Fantastic February- Get Your 2012 Catalyst Ranch Calendar today!

Evil you say?

The fun-loving mascot of Catalyst Ranch is definitely not evil. Creative, cutesy, orange, approachable yes, but not evil. This month I bring you Pogo’s devious alter ego – Evil Robot Pogo. The metallic ying to Pogo’s yang was inspired by variety of sources: my love of Sci-Fi, terminator movies and the boutique design firm Robot, Monster and Ghost Co.

The creative genius (excuse me, evil genius) behind Robot, Monster and Ghost is Kevin Scarbrough.

Click here to download this month’s calendar!

Lauren Smith is Catalyst Ranch’s Branson Babe, Gala Girl and Client Services Manager.  For more info about her, visit our staff page.

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Congratulations Courtney Rickard, you are our 2012 Cubicle Makeover Winner! Check out Courtney’s entry below:

For this makeover contest we shook things up a bit, instead of focusing in on the boring office drab we asked for inspiration. We wanted to know what inspires and keeps you motivated. After all many of us spend at least 40 hours per week in these small office spaces/ cubicles, wouldn’t it be nice if it felt cozy, welcoming, even motivating? So we asked you to send in your inspiration for a chance to win a FREE cubicle makeover tailored to your personal tastes and interests. We received a flood of wonderful stories and images that made the decision to pick just one winner extremely difficult.

In the end, it was Courtney’s creative and silly personality that won us over. Her image of inspiration, a holiday card she created of her and her fiancée dressed up as figure skaters (DIY costumes which they designed and wore to a Halloween party last Fall).

Using the inspiration that Courtney sent in as a jumping off point we will transform her workspace into an inspiring, creative and cozy environment that is completely Courtney. We will be keeping you updated as the makeover process unfolds.

Thank you to everyone who entered this year’s contest! There were so many great entries that I feel there is no way we can only share just the winner. So I am pleased to announce the three runner-ups that we found to be spectacular.

Congratulations Angie Zamudio

Congratulations Jamila Watson

Congratulations Stacey Recht

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Jump into a bold New Year with Catalyst Ranch’s 2012 Calendar

2012 marks a landmark in Catalyst Ranch history – the company’s 10^th year of business. In celebration of this milestone, our Gala Girl, Lauren Smith, created a colorful calendar showcasing the many faces of our company mascot Pogo. He’s a world traveler and creative spirit that will brighten your cubicle or desk. Download the entire collection HERE. (All that fab takes a minute to download.)

In Chinese culture, January 23^rd starts the Year of the Dragon. This powerful animal has represented emperors for their passion, drive, colorful personalities, dominance and daring approach of challenges. Chicago’s Chinatown is celebrating the Lunar New Year and their centennial anniversary on January 29^th. With so much to celebrate the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce will surely have some great festivities planned.

While you are out in Chinatown, be sure to stop and admire The Nine Dragon Wall. I have passed this monument so many times and never realized its significance. The Nine Dragon Wall is modeled after a wall in BeiHei Park in Beijing. It includes over 500 smaller dragons and is only one of three such replicas outside of China. Learn more here.

Happy New Year!

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2011 has been a great year for us at the Ranch! Here are a few reasons why:

5. “Harmony, Hope, and Humanity” a cabaret fundraiser to benefit disaster relief for Japan.

When the disastrous earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit Japan in March, we (like many others) felt compelled to find a way to help. With ten days to plan, we were able to gather some of the top Asian Pacific American talent in Chicago to perform a fundraiser to benefit the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for Japan. Taking the stage were Joseph Anthony Foronda, Christine Bunuan, Emily Morales, Erik Kaiko, Jillian Jocson, Chelsea Dolinar-Hikawa, and Keith Uchima; the performance was directed by yours truly and music directed by Jaclyn Rada. With the generous donation of our event sponsors (especially Big Delicious Planet) and the 150+ people that attended, we were able to raise $5400 for the disaster relief fund!

4. Project Music

Every year we are proud to host the Project Music fundraiser to benefit the kids at LYDIA Home, an organization that provides hope and support to children and families in need. Project Music is an amazing event that brings in top music performers (this year’s featured act was bluesman Sugar Blue) to raise money to send forty kids in need to overnight camp.

3. Social Media Week panel.

The global event Social Media Week finally hit Chicago and we wanted in on the action. We hosted a panel about how the next generation is using social media. I moderated a great discussion led by social media pros Mark J. Carter, Tim McDonald, Sue Koch with next gen panelists Staci Diamond, Neal Ryan Shaw, James Coston and Rebecca Dickson.

