This is Engage.

A digital agency with a team of smart, innovative, creative problem solvers who appreciate the value in the phrase “work hard, play hard.”

I chose to join Engage after meeting with and learning about their impressive collective and individual professional experiences in communications, public affairs and technology. I identified with their core values and fantastic portfolio of client work.

Prior to coming here as Operations Manager, I have had a diverse range of professional experience in communications, consulting, marketing and education. I have always had a passion for writing and am constantly inspired by the different forms it can take. Whether it’s strategic or creative and analytical, the power of smart, targeted writing is truly a form of art.

Another art form I was fortunate to be exposed to was that of teaching. After graduating from the University Of Oregon, where I studied Journalism and Political Science, I was recruited to join Teach for America. I quickly found myself standing in front of a classroom of 23 kindergarteners internally chanting the inspiring mantra I had been taught-that when all else fails- fake it ‘till you make it.

Just a few miles and across the river from where I sit now, my crowded classroom was full of students and families looking to me to provide them with the education they needed and deserved each and every day. My time in the classroom was extremely challenging, most likely the hardest thing I will ever do- but also rewarding and taught me countless lessons that will follow me throughout my personal life and professional career. Who knew that the skills required to be a high performing kindergarten teacher can be applied so readily outside of school?

At times I am still in awe when I pass over the Potomac river or run on the mall and take in the view of the monuments and museums- each an architectural treasure in its own right. I am reminded of the hope and potential for revolution that exists here.

In my first week at Engage, I was encouraged to suggest new ways of thinking and to strategically consider my own career development for the future. I hope to assist the team in delivering an unparalleled client experience and increasing our community impact while further developing as a communications professional and strategic thinker.

While the cobble stone streets make walking in heels a dangerous task, the charming King Street neighborhood is the perfect host for this innovative group. Their work has the power to inspire great change and I feel extremely fortunate to be a part of this growing team.
-Darby

I’m thrilled to announce that David Almacy has joined Engage as partner.  David brings two decades of experience in public affairs, media and digital from the White House and Congress to C-SPAN, and most recently as senior vice president at Edelman Public Relations.  Most importantly, he is an old friend and one of the most widely-respected authorities in our field.  David is going to be a huge asset to the team and our clients, and we couldn’t be happier to have him on board.

As partner, David will lead Engage’s newly minted public relations and media practice, while helping to refine and execute on the long-term vision that has fostered Engage’s reputation as innovators in public affairs and digital.

Almacy joins at a time when we’re celebrating another new addition to the team, as well as two well-deserved promotions.

Aidan Quinlan-Walshe returned to Engage this week as client strategist, having interned with us early in 2014.  Aidan joins us from Targeted Victory where he focused on email marketing and strategy.

Maggie Larkin has been promoted to director of people.  For two years Maggie has ensured that not only did the trains run on time, but that the bar car was stocked and all the passengers were having a good time.  In her new role, Maggie will focus on identifying and developing talent, while servicing select accounts.

Shane Helm has been promoted to chief creative officer.  Shane’s visionary eye for design and pixel-perfect attention to detail have helped to cement Engage’s reputation as the go-to firm for unique, thoughtful visual and user experience design.  As CCO, Shane will lead and expand the creative team and continue finding innovative ways to bring our clients’ dreams to life.

There are big things happening over here and you should be a part of it.  So obviously, tweet at @almacy to say congrats, then reach out and let’s talk about how Engage can help you win.

We’re proud to have contributed design and development services to help advance the mission of two key committees on Capitol Hill: the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the House Committee on Ways and Means. The newly redesigned sites connect citizens to the work of each committee through beautiful, intuitive design.

With an active social media presence and jam-packed hearings schedule, OGR and Ways and Means wanted to create a hub for their work on the web where users could find and share information quickly and easily, no matter the device or platform.

Following last year’s successful launch of GOP.gov, Engage has enjoyed continuing to work with members and staff on Capitol Hill that place a premium on design, development and strategy.

Ready to take your website to the next level like Engage did with with committees above?

We’re ready to talk with you.

That’s a question I receive on an almost daily basis.

It is not easy to condense what it means to be a part of the Engage team into a few short conversational sentences (or into one blog post for that matter). However, I believe Engage is a company that encourages new ideas, and the people behind that talent, to make those ideas a reality.

In a nutshell: Engage is fueled by the concept of solving problems and aspiring to make things better. This is at the core of everything we do.

In my time as Project Manager, I’ve seen ideas born into reality in a near-seamless fashion. That’s what gets me excited to come to work everyday.

I can’t think of a better example of this forward-thinking culture than the recent introduction of OverView, a project management tool for Basecamp. 

OverView started with a simple idea and a conversation with our COO Erik Rapprich during my first week at Engage. OverView provides a quick and clear summary of all active tasks for each team member across all Basecamp projects. It is designed to make it easy for project managers to quickly organize team members and tasks. Now, you can find OverView as open source software. That openness to suggestion, that willingness to improve creates a culture where no suggestion is wrong and no idea is unachievable. That is the environment that fosters the greatest creativity and produces the best results: that is the culture at Engage.

