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A Formative Four Years

Written by Sharon Reis on . Posted in Firm Culture, Our Take.

It’s hard for me to believe that we are already celebrating the fourth anniversary of the founding of The Reis Group.  As I thought about this milestone and about my original vision to create a health care public relations agency with the best possible work culture, I was wonderfully gratified to get the news that we were just named one of the “Best Boutique Agencies to Work For” by PRovoke, one of the leading industry trade news outlets.

To be recognized for our culture, being named one of the best in the nation in the “most voluminous and competitive” category, according to PRovoke, is very rewarding for me both professionally and personally. Having a strong, talented, supportive team has been a joy, and it gives me hope for much success in the next year and beyond.

As I looked back at the four-year mark, I found myself marveling at how much has changed in such a short time, even before our world was upended by COVID-19.

The Cloud

When we moved into our brand new Dupont Circle office in Washington, D.C. in 2016, we worked with our tech expert to put all our content into the cloud and to have everything accessible virtually. It’s been an amazing change, particularly with our increased travel schedules, to have the ability to work from anywhere and have access to all our files. And it enabled us to buy the lightest laptops available, which was fantastic news for my poor sore shoulder!

Remote Work

Long before COVID-19, we started working remotely once a week on the day of your choice. But that became too confusing; some people would take it, others wouldn’t. It got to the point where we didn’t know whether someone was in or out of the office. We had a solution: “Work From Home Fridays.” Everyone would get the benefit. Everyone would be required to use video calls as the primary form of communication. Everyone needed to have a home office set up. Wow! Did that ever pay off when the coronavirus hit!

Working from home one day a week is fun. Working from home every day is just hard. I miss my co-workers! Getting coffees together. Chatting about the weekend. Noticing a new piece of clothing or a desk decoration. Being able to tell how each of us is doing by reading our body language. Let’s face it; you really can’t do that as well on Zoom. We are on virtual calls every day together, but nothing replaces being in each other’s presence.

Health Care’s Transformation

Our firm is focused on health and health care. I’ve dedicated the last 20-plus years of my life to these issues. So much has changed so quickly in both a scary and exciting way. Disparities, telehealth, questions about insurance coverage, access to care, prevention, mental health, reimbursement issues, scope of practice, and more. Never have these challenges been more apparent or important.

Supporting Our Community

The sweeping protests around the world are sparking historic changes that have been too long coming. As an employer, I am strongly committed to equity and to having a team that reflects our community, that is open to ideas from everyone, and that supports each other’s successes. Every June, we donate to a cause that helps the community. This year, we made a donation to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

My Proudest Moment

When we opened our doors four years ago, I said something that still holds true and that I keep near my heart. “To give it my best—to really make it shine—I need to work with the best people; people who share my values and my commitment to excellence. I have to work in a culture of support, in which our team members see that a major part of our work is to build each other up and help each other succeed.” I’m very grateful to know that we are doing that, and will continue…

A Passion for Pie

Written by Staff on . Posted in Firm Culture.

Next week, The Reis Group will temporarily trade PR for pastry-making when our staffers prepare their entries for the Great 2019 Pie-Off! This time-honored annual team tradition requires creativity and flair in the kitchen for us to master recipes that can stand out among a group of up to 10 pies, prepared by our highly competitive staff. On the flip side, our digestive fortitude also will be put to the test as we sacrifice our waistlines and taste each and every pie in search of this year’s winning entry.

This competition is serious stuff around our Dupont Circle office. To prepare for this year’s Pie-Off, we caught up with TRG master pie-maker, Stephanie Wight. In her seven years with the team, Steph has been recognized for her prize-winning pastry creations four times!

Q. How many of your pies have been honored in the Pie-Off?

A. I had to go back to my Instagram archive for this one. The first time I won was in 2014 with a blueberry custard pie. Then in 2015 I earned second place with a Smore’s Brownie pie. In 2016, I won with a Pear Ginger pie, and then last year I went from sweet to savory and won top prize with a Sausage, Apple and Sage pie. Important to note that all these winners were judged primarily for taste, not for appearance. I’m definitely not a visual artist when it comes to my baking.

Q. What’s your most memorable pie?

A. The Blueberry Custard became a fan favorite among my friends and family. And then the Pear Ginger was a unique combination that turned out great. I attempted artistry by braiding the crust – and it actually turned out pretty well, which was a miracle!

Q. What do you look for in a recipe to make these delicious creations?

A. I look for an element of surprise. Everyone loves traditional pies, but you need to have some kind of an edge to stand out. This year will be interesting because I’ve heard lots of buzz about savory pies, which have won the past two years (shout out to Tamara Moore’s meat pie in 2018—that was amazing!) So, this year, we might have an even mix of sweet and savory, making the selection process even more difficult!

Q. Do you have any baking memories from childhood that have instilled this skill or passion?

A. My first Reis Group Pie-Off in 2014 was the first time I ever baked a pie! Although I do have fun memories from childhood helping my mom bake cookies and cakes. My grandma always brings pies for Thanksgiving, but for the past few years my Pie-Off winners have shared the Thanksgiving table with hers. The S’mores pie is another family favorite!

Q. What’s your Pie-Off routine?

A. First, I search Pinterest and some cooking magazines to select a pie…. then, I make sure to plan lots of free time on the Sunday before the contest to bake. Since I’m not the most experienced baker, I read through recipes during the selection process to make sure they aren’t too complex. I also have always gone with either store-bought crust, or crusts that are easier to make like graham cracker crust or even better—Nilla wafer crust! If I’m going with a fruit pie, I make sure to buy ingredients in advance, to get the optimal degree of ripeness.