2. Meet Our Ranch Hands (in verse)

Our Operations Manager John Leen gives a fun and whimsical introduction to some of the friendly faces you might encounter at the Ranch.

1. Illinois’ first legal same-sex civil union happen at the Ranch with “Under a New Moon!”

Our country is taking huge strides in civil rights. It might be a bit slow for some, but the times are a-changing and hopefully for the better. When the state of Illinois announced the passing of legislature that would legally recognize same-sex civil unions, we were thrilled beyond belief to be able to be among the first to celebrate. Partnering with Life Cycle Celebrant Anita Vaughan, SQN Events, Jeremy Lawson Photography and so many generous sponsors, we were blessed to be able to give six lucky gay and lesbian couples a the ceremony and reception of their dreams!

It’s been a great year for us here at the Ranch and we can only hope for much more in 2012! Hope everyone has a great and safe holiday season. Happy New Year!

Post written by Danny Bernardo

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Catalyst Ranch’s Monthly Giveaway Prize – Perplexus

Check out the Ranch’s new prize giveaway for the month of December!  Perplexus is an addicting, mind-bending 3-D puzzle that will undoubtedly put your sanity to the test, yet will be nearly impossible to put down! Work with and against gravity to carefully shift, flip & twist the sphere to guide the marble along a series of numbered pathways replete with 100 barriers from start to finish. But be careful, your ball can fall off course faster than you can blink and you’ll have to begin all over again.  Check out the video below to see the Perplexus in action.

Each month we display a new and funky prize that reflects Catalyst Ranch’s unique and creative style. So take the ultimate challenge & drop your business card off at the reception desk if you’re at the Ranch this month for your chance to win!

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Chicago Ideas Week kicked off on Monday with Labs, Talks, MegaTalks and Partner Programs. I attended one of the talks that was held at the Chicago History Museum by some of Chicago’s innovators and explorers in Architecture.

Blair Kamin, Architecture Critic for the Chicago Tribune and author of Why Architecture Matters: Lessons from Chicago, hosted the evening’s speakers. Each speaker addressed the audience for about 15 minutes on projects with which they are currently involved.

First up was Jeanne Gang, President and Founder of Studio Gang Architects. Ms. Gang is the award-winning architect of the Aqua Tower in Downtown Chicago. The project on which she chose to speak is reclaiming abandoned and often polluted industrial sites in the Chicago suburbs – in this case, Cicero, which has become a destination location for immigrants from Mexico. Her vision begins with a four-year plan of re-planting the sites with poplars and willows, which would draw industrial toxins from the soil. After that, the plan is to utilize existing uninhabited structures (such as assembly plants and factories) as the basis for residential communities. Her ultimate goal is a multi-functional neighborhood, with green areas, public places and commercial space interspersed with residential habitats for a variety of living quarters – homes for both nuclear and extended families, as well as apartments. By offering housing to fit a variety of needs, she hopes the resulting community will remain vital through cultural and economic shifts.

Scott Frances, a world renowned Architecture photographer and frequent contributor to Architectural Digest Magazine, spoke about new directions in Architecture Photography.

One of the most interesting developments is in the use of ambient light. Previously, interiors and exteriors would have to be lit separately in order to capture both dimensions in a single shot. Now photographers can make use of the ambient light in a single setup, shooting the interior and exteriors of architectural spaces separately, then using digital technology to combine both effects into a single photograph. The result is a much more natural-looking photo. Frances has photographed the homes of such celebrities as Jennifer Aniston, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Steve Jobs, Elton John, Ted Turner, and Jessica Lange.

Gordon Gill, Founding Partner of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, is one of the world’s pre-eminent environmentally-aware architects, leading Chicago’s green rooftops decarbonization plan. In his segment he could not help but mention one of his upcoming projects: the two-kilometer tall Kingdom Tower skyscraper in Saudi Arabia. As a proponent of the skyscraper having the smallest carbon impact on the environment and topography, Gill is a leader in Performance based design, as witnessed by his Pearl River Tower in China. It’s the world’s first net-zero energy skyscraper, incorporating green designs such as solar collectors and radiant heating and cooling. But most impressive are the two massive wind turbines set in slots that slice gracefully through the building itself, providing energy from the environment. The 71 story-tall tower is much more than a fluent integration of design and function, it is the most energy-efficient super tall building in the world.

