Tim Donnelly: August 2007 Archives

The Aquent ASAP Job List
"Only a Bit Less Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys"

Don't forget to check at the end for our nearly award winning column!

Interested in a position?

PLEASE E-MAIL THE AGENT (see links for each job):

• A recent resume which reflects all the must haves
• A brief summary of how your experience matches the MUST HAVES
• Any samples, if requested

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S POSITIONS:

1. Web Project Manager
2. Flash ActionScripter
3. Product Manager
4. Director of Database Marketing and CRM
5. Packaging Designer
6. Flash ActionScripter
7. Web Project Manager
8. Front-End Developer
9. Corp Communications Coordinator
10. Marketing/Marcom Manager, Direct Response
11. Intranet Account Manager

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Web Project Manager

TERMS: Three-Month Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 2 years of project management experience at an agency (or Web Project Manager at a corporation)
• College degree
• No hands-on skills necessary

PERKS!:

• Smaller group in a relaxed environment
• Opportunity to own creative
• Health conscious environment
  

LOCATION:

• Northridge   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Flash ActionScripter

TERMS: One-Month Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 5 to 7 years of experience
• Must be a technical ActionScripting guru!

PERKS!:

• High profile site with lots of traffic
  

LOCATION:

• San Fernando Valley
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Product Manager

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 5 years with a CPG company in a Marketing role
• Master's Degree
• Project management and cross-functional management skills

PERKS!:

• Very stable environment working with well-known products
• Work with a great team developing new products for the auto industry
  

LOCATION:

• Moorpark
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Packaging Designer

TERMS: Long-Term Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 2 to 3 years of experience creating packaging for consumer products (i.e., food, beauty, apparel, toys, entertainment)
• Must submit RECENT samples for consideration
• Position pays $35 an hour (includes Aquent benefits)

PERKS!:

• Great large CPG company
• Super cool team
  

LOCATION:

• El Segundo
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Flash ActionScripter

TERMS: Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 3 to 5 years of experience
• Must be proficient in ActionScript 2.0 and XML
  

PERKS!:

• Cool creative studio within a company
• Work on social networks, mobile platforms, etc.
• Environment fosters creative input
  

LOCATION:

• Santa Monica
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Web Project Manager

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 2+ years of experience
• Experience in both hand-coding and content management
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

PERKS!:

• Free products, great artwork, and great work environment
  

LOCATION:

• West LA
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Front-End Developer

TERMS: Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Experience working on large branded Web sites
• Hands-on skills in HTML, JavaScript, and CSS
• 3+ years professional experience

PERKS!:

• One of the best agencies in LA
  

LOCATION:

• Santa Monica
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Corp Communications Coordinator

TERMS: Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Internal communications and PR experience
• Excellent writing skills
• Web content and event management experience
• Position pays $60K DOE

PERKS!:

• Growing, innovative company
  

LOCATION:

• Westlake Village
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Marketing/Marcom Manager, Direct Response

TERMS: Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Extensive direct response experience
• Strategic marketing and marketing communication experience

PERKS!:

• Great work environment in a rapidly growing team
• Great non-profit
  

LOCATION:

• Pasadena   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Intranet Account Manager

TERMS: Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Client service experience
• Technical and content management background

PERKS!:

• Great work environment in a rapidly growing team
• Great non-profit

LOCATION:

• Pasadena
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED:

Point your friend right to this link and have them drop your name to the Agent.

INTERESTED IN OTHER AQUENT POSITIONS?

Go here, my friend, then select Job Openings

* MyAquent users, use your UserName & Password to express interest in jobs. Everybody else, the registration is easy!

The JOB CENTER will track which jobs you've applied for and the current status.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THAT BIT AT THE END
"Make a Run for the Borders"

Slovanistan, Former USSR (Associated Press) - From the small village of Slovanistan, located in a far corner of the former Soviet Union, PR executive Richard Price is passing out squeezee balls to village children and leading them around like a latter-day Pied Piper.

"It just makes me feel good at a deep level," said Price.

Price is part of a group of marketing executives who formed Marketers Without Borders four years ago to provide marketing materials and know-how to those populations who might otherwise have none.

"A group of us were out having drinks and discussing what other organizations were doing to help out the less fortunate, and we wondered how we could do the same."

"We were all skilled professionals, but we didn't know exactly how we could apply our skills to help the not-quite-so-prosperous. None of us know how to use a hammer so obviously Habitat for Humanity was out of the question," Price said, breaking out into laughter.

Using the organization Doctors Without Borders as a model (a group of medical specialists who perform free operations around the world), Price and five other ad industry execs formed Marketers Without Borders. Currently based out of a Frank Gehry-designed bunker in Santa Monica, California, the group now includes marketing executives from over 20 nations. Each year they send an elite team to visit six "marketing needy" villages to show them how to improve their way of life.

Walking down the mud streets of Slovanistan, Price hands out tiny house-shaped USB memory sticks, antenna balls, branded baseball caps, playing cards, visors, and thousands upon thousands of pens emblazoned with company logos to throngs of outstretched hands.

"Our clients really came out of the woodwork to give us their surplus swag," Price said, using the industry term for giveaways.

When asked what anyone from the village would do with the items, Price responded, "You may not know this, but the squeezee ball was invented as a stress reliever. And I'm sure once this hamlet enters the global economy they're going to need a heck of a lot of them."

Elsewhere in the village, Eugene Eggars, a Media Planner from YellowDuck ad agency, tried to give a PowerPoint presentation on market share and competitive advantage.

"It's been very difficult," said an out of breath and grimy Eggars. "I couldn't find a plug for my projector, so I've had to draw everything in the dirt."

Eggars laid out intricate slides and graphs on the ground around the village's main square to a crowd of curious onlookers.

He mused, "It's not really the same without the whooshing sounds and the theme from the movie Rocky playing behind me, but I think the village elders are getting the idea."

Almost as if to prove his point, two elders could be overheard telling a kulak, or peasant, they didn't have the "bandwidth" to hear his complaints and would have to schedule a lunch with "his girl".

"I feel like we're really getting somewhere," said a beaming Eggars.

Jim "Jym" Bartok, of NY's fashionable boutique agency GrAF2T, hosted another afternoon seminar to the a group of farmers. "You can say your village's yak milk is better than another village's yak milk, but without a marketing campaign, who the heck is going to believe you?" expounded an impassioned Bartok. He also implored the farmers to start thinking hard about brand consistency.

In places as remote as Pakalyn, Malaysia, Marketers Without Borders is teaching people the plusses of strategic planning and benefits of handing someone a ruler with your village's name printed on it.

But Price admits that they still have a long way to go.

While reaching into his bag for more Enron-branded whistles and lanyards he lamented, "It's going to be a long time until a lot of these townsfolk understand what we mean when we say something is 'This year's black.'"

AIGA OC and Adobe are presenting OC/DC, a one-day CS3 training Saturday, Sept. 22nd down in (where else?) Orange County.

If you're unable to Aquent Graphics Institute's three-day CS3 event in LA on September 11-13 (I can pass along discounts if you're an Aquent Talent or Client) this might be just the thing for you.

Just think, you could be spending your Saturday sweating on the beach or inside an air conditioned auditorium sucking up CS3 info until you pass out from overload.

The choice is up to you.

Discounts not given for people dressing up in school uniforms ala Angus Young.

All the info you need to know right here.

Maybe you'll even hear the band play "Back in Pantone 426 C".

As a representative for our Company's new Precautionary Oversight Committee, I would like to take a moment to introduce myself and outline some new and exciting changes taking place in the coming weeks.

After John Hank's now infamous "Running with Scissors" episode earlier this month, our President and CEO immediately sprung into action and decided to help make our workplace safer for the good of the company. Both Robert C. Stanwick and myself were appointed to the newly formed Precautionary Oversight Committee the following day, based on our "outstanding records of workdays without an accident" (neither of us has sustained even a paper cut since becoming staff members).

Many of you may already know me as "that busy lady who does something in Finance," but you may not be aware I am also the mother of 7 who keeps her household running as safely as any scientific laboratory you could imagine. I haven't been to an emergency room in 5 years (and then only due to my husband's negligence). We at the Hartshorne household live by mottos: "Stow It, Don't Throw It", "A Hot Pot is a Not Pot", and "Think! And Go Slower with the Mower". These aren't just embedded in our children's minds, but posted throughout our house, garage, and front lawn. Those "Employees Must Wash Hands Before Returning to Work" placards aren't cheap, but can be a lifesaver when prominently displayed in your family's bathrooms.

Robert Stanwick, by his very disposition, is an infinitely careful person. Allergic to nearly every item created by both man and nature, he wouldn't dare think of picking up another person's coffee mug without seeing the lab results first. If you wonder why Robert looks so young, that's because he understands the sun is our skin's enemy and wouldn't dream of leaving the office without a long protective coat, hat, sunglasses, and surgical mask. Bravo, Robert!

Now that we've all settled into the comfort that 24 Accident Free Days brings, Robert and I would like to remind each and every one of you to keep a watchful eye for potential workplace hazards. It's your duty to protect yourself and your coworkers by MAKING EVERY DAY A SAFETY DAY.

Though our office is free of forklifts and heavy machinery of any kind, let's not all fall into a lull about the true dangers that lie in wait around every corner of this office. So we’ve compiled a fairly comprehensive list of current "Clear and Present Dangers SOLVED!" within our office and the next steps for improvement. Here are a few (the rest will be posted on the Intranet, once we find out who has User Name and Password to make changes).

CORDS SHORTENED ON ALL PHONES
Have you ever thought about the strain put on your neck by placing your handset between your head and shoulder? Or the obvious dangers of a tangled phone cord? If these thoughts were keeping you up at night (Robert and I have lost a lot of sleep!), worry no longer. All phone cords will now be 3 and 1/4 inches long.

EMERGENCY EXITS UNLOCKED/ LOCATED
We are finally rectifying this unfortunate situation caused by our last CFO, who believed staff members would use emergency exits to sneak out and smoke if they had the chance. Come Monday a number of you will find emergency exit doors where filing cabinets once stood. It took some doing, but good detective work with our office's blueprints helped revealed all their locations.

REMOVAL OF URINAL DEODORIZERS
Often called "urinal mints" we needed to make sure every child who enters our men's restroom doesn't stop for candy and wind up in the hospital.

BUDDY SYSTEM FOR REPLACING LASER TONER CARTRIDGES
You may not know it, but over 4 American DEATHS in 2006 were caused by ties catching in laser printers. While hiccups killed more people in the US during same time period, we'd still rather not take any chances. Diagrams detailing how your "buddy" should hold your tie during toner replacement (without violating any of Human Resources' policies) will be located above each and every laser printer in the office.

On September 1st you'll be seeing some easy-to-read, easier-to-understand signs popping up everywhere like: "No Biohazards in Staff Fridge!", "Be Careful, This Machine Has No Brain, Use Your Own", and "Report Your Drunk Coworker".

In fact you'll get to know our new mascot, "Mr. Ouch" quite well. You may recognize him from signs where he is being electrocuted by a transformer, hit over the head by an automated gate, or being stung repeatedly by a Portuguese Man-o-War.

