” but instead, building a relationship. Now, that’s something I can get behind!
- What is one thing you hope stays in 2017?
- The return of bell bottoms. I just can’t go back.
- What’s your resolution for 2018?
- Eat healthier and exercise 4-5 days a week (so original)
- Focus on faith over fear with both professional and personal decisions
Anna Roelser
- What’s your most memorable moment of 2017?
- Finally making it to Asheville! Before moving here in 2015, I remember scrolling through pictures of NC, getting excited to live in a place sandwiched between the mountains and the ocean. I’ve made a number of trips to the ocean, but I only made it out to visit Asheville this November. It was worth the wait, and I will definitely be back.
- What was your personal best for 2017?
- My personal best for 2017 has got to be flying back to Minnesota to surprise my mom for her 60th birthday. She’s a letter-winning UMN gymnast and a die-hard Gopher football fan, so we invited friends around the country to go to a UMN football game and tailgate. We even joined the team as they ran through the tunnel onto the field for the second half. It was so special to be a part of giving that to my mom.
- What was your professional best for 2017?
- Trying new things. I’m an avid podcast listener, but hadn’t given pitching a podcast a shot yet. We’re lucky enough to work with a Raleigh-based public health nonprofit, Curamericas Global, who was willing to be my guinea pig and volunteer to do an interview given the chance. Thanks to their organization’s work, our pitch received a response, and WUNC’s Measure of Everyday Life just had the Curamericas executive director on the show in November.
- What is one thing you hope stays in 2017?
- What’s your resolution for 2018?
- Sit down and stay awhile. Maybe even smell the roses. Appreciate what I have.
Becky Ogburn
- What’s your most memorable moment of 2017?
- Watching my teenage daughter, who generally likes to stay close to home, take a leap of faith and travel to a third world country for a mission trip. And on this mission trip she discovered her passion, so will be stepping out on faith a whole lot more in the future.
- What was your personal best for 2017?
- Getting serious about working out, and losing 20 pounds. I say this now, during the holiday season, after I just ate three of the most delicious salted caramels and a piece of cheesecake, so …
- What was your professional best for 2017?
- Took part in the hiring of an employee for a client. This involved finding candidates, interviewing, legal documents. It was tiring, frustrating and rewarding all at the same time.
- What is one thing you hope stays in 2017?
- 20 pounds.
- What’s your resolution for 2018?
- Look up, not down. See the good in people. Be kind to others, including myself.
From our work family to you and yours, enjoy the season and embrace your “must-haves” for 2018. Then make them happen.
Cheers,
The McKeeman Communications team