What a great way to start our week! Last night, MyBusiness (the magazine we publish for members of the National Federation of Independent Business) was honored at the Folio Show in New York with a prestigious Ozzie design award for best feature design in a business-to-business magazine with a circulation above 100,000. This award is a big one within our industry. At Hammock, we liken it to an Emmy, though as Managing Director John Lavey points out, itﾕs really more like a Golden Globe. Either way, weﾕre thrilled to have won.
The winning entry was a feature in our February/March 2006 issue about a business owner who single-handedly rescued the small town he loved as it teetered on the edge of extinction, like so many other small towns across our country. Congrats to our fabulous design department for their smart work and excellent photo direction.
Select any of the spreads at the left to open a PDF of the full article and see the whole thing in its full-fledged Ozzie-rrific-ness.
We were going to do some cute post about the 15 things we love most about Hammock Publishing to commemorate Hammock’s 15th anniversary this month. But when we started the list of our favorite parts of working here, we could tell we would pass the 15 mark several times over.
It the simplest terms in boils down to this: We love working at Hammock because of the:
But not necessarily in that order. Here are a few things that could be heard around the water cooler when the topic of the anniversary came up recently.
Bill Hudgins: “From a selfish employee perspective: I have worked in large and small organizations, including a unionized place, and none of them ever offered benefits as generous or working conditions as friendly and caring as Hammock. If this is your first ‘real’ job, you don’t have any way to compare, unlike those of us who have worked other places. The only other place I worked that encouraged creativity, self-improvement and initiative as much as Hammock was the PR agency where Rex originally hired me.”
Barbara Greenfield: “Rex and Patrick R. keep me ‘technologically hip’ so I don’t feel like an idiot in public when I hear people talking about Apple’s new innovation and RSS feeds. And people here love what they do. It’s not ‘just a job.'”
Jamie Roberts: “Hammock has the best Christmas parties — and after-parties.”
Megan Goodchild: “A work-life balance is definitely supported at Hammock, and it’s not the end of the world if you get sick or have to go to the doctor during the day. Also, being an Apple/technology nerd is pretty much encouraged.
Summer Huggins: “To anyone in the blogosphere, Rex is a celebrity! (So to steal words from Heather Armstrong:) Working for Rex is like working for Brad Pitt’s cousin. Say the words ‘Rex Hammock’ in some circles and people are impressed and a little verklempt!”
Shannon McRae: “I love working at Hammock because I learn about things like mobile blogging and RSS before most anyone else I know, thanks to Rex’s love of technology. And the laughs we share from recounting stories of Hammock Christmas parties past. And the total lack of micromanaging.”
Lena Basha: “That pour-your-heart-out speeches at Hammock Christmas parties are well-received with responses like, ‘Oh my goodness, you almost made me cry,’ and ‘I was thinking the same thing.’ And that celebrity gossip is encouraged.”
Lynne Boyer: “The Hammock Publishing office experience. You have to be a part of it to understand. And we actually have fun office Christmas parties, ones that employees/significant others want to attend.”
For the last several months, we’ve been marking the days on the calendar that commemorate the starting date of each of the members of the Hammock Publishing crew. Today, we caught Patrick Ragsdale at the single-serving coffee maker, again, and asked him about his first year with Hammock. We wish him many more…
1. July 11 is Hammock Day for you. How long have you been with Hammock Publishing? 1 short year.
2. What do you remember most about your first day at Hammock? The single-serving coffee machine. We’ve spent many minutes together since that first day.
3. If you didn’t work at Hammock Publishing, what do you think you would be doing? I would probably be working at a large company like Dell and traveling a lot for their sales department. I had great interviews with both Dell and Hammock. Choosing Hammock was pretty much a no-brainer.
4. What is your favorite movie of all time? That would be toss up between the narrated version of Blade Runner and Zentropa. The directors cut of Blade Runner removed Harrison Ford’s narration, which was a mistake. Zentropa was the first Lars von Trier film that I saw. It’s a very cool film. Multiple languages and interesting exchanges between cinematography and graphic arts.