Finally, Matthew Berman and Andrew Kotchen, workshop/apd and Founders of SpruceBox, discussed the challenges of rebuilding residential areas of New Orleans following the disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. As winners of the 2006 Global Green USA contest, sponsored by actor Brad Pitt, the pair created GreeN.O.la, a prototype community of 12 apartments, six single family homes, a community center and day-care facility built along the Mississippi. “Our goal is to create something sustainable, modular, affordable – and well-designed,” says Kotchen. The long, narrow structures recall the shotgun homes destroyed in the Hurricanes. Designed with an outlook for the future, the prefabricated modular units incorporate rooftop vegetation, solar panels and solar water heaters, rainfall collection, as well as community gardens and composting. According to Berman, “It’s supposed to be a model of sustainability in the Gulf Coast.”

Berman and Kotchen took some of their learnings from developing these prototype kitchens and bathrooms (usually the most expensive features of a home) and launched SpruceBox. The idea behind SpruceBox is to enable any homeowner to be able to affordably and sustainably remodel their kitchen and bath without having to hire an architect or spend hours researching options. You can just go to the site and easily design your kitchen. All the resources are there, all in one spot.

The concept behind Chicago Ideas Week is to create a platform in the Midwest where innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs could connect and interact with each other and the public to educate and inspire. As an international nexus for architecture, Chicago is particularly suited to hosting this panel, and it was a fitting way to start off the week.

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The global event Social Media Week hit Chicago for the first time from 9/19 – 9/23/2011 and Catalyst Ranch was in on the action! With such great local events like “Journalism in the Age of the Tweet” and “The Power of Social Media for Social Activism”, we wondered where we might fit in. But with our passion for innovation and creativity, as well as invoking conversations no one else was having, we came up with the perfect event.

Because our staff ranges from Baby Boomer to Millenial, the topic of multi-generational relationships has been one we’ve been quite intrigued by. Many of our clients can relate, not only internally, but in terms of reaching out and connecting to different demographics. Marry those needs with the vast experiential usage of the different generations and we had the perfect panel for Social Media Week.

We sought to make our panel focus-group style, where the questions and content would be driven by our Twitter fanbase. When we posed with the question “If you had a focus group of social media pros & Millennials, what would u ask to benefit you or your business?” we didn’t realize what an overwhelming response we’d receive from our Twitter followers! We had enough crowd sourced talking points for three panel discussions, but were able to focus the discussion under the lens of how Gen Y wants to be interacted with and how they take their online action offline.

Our panel could not have been more eclectic and insightful! Moderated by our own Go-to-Guy (and Social Media Strategist) Danny Bernardo, social media pros Mark J. Carter, Sue Koch, and Tim McDonald led a lively and informative discussion with our twentysomething panelists. Our twentysomethings were diverse and at varied stages of their lives. Staci Diamond, in her late-twenties, had established herself quite well in the field of marketing and communications. Neal Ryan Shaw, in his mid-twenties, is well on his way to establishing himself in the world of theatre and journalism. James Coston was fresh off of a post-college internship at Golin-Harris and utilizing social media not only for personal reasons, but in his job search. Becca Dickson, a junior marketing major at DePaul, rounded out our panel.

Our Ranch regulars who have grown accustomed to our comfy and quirky environment would have been surprised by the sleek and tech heavy set-up we’d put on for this event. It is a testament to the versatility of our space and how we can cater to the theme of any event. It was a Ranch event, however, and our handy dandy Ranch Hands set up a delicious snack service for all the attendees to enjoy, including a very fall themed candy explosion!

You can still follow the Twitter conversation that was had before, after, and during the event if you follow the hashtag #SMWcatalystranch. Our attendees were live tweeting their learnings and following up conversations with our panelists. The reactions after the event were definitely worth noting. Check out these tweets from panelists Tim and James:

Some of our attendees had some great things to say. Check out these Tweets from Kyle Akerman, Mira Lowe, Douglas Lee Miller, and Joe Cajindos:

You can also check out more pictures from the event on our Facebook page.

Thanks to the generous donation of resources and talent from the TV Department of Columbia College Chicago, we will be able to post panel excerpts in the future, so be sure to either follow us on Twitter or subscribe to your YouTube Channel. In the meantime, check out this teaser video, comprised of visitor sourced video and images!

If you would like to see another panel like this at the Ranch, leave us a comment and suggest a topic!

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Diversity spurs Creativity! Creativity and innovation rely on exposure to new ideas, dissimilar ways of thinking, and different approaches to problem solving. Within the workplace diversity is key in creating a growing and creative team. With diversity comes increased creativity and productivity along with new attitudes and processes. Creativity increases when people with different ways of solving difficult problems work together towards a common solution. There is no one best answer to any question–the more ideas you can obtain from different people, the more likely you are to develop a workable answer.