Of course we wouldn't dare consider ourselves a safe workplace without placing bright green signs everywhere that inform you, "This office has worked ___ days without a lost time accident. The best previous record was ___ days." We say, let's do our best to help make a new record!

We have so much more in store for you during the next few weeks.

It'll be a veritable Celebration of Safety! Except, of course, without the balloons (latex, strangulation from strings), salty snacks (choking hazard, high sodium content), and hanging decorations (eye injury).

Robert and I are extremely excited to be on our company's Precautionary Oversight Committee and are looking forward to making 2007 our safest year ever!

In the meantime, we'll enjoy seeing you at the yearly company BBQ at the lake. We know you're going to love the changes our team made!

H  O  T     T  A  L  E  N  T
The Newsletter of Aquent's Available Talent

A  U  G  U  S  T   |   2  9   |   2  0  0  7
__________________________________________________

IN THIS ISSUE:

Hot Talent

Featured Talent This Week

That Bit at the End - "A Metric Ton of Prevention"

Subscribe | Unsubscribe Information
__________________________________________________

HOT TALENT

The Hot Talent Newsletter has been due for a makeover. So after much discussion, we've decided a mascot would really give this publication the panache it deserves.

In just a few weeks you will find our new Aquent Newsletter mascot "Hottie" simply everywhere!

On the streets you'll be saying things like, "I really dig that Hottie!" and "Boy that Hottie really sells the Aquent brand!"

On second thought, maybe we should reconvene with our naming committee.

While we do, have a look at these exceptional Aquent Talent available right now!

Just follow the links for profiles, samples, and resumes.

Is it Hottie in here?
__________________________________________________

FEATURED TALENT THIS WEEK

Tori R. - Flash Developer
Yvette Y. - Designer
Laura R. - Proofreader
David S. - Assistant Brand Manager
__________________________________________________

Tori R.
Flash Developer

A superstar Flash Developer with over 7 years of experience in Web site and Flash development, Tori hammered through our extraordinarily detailed Advanced Flash ActionScript assessment and scored 5 out of 5 possible points!

Something we rarely, if ever, see.

With strong PHP and ASP (as well as meticulous hand coding) skills, he loves mastering new tools and meeting challenges. Recently he developed a Flash shopping cart that functioned alongside OS Commerce using PHP for an e-commerce site (we told you he loves challenges). He's well able to develop full Flash sites from the ground up, develop templates, and produce and design interactive CDs in a multitude of formats.

Currently looking for a place to "call home", we're sure there will be no shortage of companies that would love to have him on board.

How about yours?

See his on-line Aquent profile by clicking here.

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: Macromedia Flash, ASP, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, JavaScript, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Macromedia Fireworks, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows NT
__________________________________________________

Yvette Y.
Designer

Working with both our Los Angeles and Sydney Aquent offices, Yvette is a terrifically talented print designer with a wonderful personality to boot.

With a portfolio chock full of work including ads, brochures, logos, packaging, newsletters, banners, and identities, her satisfied client roster includes companies in the financial, sports and recreation, entertainment, tourism, non-profit, and hospitality industries (including Australia's largest financial planning institute and  DIRECTV).

With a background in media, marketing, and graphics coordination, she's a pro at planning, budgeting, and making sure each project is well executed, from concept to stunning completion.

See her on-line Aquent profile by clicking here.

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Outlook Express,
__________________________________________________

Laura R.
Proofreader

A meticulous Proofreader with a broad range of experience in advertising, medical, publishing, and finance, Laura raises proofreading standards to new heights wherever she goes.

Most recently contracting at biotech giant Amgen, she quickly gained a reputation for incredibly accurate work, an excellent command of the written language, and a comprehensive knowledge of typography. She wrote the supplement to the Amgen Style Guide, which became the in-house reference for training new Proofreaders.

She's proofread everything from brochures and large Web sites to annual reports to textbooks for companies like IBM, McGraw-Hill, Union 76, Warner Bros. and Virgin Records, Mattel, and Saatchi & Saatchi. Her collateral experience includes copyediting, copywriting, and production supervision. Her dedication to her craft is truly exceptional.

If it absolutely needs to be error free, call us about Laura!

See her on-line Aquent profile by clicking here.

Desired Work: Freelance

Professional Categories: Copywriting, Editing, Proofreading
__________________________________________________

David S.
Assistant Brand Manager

A long time freelancer at Disney Marketing and his MBA from Pepperdine, David was most recently Assistant Brand Managing at Buena Vista Home Entertainment handling budgets, tie-ins, and relationship management for a number of film properties.

As Marketing Coordinator for both Buena Vista International Marketing and Walt Disney Records, he helped synergize key partnership relations between Radio Disney, Mattel, McDonald's, and Burger King restaurants and managed third party fulfillment vendors for unbelievably high volumes of premium products subject to critical time constraints.

Looking to continue his notable work in brand management "to infinity and beyond", consider David for your next exceptional marketing opportunity!

See his on-line Aquent profile by clicking here.

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: HTML, Lotus Freelance Graphics, Management, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Outlook Express, Real Video, SAP
__________________________________________________

THAT BIT AT THE END
"A Metric Ton of Prevention"

As a representative for our Company's new Precautionary Oversight Committee, I would like to take a moment to introduce myself and outline some new and exciting changes taking place in the coming weeks.

After John Hank's now infamous "Running with Scissors" episode earlier this month, our President and CEO immediately sprung into action and decided to help make our workplace safer for the good of the company. Both Robert C. Stanwick and myself were appointed to the newly formed Precautionary Oversight Committee the following day, based on our "outstanding records of workdays without an accident" (neither of us has sustained even a paper cut since becoming staff members).

Many of you may already know me as "that busy lady who does something in Finance," but you may not be aware I am also the mother of 7 who keeps her household running as safely as any scientific laboratory you could imagine. I haven't been to an emergency room in 5 years (and then only due to my husband's negligence). We at the Hartshorne household live by mottos: "Stow It, Don't Throw It", "A Hot Pot is a Not Pot", and "Think! And Go Slower with the Mower". These aren't just embedded in our children's minds, but posted throughout our house, garage, and front lawn. Those "Employees Must Wash Hands Before Returning to Work" placards aren't cheap, but can be a lifesaver when prominently displayed in your family's bathrooms.

Robert Stanwick, by his very disposition, is an infinitely careful person. Allergic to nearly every item created by both man and nature, he wouldn't dare think of picking up another person's coffee mug without seeing the lab results first. If you wonder why Robert looks so young, that's because he understands the sun is our skin's enemy and wouldn't dream of leaving the office without a long protective coat, hat, sunglasses, and surgical mask. Bravo, Robert!

Now that we've all settled into the comfort that 24 Accident Free Days brings, Robert and I would like to remind each and every one of you to keep a watchful eye for potential workplace hazards. It's your duty to protect yourself and your coworkers by MAKING EVERY DAY A SAFETY DAY.

Though our office is free of forklifts and heavy machinery of any kind, let's not all fall into a lull about the true dangers that lie in wait around every corner of this office. So we’ve compiled a fairly comprehensive list of current "Clear and Present Dangers SOLVED!" within our office and the next steps for improvement. Here are a few (the rest will be posted on the Intranet, once we find out who has User Name and Password to make changes).

CORDS SHORTENED ON ALL PHONES
Have you ever thought about the strain put on your neck by placing your handset between your head and shoulder? Or the obvious dangers of a tangled phone cord? If these thoughts were keeping you up at night (Robert and I have lost a lot of sleep!), worry no longer. All phone cords will now be 3 and 1/4 inches long.

EMERGENCY EXITS UNLOCKED/ LOCATED
We are finally rectifying this unfortunate situation caused by our last CFO, who believed staff members would use emergency exits to sneak out and smoke if they had the chance. Come Monday a number of you will find emergency exit doors where filing cabinets once stood. It took some doing, but good detective work with our office's blueprints helped revealed all their locations.

REMOVAL OF URINAL DEODORIZERS
Often called "urinal mints" we needed to make sure every child who enters our men's restroom doesn't stop for candy and wind up in the hospital.

BUDDY SYSTEM FOR REPLACING LASER TONER CARTRIDGES
You may not know it, but over 4 American DEATHS in 2006 were caused by ties catching in laser printers. While hiccups killed more people in the US during same time period, we'd still rather not take any chances. Diagrams detailing how your "buddy" should hold your tie during toner replacement (without violating any of Human Resources' policies) will be located above each and every laser printer in the office.

On September 1st you'll be seeing some easy-to-read, easier-to-understand signs popping up everywhere like: "No Biohazards in Staff Fridge!", "Be Careful, This Machine Has No Brain, Use Your Own", and "Report Your Drunk Coworker".

In fact you'll get to know our new mascot, "Mr. Ouch" quite well. You may recognize him from signs where he is being electrocuted by a transformer, hit over the head by an automated gate, or being stung repeatedly by a Portuguese Man-o-War.

Of course we wouldn't dare consider ourselves a safe workplace without placing bright green signs everywhere that inform you, "This office has worked ___ days without a lost time accident. The best previous record was ___ days." We say, let's do our best to help make a new record!

We have so much more in store for you during the next few weeks.

It'll be a veritable Celebration of Safety! Except, of course, without the balloons (latex, strangulation from strings), salty snacks (choking hazard, high sodium content), and hanging decorations (eye injury).

Robert and I are extremely excited to be on our company's Precautionary Oversight Committee and are looking forward to making 2007 our safest year ever!

In the meantime, we'll enjoy seeing you at the yearly company BBQ at the lake. We know you're going to love the changes our team made!

__________________________________________________

SUBSCRIBE | UNSUBSCRIBE INFO

If you don't want to receive any more of these newsletters, please reply with the word "remove" in the subject line. 

Also, please feel free to reply to give us updates on your contact information.

And of course, we'd love to hear your feedback!
__________________________________________________

Tim Donnelly
Propagandist | Blogger | Stuff Coordinator

A Q U E N T
6100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA  90048
Phone: 323 634 7000 | Fax: 323 954 8517
tdonnelly@aquent.com

We represent more than 400,000 marketing and creative professionals around the globe.
Visit aquent.com to learn more.

I love reading and yet, sadly, my work-related reading takes a back seat to my personal reading (case in point, my summer reading included Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, Water for Elephants,and Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain. That last one being a book that's better than its title suggests).

Happily my good friend Matt over at the Talent Blog led me to Adaptive Path's Reading List just in time for the Fall Semester. Titles like The Design of Everyday Things,The Architecture of Happiness,and How Buildings Learn.

Do also take a look at Matt's post on the Talent Blog, he's quite engaging, if I do say so myself.

Now I guess I'll have something to do while I wait for my next Netflix delivery.

Photo from Flickr by  numstead

You may have already heard about Miss Teen South Carolina, but seeing her deliver the message is another matter.

I think we found one of the folks who can't find the US on the map.

The Aquent ASAP Job List
"I've Got Blisters on My Blisters"

Don't forget to check at the end for our nearly award winning column!

Interested in a position?

