Happening at Jell in 2011

Ever wonder who makes those gigantic custom projection screens you see at big trade shows and corporate events? The ones that appear upwards of 100 feet wide, or gently curved, or cut in odd shapes?The leading manufacturer is one of Jell’s longtime clients, The Screen Works, which was founded in 1957 here in Chicago. MORE >

Posted December 20, 2011

Free Spirit Media just had a banner year. In fact, it was one hell of a decade, started ever so modestly in late 2000 with a small experiment in youth sports journalism (aka, Hoops High) and capped with an amazing 10th Anniversary Gala at Café Brauer in June, attended by dignitaries such as Toni Preckwinkle and Jean-Claude Brizard. MORE >

Posted December 1, 2011

Given who they actually are and what they actually do these days, their full name is a bit misleading — the “Infant Welfare Society of Evanston” — but the name is rooted in historical fact. In 1913, philanthropic Evanston volunteers began distributing milk to impoverished families with infants and toddlers. MORE >

Posted October 10, 2011

We’ve worked with our good friends at Leverage Software on a number of projects over the years, most often helping them to promote their primary product, Leverage Community — a flexible and robust enterprise social network that can be deployed inside any organization seeking more effective internal collaboration. MORE >

Posted October 1, 2011

As with many cutting-edge biopharmas, the most exciting news at NeuroTherapeutics Pharma is the stuff one can’t talk about — yet. Suffice it to say that NTP has filled their development pipeline with new and proprietary compounds for disorders of the nervous system, including pain and epilepsy. MORE >

Posted September 16, 2011

Music and dance. Small, adventurous performing arts groups. Stunning acoustics in a small theater setting — not a bad seat in the house. Where in Chicago do you get it all? Only at (take a deep breath) the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park MORE >

Posted September 8, 2011

In the midst of this treacherous economic slump, in which most business owners count mere survival as a measure of success, the times may seem less than optimal for launching an aggressive marketing campaign for business management consulting. MORE >

Posted August 30, 2011

If you’re of a certain age, you may recall the dramatic growth of private equity firms in the early 1980s. In Chicago — now second only to New York as a hub for PE activity — one of the first firms on the scene was Wind Point Partners. Since their founding in 1984, Wind Point has raised seven funds with over $2. MORE >

Posted August 26, 2011

The 2011 Season of the Grant Park Music Festival offered many exciting and adventurous selections. Conductor Carlos Kalmar is well known for his eclectic tastes and taking risks. But perhaps the most unusual performance of the year was The Book with Seven Seals, a 1937 composition by Franz Schmidt based on the Book of Revelations. MORE >

Posted August 14, 2011

…they’d tell you what an incredible group of kids we had the pleasure to meet last week. If you’d like to skip to the end of this story, watch the video and meet the kids yourself as they complete their summer course in messaging and communication.Where does this story start? Let’s try somewhere in the middle. MORE >

Posted August 3, 2011

This is a story about rebranding — but first, a little back story. Just over five years ago, we had the pleasure of meeting David Claus, an award-winning copywriter. MORE >

Posted June 16, 2011

Ever wonder how food actually gets to those in need? Get ready for some big numbers. Since its founding in 1978, the Greater Chicago Food Depository has helped feed the hungry and raise public awareness while creating and cultivating essential programs, services, and volunteer opportunities. MORE >

Posted May 15, 2011

When we started brainstorming about themes and design for Free Spirit Media‘s 10th Anniversary Gala materials, we quickly realized that there were many priorities to balance: Keep it simple and elegant. Make it festive and celebratory. Keep the focus on the youth. MORE >

Posted May 2, 2011

Some of our clients are just beginning to warm up to social media. They often ask us whether they need to be in both Facebook and Twitter, and exactly what they should do there. Good questions! For most of our clients — especially those in professional areas — we recommend starting with Twitter. MORE >

Posted April 5, 2011

No one has ever painted Ludwig van Beethoven as a great romantic. By all accounts, he was was a stubborn man who spurned companionship and often alienated female admirers. Still, we are transfixed by the warmth, romance, and energy of his music. MORE >

Posted January 25, 2011

Some Chicagoans thrive on the hustle and bustle of big city life, while others may crave a slower pace. For those of you who fall in the middle, who want both the convenience of the city and the charm of small town or suburban living, our clients at Blueprint Realty Partners may be able to help. MORE >

Posted January 16, 2011

At Jell, we like to think of ourselves as creatives. When it comes to design or branding, we research and approach the problem, investigate the myriad ways to solve it, and then execute our plan. In fiscal matters, our clients at Victory Park Capital do the exact same. MORE >

Posted January 4, 2011