As we gear up for another exciting and busy year, we thought we’d take just a couple minutes to look back at 2018. Check out what our team has to say about the last year and consider sharing some of your own answers with us!
Kim McKeeman
- What was
your most memorable moment of 2018?
- Experiencing our youngest son graduating from high school and entering college. A big turning point for our family of five. It’s amazing how the parenting doesn’t end as all three boys get older – it just looks a little different.
- What was
your personal best for 2018?
- Re-committing to being intentional in all things. Reminding myself that I get to choose, whether it’s who I surround myself with, how I continue to learn and get better, or how I spend my free time.
- What was
your professional best for 2018?
- Positive change. Welcoming two talented team members, beginning partnerships with a host of new clients, digging in deeper with existing clients, and experiencing such fulfilling growth with our total team at McKeeman. It was truly a remarkable year.
- What is
one thing you hope stays in 2018?
- Moving – offices and homes. We love our new spaces and we’re all set for a while.
- What is
your resolution for 2019?
- Stay focused. Avoid the “squirrels” in life and keep my focus on what matters most.
Caroline Schmid
- What was your most memorable moment of 2018?
- My most memorable moment was taking our family’s very first vacation – just the four of us. We took our kids on a cruise – a first for both my husband and me – and, although, I don’t think we’re “cruisers”, I loved being able to experience the adventure with my little family. From going down water slides on the upper deck to sharing a VERY small stateroom to visiting beautiful white-sand beaches, I am so fortunate to be able share these things with my kids while they’re still so young.
- What was your personal best for 2018?
- This past year I was able to take some time to really focus on myself and being a healthier me. I was able to AMP up my workouts with Camp Gladiator to 3 and 4 times a week – more than I’ve ever done on a regular basis. I’ve also been making more of an effort to cook at home and try new things out on my husband and kids. It’s been great for us to all sit down together most nights and eat dinner as a family. All of the meals may not have been winners but it’s the effort that counts…right?
- What was your professional best for 2018?
- 2018 has been a very transformative year for McKeeman. We parted ways amicably with a couple of long-term clients and have brought on more new clients in this one year than I have ever remembered bringing on in the past almost nine years that I’ve been on the team. Not only that, we’ve added two absolutely amazing team members – Katie and Victoria – and our team has never been stronger. So, I guess, my professional best is that I get to call this my job because I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with anyone else.
- What is one thing you hope stays in 2018?
- Snow. I’ve already had enough.
- What’s your resolution for 2019?
- Not sweating the small stuff as much. I have so much to be thankful for and want to project that to my family. This means having a bit more patience when chocolate milk is spilled on the new couch or when my little ones decide to try on my jewelry and lose my wedding rings for 45 mins. They’re all just things and life is about so much more.
Whitney Williams
- What was your most memorable moment of 2018?
- I celebrated 5 wonderful years with my husband in Hawaii. We’ve always wanted to go to one of the islands and it worked out that we could make it happen for our five-year anniversary. We spent a week exploring and enjoying the sun and surf. Not to mention, we got out right before a volcano erupted that had been dormant since the 80’s.
- What was your personal best for 2018?
- I traveled a lot in 2018, which is one of my favorite things to do. I love exploring new cultures and seeing sites you never thought you’d see. It’s always a goal of mine to save up and explore the world. Experiences > material things.
- What was your professional best for 2018?
- I’ve never really enjoyed the “sales” side to business. I usually tried to stay away, but was asked to lead a lot of our “new business” in 2018, which meant I couldn’t. I actually learned a lot and found out I was good at marketing our business and sharing how we make a difference for our clients. It helped us reach our sales goals in 2018, which I hope to continue this year.
- What is one thing you hope stays in 2018?
- Chunky platform sneakers….they look good on no one.
- What’s your resolution for 2019?
- Let things happen, instead of needing to play it all out. Trust that it will all come together in the end and maybe I’ll learn something new.
Katie Parker
- What was your most memorable moment of 2018?
- Leaving television news and starting a new adventure with my McKeeman team. I never thought anything would be able to challenge and thrill me like a live news show. Boy (girl), was I wrong? This incredible team of boss ladies has helped me reach new heights and realize new talents I never knew existed.
- What was your personal best for 2019?
- My personal best for 2018 was being home for my family in a way I never thought possible. Television news doesn’t really “work with” the days you really need and the days you never really plan for, i.e. random lunch dates with your hubby or your child’s sick days from daycare. These are important events I’ve had to miss in the past but, thankfully, not any more.
- What was your professional best for 2018?
- My professional best has been taking my knowledge of the newsroom, and turning it into a teaching moment and strength for our team. By sharing the fundamentals of storytelling with my coworkers, we’ve been able to get some incredible coverage for our clients and tell some incredible stories.
- What is one thing you hope stays in 2018?
- The stress of not being able to do it all.
- What’s your resolution for 2019?
- To set aside some time for me.
Becky Ogburn
- What was your most memorable moment of 2018?
- Going on college visits with my high school senior. It was a really weird experience, as I have no idea how I have a child who could be ready for college, particularly since I haven’t aged a day since I myself left college. It was just fun to see college campuses through her eyes, and to go through the process as a family. Times are changing, and she won’t be at home much longer, so taking every opportunity to spend quality time with her is precious to me.
- What was your personal best for 2018?
- This is a mixed bag of “personal best”, as it’s not really mine, but my parents have been driving out to visit us here in Raleigh from Boise, Idaho every year since my daughter was born. They are now in their 80s and are still taking the journey across the country. To be quite honest, it’s a little stressful for me because they aren’t known for checking in on a regular basis. But it’s also a personal best that my parents will take a month to travel and spend a couple of weeks with my family. It’s a blessing for all of us, and hilarious and amazing memories for my daughter.
- What was your professional best for 2018?
- I’ve been working closely with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Carolina, and I have really enjoyed learning to understand the inner workings of a nonprofit charity. I think we’ve helped to mainstream some of the processes that had been done in the past, and that’s been really satisfying.
- What is one thing you hope stays in 2018?
- The feeling of running in circles.
- What’s your resolution for 2019?
- To enjoy these last few months with my daughter before she heads to college.
Victoria Dixon
- What was your most memorable moment of 2018?
- How do I even begin to choose? Last year I graduated from college, planned a wedding, started my first “big girl” job, moved to a new city – you get the idea. There’s been a lot of upheaval and change in my life in the last year, but I don’t think those things are my most memorable moments. Looking back on 2018, the things that stick out to me are playing endless card games with my friends, laughing while learning to ballroom dance and exploring Raleigh with my hubby-to-be.
- What was your personal best for 2018?
- After 2 schools, 4 majors, and 6 long years I finally crossed the finish line and graduated from college. There were so many days when I wanted to throw in the towel and walk away (especially in those last two years), but I’m proud of myself for sticking to it no matter how tired or frustrated I got. Plus, hopping majors means I learned a huge range of useful stuff for my eventual tenure as a Jeopardy champion.
- What was your professional best for 2018?
- Becoming a real-life McKeeman Maven, of course! When I started my internship with McKeeman in January I never imagined that I would wind up an account executive by the end of the year. Sometimes I sit around and marvel at the unexpected direction my life has taken and how fortunate I am to be part of a team of women who are driven, intelligent, freakishly-curious, and hilarious.
- What’s one thing you hope stays in 2018?
- Any and all things related to wedding planning.
- What’s your resolution for 2019?
- To slow down and spend more time doing the things I love. (See also: hoard more books)
From everyone on the McKeeman team, we’d like to thank you for being part of our journey. We’re looking forward to continuing to help you tell your stories in 2019!