PLEASE E-MAIL THE AGENT (see links for each job):

• A recent resume which reflects all the must haves
• A brief summary of how your experience matches the MUST HAVES
• Any samples, if requested

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S POSITIONS:

1. Off-Site Proofreader
2. Web Designer with HTML/CSS skills
3. Copy Project Manager
4. Jr. Web Designer
5. Web Art Director
6. Director, Database Marketing and CRM
7. Jr. Marketing Proposal Specialist
8. Web Art Director
9. Sr. Copywriter
10. Business Intelligence Analyst

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Off-Site Proofreader

TERMS: Freelance (Off-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 3+ years of professional proofreading experience
• Must be able to pass our rigorous proofreading assessment
• Ability to work remotely as well as travel to client location for occasional team meetings
• Position is no more than 27 hours a week
• Familiarity with insurance and/or healthcare industry a plus

PERKS!:

• Work in your pajamas (most of the time)
  

LOCATION:

• Your house and Woodland Hills   
  

CONTACT AGENT

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POSITION: Web Designer with HTML/CSS skills

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 2 to 4 years of professional Web site design experience
• Hands-on skills in HTML and CSS (Flash a plus)
• Able to work within a close knit team
• Please send professional sample URLs   

PERKS!:

• Large marketing resource site
• Keep up-to-date with latest marketing trends, trainings, events, etc.

LOCATION:

• Culver City
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Copy Project Manager

TERMS: Long-Term Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Copy and editorial skills
• Project management skills
• Experience interfacing with cross functional teams and performing on-line research
• Proposal experience preferred

PERKS!:

• Progressive health care organization
• Leading non-profit

LOCATION:

• Pasadena
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Jr. Web Designer

TERMS: Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 1 to 2 years of professional experience (corporate preferred)
• Hands-on skills in HTML and CSS
• Client interface experience and strong communication skills
• Must send URLs for consideration
  

PERKS!:

• A very fun, casual environment
  

LOCATION:

• Culver City
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Web Art Director

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Must have 4 to 6 years of Web design experience
• Understanding of basic HTML and hand-coding
• Expert level in Photoshop & Illustrator

PERKS!:

• Start-up company with stock options
• Fun and cool environment

LOCATION:

• Beverly Hills
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Director, Database Marketing and CRM 

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Experience and knowledge of data, CRM, and digital communications
• Knowledge of behavioral targeting & consumer event driven direct marketing
• Degree in marketing or related field

PERKS!:

• Fast-growing company
• Great team environment
  

LOCATION:

• West LA
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Jr. Marketing Proposal Specialist 

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 2 to 3 years of experience writing custom proposals
• Ability to gather information through internal resources or research
• Degree in English, Communications, or related field
• Ability to pre-qualify client or project leads preferred
• Salary

PERKS!:

• Upward mobility and growth
  

LOCATION:

• Downtown
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Web Art Director

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 5+ years of experience
• Ability to concept high-end design backed by great marketing strategy
• Experience in beauty, fashion, and/or luxury design
• Collaborative team player attitude

PERKS!:

• 1 day off a month to work for your favorite charity
• Fun, healthy environment
  

LOCATION:

• El Segundo
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Sr. Copywriter

TERMS: Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Absolutely must have theatrical ad experience
• Must submit samples of movie one sheets, ads, sell sheets, etc. for consideration

PERKS!:

• Very cool entertainment agency who works with studios, gaming companies, etc.
• Very stable environment 
  

LOCATION:

• Hollywood
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Business Intelligence Analyst

TERMS: Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Data warehousing experience
• Experience with software development
• Oracle and Cognos a plus
• Ability to manage system related projects
  

PERKS!:

• Heavy discount on company products (health related)
• Plenty of room to grow

LOCATION:

• South Bay   
  

CONTACT AGENT

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THAT BIT AT THE END
"Action!"

Most of what I've become, I believe, can be blamed on my father. The man was a relentless tinkerer and decided one evening to switch the voice box of my Redondo Beach Darby with the one from my brother's Mercenary Mike action figure.

So, come Saturday morning, my Darby doll began warning anyone walking outside her tiny condo about things like incoming mortar attacks and booby traps.

As you can well imagine, this affected me in many ways when it came to playing with friends.

I was, for one, embarrassed each and every time I brought my Darby over to my friends' houses. Mostly because my doll was apt to shout "Time to reload my crossbow!" or threaten to wallop their dolls with her powerful karate chop (a feature she didn't actually have).

Two, Darby and I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out which one of my friend's dolls worked as a double agent for that conniving Dr. X. (Oh, how I was always on the lookout for his tell-tale laser red eye!)

Darby began to lead a double life. Yes, she looked stunning arriving at a party in a hot pink tricot bodysuit under her ruffled skirt (cinched at the waist with a wide silvery belt), but then she'd complain loudly that someone had eaten her C-rations. After taking a turn on the dance floor with Ben or one of the many other clean-shaven men dolls, she'd sit down with them and complain about the terrible jungle heat.

And so it went that my Redondo Darby stopped drinking tea or joining the others at the faux BBQ for fear that someone in the perfect little cocktail dress would poison her.

In her own condo, instead of cementing her relationship with her girlfriends by hosting late night gab sessions, she would badger them to load missiles into the Assault 'Copter or sweep the place for listening devices.

Taking the lead from Darby, during my formative years I never really learned to do many of those things that every little girl should: visiting with friends, discussing feelings, checking out boys, or shopping endlessly for clothes and accessories. Instead I became obsessed with the mysterious assault on Silo 66, about which Darby would speak with greater and greater frequency.

What is a "top ranking NCO?" How far is a "click"? These questions plagued me while my geometry teacher prattled on about the Pythagorean theorem.

I became less involved with my friends, whose dolls Patina and Clarisse were forever quarrelling about who had the cutest top or which was the best mall.

It didn't really seem to matter, especially if we were going to take down the perplexing Silo 66 at 1700 hours on any given day.

It was right then that I made the difficult decision to give Darby the makeover of makeovers.  It was inevitable. You get a pink taffeta dress stuck on a grappling hook just once. It's a lesson you don't repeat.

Besides, Darby felt more comfortable in fatigues than a halter-top.

She moved out of her condo after an argument with her roommates over foreign policy turned into a slapping contest (it was one of the few times I actually did wish Darby had a karate chop).

And soon she found a nice bunker to share with two men named Redwolf and Flynt who, like her, preferred fingerless black gloves to arm length ones.

And she never looked back.

Neither did I.

And though it's been nearly 15 years since I was an adolescent, when shopping for clothes I will inevitably veer toward the camouflaged or at least black ones. And in sporting goods stores I can never walk by the crossbows without picking one up.

Sadly, the assault on Silo 66 never did materialize, and its location remains forever a mystery.

I still do have Darby in a box up in my closet. And I still take her out every once in awhile just to hear her gravelly voice just for old time's sake.

And whenever I'm at a party and a woman in the perfect little cocktail dress offers me a drink, I always tell her, as Darby would have if she were there instead of me, "Not on my watch, bub".

I always get this guy confused with the Rip-Off Design Gangsta.

They talk about the power of the blog and I guess I just semi-proved that was true.

A few days ago I was going on (and on and on and on) in a post about some of the companies I used while I was traveling. Well, someone was watching. Hertz Rent A Car to be specific. I'm guessing someone at Hertz is smart enough to run a search on blog postings about their company. If the press is bad, a customer rep contacts the blogger and tries makes amends.

This is what I'm figuring, anyway, because a supervisor (and a very nice, well spoken one) sent me an e-mail telling me he was very sorry for "the situation described in your blog." He went on to answer all the questions I'd had about their Fuel Purchase Option (FPO) plan and was "concerned that our corporate office was unable to correctly answer your questions regarding the charges billed for your rental". Then he asked for the dates, times, and numbers I'd called to see if they could help retrain their agents on their service offerings.

Pretty much everything I wanted to hear.

He also credited my account for $57.40, which was the amount I paid for the Fuel Purchase Option (which is, essentially, buying gas in advance so you can return the car to Hertz empty).

I've already written him back, thanking him for the excellent customer service and telling him that the credit wasn't really necessary. I really just wanted to let them know I needed some more information about their product and was unable to get it from their site or reps.

I'll let you know, it makes me a little uncomfortable getting a credit for something I used (in this case gas during my vacation) just because I was posting it on this blog. I hadn't filled out their customer satisfaction survey, so I have no idea how this issue would have been resolved otherwise. Either way, the money will go into my favorite charity if and when it's posted to my account.

I do think it's interesting, though, that Hertz has taken an interest in fishing through blogs to find negative publicity. It does make me wonder if Heather Hamilton, over at her popular Microsoft blog, would have gotten as much attention from Alaska Airlines corporate had she blogged about her incident in 2007 instead of 2006. (Sorry to bring it up again, Heather!)

Here's the $57.40 question, should more companies (especially ones that deal with repeat customers) be paying attention to the blogosphere when they get negative press?

Thoughts, anyone?

(photo by way of Flickr)

Here's a first, the un-whoopee cushion:

GasBGon Flatulence Filter

The GasBGon flatulence filter seat cushion is a fun, yet serious solution to the embarrassing problem of malodorous gas (breaking wind).

GasBGon seat cushions apply cutting edge carbon filter technology to absorb the sound and odor that accompany flatulence. The unique cushioning property combines to form a dual filter technology to muffle the sound and the smell.

Highlights from the site for this product:

• Product manufactured by Dairiair,LLC
• Washable black cover for device
• Site provides an "a to z" study on flatulence
• Invented by an air quality and filtration engineer
• Leopard print filter is called "Silent But Deadly"
• Company motto: "Clear the Air, Not the Room"

Sadly, it's only available in the UK as of this post.

Curse you Brits for being ahead of the curve once again!

(Thanks to Daphne, Down Under, for the pass along!)

Post by guest blogger Becky Mohr (who just relocated from LA to our Northern Virginia office. *sniff!*)

I’ll bet you never thought the Los Angeles design community could learn something from the Washington, D.C. design community, but I’m here to say you can… and should.

Apparently the new biggest thing for Web developers in the nation’s capitol is the SEMANTIC WEB. And as if it wasn’t hard enough to find a good Web Developer who knew HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, all the important companies in D.C. are looking for Web Developers who ALSO understand the Semantic Web.

Just to keep LA from falling behind, I’ll give you the skinny:

The “Semantic Web� refers to the ideal situation in which data would have no technological boundaries like viewing apparatus, data base access, platforms, or programming language. So basically, whether you were calling up data from your laptop, your PDA, or a jumbotron in Times Square, you could still get the same information.

Furthermore, in this ideal situation you would be able to pull up your favorite shows from DIRECTV's database in your PDA’s calendar, pull Wikipedia entries next to the songs in your iPod, and download instances of charitable giving from World Vision into your Turbo Tax program.

“Semantic Web� is a broad term that defines both the philosophy and programming rules needed to achieve the ideal. Most importantly, the whole thing began with Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web!

To learn more, check out:

World Wide Web Consortium’s “Semantic Web� section

or this

Video Interview with Berners-Lee

To REALLY learn more, check out this conference put on by the Information Architecture Institute

From my coast to yours!

