Honestly, a lot and a little at the same time. Over the years, we’ve had a few names like Hughes, Hughes Group, Hughes Advertising, Inform PR, Score Interactive, Score Technology, Red Rooster Promotions and I’m sure there are several more that I don’t remember. The latest is HughesLeahyKarlovic. It’s descriptive of the three partners, but not representative of all the people that are essential to the success of the organization. The real story is what happens in our building, not in our name.
In my time here over the past decade, I’ve seen a lot of change. Naturally we’ve shifted to developing a lot of digital solutions. And turnover in our industry is nothing new. We’ve won clients and lost a few. We even moved to a fantastic office space downtown. But the most dramatic change that I’ve seen and the one that I’m most proud is in the way that we think. Throughout the organization, in every single person, we completely reoriented how we think.
The world is full of problem solvers. We are essentially taught to solve problems from preschool on. You can talk to anyone and they have a solution for you. This is especially true in advertising. What the collection of talent at Hughes has been able to do is become problem identifiers, not just problem solvers. I’m continually amazed at our team’s ability to walk in to a situation and see things that no one else sees. It’s like a sixth sense without Haley Joel Osment. Our ability to identify and discern problems that others can’t is what separates us from our competition.
I truly believe that the collection of talent that has assembled at HLK has the opportunity to do something pretty special. We work a lot. We play a lot. I think we have all been blessed with a lot of energy. I’m able to see it on a daily basis in how our teams interact with one another. They are passionate and respectful in what they do and how they work together.
While the newest version of the name refers to Bill Hughes, our managing partner, Joe Leahy, our Chief Creative Officer and myself, the name is really a tribute to the entire Hughes team. Without the tireless effort of the names that aren’t in HLK, we wouldn’t have to worry about a name or our mission to reshape and dominate the St. Louis creative landscape.