Q. Do you have any Pie-Off advisors?

A. Well, my boyfriend, Mick, otherwise known as Chef Micky B, is a very good cook. His stepfather is a long-time chef in South Florida, so Mick grew up learning from the best. However, he doesn’t know much about baking, so the baking tips from my mom have been the only cooking lessons I’ve been able to share with him. He will definitely be involved in the selection process for my pie and he’ll be around for any emergencies while baking.

So, I’m getting ready for a great time next week with my creative colleagues—and then I’ll be heading to the gym to work it off—and then start thinking about my 2020 recipe!

>>Learn more about Stephanie and drop her a hello here.

Two of The Reis Group’s Senior Leaders Talk about Life at the Agency

Written by Staff on . Posted in Firm Culture.

The Reis Group recently announced the promotion of two of its senior leaders, Lauren Musiol and Tamara Moore, to Senior Vice Presidents. Together they bring a combined 26 years of experience working on the team.

In the Q&A below, Lauren and Tamara answer five questions about their careers, team, and what they need to be their best.

Q: What interests you most about Health care PR?

Lauren: Health and health care are such an important part of everyone’s lives. Getting to work on issues and topics that directly impact people’s health and wellbeing makes my job interesting and rewarding.

Tamara: I totally agree! I am also fascinated by the issues we get to work on. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a boring day in the office between promoting scientific studies to following the latest policy debate – there is so much depth and diversity to what we do that keeps the work interesting.

Q: Millennials aren’t known for their job loyalty, especially in industries like PR. What has made you stay with Sharon for the past 13 years?

Tamara: We have pretty low turnover, so this type of longevity is a part of our culture. I often hear from friends and colleagues outside of TRG how strange they think it is that I’ve worked with the same team for more than a decade, but Sharon and Lauren have been two of my closest colleagues in this time, so it hasn’t felt strange that we’ve stuck together.

Lauren: Our team really is a close-knit group. Also, as a boss and a mentor, Sharon encourages us to continuously grow and evolve. This constant support provides opportunities to challenge ourselves and one another to stay on top of growing trends in the industry while mastering the tried and true skills that are necessary to be a successful PR professional.

Q: You manage some of TRG’s major clients, such as Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and Nemours Children’s Health System. How do you successfully manage and deliver success with so many competing priorities?

Lauren: The key for me is organization and being able to determine what needs to be done now while looking ahead at the bigger picture. A big part of being able to do that is being part of a strong team that supports each other to ensure we are delivering the best service and most innovative ideas to our clients.

Tamara: Lauren is an absolute organizational goddess! Personally, I have about five to-do lists scattered across scrap paper. In all honesty, though, there is a certain focus and drive to overcome challenges and deliver success. We also have an amazing team that comes together to balance each other’s work loads and complement one another’s expertise.

Q: What makes you the best version of yourself? Or What are your passions?

Tamara: I am the best version of myself when I’m able to achieve my version of balance. This includes quality time with my family, working through deliverables for clients and feeling that sense of accomplishment, as well as taking care of myself by staying active and sleeping well. There is also a healthy amount of coffee that goes into this equation.

Lauren: I am very passionate about being active, so getting outside for a run or going to a class at the gym helps keep me calm and grounded, as well as helps me manage the stress of such a fast-paced industry.

Q: What advice do you live by?

Lauren: My motto is “wherever you are, be all there.” Too often we are focused on the next thing – whether that be checking the next item off our to-do list or answering that next email. It’s really important to fully engaged and bring your full attention to what you’re doing, whether it’s writing a high-level strategy memo or meeting with your team.

Tamara: I love that! For years, this Albert Einstein quote has stuck with me, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” In so much of what we do we are simplifying and translating, but without a deep understanding of the issues there is no way we’d be successful.

Growth Spurt. Excitement at Age 3

Written by Sharon Reis on . Posted in Firm Culture.

When we started our adventure three years ago, we felt the thrill of the new: a new name, new logo, new offices, new furniture, new benefits, new opportunities. And even new coffee shops and fresh new lunch options in our spiffy new Dupont Circle home.

As we celebrate our third anniversary today, we are filled with a surge of energy, a sense of momentum, and great excitement about how far we have come and how much further we want to go, together. Kind of like a growth spurt of an excited 3-year old.

We recently were honored to be named one of the best new agencies of the year by PRSA’s National Capital Chapter, and PR News recognized The Reis Group as one of the best places to work. In fact, in our three years in business, we have won 9 industry awards, and I couldn’t be prouder.

Our clients are leaders in advancing some of the country’s most pressing health and social causes. Many are focusing on new ventures in exploring health, well-being, complementary medicine, and the social determinants of health. Science promotion is more exciting than ever, as we move closer to finding a way to prevent devastating diseases ranging from childhood cancers to Alzheimer’s. Other clients are researching the hidden drivers of health care costs and educating the public. We continue to be in awe of our client partners who are incredibly smart, talented, and committed to making the world a better place.

As we enter our fourth year, we are growing in our personal lives, too. Tamara Moore, vice president, just this week gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Our colleague Kathleen Petty, account supervisor, is expecting her first child later this year. And my own baby just graduated from high school and is heading off this fall to college!

To our current clients, partners, and friends, we are grateful for you. You are the heart and soul of our success. We deeply value your support.

To my amazing colleagues, I am honored to be with you on this continuing adventure.

Thank you.

Sharon