Becky

H  O  T     T  A  L  E  N  T
The Newsletter of Aquent's Available Talent

A  U  G  U  S  T   |   2  2   |   2  0  0  7
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IN THIS ISSUE:

Hot Talent

Featured Talent This Week

That Bit at the End - Well Off Broadway"

Subscribe | Unsubscribe Information

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HOT TALENT

We're back!!

There's nothing like a vacation to give a newsletter a much-needed rest.

You may notice that this week's Hot Talent is a little more tan and a lot more relaxed than it was just two weeks ago.

In fact, even though we proofread this twice, we suspect it might try to slip in the odd reference to margaritas while we aren't looking.

Our apologies in advance.

You know how newsletters can get.

While we try to get the SPF 50 off the keyboard, please feel free to check out these 4 terrific (and available) Aquent Talent, then follow the links for profiles, samples, and resumes.

Hic!
__________________________________________________

FEATURED TALENT THIS WEEK

Darick C. - Web & Print Designer | Illustrator
Robin H. - Graphic Artist & Designer
Corrine C. - Project Manager
Grace M. - Bilingual Proofreader | Writer
__________________________________________________

Darick C.
Web & Print Designer | Illustrator

All the design that's fit to print.

And put on the Web.

Whether you need Flash sites, Web banners and pages, brochures, catalogs, logos, or promos, Darick can fulfill your creative dreams.

Darick's 10 year creative tenure includes freelance projects for such companies as MSN, Sprite, Burger King, Star Wars, Nintendo, MasterCraft Boats, MTV's Real World, and DC Comics, just to name a few. His style is very adaptable, ranging from clean, corporate brochures to cutting edge Gen-X landing pages.

Just finishing an assignment for us, he's available this week, but we make no guarantees about the next!

See his on-line Aquent profile: <http://search.aquent.com/talent?PROC=AWUIDrawViewWebProfileResult&src=9&ID=1_780587>

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: Macromedia Flash, QuarkXPress, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, HTML, Adobe ImageReady, Lotus Freelance Graphics, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Macromedia Fireworks, Macromedia FreeHand, Management, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat
__________________________________________________

Robin H.
Graphic Artist & Designer

A multi-faceted Designer with expertise in Photoshop, Quark, InDesign, and hand illustration, Robin has experience in a wide variety of industries including entertainment, fashion, publishing, advertising, corporate design, and 3D animation.

Her extensive client roster includes DIRECTV, Viv Publishing, Nestle, Ross Stores, Warner Bros. Records, Sony Pictures, Dreamworks, Disney, Bloomingdales, Kmart, and her work includes everything from digital format magazines and identity to promotional materials and PowerPoint presentations.

Want more info? Then check out her on-line Aquent profile right here! <http://search.aquent.com/talent?PROC=AWUIDrawViewWebProfileResult&src=9&ID=1_310384>

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: QuarkXPress, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, HTML, Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint,
__________________________________________________

Corrine C.
Project Manager

With a strong background in the healthcare industry, Corinne is an incredibly communicative, professional, and very detail-oriented project management pro.

Working for a number of hospitals as Project Manager, Corporate Communications Representative and Community Relations Coordinator, she's promoted and managed special events, produced and managed collateral materials, newsletters, and direct mail, and was part of a 30-person team that operated as an internal agency.

Corrine's able to work seamlessly with internal clients, Designers, and production teams as well as physicians, administrators, and management to make sure all project deadlines are tracked from beginning to flawless completion.

All with a great attitude!

See her on-line Aquent profile: <http://search.aquent.com/talent?PROC=AWUIDrawViewWebProfileResult&src=9&ID=1_1065590>

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Professional Categories: Project Management, Traffic Coordination, Traffic Management, Graphic Design,
__________________________________________________

Grace M.
Proofreader | Writer

Grace has been proofreading since she can remember.

Which must have been intimidating to her teachers to say the least.

A stellar Proofreader and Writer with an MA in Bilingual Education from Columbia University and a BA in Spanish, for the past 3 years Grace has been proofreading, translating, and copywriting for both print and Web for lifestyle, corporate, and educational publications.

Available for proofreading, editing, and writing in English, and translating English to Spanish (or the other way 'round), we know you'll find her as engaging and accurate as we do!

See her on-line Aquent profile: <http://search.aquent.com/talent?PROC=AWUIDrawViewWebProfileResult&src=9&ID=1_1136225>

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Professional Categories: Proofreading, Editing, Writing

__________________________________________________

THAT BIT AT THE END
"Well Off Broadway"

Good evening, gentle patron of the arts.

The theatre management has been kind enough to give me the chance to introduce myself via this playbill just minutes before you see the show which bears my name as playwright.

An odd choice, considering both the management and the company have mangled my work so far beyond recognition that it would take several dozen firemen working hours with the Jaws of Life to extract any part of my original phrasing or well-crafted stage directions from this disaster.

What you are about to witness may truly be one of the greatest creative catastrophes the world has ever seen. If you have the courage, I urge you to rise out of your seat and flee the theatre directly. To do otherwise will mean suffering through the torment that is this live theatrical production. (There is also the distinct possibility of being caught in the fumigation this building will surely need after tonight's pathetic offering).

If, however, you are considering watching this low-speed train wreck, I will try to guide you through some of the more key points of my original work. Points so obvious, I might add, that it boggles the mind how this ham-handed company and their obviously alcoholic director (all apparently familiar with the English language) missed them so entirely.

As the curtain opens you will gaze upon a sparsely decorated room set in what could be any part of the world, in any time period (except perhaps prehistoric), at approximately 10:30 on a breezy Thursday morning.

What you will fail to see, however, is the menacing 250-foot oil derrick, live shark tank, or the active volcano gushing hot lava into the orchestra pit as was penned (and illustrated) by your playwright.

Gone as well is the very first line of the play. The first line! Beautifully delivered in N|u (better known as the African "clicking" language) by the itinerant dwarf monk, Buford, this line perfectly set up the murder of Adolf Hitler's dog, Blondie, at the end of Act I. The removal of this line in and of itself should be enough to warrant getting your money back. But the destruction merely begins on page one, my dear theatregoer.

What happened to the high-speed car chase on page 34? Or the quite nearly extinct Whistling Duck that was to be picking away at some unseen object on Stage Right throughout Act I? That unseen object was Humanity itself, Herr Director!

This company has also sought to "simplify" this production by the sweeping removal of the fifty-piece gospel chorus, who were to be singing sacred hymns and wandering through both the audience and adjacent snack bar. Maybe you could expect a decision like this in Yodelsville, USA, but hardly from a theatre of this caliber and one so well equipped with a spacious snack bar.

The play's length has also been reduced to an hour and a half, a full 8 hours short of the intended run time. Once again, are we to assume that the audience will know that Big T. Bacco has enjoyed a good night's rest without actually seeing him get one?

The list of infractions is endless. The audience never gets to feel the entire theatre spinning wildly in circles nor experience firsthand looking upon a meatpacking plant in full operation.

Most notably, not one single audience member will be escorted outside the building and locked out by the cunning Grav Dig'Herr in a graphic representation of what it's like to be disregarded by society.

It could make one give up hope for the modern theatre as a whole.

But all is not lost.

There is still time to rip up this program and throw it in the face of the director (as he is sitting in Seat 35B).

If you have the fortitude, I urge you to get up and leave.

Walk out of the theatre and into the darkened city streets where the Theatre of Life still plays nightly!

And, should you feel compelled to get a latte once you're out, I will be across the street at Al's Kaffe Klutch until 11pm during the entire run of the production. I will gladly take the time to explain to you, your friends, and any of your family members how truly remarkable this production could have been.

Perhaps you can also get a preview of the next play I'm working on by proofreading a few pages for me.

My proofreader/wife recently left me for a theatre director.

Thank you for your time.

Ever your humble playwright,

B. K. Henning
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Tim Donnelly
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A Q U E N T
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Good evening, gentle patron of the arts.

The theatre management has been kind enough to give me the chance to introduce myself via this playbill just minutes before you see the show which bears my name as playwright.

An odd choice, considering both the management and the company have mangled my work so far beyond recognition that it would take several dozen firemen working hours with the Jaws of Life to extract any part of my original phrasing or well-crafted stage directions from this disaster.

What you are about to witness may truly be one of the greatest creative catastrophes the world has ever seen. If you have the courage, I urge you to rise out of your seat and flee the theatre directly. To do otherwise will mean suffering through the torment that is this live theatrical production. (There is also the distinct possibility of being caught in the fumigation this building will surely need after tonight's pathetic offering).

If, however, you are considering watching this low-speed train wreck, I will try to guide you through some of the more key points of my original work. Points so obvious, I might add, that it boggles the mind how this ham-handed company and their obviously alcoholic director (all apparently familiar with the English language) missed them so entirely.

As the curtain opens you will gaze upon a sparsely decorated room set in what could be any part of the world, in any time period (except perhaps prehistoric), at approximately 10:30 on a breezy Thursday morning.

What you will fail to see, however, is the menacing 250-foot oil derrick, live shark tank, or the active volcano gushing hot lava into the orchestra pit as was penned (and illustrated) by your playwright.

Gone as well is the very first line of the play. The first line! Beautifully delivered in N|u (better known as the African "clicking" language) by the itinerant dwarf monk, Buford, this line perfectly set up the murder of Adolf Hitler's dog, Blondie, at the end of Act I. The removal of this line in and of itself should be enough to warrant getting your money back. But the destruction merely begins on page one, my dear theatregoer.

What happened to the high-speed car chase on page 34? Or the quite nearly extinct Whistling Duck that was to be picking away at some unseen object on Stage Right throughout Act I? That unseen object was Humanity itself, Herr Director!

This company has also sought to "simplify" this production by the sweeping removal of the fifty-piece gospel chorus, who were to be singing sacred hymns and wandering through both the audience and adjacent snack bar. Maybe you could expect a decision like this in Yodelsville, USA, but hardly from a theatre of this caliber and one so well equipped with a spacious snack bar.

The play's length has also been reduced to an hour and a half, a full 8 hours short of the intended run time. Once again, are we to assume that the audience will know that Big T. Bacco has enjoyed a good night's rest without actually seeing him get one?

The list of infractions is endless. The audience never gets to feel the entire theatre spinning wildly in circles nor experience firsthand looking upon a meatpacking plant in full operation.

Most notably, not one single audience member will be escorted outside the building and locked out by the cunning Grav Dig'Herr in a graphic representation of what it's like to be disregarded by society.

It could make one give up hope for the modern theatre as a whole.

But all is not lost.

There is still time to rip up this program and throw it in the face of the director (as he is sitting in Seat 35B).

If you have the fortitude, I urge you to get up and leave.

Walk out of the theatre and into the darkened city streets where the Theatre of Life still plays nightly!

And, should you feel compelled to get a latte once you're out, I will be across the street at Al's Kaffe Klutch until 11pm during the entire run of the production. I will gladly take the time to explain to you, your friends, and any of your family members how truly remarkable this production could have been.

Perhaps you can also get a preview of the next play I'm working on by proofreading a few pages for me.

My proofreader/wife recently left me for a theatre director.