5. If you could own a sports team, which one would it be? I’d like to own the Nashville Predators but still have plenty of money to spare. That way I could subsidize the high cost of tickets for the fans.
6. What was your most memorable day at Hammock? Out of all the great days I’ve had at Hammock, the one that stands out as the most memorable here would be the day you all held that baby shower for Lorraine and me. We hadn’t been in town very long and you all were so thoughtful with your gifts. We really felt welcomed and overwhelmed. I can’t imagine having a more memorable day at any job I’ve had!
7. What is the last musical act/group you saw live? This is pathetic. I can’t remember the band’s name since they were mediocre, but I enjoyed the last venue I was at. It was The Middle East Restaurant and Night Club in Cambridge, Mass., on Mass. Ave. Great place.
8. If you were to win the lottery this week, what is the first purchase you would make? I’d probably buy a bottle of wine on the way home. There’s this $25 bottle of Ravenswood Merlot that I think is great.
9. What is your favorite summertime vacation destination? Holden’s Beach, N.C. Lorraine and I have been going there since childhood.
10. If you could switch places with any other Hammock employee for one day, who would it be and why? I enjoy what I do so much that the thought never occurred to me before.
15-minute pause.
I think it would be nice to have the ability to do Natalie’s work since she knows so much about contracts and business law. So, if I were to switch places with someone, would that mean that I gained their knowledge permanently or just for that one day?
We’re a day late wishing Julia Boklage a happy Hammock Day. But that doesn’t mean our good wishes of celebration are any less. Even during the craziness that has been this week, Julia took a few minutes to answer some random questions about her time here at Hammock, hateful cats and the Rolling Stones.
1. June 21 was Hammock Day for you. How long have you been with Hammock Publishing? I have been with Hammock seven years.
2. What do you remember most about your first day at Hammock? I remember feeling totally overwhelmed. My predecessor was passing down a lot of rules on how to do things, particularly in our accounting software. I kept thinking that I would never remember it all! Turns out, much of it was not necessary, but it took me a while to figure that out.
3. If you didn’t work at Hammock Publishing, what do you think you would be doing? Something very similar. It’s what I like to do.
4. What is your favorite movie of all time? I have a lot of favorites but the one I watch most and never tire of is “Overboard” with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Totally silly and very entertaining to me.
5. Do you have any pets? That’s hard to answer. My daughter, who lives with me, has a crazy cat named Target. So, she’s not really mine but I get to reap the benefits as well as the drawbacks of having a paranoid, sometimes loving, often hateful odd little cat.
6. What was your most memorable day at Hammock? Probably 9/11. I am most often the last to arrive, and when I got here that morning, totally unaware of what was unfolding, I could almost sense the tension. A complete horror that I’m sure none of us will forget.
7. What is the last musical act/group you saw live? Oh my! Most recently, I saw Michael W. Smith in his Christmas performance with the Nashville Symphony. The last great performer that I saw was Ray Charles, not too long before his death. Highlights of my younger days would include The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and many more. Attending concerts was the “thing to do” back in the day. We would drive hundreds of miles!
8. If you were to win the lottery this week, what is the first purchase you would make? I would buy a large piece of land and build a wonderful house. It has been a dream for a very long time.
9. Where do you hope to retire someday? I really don’t know. I guess I think I’ll be working forever.
10. If you could switch places with any other Hammock employee for one day, who would it be and why? This question gave me the most pause! As I said, I really love what I do, it suits me. But, if I have to choose, I think it would be Kerri. It would be a lot of fun to enjoy her creative talent for a day.
This is one of those times every couple of years that some of us just live for. It’s no secret that our office is chock-full of political junkies and small-business fans ﾑ and what better place to celebrate either persuasion than at the NFIB National Small-Business Summit? The biennial gathering of small-business owner/activists from around the country always attracts heavy-hitters from the political and business-speaker circuit; this year the agenda is strong.