And it doesn’t stop there. Whether it’s an application for forecasting our schedules or producing data-driven estimates, Engage constantly looks for opportunities to not only improve our client experience but also our employee one. That is the type of agency I want to work for, and that is why I come to work everyday.

I am extremely proud to be a part of the Engage team. We have a lot to look forward to and our teams are excited to be working on some truly groundbreaking projects; I share their excitement and we can’t wait to share them with you.

Think you’d be a great fit here? We are always looking for talented self-starters to join our team. Apply today!

-Ryan

Although you’ll learn on the job, you can also prepare beforehand and kick off your internship with the right impression and mindset. Here is our advice: the secrets for success that we (Alex, Colleen, Franny and Lindsay) wish we knew when we started at Engage.

These tips will give you a headstart on making the most of your internship from day one.

1. KNOW THE COMPANY’S VIBE

Observe how the other employees interact, read the mission statement of the business, know how the upper management interacts with the staff, and note what kind of environment the company likes to curate. From reading the company’s website to staying up to date on current events that could relate to specific projects, you will be helping both yourself and your employers if they do not need to give a quick background with every new assignment.

2. LEARN TO ANTICIPATE

Nothing feels quite as good as receiving a project request and saying that you’ve already taken care of it. After a bit of time in your internship, you’ll be able to know what is expected of you before having to be asked. Whether it’s doing preliminary research for a project they mentioned you might start working on or wiping down the conference table because you heard a client is coming in that day, try to get a jump on your work.

3. KNOW WHAT IT IS YOU WANT OUT OF THE EXPERIENCE

You should obviously be thinking about what you can bring to the company you work for, but be sure you know what it is that the company can do to help you grow. An internship should be an opportunity for you to learn and grow your skills, so never hesitate to voice your desire to try out something new or shadow someone involved in a different area of the company. Communicate these desires to your intern manager because, as much as you are there to do a job for them, they want you to enjoy the work you’re doing and to become a valuable and contributing member of the team.

4. STRIKE A BALANCE

Whether it’s with your classes, with your social commitments, with your other activities, or with your personal downtime, be sure you maintain a balance in your schedule. Too many obligations and too little sleep will affect your ability to perform and your quality of life. At the same time, if you’re out of the office and see an article relevant to a project or to the company while surfing the web, flag it; if a potential solution to a problem presents itself to you while cooking dinner, jot it down. Find a way to keep everything in check and in perspective.

5. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS

You’ve heard this before, and you most likely will hear it again: don’t feel bad for asking too many questions. Employers always prefer questions to incomplete or shoddy work. When  juggling multiple tasks, ask about the project’s urgency level and how to prioritize if you aren’t sure. When you have down time or when it’s not as busy, always ask if there is anything you can be doing so your time can be used most efficiently.

6. PLAN OUT LOGISTICS

Work up a budget, and consider cost and benefits to situations. Between metro fare, lunch money and a morning coffee or two, think of the little costs that might come out of your pocket. Always look presentable. At the beginning, make sure to air on the side of nicer than you think is necessary. Once you’ve felt out the company vibe, you can adjust your appearance accordingly. Last, always try to be early. There’s never any harm in leaving 15 minutes early, as showing up late can leave a bad impression.

7. BE FLEXIBLE & KEEP AN OPEN MIND

One day you could be compiling research for a major project and the next day cleaning up the office kitchen. Some days you could do both! Take your all your assignments seriously, be open to all possibilities, and try to volunteer for as much as you can. Every single thing you do at work contributes to your professional reputation, so strive for a positive attitude and learn how (what may seem like) small tasks fit into a bigger picture.

8. LET YOUR CONFIDENCE SHINE!

Sometimes starting an internship can be intimidating–you find yourself in a new place surrounded by older, more experienced employees. It might be easy in this setting to feel unsure of yourself and your skills. However, it is important to remember that you were chosen for the role because the company saw potential in you as an intern! Don’t hesitate to voice your opinions on certain matters or present ideas of your own to your manager. It will show that you care to get more out of the experience than just routinely completing the tasks assigned to you.

With these tips, you can start your internship with an energetic attitude, a readiness to learn, and a great first impression.

Now all you have to do is land that perfect internship.

Consider applying to Engage! Check out our internship openings here.

Feel free to read about our experiences to learn more. And best of luck from the interns at Engage!

Alex | Colleen | Franny | Lindsay

Illinois Policy won this competitive category based on their success in stopping the so-called “fair tax”, that was anything but. Engage proudly designed and managed the digital home for the effort, UnfairforIL.com, which allowed Illinois citizens to see exactly how much this proposed tax hike would affect them and their families. After using the custom tax calculator, users could sign the petition and easily contact their legislator.

