As the project manager, I was hired to efficiently distribute thousands of personalized and sized jackets at several employee picnics, across cities and locations within the company’s northern region.  

Another Project Manager, an Intel researcher and I stood on the lawn to visualize how people would flow from the work place or parking lots, to the employee picnic, , to the distribution area and finally back to work. Distribution had to be under a tent–it was a hot July–and, what if it rained?

We devised our plan right there on the lawn of one location: using 16-20 volunteers, we would distribute jackets in alpha-order from shelves; just like your library. I worked with the jacket company to alphabetize the jackets based on location, neatly wrap and label each with the name of its new owner. Large signage made it easy to direct employees to the jacket tent, volunteers assigned to the rows, tables and jacket shelves (boxes) set for easy identification of owner to jacket.  Jacket boxes wrapped in blue plastic table cloths (from a roll) reinforced a new brand, made it neat, organized and attractive all day long.

Sure, that distribution was fairly simple. Subsequent distribution was made complicated by the sheer number of employees (8,000), jacket styles, sizes, employee locations and order dates.  Due to order volume, not all of the jackets were complete by employee picnics.  Volunteers received lists of all orders to confirm distribution.  To minimize returns, key messages for the volunteers, and pre-order and post-order emails were clearly defined along with a manner by which to troubleshoot wrong sizes or styles. Each employee received a neat package, a gift jacket through the thoughtful care of their employer, made possible in part by Reach Partners.

Was it the only solution to the jacket distribute dilemma? Probably not, but it worked well and we all looked good doing it.


Anita, Reach Partners

If you want anything in life, you first have to imagine it. That’s a core tenement in personal development philosophies and it’s crucial in event planning.  The successful execution of any dream, desire or event relies on planning and planning requires an active imagination.

Even at the mere mention of an event, my imagination rolls. I consider the ideal person the client wants to serve, what they look like, how to anticipate their needs, what tools and talents are needed to teach, entertain, inform or surprise. The budget is a player too. Often needs and wants are constrained by funding so scrounging less costly solutions are a part of aligning the alphabet in the imagination soup.

We want the best for the event; that means the attendees are cared for and get the best value for their investment. Each person walks away armed with the truth, the tools and the experiences they signed up to receive.  

I encourage you to stop a moment at the beginning of your next meeting, social gathering, PR launch or conference.  Imagine the players, the venue and the outcome. Walk through the space and mentally experience the time that the event requires.

Walk in someone else’s shoes. Listen. You will find imagined pitfalls, mistakes and risks. Correct them. Imagine success whether that’s attendance, changed behavior or your product in the hand of everyone in the room, building, city or country.

Rachel,  Reach Partners

In our work, the solution is a part of the job and often that means connecting people.

One of the most memorable requests for a solution came from a client who regularly produces commercials. In this instance, they had hours until a scheduled shoot. They had produced the script, cast the talent, ordered props, and the production team was scheduled and ready to go. Due to unforeseen circumstances, one major element of the set was missing: the walls.

I got a call from the project manager assigned.  She stated her need, “We need the materials for interior walls, constructed and installed at the set by eight AM.”

I replied, “Give me 20 minutes and I’ll call you back.”

I found the solution in half of the time. It took 10 minutes to make the connection and confirm the builder, materials and delivery. The set walls were delivered right on time.

It takes connecting the right people at the right time to get it done. That’s what Reach Partners does.

Anita, Reach Partners