by kthigpen | Mar 5, 2022 | News
In this era of Zoom meetings and other virtual, remote platforms that allow us to connect during the pandemic, one might reach the conclusion that it would be impossible to have communication problems in your business.
But, when you factor in human nature; that’s where things get complicated.
Each of us comes from a different culture and background. These things make up parts of our personality, our habits, our passions, our convictions and more.
In short: people are complicated, and the same message will not resonate with all of your clients or your team.
With such complex humans working together towards a common goal, things can go south if you haven’t taken the time to set even the most basic standards of office etiquette, communication, and inclusion.
What I mean by inclusion is making sure that your team, or your client, feels that they are actively involved in the conversation and are allowed to weigh in without fear of judgment or retaliation.
At Ace Studios, we’ve started having weekly team meetings in which everyone, even the interns, is brought to the table to contribute their thoughts on new projects coming up.
You wouldn’t believe the great ideas that come out of those meetings and I’m so proud of them.
The least favorite form of communication requires you to make tough decisions and conversations, but if we as leaders don’t communicate with every key stakeholder, how can we expect them to support the company, the clients, and have their whole heart in what you’re trying to achieve as a company.
The truth is: you can’t. With rampant work shortages, it’s time for all business owners and leaders to get creative, invite everyone to the table to work on solutions to move forward together, and if there aren’t enough seats – you build a bigger table.
Yours in Solidarity,
Kurt Thigpen, CEO
Ace Studios
by kthigpen | Mar 3, 2022 | News
Ace Studios is proud to announce today it has expanded its social impact operations to Georgia, effective immediately. They are now even members of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce to show their commitment to the Peach State.
“It has been a lifelong dream of mine to play a part in Georgia’s economic progress,” says Kurt Thigpen, CEO at Ace Studios “Some may not be aware that I was born and raised in Georgia before moving to Nevada in 2011. It will always be on my mind. This is why our first shop will be in Hazlehurst, GA, my hometown.”
“Our hope with this expansion is to eventually offer employment at our agency to new graduates, as well as to help lift up the rural regions using our marketing skills,” says Camille Scheffler, Administrator and East Coast Representative at Ace Studios. “The future of America runs through small towns and small businesses and we want to be a part of that here in Georgia.”
For more information on the expansion will affect current customers, please reach out at info@acestudios.com.
About Ace Studios
Ace Studios believes in creating a social impact in the world by uplifting brands and causes that do good for others.
At the most basic level, they are a full-service social impact marketing and design agency.
More than that, they are creative, strategic, thoughtful, dedicated champions of their causes and clients.
From image boosting to problem-solving; from stellar design to award-winning photography and video; from social media to social impact, they stand firmly behind the non-profits, philanthropists, and companies they help lead to be their best selves.
by kthigpen | Oct 21, 2021 | News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/21/2021
Ace Studios today announced that Bennett Queen has recently joined Ace Studios as a Digital Media Strategist for the company.
Bennett has an easy-going personality and loves seeing new movies, playing with his two dogs (Carly & Coco), and traveling with his girlfriend.
He has a passion for fitness and is a certified Crossfit Level 1 coach here in the Reno area. When he’s not working or traveling you can find him partaking in everything from snowboarding to pickleball.
Bennett has lived in Reno for most of his life and loves working with businesses in the community, and has extensive experience working in the marketing industry.
Bennett will be assisting with the website design and digital marketing strategy needs on behalf of Ace Studios’ clients to help them grow exponentially.
“We’re very lucky to have such a talented and knowledgable person like Bennett join the team,” says Ace Studios CEO, Kurt Thigpen “His role is going to be crucial in allowing the agency leadership to focus on client growth, satisfaction, as well as the growth of Ace Studios over the next year or so as we look to keep growing and attracting new clients to serve.