Thank you for your time.

Ever your humble playwright,

B. K. Henning

I'm back!

After a week of travel to Philly, the Jersey Shore, and points beyond, I am back to ringing phones, 300 emails telling me who in the office has just gone to lunch, and a cubical full of boxes and, I kid you not, a wall-sized banner draped over my chair.

Looks like I was sorely missed.

But I'm back and semi-relaxed (okay, maybe too relaxed. Does it ever feel like you're in a time warp when you come back to work and realize how fast everyone is moving? It's a bit like a New Yorker on a visit to Memphis.)

The interesting thing about traveling, when you deal in the Creative and Marketing fields, is seeing where the rubber meets the road in terms of marketing.

For instance, I almost never rent cars. Instead I choose to have extended family haul me around from place to place or have them figure out which of their autos I can use when I'm in town (big surprise, it's usually the oldest vehicle. But heck, I really can't complain, can I?) So it was interesting to see how Hertz operated when I rented a car for this sojourn. I've seen a thousand of their ads, bill stuffers, and commercials about Hertz (In fact, I remember OJ Simpson flying into one of their vehicles at one point), but how does that compare with the reality of dealing with their company?

So instead of boring you with the details of how well my Italian relatives can cook (and man can they cook) or what it's like visiting a house with more bathrooms than backsides, I'll rate a few of the companies I got to use during my "trip outside".

Let's start with HERTZ RENT A CAR.

How easy was it to use their site? Incredibly. The price of their vehicles for the week was very competitive with the other rental companies. Cheaper, in fact, with a discount I got from my credit card company.

When I arrived at the Philly airport, they picked me up in their shuttle van quickly and courteously and whisked me away to their concrete bunker not far away. The line was short, but it was 6:15 in the morning, officially 3:15 my time, so I was hoping for that.

The guy behind the counter was nice, but, how do I say this, it was really, really difficult to understand what he was saying. Especially when he was trying to upsell me on something called Fuel Purchase Option. The guy said something about $6.99, a full tank, and how far away the gas stations were. I said sure (it was early and was only $6.99, I wasn't going to quibble). I signed my name and went to go get my car.

Weirdly, the car I requested, a speedy Taurus, wasn't in the space, instead there was a Hyundai SUV. I walked back to the office, showed the counter person my slip (my person was busy) and was told I was given an upgrade. Which would have been nice to know the first time at the counter, I thought they'd just written the wrong space number on the car and I'd be driving someone else's rental.

The car was clean, drove pretty well, and still had that New Car Smell. And, bonus, contained more cup holders than my car.

A few days later, however, when I looked at the bill they'd printed out, there was a mysterious $57.40 charge on it. For, yup, the afforementioned Fuel Purchase Option. I called Hertz HQ to try to figure out what this meant, and none of the customer reps (I spoke to 2) could explain exactly what this was. I ended up guessing that it was something to do with buying gas for the car so you could return it empty and not be charged. Both of the reps let me know they didn't really know about it and that I should call the Philadelphia Airport Hertz to get it straightened out. Easier said than done. No one answered the phone at that facility. I was put into a voice mailbox, twice, and no one called me back.

Not wanting to ruin my last day of vacation over 57 bucks I just took it in and got the skinny from the Hertz rep at the airport. Exactly as I thought, you prepay a tank of gas at a certain price and don't have to worry about returning the car full. Which is freat if you plan on driving until your tank is empty, but not such a great deal if you leave them with a half a tank of gas and eat $25.

Either way, being upsold on a product no one can explain to you, isn't the best way to rep your services. And, really, voice mail that no one returns for a customer who has questions? Booo.

Hertz's grade: B-

THE PARKING SPOT

I've tried less expensive options at LAX, like Johnny Park and Park Place, but last time I went to one of these places, the guys at the front looked a lot like they just bought it from someone else. They were also concerned that I had a reservation for a spot they may not actually have. Which are not the words you're looking for when your flight is taking off in 45 minutes. So this time I went to The Parking Spot. Why? Last time when my wife and two kids waited 25 minutes for the shuttle from the cheaper place, during which we saw 7,563 Parking Spot vans (my son counted them). I figured if I could hop off the plane, haul our stuff over to the curb, and get on a van, so much the better.

The Web site for The Parking Spot is decent. Not  good looking, mind you, but it works. And, really, for reservations, that's the point, right? We printed out our reservations and the directions to the facility were clear. However, coming into the lot was confusing. The paper said something about punching in a code and yet there was no place to punch in codes. We'd reserved a space on the roof, but the roof, the sign said, was full. Turned out we could drive to the roof anyway and spaces were available. Happily, I'd allowed myself enough time to allow for a few mistakes here.

They had complimentary water downstairs in the "lobby" (which was not so great looking, compared to a place like Wally Park) was warm, as they'd let the fridge go empty and just filled it up. The shuttle, as expected was quick, and got us to the airport in a couple minutes.

On the way back, though, after a 5 hour flight and 45 minutes waiting for some luggage that didn't come (see US Airways review), is where I was very glad to have used The Parking Spot.

My very, very tired family got on a shuttle within 5 minutes of stepping to the curb (note to LAX users, the Century City facility seems to have more frequent shuttles) and got to the lot quickly. Just in time to discover my car, the good old VW Jetta, dead as a doornail in the cheery, well-lit parking facility. Going downstairs, the customer service rep called a guy who came around with a Jump Start System to help me in less than two minutes. I grabbed three cold waters from the fridge and headed up with him. He got my car started in a minute and we were at the cashier in less than 10 minutes from finding out my car was dead. To top it all off, the cashier saw two tired kids in the car and gave them two bags of cookies (how about that, Becky?)

Like some racehorses, The Parking Spot started out slow, but really pulled through when we needed it.

The Parking Spot's grade: A-

VW Jetta's grade: D

US AIRWAYS

Hmm. Well...

Though our flight was delayed in Philly (the pilot was late) they got us to LA ahead of time. They lost our bag, even though it had only traveled from my hand to the TSA to the plane, then straight to LAX. In fact, they lost about 15 people's bags, most of whom were less than happy.

The US Airways self-service terminals have no person attending them. So in both LA and Philly it looked a lot like trying to take a plane out of Sicily sans women carrying chickens.

The guy at the ticket counter wouldn't respond to my questions, though (I believe) I was speaking to him in English and making direct eye contact.

Headphones for the movie were $5. The airline staff were complaining while serving passengers.

But! I've taken more expensive carriers and many times, they are just as bad, if not worse. And the seats were better than the United flight I took to Boston 2 weeks ago.

So, they get points for being just as bad as many of the other airlines, but significantly cheaper.

US Airway's grade: B-

There's a lesson here. And it's not "be happy with what you have" or "Tim is a big ol' whiner".

Next time you get customer service, think of the service that you, you yourself, would like to get.

Uh oh, too preachy?

I'd better catch up on those emails....

The Aquent ASAP Job List

"With Love From Natalie "

Interested in a position?

PLEASE E-MAIL THE AGENT (see links for each job):

• A recent resume which reflects all the must haves
• A brief summary of how your experience matches the MUST HAVES
• Any samples, if requested

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THIS WEEK'S POSITIONS:

Interactive Art Director
Direct Response Director of Analytics
Account Supervisor
Production Artist
Web Designer
Front-End Developer
Web Designer
Account Executive
Art Director
Print Production Manager/Print Buyer
Email Designer

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POSITION: Interactive Art Director

TERMS: Permanent

MUST HAVES!:

• Clean, fresh contemporary design sense.
• Experience with upscale luxury items.
• Must be able to work with management to provide strategic insight.

PERKS!:

•     Great health benefits and access to wellness products.
  

LOCATION:

•     South Bay
  

CONTACT AGENT

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POSITION: Direct Response Director of Analytics

TERMS: Permanent

MUST HAVES!:

• Direct mail analytics experience.
• Direct to consumer experience. Prefer financial or travel background.
• Department management experience of a team of 5 or more.   
  

PERKS!:

• International travel benefits for vacation!   
  

LOCATION:

• San Fernando Valley   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Account Supervisor

TERMS: Permanent

MUST HAVES!:

• 1-2 years of experience at an advertising agency.
• 4-year college degree.
• Excellent communication skills.   
  

PERKS!:

• Work with one of the largest agencies in LA. 

LOCATION:

• West Hollywood
  

 

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Production Artist

TERMS: Permanent

MUST HAVES!:

• InDesign & Photoshop hands-on skills.
• Catalogue experience.
• High level of proficiency in Mac & PC environments.   
  

PERKS!:

• Work for a cool company where you get to play with toys all day!      
  

LOCATION:

• City of Industry   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Web Designer

TERMS: Temporary

MUST HAVES!:

• Experience with flash animation.
• 4-6 years of experience in web design.
• Must be able to create noise-free compelling designs.   
  

PERKS!:

• Surrounded by great artwork and cool people.  Get to work on a major e-commerce site.   
  

LOCATION:

• Westside   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Front-End Developer

TERMS: Permanent

MUST HAVES!:

• HTML, tableless CSS, and basic JavaScript.
• Experience working on large websites.
• Knowledge of Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and Flash.   
  

PERKS!:

• Work for an established and growing internet company.  #1 in their field!   
  

LOCATION:

• Westside   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Web Designer

TERMS: Temporary

MUST HAVES!:

• 3 years of Interactive conceptual or Web Design of large sites.
• Entertainment site samples.
• Proven history of conceptual design.   
  

PERKS!:

• Work for a well-known media company!   
  

LOCATION:

• San Fernando Valley   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Account Executive

TERMS: Permanent

MUST HAVES!:

• Gaming or Entertainment industry knowledge a plus.
• 1-2 years of account management experience.
• Energetic positive attitude.   
  

PERKS!:

• Work for an amazing entertainment company.   
  

LOCATION:

• El Segundo   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Art Director

TERMS: Permanent 

MUST HAVES!:

• 5 years of experience in graphic arts or advertising.
• Strong Photoshop & InDesign skills.
• Managed all aspects of production management from concept design to contracting/selection of vendors.   
  

PERKS!:

• Work on a small team in a corporate, stable environment.   
  

LOCATION:

• Downtown LA   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Print  Production Manager/Print Buyer

TERMS: Long-Term Temp

MUST HAVES!:

• 4-5 years of print buying experience.
• Agency or corporate experience.
• Print production management for marketing collateral.
• Pay $35/hr.    
  

PERKS!:

• Work for a great company that has been a leader in the industry for a very long time!   
  

LOCATION:

• Pasadena, $35/hr   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Email Designer

TERMS: Temp-to-Permanent

MUST HAVES!:

• HTML hand coding skills.
• Email design experience for campaigns.
• Ability to work within a dynamic team and interface with design and marketing professionals.   
  

PERKS!:

• Working on an exciting new team with new intiatives.   
  

LOCATION:

• Westlake   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED:

Point your friend right to this link and have them drop your name to the Agent.

INTERESTED IN OTHER AQUENT POSITIONS?

Go here, my friend, then select Job Openings

* MyAquent users, use your UserName & Password to express interest in jobs. Everybody else, the registration is easy!