Hammock’s MyBusiness and NFIB.com staff were in force at the Summit, working with our client, the National Federation of Independent Business. It’s a great showcase of their power and strength on Capitol Hill, and we’re glad to be a part of the event. Below are the Hammoratians there: (L-R) Rex, Barbara, Emily, Lena, Summer and Jamie.
Spring is a time for baseball, rain and celebrating Hammock Days around here. The sixth member of the Hammock team to celebrate her Hammock Day in less than a month, Lena Basha sat down with me over margaritas to answers a few questions about dating, movies and being chased in the parking garage…
1. June 2 is Hammock Day for you. How long have you been with Hammock Publishing? Three years.
2. What do you remember most about your first day at Hammock? Barbara Mathieson. In the parking lot. Riding my tail. Honking her horn. Flashing her lights. Yelling, “Park, you slow poke!” I embellish, but it’s not far from the truth. Our relationship has since improved.
3. If you didn’t work at Hammock Publishing, what do you think you would be doing? Hopefully a similar job, but not nearly as fabulous.
4. What is the last movie you saw in the theatre? “Ice Age 2,” but I’m more of a renter. Last night, I watched “Winter Passing.” It stars Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel. I was all, “Oh, I loved them in ‘Elf,’ I bet this will be great!” I was wrong. It was horrible. Don’t rent it.
5. Do you have any pets? No.
6. What was your most memorable day at Hammock? That day Rex stopped by my desk and asked me if I was dating Mr. Roboto.
7. What’s your favorite reality TV show? Would you ever participate? Oh goodness, where to start? “The Real World,” “Laguna Beach,” “The Hills” (premieres this week!), “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” the list goes on. I don’t think I’d participate, though. Despite appearances, I am shy. I think it took me at least a year and a half to speak without spoken to here at the office.
8. If you were to win the lottery this week, what is the first purchase you would make? A trip to New York.
9. Where do you hope to retire someday? I feel uncomfortable answering a question that suggests I am already thinking about retirement three years into my job. I love Hammock Publishing.
10. If you could switch places with any other Hammock employee for one day, who would it be and why? Lynne Boyer, as long as I get to keep her lockerﾑand the key that goes to it. I think she has 18 million snacks locked up in there. Also, she is an exceptionally fast and skilled designer.
On May 21, Kerry Davis celebrated “Hammock Day,” marking 11 years with the company. I bribed her to answer a few questions for us; terms of our agreement will not be disclosed.
1. May 21 was Hammock Day for you. How long have you been with Hammock Publishing? 11 years
2. What do you remember most about your first day at Hammock? That I don’t think some of the partners even knew that the creative director hired me.
3. If you didn’t work at Hammock Publishing, what do you think you would be doing? I’d probably try to pursue an interior design degree. I love looking at and thinking about interiors.
4. What is the last movie you saw in the theatre? Friends With Money
5. What did you have for lunch today? Hummus, pretzels and a Zone bar
6. What was your most memorable day at Hammock? There have been a few that we don’t talk about. Other than that, the O.J. Simpson trial (everyone jammed in the kitchen watching TV) and 9/11 (same scenario).
7. What’s your favorite reality TV show? Basically, I’m sick of them and don’t really watch them that much. Back in the day, I was a huge Real World fan. I remember watching the Sunday marathon of New York and San Fran. Loved Puck! Would you ever participate? Never.
8. If you were to win the lottery this week, what is the first purchase you would make? Plane tickets! Lots of them!
9. Where did you grow up? Aberdeen, Miss.
10. If you could switch places with any other Hammock employee for one day, who would it be and why? Probably Bill Hudgins. I’d love to spend a day with all the words in his head. He can drop a two-word headline on you in seconds… a designer’s dream!
Inspired by a recent CNN.com article, we decided to conduct our own poll here at Hammock of the worst songs of all time.