We are counting down the days until the 2011 Association Forum Diversity Summit, here at Catalyst Ranch! Diversity awareness through research trends and real life  examples will highlight this year’s Summit. This one day conference will focus on ways to create a diverse leadership pipeline for boards, committees and other volunteer opportunities. It will be a day full of learning practical, hands-on solutions that will help you create, sustain and grow an inclusive volunteer and work environment. Discover how to implement and prove the value of your diversity programs to your leadership.

An exclusive poetry reading by Chicago Public School students will start off the morning highlighting the importance of diversity in the arts. These students  have used poetry to improve and enhance not only their schools but also the community. “Louder Than a Bomb“  is an annual poetry reading that these students participated in engages schools and community organizations.

Following the poetry reading, attendees will be exploring the “isms” we have out there in within our society. Through this interactive session topics such as racism, sexism, ableism, and ageism, as well as homophobia will be explored and analyzed. We will see how these and other prejudices impede productivity. This session aims to teach the “S.T.O.P” technique to assess and avoid multicultural mishaps as well as identify the four cornerstones for improving cultural competencies. All attendees will receive copy of Billings-Harris’ latest book, Trail Blazers. The book takes you into some of the world’s top performing companies for insights on how they are expanding the definition, practice, and bottom-line benefits of diversity.

A CEO executive panel discussion will push attendees to change the way they think about organizational diversity both internally and externally. Panelists will focus on challenging attendees’ attitudes and explore behaviors as it relates to diversity, and identify whose responsibility it is to make the business case for diversity. Facilitator, Tangie Newborn will lead the discussion in learning how to change attitudes and behaviors surrounding diversity. Attendees will not only discover what tools are needed to implement a successful diversity program but will also understand how to measure success of a diversity program.

Roundtable discussions will branch from the previous executive panel discussion. These interactive breakout sessions will be moderated by the executive panel members Patricia V. Blake, Thomas C. Dolan, and Salvador Mendoza. Attendees will interact one-on-one with panel members to discuss tactical details and share ideas and challenges we all face in our organizations.

Iraq War Veteran and LGBT Rights Activist Eric Alva will raise awareness about the strain of serving under the military’s discriminatory law in the session Overcoming Obstacles. Since 2007, Alva has been an eloquent and influential spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign’s efforts to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” You won’t want to miss his compelling story.

 Check out the full schedule below, click here to register.

8 – 9 a.m. – Registration and Breakfast

9 – 9:30 a.m. – Diversity in the Arts: A Performance by Young Chicago Authors 

9:30 – 10:45 a.m. – The Diversity Advantage: Turning Barriers into Bridges, Lenora Billings-Harris 

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Chief Executive Officer or Chief Diversity Officer? A CEO Executive Panel

12 – 1:15 p.m. – Networking Lunch

1:15 – 3:15 p.m. – Roundtable Discussions and Recap

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. – Overcoming Obstacles, Eric Alva

4:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Reception with Keynote Speakers

The 2011 Association Forum Diversity Summit is a one-day conference with compelling education and opportunities to hear from diversity leaders, association professionals and other educators.

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It’s time for a cubicle makeover everyone can achieve! Considering the amount of time you spend inside it, set out to convert your workspace into a place you can look forward to and enjoy. Thinking ‘inside the box’, if you will. Not only will you feel good, but chances are your productivity will increase as well.

Here are 10 funky, easy and affordable ways to make over your cube and improve your image and outlook at work:

1.  Bring in Color with Unique Art
Adding color is the primary way you can improve your environment when you’re facing space limitations. Bring in colors to your cubicle that complements the area and your personal style.  Good color choices in promoting mental strength and health are soft blues, natural greens and bold purples.

Use Wall Decals

Hang Some Textile Art

Hang up an original print

Society6 offers a creator-driven online marketplace for affordable art. Operating on the premise that community aids commerce, Society6 is social networking at its targeted best: artists and designers can connect with other studios, sell their work directly, and even hook up with companies offering commisioned collaborations.

2. Feng Shui Your Desk
Place Yourself in a Position of Power! The placement of your desk can largely affect your well-being at work. First, be sure your desk is the right size for your daily activities. The ideal place for a desk is in the command position–the opposite corner of the entranceway, where you can face outward to see who enters your office.

If you don’t have the room to move your desk, clip a small mirror to a desk lamp or place one on your computer to help you see those entering your work space. Not knowing who is coming up behind you can create a feeling of uneasiness during your workday.

3.  Get Organized

Keep things generally neat and clean. Put any supplies or files you don’t use daily inside your desk or credenza to reduce visual distraction. Organize your current projects into files and keep them in vertical file holders on your desk.