The JOB CENTER will track which jobs you've applied for and the current status.

The Aquent ASAP Job List
"Hecho en Los Angeles"

Interested in a position?

PLEASE E-MAIL THE AGENT (see links for each job):

• A recent resume which reflects all the must haves
• A brief summary of how your experience matches the MUST HAVES
• Any samples, if requested

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S POSITIONS:

1. Account Planning Director
2. Flash Developer with ActionScripting
3. JavaScripter
4. Web Product Director
5. Marketing Director
6. Email Designer/HTML Coder
7. Web Designer with HTML/CSS skills
8. Recruiting Coordinator
9. Jr. Product Manager
10. Web Producer

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Account Planning Director

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 5+ years of experience working in advertising/marketing, dealing with consumer insights
• Proven ability to lead and inspire teams to achieve the "next big thing"
• Outstanding written and influential presentations skills
• Ideally a strong knowledge of Asian culture and youth/urban specialty markets

PERKS!:

• Leading full-service marketing agency working with many top Fortune 500 clients
  

LOCATION:

• Long Beach   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Flash Developer with ActionScripting

TERMS: Two-Month Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 2 to 3 years of professional Flash development experience
• Previous work on large, high-trafficked sites
• Hands-on ActionScripting skills

PERKS!:

• Working for a global entertainment company in their new media division
  

LOCATION:

• Hollywood   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: JavaScripter

TERMS: One-Month Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Previous work on large commercial, high traffic sites
• 2 to 3 years of professional experience
• Hands-on JavaScript skills (must be able to write from scratch)
• Object-oriented JavaScripting a plus

PERKS!:

• Global entertainment company
  

LOCATION:

• Hollywood
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Web Product Director

TERMS: Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 8 to 10 years of experience initiating, managing, and implementing complex product development projects
• Skills in business planning, process analysis and design, and systems integration
• Prior work serving as key liaison throughout project lifecycles, identifying issues and needs, and developing solutions
  

PERKS!:

• Developing on-line products for a large media company
• Great products, great team   
  

LOCATION:

• El Segundo
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Marketing Director

TERMS: Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 8+ years of experience
• Previous position handling all marketing, advertising, PR, and special events for a company
• Proven record of creating marketing plans and strategies from scratch
• Retail or hospitality experience

PERKS!:

• An incredibly innovative and creative real estate development company
  

LOCATION:

• Mid-Wilshire
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Email Designer/HTML Coder

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Hands-on experience designing email marketing campaigns
• 2 to 5 years of Web design experience
• Please provide samples of direct email campaigns for consideration

PERKS!:

• Room for growth with this real estate services company
• Work with a great team!
  

LOCATION:

• Westlake Village
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Web Designer with HTML/CSS skills

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 2 to 4 years of professional Web site experience
• Hands on skills in HTML and CSS  (Flash a plus)
• Able to work within a close knit team
• Please send professional sample URLs   
  

PERKS!:

• Large marketing resource site
• Keep up-to-date with latest marketing trends, trainings, events, etc.
  

LOCATION:

• Culver City   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Recruiting Coordinator

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• HR/Recruiting or Staffing Assistant/Coordination experience
• Great people skills! (You'll be dealing with lots of different people)
• Great computer skills to track Aquent Talent and applicants
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal
  

PERKS!:

• Work for an incredible company!
• Great view of the Hollywood sign
• Clean carpet   
  

LOCATION:

• Right here at Aquent! (Wilshire & Fairfax)   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Jr. Product Manager

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• At least 1 year of experience working in an on-line environment
• Project management skills
• Ability to work with many different departments to navigate development of online products
• Interest in healthcare a plus   
  

PERKS!:

• Perfect opportunity for someone starting out in the on-line world!   
  

LOCATION:

• Pasadena   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Web Producer

TERMS: 6-Month Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 3+ years of experience in Web project management
• Must have managed outside vendors as well as internal teams to produce on-line projects such as Web sites, microsites, games, HTML emails, and banners
• Must have handled budgets and deadlines
• Prior work on large, commercial sites   
  

PERKS!:

• Huge entertainment studio   
  

LOCATION:

• Burbank   
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED:

Point your friend right to this link and have them drop your name to the Agent.

INTERESTED IN OTHER AQUENT POSITIONS?

Go here, my friend, then select Job Openings

* MyAquent users, use your UserName & Password to express interest in jobs. Everybody else, the registration is easy!

The JOB CENTER will track which jobs you've applied for and the current status.

Oh the promises of CS3! Smoother layout and production workflow,new Find/Replace capabilities, and importation of multiple files at the same time...

Problem is, how the heck are you going to learn all the new bells and whistles when you actually get to sit down at a Mac loaded with CS3?

Happily, I have an answer (but you knew that was coming, right?), go to the 3-day training session on Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver, and Flash run by the Aquent Graphics Institute.

The whole thing's going to be September 11-13, downtown at the Sheraton from 9a to 4p each day. (That is a Tuesday through Thursday thing, in case you were wondering.)

We've got discounts, in case you're a current Aquent Talent or a Client of ours: $79 each day or the full 3-day course is $237. Contact Susie Hall (by clicking here) for details about the discount.

Here's the lowdown:

• There are only 90 seats available per day, and they are first-come, first-served.
• Since this is a seminar, it's geared towards note-taking and following along, so no need to bring a laptop (in fact, if you do bring a laptop, bring an extra battery - the room is not set up for power for 90 folks)
• You will receive a book when you walk into the seminar (more information is on the Web site)

All the details are at AGI site right here.

On a side note, I'm in Philly and the Jersey Shore next weekend (I never get to go the beach here), so posting will be sketchy. Not that I'm saying Philly and New Jersey are sketchy places, just that I'll have spotty computer access.

BTW, if you've never seen the Philadelphia Mummers Parade, you should watch this footage. It's, well it's very hard to explain....

I didn't enjoy Michael Jackson's Thriller video when it first came out, so why would I like this version done by Fillipino inmates?

 

Maybe because cross dressing is funnier.

I do really have to meet the warden.

On the heels of two very successful Aquent sponsored Webcasts (I believe each had over 1,000 listeners), we're doing another FREE one on August 21st, hosted by Pat LaPointe:

“Is Your Marketing an Expense…or an Investment - 10 Strategies for Winning Over Your CFO and other Marketing Skeptics�

The AMA promises this Webcast will be of interest to: "Not just marketing professionals! (1) marketing professionals interested in demonstrating the impact of their efforts (2) finance professionals with an interest in marketing measurement."

The skinny:
Author and consultant Pat LaPointe will discuss 10 strategies that many successful marketers are already using to collaborate with � and win over � their organizational skeptics. Elaborating on his article recently published in the AMA’s journal, LaPointe will share how to engage your peers in finance and elsewhere in defining, executing, and interpreting your organization’s measurement processes, tools, and metrics. Done right, you’ll win over your CFO (or at least soften their skepticism) and increase your likelihood of personal and professional success.

Pat  is the Managing Partner at MarketingNPV  where he directs the development of client solutions for marketing leaders in the areas of measurement processes, skills, and tools. His book Marketing by the Dashboard Light is a best-selling and frequently-cited introduction to marketing dashboards and their role in marketing measurement.

My office has its share of skeptics, but not in the area of Marketing.

But I'll be listening in anyway.

Click here to register

Tuesday, August 21st
10:00 am Pacific Daylight Time

Most of what I've become, I believe, can be blamed on my father. The man was a relentless tinkerer and decided one evening to switch the voice box of my Redondo Beach Darby with the one from my brother's Mercenary Mike action figure.

So, come Saturday morning, my Darby doll began warning anyone walking outside her tiny condo about things like incoming mortar attacks and booby traps.

As you can well imagine, this affected me in many ways when it came to playing with friends.

I was, for one, embarrassed each and every time I brought my Darby over to my friends' houses. Mostly because my doll was apt to shout "Time to reload my crossbow!" or threaten to wallop their dolls with her powerful karate chop (a feature she didn't actually have).

Two, Darby and I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out which one of my friend's dolls worked as a double agent for that conniving Dr. X. (Oh, how I was always on the lookout for his tell-tale laser red eye!)

Darby began to lead a double life. Yes, she looked stunning arriving at a party in a hot pink tricot bodysuit under her ruffled skirt (cinched at the waist with a wide silvery belt), but then she'd complain loudly that someone had eaten her C-rations. After taking a turn on the dance floor with Ben or one of the many other clean-shaven men dolls, she'd sit down with them and complain about the terrible jungle heat.

And so it went that my Redondo Darby stopped drinking tea or joining the others at the faux BBQ for fear that someone in the perfect little cocktail dress would poison her.

In her own condo, instead of cementing her relationship with her girlfriends by hosting late night gab sessions, she would badger them to load missiles into the Assault 'Copter or sweep the place for listening devices.

Taking the lead from Darby, during my formative years I never really learned to do many of those things that every little girl should: visiting with friends, discussing feelings, checking out boys, or shopping endlessly for clothes and accessories. Instead I became obsessed with the mysterious assault on Silo 66, about which Darby would speak with greater and greater frequency.

What is a "top ranking NCO?" How far is a "click"? These questions plagued me while my geometry teacher prattled on about the Pythagorean theorem.

I became less involved with my friends, whose dolls Patina and Clarisse were forever quarrelling about who had the cutest top or which was the best mall.

It didn't really seem to matter, especially if we were going to take down the perplexing Silo 66 at 1700 hours on any given day.

It was right then that I made the difficult decision to give Darby the makeover of makeovers.  It was inevitable. You get a pink taffeta dress stuck on a grappling hook just once. It's a lesson you don't repeat.

Besides, Darby felt more comfortable in fatigues than a halter-top.

She moved out of her condo after an argument with her roommates over foreign policy turned into a slapping contest (it was one of the few times I actually did wish Darby had a karate chop).

And soon she found a nice bunker to share with two men named Redwolf and Flynt who, like her, preferred fingerless black gloves to arm length ones.

And she never looked back.

Neither did I.

And though it's been nearly 15 years since I was an adolescent, when shopping for clothes I will inevitably veer toward the camouflaged or at least black ones. And in sporting goods stores I can never walk by the crossbows without picking one up.

Sadly, the assault on Silo 66 never did materialize, and its location remains forever a mystery.

I still do have Darby in a box up in my closet. And I still take her out every once in awhile just to hear her gravelly voice just for old time's sake.

And whenever I'm at a party and a woman in the perfect little cocktail dress offers me a drink, I always tell her, as Darby would have if she were there instead of me, "Not on my watch, bub".

H  O  T     T  A  L  E  N  T
The Newsletter of Aquent's Available Talent

A  U  G  U  S  T   |   0  8   |   2  0  0  7
__________________________________________________

IN THIS ISSUE:

Hot Talent

Featured Talent This Week

That Bit at the End - "Transformer"

Subscribe | Unsubscribe Information

__________________________________________________

HOT TALENT

The bad news is that our Hot Talent Newsletter is going on vacation next week.

The good news? We'll still have more than 20 Agents and Account Directors in our office waiting to help you find the best

Designers
Flash Gurus
Coordinators
Traffic Managers
Marketing Strategists
Production Artists

...on the market!