About Ace Studios:
Ace Studios is an award-winning full-service multimedia digital marketing and design agency. We are creative, strategic, thoughtful, dedicated champions of our clients and their businesses. From image boosting to problem-solving, from stellar design to kickass in-house photography and video, from social media to social responsibility, we stand firmly behind the companies we lead to be their best selves.
by kthigpen | Oct 1, 2021 | News
By Alexandria Thomson, FX Specialist
I never thought in a hundred years I would be sitting, in my own office space, in Reno NV, typing a little ‘exposé’ on myself, but here I am awkwardly typing away! Hahahaha. Anyway, let me introduce myself. My name is Alexandria Thomson. I was born and raised in a small beach town on Long Island, NY. I’ll answer the burning question that almost everyone asks me: Why did you move out to Reno/Tahoe? Well, my mom wanted to move out west to start anew and I followed. My love for make-up and special effects (FX make-up) came from watching old-school slasher movies with my dad at the tender age of 7, parenting at its finest, right? I also remember being in awe at all the avant-garde colorful editorial shoots in my sister’s Cosmopolitan & Glamour magazines and wanting to recreate them. That’s where my love of editorial & beauty make-up comes from. I have a strong passion for art in all mediums and I am always inspired by many different painters, sculptors, special effects artists, etc.
So, what is my role here at Ace Studios? I am the FX Specialist. What is an FX Specialist, you ask? When you research it on Google, all that generally comes up is Foreign Exchange Specialist which is definitely not what I do. My job here at Ace is to provide hair and make-up services to our clients who want to look polished and professional for their headshots or websites. We also create beautiful editorial shoots (pictured below) that we submit into advertising contests as well as out of the kit special FX for the Halloween season (or “Christmas time”) for some Make-up Artists. Now the interesting thing about my job is that it is not prevalent to have an in-house make-up artist in the marketing industry. It’s what makes Ace Studios so unique.
Alexandria is on the photoshoot set of Chanel & Pearls.
Who knew my career would take this unexpected turn into the marketing world, but I want to thank Chris and Kurt for giving me a chance. They saw something in me that I didn’t even see in myself. I am grateful. I also get to say that I have the best work-family I could ever ask for.
Here is a taste of our Halloween shoot for 2021.
Shoot: Starry Nite
Photography: Chris Thigpen
Make-Up: Alexandria Thomson
Shoot: Lady In White
Photography: Chris Thigpen
Make-Up: Alexandria Thomson
by kthigpen | Oct 1, 2021 | News
By Robert Nuñez, Social Media Assistant
Hispanic Heritage Month is a nationally celebrated period of time that begins on September 15th and ends on October 15th. Its start date is uniquely in the middle of the month since most national, month-long heritage celebrations began on the 1st of the month. The start date of September 15th is significant because it essentially kicks off a string of independence anniversaries for a vast majority of Latin American countries. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua celebrate their independence on the 15th, with Mexico’s independence celebrated the very next day on the 16th. Fast forward a few days and you get to Chile’s independence celebration day on the 18th. In addition, also within the 30-day period, Día de la Raza (Race Day) is celebrated on the 12th of October.
Robert Nuñez
As a first-generation Mexican-American, I am constantly engulfed in what is my version of “Hispanic Heritage” regardless of what time of year it is. I simply have to take a short drive to my parents’ home in Carson City, Nevada. Whether it’s the rich, heartwarming aroma of Arroz Rojo being prepared, the sound of my father belting out verses from ballads by Mexican legends such as Antonio Aguilar and José Alfredo Jiménez, or maybe I’m immediately met with a coughing fit because my mother is frying peppers on the stove. Whatever it may be, this is the life I’ve always known and will continue to cherish for the rest of my life. However, I do recognize that are SO many other ways to experience what falls under the huge categorization of what is “Hispanic Heritage” and I think that’s what I love most about this month-long spotlight on culture and traditions.
I tried Nicaraguan Nacatamales for the first time a few days prior to writing this article, and though I’m quite acquainted with Mexican Tamales, I was not ready for the absolute explosion of delicious flavors that flooded my mouth. I paired my one nacatamale (yes, only one because its size is the equivalent of about 3 or 4 Mexican tamales) with an ice-cold coke and buttered bread!
In the coming days, I’m also really excited to try Pupusas for the first time! Really late to the tasty party, I know, but that’s what Hispanic Heritage Month is all about! I guarantee that any person reading this can find a dish, an artist, or any traditional Hispanic cultural item that they are yet to try or experience. I encourage everyone reading this to expand their palate and/or knowledge on such a vast range of lifestyles and customs! (But seriously, if you’re going to fry peppers on your stove, open a window or turn on a vent because it’s a different kind of cough).