IPA’s Vice President of Marketing, Ryan Green said this win “wouldn’t have been possible without the Engage team”.

“We’re proud to have worked with IPA using digital to help shine a light on the harmful effects of this proposed tax and help the people of Illinois reject this misguided proposal,” said Engage President Nick Schaper.

Overall, this advocacy campaign was a massive success that rallied Illinois citizens all over the state to stop this tax. Moving forward, Illinois taxpayers will now save more than $31 billion in the next five-year period.

We encourage you to visit UnfairforIL.com to see this campaign for yourself. To find out more about the PR News award, click here: http://yhoo.it/1BdE3MG

Ready to take your campaign or website to the next level like Engage did for Illinois Policy? We’re ready to talk with you.

Basecamp is an effective project management tool, one that our teams use every day. With different team members involved on multiple projects it can be challenging to get an overview of all the moving parts. The problem we set out to solve was to allow our project manager to see all upcoming Basecamp tasks aggregated in one place, across all projects, and all team members.

Introducing OverView, a project management tool for Basecamp. OverView provides a quick and clear summary of all active tasks for each team member across all Basecamp projects.

The interface is simple and clean; it is designed to make it easy for project managers to quickly organize team members and arrange them in an order that is most beneficial to them.

OverView makes it possible to efficiently see upcoming deadlines and makes it easy to follow up on a project’s progress. Under each team member, tasks can be sorted by project name or by date. Here at Engage, our project manager uses the sort by date feature every day to ensure that project deadlines are met and tasks are complete on time or ahead of schedule.

OverView is now available as open source software, so go ahead and check it out. We’re more than happy to accept pull requests and issue tickets. If you have a Basecamp account you can also try it out for yourself here: overview.engage-apps.com

View on GitHub

But four years later, after new staff additions (including me!) and several different furniture configurations, it became apparent: we had outgrown our home in Eastern Market. It was time to start looking for a new location to fit the needs of our growing company.

We were on the hunt for an area with the same feel as Barracks Row with its “main street America” vibe, and plenty of shops, new lunch spots, and happy hours options. And after several weeks of touring office spaces, we found what we were looking for in historic Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Just shy of five thousand square feet, the space had amazing floor to ceiling windows that looked out over King Street, the heart of Old Town. We knew we’d found our new home.

Our vision for the new space was a modern office that took advantage of the abundance of natural light and had an open layout to facilitate collaboration. After consulting with designers and architects, we took the best of their ideas and married them to create the finalized layout.

After the blueprints were approved, the construction began. I won’t bore you with details about running telephone, electrical, and cable wires or discussions about paint and flooring samples, but will instead skip to the before and after pictures:

Finally, the space was ready for us, and on September 19, 2014, we packed up a U-Haul, waved goodbye to our office in DC, and made the move to Virginia. Outfitted with brand new office furniture (desks, chairs and conference room table), whiteboards, and TVs, Engage had a new home and a new look. Over the past few months, we’ve been making changes—from feng shui to decorations—to make this space our home. As any homeowner will tell you, the improvement process is never truly complete, and we have plans for the coming months and years.

I couldn’t be more excited with our office, and if you’re in the neighborhood, I encourage you to stop by, and let me show you around our new home in Old Town.

As an intern, I expected to work hard and to absorb as much wisdom as possible from the talented individuals at Engage. What I didn’t expect was just how much these people would invest in me. From HTML workshops to peeks into the processes of design, contracts, and social media strategy, my mentors at Engage have widened my perspectives and understandings of both the tech and business worlds. Maggie, the Operations Manager, has told me that she wears many different hats. I have quickly grown to appreciate the expanse and adaptability of operations in the workplace and love how much opportunity there is to learn. Surrounded by passionate and intelligent people, I look forward to what the rest of the semester has in store for me here at Engage.

-Colleen

Questions? Feel free to reach out. We’d love to hear from you.

As a Government major at Georgetown University, I am captivated by the growing number of factors and events that affect governing. From a neighborhood block watch to a city government to a country’s legislature, we all participate in the activity of governing. Indeed, government officials constitute only one part of the influential actors in politics. As the stage expands, outlets for public engagement increase in various new forms. Digital media stands at the forefront of these new forms and Engage recognizes this. Engage’s work in politics, from mobilizing public opinion for a specific cause to analyzing what ‘types’ of individuals shared specific links, initially got me interested in interning here. I can see Engage is working to create change already from my short time here. Engage stands out because it functions as an inclusive and proactive actor in its field.

In the next few months, like my first day, I know that I will still need to rely on coffee and good directions. I hope to take advantage of the opportunities at Engage and not only learn from but also work with the talented, fun group of people here. In describing how I feel by starting a new job, working in a new town and learning more about innovative digital tools and social media strategies, I have a funny mental image of a happy, overly hyped up animated character…then again that could also be a result of the coffee.

Questions for me or what it’s like to be Engage intern? Shoot Engage a message! We’d love to hear from you.

– Francisca