Barbara M. had several nominations, and said, “The 70s was the decade of bad music. That’s why I listened only to jazz and fusion.” The songs that drove her away from the radio were:
“Afternoon Delight” by the Starland Vocal Band
“When Will I See You Again” by Three Degrees
“Once, Twice, Three Times a Lady” by the Commodores
“Copacabana” by Barry Manilow
“Baby I’m a Want You” by Bread
“Escape, the Pi紡 Colada Song” by Rupert Holmes
“Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” by Cher
“You’re Having My Baby” by Paul Anka
Bill:
“Yummy, Yummy, Yummy” is certainly close to the worst in my memory.
I have a special thing for “The Tennessee Waltz.” I hear it played in all sorts of romantic settings, like a wedding reception recently, and it always puzzles meﾐﾐthat is a cheating song, people! Why play it when youﾕve just gotten married?
Rex had a tie:
“Feelings (Nothing more than feelings)” vs. “Achy-Breaky Heart.”
Allison:
Barbara voted for my top pick, “Escape, the Pi紡 Colada Song.” The absolute worst song. Also, “We Built This City,” by Jefferson Starship. They had some ok songs, but this was the lowest point for them.
Lynne:
“Seasons in the Sun.”
“We had joy we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed were just seasons
Out of time…”
What a stinky song.
Megan:
I have several suggestions, including everything ever uttered by Britney Spears, and Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine.” Also, “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys, “Macarena” by Los del R弛 and “Come Dancing” by the Kinks (which Barbara M. and Bill have admitted they like).
A 4″ grass frog is visiting the Hammock office today. He will star on a television show next week. Jamie Roberts is his press agent.
The question went round recently, What are you giving up for Lent? Turned out a lot of Hammockfolk do make sacrifices for the 40 day period (not including Sundays, which may be why it seems longer) that comprise Lent. Here’s their list:
Bill: I was responsible for posting this, and as you can see by the date of this post, I haven’t decided to give up procrastination. Lent wasn’t a major part of my family tradition, so I’ve never given anything up. I’ve sometimes tried to add things, though – figuring if Lent is a time to get right spiritually, maybe I should do something that I wasn’t doing, like regularly going to church or eating dark-green leafy vegetables. Kind of like a New Year’s Resolution do-over. Rarely successful, too. My wife has decided to give up TV – she did this on another Lent and made it about 6 months longer before the tube got her again. I wonder if the fact she bought a TiVo right before Lent takes away some of the spiritual purity of her decision?
Jamie: I’m giving up chocolate, as well as a little bit of sleep. I’ve promised to get up a half-hour earlier in the morning. I failed miserably at last year’s pledge to get up an hour earlier, so this year I made the crucial adjustment. The toughest fast I’ve ever had was the year I gave up bread. I never would have made it on Atkins.
Barbara Mathieson: Sometimes I give things up; sometimes, not. Last year I tried to give us cursing, but didn’t leave the house before the first word flew out of my mouth. My big push this year is to stay calm and not freak out about stuff. I’ll try to keep that in mind for Lent. I stayed pretty tense and high strung throughout most of February.
Megan: I was raised Catholic, so every year my mom would make me give up stuff for Lent. I always tried to give up homework, but since she wouldn’t let me get away with that I ended up going without video games or television-the things a kid really needs. But now that I’m not Catholic anymore, I guess you could say I’ve given up Lent for Lent?
Laura: I’m giving up butter. Trust me, it’s going to be really, really hard. Nothing makes a dish taste better than real butter. I will probably use this time to also explore my Chinese cookbook, which does not seem to focus on butter in quite the same way that Southern cooking does.
Lynne: I announced to Dave this morning that I’m giving up Cokes/Dr. Peppers for Lent, so I guess I’ll go ahead and commit to this.
Lisa: I would like to give up cokes…more specifically cokes with artificial sweetners.
Emily: I don’t think I’ll ever be able to give up coffee, but I am trying to give up putting sugar and cream in my coffee.
Rex: I am going to give up putting sugar and cream in Emily’s coffee also.