But let's live in the present, shall we?

Because here's another stunning list of available, and awesome, Aquent Talent for your perusal!

And you'll see this email again in two weeks (which is standard for a Newsletter's vacation).

Follow the links for profiles, samples, and resumes.

Enjoy!
__________________________________________________

FEATURED TALENT THIS WEEK

Joshua N. - Graphic Design | Production
Lauren W. - Copy Editor | Proofreader
J. P. - Presentations Specialist
Victor P. - Project Manager | Process Writer
__________________________________________________

Joshua N.
Graphic Design | Production

Both PC and Mac savvy, Joshua simply ripped it up on both of our incredibly complex, hands-on Quark and Photoshop assessments.

Joshua was a top Talent for our NY office at clients such as Time Magazine, Silver Editions, Genex (working on the Lexus site), The Princeton Review and at Teleflora here in good ol' LA.

Whether flowing text and graphics and creating templates or manipulating images in Photoshop and crafting page layouts, he did it all with blazing speed. A staff member at the Newseum in NY, he was fully responsible for all stages of design and printing for window presentations, posters, and flyers for all the museum's exhibitions.

Recently earning his MFA in Fine Art from Art Center, his excellent demeanor and hands-on skills make him the perfect fit for any company needing incredible (and fast) production and graphics work!

Click here to see his on-line Aquent profile.

Desired Work: Freelance

Skills: Adobe Photoshop, QuarkXPress
__________________________________________________

Lauren W.
Copy Editor | Proofreader

If you're looking for a seasoned Proofreader, Copy Editor, and Fact Checker who's worked in every industry imaginable, then read on!

Lauren comes to us with 10+ years of experience working for companies like Time Inc., Ticketmaster, INK Advertising Group, Citysearch, Saks Fifth Avenue, Amgen, Terry Hines & Associates, Jack Morton Worldwide, Propaganda Films, and many, many more.

Her roster of high-profile accounts includes Honda/Acura, Entertainment Weekly, Sports Illustrated, New Line Cinema, Disney, and Warner Brothers.

An extraordinary eye for detail teamed with an industrious attitude, she's the resourceful, vigilant talent you've been dreaming of!

Click here to see her on-line Aquent profile.

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Windows, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, WordPerfect, Adobe Acrobat, Macromedia Flash, Real Audio
__________________________________________________

J.P.
Presentations Specialist

A jam-packed background creating, editing, and proofreading charts, graphs, tables, animations and more in PowerPoint, Word, and Excel, J.P. is a professional presentations powerhouse.

Working with clients and leading teams of 8, he's created, project managed, and implemented tons of high-profile presentations for the likes of Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, and Amgen.

Whether you already have eye-catching graphs and charts or an incoherent mass of Post-It notes, if you want your presentation to go off with a bang, call us about J.P.!

Click here to see his on-line Aquent profile.

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word
__________________________________________________

Victor P.
Project Manager | Process Writer

A Project Manager with years of sales support experience, Victor was most recently at AT&T as liaison between the Product Managers, the Sales Team, and Call Centers.

Using his savvy customer relations, analysis, content management, and troubleshooting experience Victor helped improve processes and speed sales cycles; create and maintain three in-house online reference systems; and plan, direct, and manage projects through to their successful completion.

His utility belt of skills includes TeamSite Content Management system, which he used to make sure product information was absolutely accurate in AT&T's online system utilized by the sales force.

If your current processes have more holes than aged Swiss Emmental, you know who to call, right?

Click here to see his on-line Aquent profile.

Professional Categories: Business Analyst, Other Marketing, Content Manager, Web Content Management __________________________________________________

THAT BIT AT THE END
"Transformer"

Most of what I've become, I believe, can be blamed on my father. The man was a relentless tinkerer and decided one evening to switch the voice box of my Redondo Beach Darby with the one from my brother's Mercenary Mike action figure.

So, come Saturday morning, my Darby doll began warning anyone walking outside her tiny condo about things like incoming mortar attacks and booby traps.

As you can well imagine, this affected me in many ways when it came to playing with friends.

I was, for one, embarrassed each and every time I brought my Darby over to my friends' houses. Mostly because my doll was apt to shout "Time to reload my crossbow!" or threaten to wallop their dolls with her powerful karate chop (a feature she didn't actually have).

Two, Darby and I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out which one of my friend's dolls worked as a double agent for that conniving Dr. X. (Oh, how I was always on the lookout for his tell-tale laser red eye!)

Darby began to lead a double life. Yes, she looked stunning arriving at a party in a hot pink tricot bodysuit under her ruffled skirt (cinched at the waist with a wide silvery belt), but then she'd complain loudly that someone had eaten her C-rations. After taking a turn on the dance floor with Ben or one of the many other clean-shaven men dolls, she'd sit down with them and complain about the terrible jungle heat.

And so it went that my Redondo Darby stopped drinking tea or joining the others at the faux BBQ for fear that someone in the perfect little cocktail dress would poison her.

In her own condo, instead of cementing her relationship with her girlfriends by hosting late night gab sessions, she would badger them to load missiles into the Assault 'Copter or sweep the place for listening devices.

Taking the lead from Darby, during my formative years I never really learned to do many of those things that every little girl should: visiting with friends, discussing feelings, checking out boys, or shopping endlessly for clothes and accessories. Instead I became obsessed with the mysterious assault on Silo 66, about which Darby would speak with greater and greater frequency.

What is a "top ranking NCO?" How far is a "click"? These questions plagued me while my geometry teacher prattled on about the Pythagorean theorem.

I became less involved with my friends, whose dolls Patina and Clarisse were forever quarrelling about who had the cutest top or which was the best mall.

It didn't really seem to matter, especially if we were going to take down the perplexing Silo 66 at 1700 hours on any given day.

It was right then that I made the difficult decision to give Darby the makeover of makeovers.  It was inevitable. You get a pink taffeta dress stuck on a grappling hook just once. It's a lesson you don't repeat.

Besides, Darby felt more comfortable in fatigues than a halter-top.

She moved out of her condo after an argument with her roommates over foreign policy turned into a slapping contest (it was one of the few times I actually did wish Darby had a karate chop).

And soon she found a nice bunker to share with two men named Redwolf and Flynt who, like her, preferred fingerless black gloves to arm length ones.

And she never looked back.

Neither did I.

And though it's been nearly 15 years since I was an adolescent, when shopping for clothes I will inevitably veer toward the camouflaged or at least black ones. And in sporting goods stores I can never walk by the crossbows without picking one up.

Sadly, the assault on Silo 66 never did materialize, and its location remains forever a mystery.

I still do have Darby in a box up in my closet. And I still take her out every once in awhile just to hear her gravelly voice just for old time's sake.

And whenever I'm at a party and a woman in the perfect little cocktail dress offers me a drink, I always tell her, as Darby would have if she were there instead of me, "Not on my watch, bub".
__________________________________________________

SUBSCRIBE | UNSUBSCRIBE INFO

If you don't want to receive any more of these newsletters, please reply with the word "remove" in the subject line. 

Also, please feel free to reply to give us updates on your contact information.

And of course, we'd love to hear your feedback!

__________________________________________________

Tim Donnelly
Propagandist | Blogger | Stuff Coordinator

A Q U E N T
6100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA  90048
Phone: 323 634 7000 | Fax: 323 954 8517
tdonnelly@aquent.com

We represent more than 400,000 marketing and creative professionals around the globe.
Visit aquent.com to learn more.

Whenever we get together for our Back to School Training every year or so, there's a theme party at the end in which offices are encouraged to dress up.

Previous year themes have been: Dress to Represent Your City. College Daze. Dress Like a Trucker. (Wait, that last one was my birthday party.)

This year it was a question:

What will the people working at Aquent look like 150 years from now?

Our answer: A Cloning Lab.

Happily we won't be around for it.

The Aquent ASAP Job List
"Live From Boston!"

Interested in a position?

PLEASE E-MAIL THE AGENT (see links for each job):

• A recent resume which reflects all the must haves
• A brief summary of how your experience matches the MUST HAVES
• Any samples, if requested

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIS WEEK'S POSITIONS:

1. Project Coordinator
2. Business Intelligence Analyst
3. Front End Developer with JavaScript
4. Front End Developer with JavaScript
5. Jr. Flash Designer
6. Production Artist
7. Media Planner
8. VP Sales & Marketing
9. Account Planning Director

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Project Coordinator

TERMS: Long-Term Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 1+ years of coordination, administration, or account management in a creative services company
• Excellent attention to detail
• Familiarity with InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop

PERKS!:

• This is a great chance to increase your level of responsibility or autonomy, while working with a Fortune 500 company
  

LOCATION:

• Ventura County
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Business Intelligence Analyst

TERMS: Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Experience with data warehouses
• Project management experience
• Experience with Data Analytics and writing reports

PERKS!:

• On-site fitness center and car wash
• Bonus pay and opportunity to grow!
  

LOCATION:

• Carson
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Front End Developer with JavaScript

TERMS: Four-Month Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Strong hands-on JavaScript skills (writing from scratch)
• Previous work on large sites
• Hands-on skills in HTML and CSS
• Flash development is a plus!

PERKS!:

• Working with a very cool entertainment company
• Working on streaming media sites
  

LOCATION:

• Hollywood
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Front End Developer with JavaScript

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Strong hands-on JavaScript skills (writing from scratch)
• Previous work on large sites
• AVE development experience is a plus

PERKS!:

• Working within a great start-up environment
  

LOCATION:

• Encino
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Jr. Flash Designer

TERMS: Freelance-to-Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 1 to 2 years of professional experience
• Knowledge of Flash, Photoshop, and InDesign
• On-line portfolio to exhibit to client

PERKS!:

• Fortune 500 company
• Opportunity to grow internally
• Work for a terrific manager!
  

LOCATION:

• Downtown
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Production Artist

TERMS: Four-Week Freelance (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Expert layout production skills using InDesign
• Experience working on long documents (30 pages or more)
• Ability to work 40 hours a week on-site in Santa Monica starting August 8th

PERKS!:

• Work on a cool car book
  

LOCATION:

• Santa Monica
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: Media Planner

TERMS: Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Agency background with print/traditional experience
• 1 to 2 years of experience as a Media Planner with 4-year college degree
• Must be a strategic and critical thinker

PERKS!:

• Working with a well known, recognizable team highly respected in the industry
  

LOCATION:

• West Hollywood
  

CONTACT AGENT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POSITION: VP Sales & Marketing

TERMS: Permanent (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• Commercial banking experience (deposits, bank cards, etc)
• Knowledge of project planning and management of accounting practices
• 7 years of sales & marketing experience including managing a group of sales & marketing professionals

PERKS!:

• Great location
• Working for a very stable, successful, and growing financial institution
  

LOCATION:

• Manhattan Beach
  

CONTACT AGENT

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POSITION: Account Planning Director

TERMS: Permanent  (On-Site)

MUST HAVES!:

• 5+ years of experience in an Advertising/Marketing environment
• Superior writing, as well as influential communication and presentation skills
• Strong project management skills

PERKS!:

• Great location
• Deal with a variety of Fortune 500 clients
  

LOCATION:

• Long Beach
  

CONTACT AGENT

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IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED:

Point your friend right to this link and have them drop your name to the Agent.