Think outside the box, woven baskets, small trunks, suitcase and record holders are a fun, funky and functional way to organize.

4. Add Some Life

Plants brighten up any office. Not only do they project energy and life, they also soak up indoor air pollutants. In addition, they help reduce stress, increase productivity and improve attentiveness. Bring in a plant or two, but keep it low-maintenance, such as a simple stalk of lucky bamboo in some water.

5.  Brighten Up

Another item you can use to spruce up your cubicle is a small desk lamp. Better light is good for you to begin with it. Not only does it increase energy and brighten your mood, but a small desk lamp can really add some personality to your cubicle. It may not seem like your typical “cubicle decoration,” but you will be surprised at just how many small desk lamps there are out there. From brightly colored contemporary styles to classic brass or silver tones, you can find an appropriate and affordable lamp to fit any cube configuration.

6. Decorate with Fabric

Cover walls with fabric, securing it with staples or double-sided tape. You can also staple patterned fabric to a frame and hang it up in your cube like colorful wall art!

For Andrea’s cubicle (winner of our 2010 makeover) we used fabric paneling to create splashes of color.

Adding a few pillows to your space is another great way to not only cozy up but bring in some fresh inspiration.

7. Picture This

One of the best ways to add a personal touch or conversation starter to your area is with framed pictures of your family, friends or pets. Be selective with your frames. Seek out atypical objects turned into frames (ie. recycled glass bangles).

If you want a great frame, check out Artist’s Frame Service outlet sale the first Sunday of each month. Or shop around the resale & antique stores.

8. Add Soothing Accessories

Placing a small bowl of potpourri or aromatherapy petals or sachets can transform your emotions or invigorate your senses.

9. Tell Time with Style

Having a unique calendar and clock makes a world of difference.

10. Boost up the Energy

Boost up the energy and fun in your cubicle with these desk must haves…… from fun to functional, enjoy! Uncommon Goods has a great selection of office FUNctionals, check them out.

Like this python staple remover!

……or this desktop sand window

…. Love this Paperback Writer (multi-tasking scribe finishes your sentences when you’re scrambling for a piece of paper.)

Cure for the Cubicle Blues…..Change something. Anything. Bringing in a new book, a quote, photo, screensaver — any item that refreshes your space and inspires you. Another idea, add a seat pad or change the fabric on your chair backs. Better yet, be eco-conscious and get furniture from a swap or thrift shop.

Good Luck and have fun, Happy Administrative Assistant’s Day!

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Let’s get a splash of color going… Who says office cubicles need to be dreary?

In honor of Administrative Assistant Day (April 27th), Catalyst Ranch will be sprucing up one lucky admin’s office space.  Send us a photo of your desk/workspace and tell us why your office needs a little facelift.  One lucky winner will be chosen!

 For a local winner, a Catalyst Ranch design expert will come to your office and install your new decore.  If you are an out of town winner, a Cubicle-in-a-Box will be mailed to your office filled with an assortment of decorative and functional items, as well as helpful tips and instructions.  Your new desk will bring fresh inspiration to your work!  Don’t worry, we’ll follow up with you to ensure that the selection is tailored to meet the constraints of your office.

To Enter: Email a photo (or two, if it takes a few pics to capture the depth of dreariness at your desk) to amber@catalystranch.com along with your name, title, company name and telephone number.

 Entries will be accepted through Friday, April 22nd.   

Our Makeover Winner will be announced on April 27th, Administrative Assistant’s Day.

 2010 Cubicle Winner Andrea Madison on her new cubicle, “I LOVE IT!  It certainly generates a lot of comments from others as well!  I enjoy explaining my good fortune to all who ask.  The tree is everyone’s favorite part of my cubicle.”

 After choosing Andrea as our 2010 winner we interviewed her at length in order to tailor the cubicle to her. We asked about her likes, dislikes, how she uses her workspace, the sorts of environments she enjoys spending time in, what she does to relax outside of work as well as any workplace restrictions we needed to consider.

Check out all the before and after pictures along with detailed info about the design here.

Everything we installed in Andrea’s cubicle is easily moveable so that she can take it with her no matter how many times she moves desks. She can also re-arrange the components as often as she likes to keep things fresh.

We also wanted to make sure that Andrea was surrounded by inspiring images that would help her see the world in a slightly different way.

We are so happy that we were able to bring inspiration and color to Andrea’s workspace. Now a year later once again, we are itching to design the new cubicle for our 2011 winner. So get those entries in before the end of Friday to amber@catalystranch.com. Good luck to all!

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