INTERESTED IN OTHER AQUENT POSITIONS?

Go here, my friend, then select Job Openings

* MyAquent users, use your UserName & Password to express interest in jobs. Everybody else, the registration is easy!

The JOB CENTER will track which jobs you've applied for and the current status.

Tim is right here, at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Boston, MA with 200 of his favorite colleagues!

It's Aquent's annual group hug with half of the company participating in learning, eating, camaraderie, and the kind of silliness mixed with business Aquent is known for.

Well, I'll post pictures so you can see what I mean.

Some of the pictures.

I'll check with the people in them first.

H  O  T     T  A  L  E  N  T
The Newsletter of Aquent's Available Talent

A  U  G  U  S  T   |   0  2   |   2  0  0  7
__________________________________________________

IN THIS ISSUE:

Hot Talent

Featured Talent This Week

That Bit at the End - "That's Rich"

Subscribe | Unsubscribe Information

__________________________________________________

HOT TALENT

Isn't summer fun?

Sun. Sand. Surf.

Unless, of course, you're the one stuck in the office trying doing your own job AND covering for your coworker who is somewhere poolside sipping a Mai Tai.

Then summer is remarkably less fun.

But why torture yourself?

With hundreds of outstanding Aquent Talent available for everything from stellar hands-on production to concept-to-completion direct mail campaigns, we've got you covered better than SPF 75 sunblock.

Consider Aquent a non-greasy solution that won't leave you smelling like coconuts.

And with our 110% Talent guarantee, you'll never get burned!

Sorry about that one.

Follow the links for profiles, samples, and resumes.

Aloe-ha!
__________________________________________________

FEATURED TALENT THIS WEEK

Alexis B. - Interactive Art Director
Thea S. - Copy Editor | Proofreader
Stephen A. - Graphic | Presentation Artist
Maxine N. - Graphic Artist & Writer | Editor
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Alexis B.
Interactive Art Director

Alexis is a talented Art Director with extensive industry experience and a diverse portfolio chock full of projects in both Web and print.

Earning top scores on our Flash assessment, her hands-on skills are nothing short of phenomenal. At Fox.com she created sites for American Idol, Trading Spouses, Hell's Kitchen, and banner ads for dozens more. In fact, she used her speedy and incredibly accurate Flash skills to update American Idol's site while the show was actually airing.

Her stellar client roster includes Kaiser Permanente, Warner Bros., Landstrom Spirits, Disney.com, and SPUMCO Animation and her skills include animation, illustration, packaging, branding, and much more.

And we'd be silly not to mention those excellent Flash skills again!

See her on-line Aquent profile by clicking here.

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: Macromedia Flash, Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Streamline, Adobe Acrobat, Lotus Freelance Graphics, HTML, Advertising/Account Management, Real Video, FileMaker, Real Video
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Thea S.
Copy Editor | Proofreader

Over 19 years of experience proofreading and editing for a bevy of clients, Thea's industry background includes health, technology, pharmaceutical, and publishing.

As a freelancer for Direct Partners, Kaiser Permanente, Amgen, LA Weekly, Symantec, Bowflex, and many others, she's proven she can handle everything from direct marketing and quarterly journals to brochures and clinical studies.

As Copy Editor for John Wiley & Sons working on the American Cancer Society's biweekly journal, she received their Pacesetter Award for her excellence and efficiency. Thea also has extensive experience with textbook editing and proofing.

As a bonus, she has excellent illustration skills, making her an even greater asset to any team!

Currently seeking off-site work with on-site meetings as needed, we know you're going to love her!

See her on-line Aquent profile by clicking here.

Desired Work: Temporary

Skills: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, QuarkXPress
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Stephen A.
Graphic | Presentation Artist

With over 10 years of experience in high-pressure work environments creating graphic presentations, Stephen is the rare find of a creative with excellent hands-on skills in both QuarkXPress, Flash, and PowerPoint.

Working for 6 years at real estate investment company Colony Advisors, he was part of the two-person art department team responsible for every presentation and layout the company produced. At Boeing/Rocketdyne, his team generated the greater part of all the presentations created in their Canoga Park facility. Stephen is quick and highly skilled at laying out quarterly reports in Word and Quark; creating, editing, and proofing presentations; designing and maintaining Web sites; and producing highly-navigable Adobe PDF documents for both internal and external distribution.

He's a terrifically skilled Talent with a great personality to match!

See his on-line Aquent profile by clicking here.

Desired Work: Freelance & Permanent

Skills: Macromedia Flash, Microsoft PowerPoint, QuarkXPress, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Adobe PageMaker, Lotus 1-2-3, Adobe Photoshop, WordPerfect
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Maxine N.
Graphic Artist & Writer | Editor

What, you've never heard of a creative who can write copy, design collateral, and blaze through production at lightning speed?

Meet Maxine!

A creative Talent who blurs the line between graphic arts and creative writing, she's a Designer with excellent production skills and extensive experience at advertising agencies, design firms, and corporations.

A wiz with the written word, Maxine is an outstanding Copy Editor who's done work for the likes of Random House, Rolling Stone, Rubin Postaer, DDB Needham, Curtco Publishing, Sony Pictures, Lifetime Television, and so many more.

Talk about "one call does it all"!

See her on-line Aquent profile by clicking here.

Desired Work: Freelance

Skills: QuarkXPress, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Adobe Streamline, Flatbed Scanning
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THAT BIT AT THE END
"That's Rich"

As a longtime subscriber to "Robb Report Magazine", we understand that you are a discerning connoisseur of the luxury lifestyle and enjoy hearing about the world's most expensive yachts, exclusive resorts, outstanding restaurants, and finest clothes.

We also realize you would have little to no interest in our newest publication, "Just Makin' It", a monthly journal for those to whom the world of opulence is an unsolvable mystery and are as likely as not to believe that topiary is a stain-eradicating toothpaste.

Perhaps, though, you have a cousin, stepsister, or in-law who you regularly avoid at family gatherings due to their continual pleading for rides on your private jet and invitations to your place on The Cape, who would benefit from our newest publication. "Just Makin' It" is a magazine created specifically with these individuals in mind.

With a simple (and reasonably priced) gift of a one-year subscription to "Just Makin' It", you will be able to curb habits they've acquired from a lifetime of poor breeding and quell these individuals' never-ending inquiries for a full 12 months.

We know you'll love sharing the contents of our newest offering with your prosperity-challenged family members and colleagues alike with a host of lesson-packed articles every month like these:

* Shorefront Schmorefront. Let's go to Vegas!

* 10 More Reasons Private Jets are so Very Dangerous

* Tedious Multi-Course Dinner Parties, Wouldn't You Much Rather Stay Home and Watch Howard Stern?

* You're Right, They Will Probably Laugh at You

* The Joys of Keeping Your Non-Ivy League College Opinions to Yourself

* It is Actually Called a "Dickey", So Please Stop Cackling

* It's Okay to Give the Man Who Has Everything Absolutely Nothing for Christmas

* Sandals and Black Socks: Still a Bad Choice

* "Hell, I Could Do That!" and 25 Other Expressions to Refrain from Using at an Art Exhibit

* Elocution Secrets: There is Still No "R" in "Washington" nor "Berry" in "Library"

* A Hand-Me-Down Blazer is Still a Really Nice Blazer

* NASCAR: Would You Shut Up Already?

* Boating: A Sport Best Enjoyed from the Shore

As an added incentive, each new 2-year subscriber to "Just Makin' It" will receive an elegant faux Louis Vuitton handbag or ersatz Rolex. Your cousin, stepsister, or in-law will never know the difference, and you will be forever in their debt (thankfully, not literally).

Don't let this opportunity pass you by.

Order today!

Because the holidays and extended family gatherings are agonizingly near.

A one-year subscription to "Just Makin' It" is only $5,000.

And a two-year subscription (including incentive gift) is just $8,500.

Believe us when we tell it's cheaper than the alternative.

__________________________________________________

SUBSCRIBE | UNSUBSCRIBE INFO

If you don't want to receive any more of these newsletters, please reply with the word "remove" in the subject line. 

Also, please feel free to reply to give us updates on your contact information.

And of course, we'd love to hear your feedback!

__________________________________________________

Tim Donnelly
Propagandist | Blogger | Stuff Coordinator

A Q U E N T
6100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA  90048
Phone: 323 634 7000 | Fax: 323 954 8517
tdonnelly@aquent.com

We represent more than 400,000 marketing and creative professionals around the globe.
Visit aquent.com to learn more.

As a longtime subscriber to "Robb Report Magazine", we understand that you are a discerning connoisseur of the luxury lifestyle and enjoy hearing about the world's most expensive yachts, exclusive resorts, outstanding restaurants, and finest clothes.

We also realize you would have little to no interest in our newest publication, "Just Makin' It", a monthly journal for those to whom the world of opulence is an unsolvable mystery and are as likely as not to believe that topiary is a stain-eradicating toothpaste.

Perhaps, though, you have a cousin, stepsister, or in-law who you regularly avoid at family gatherings due to their continual pleading for rides on your private jet and invitations to your place on The Cape, who would benefit from our newest publication. "Just Makin' It" is a magazine created specifically with these individuals in mind.

With a simple (and reasonably priced) gift of a one-year subscription to "Just Makin' It", you will be able to curb habits they've acquired from a lifetime of poor breeding and quell these individuals' never-ending inquiries for a full 12 months.

We know you'll love sharing the contents of our newest offering with your prosperity-challenged family members and colleagues alike with a host of lesson-packed articles every month like these:

* Shorefront Schmorefront. Let's go to Vegas!

* 10 More Reasons Private Jets are so Very Dangerous

* Tedious Multi-Course Dinner Parties, Wouldn't You Much Rather Stay Home and Watch Howard Stern?

* You're Right, They Will Probably Laugh at You

* The Joys of Keeping Your Non-Ivy League College Opinions to Yourself

* It is Actually Called a "Dickey", So Please Stop Cackling

* It's Okay to Give the Man Who Has Everything Absolutely Nothing for Christmas

* Sandals and Black Socks: Still a Bad Choice

* "Hell, I Could Do That!" and 25 Other Expressions to Refrain from Using at an Art Exhibit

* Elocution Secrets: There is Still No "R" in "Washington" nor "Berry" in "Library"

* A Hand-Me-Down Blazer is Still a Really Nice Blazer

* NASCAR: Would You Shut Up Already?

* Boating: A Sport Best Enjoyed from the Shore

As an added incentive, each new 2-year subscriber to "Just Makin' It" will receive an elegant faux Louis Vuitton handbag or ersatz Rolex. Your cousin, stepsister, or in-law will never know the difference, and you will be forever in their debt (thankfully, not literally).

Don't let this opportunity pass you by.

Order today!

Because the holidays and extended family gatherings are agonizingly near.

A one-year subscription to "Just Makin' It" is only $5,000.

And a two-year subscription (including incentive gift) is just $8,500.

Believe us when we tell it's cheaper than the alternative.