Wray Ward

DYK that the social interaction between people and dogs increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin? We're over-the-top in our oxytocin thanks to our inaugural Pups of the Week, Walker and Archer. We can't wait to meet week's guest!

We’re thrilled to welcome this year's FORM internship group -- and just a few days into this summer experience, it’s already clear they’ll wow us. Say hello to John Marenic of Penn State (graphic design), Mara Vicario of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (PR/Content/Social Media) and Megan Johnson of The University of Alabama (copywriting). Let the fun begin!

Who's your pick for this weekend's big game - AKA advertising's biggest event of the year?

Our team prepped for the Super Bowl with themed snacks and a live viewing of Ad Age's Superbowl Playbook webinar, in which the brand leaders and creators behind a few 2024 commercials previewed their spots and discussed the vision and purpose behind them.

Despite who wins or loses, we're looking forward to seeing all the brands in action on Sunday!

We cohosted a panel about AI in marketing in our Town Hall with the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. Our Content Marketing Director and AI Leadership Council Member Laura Edwards moderated the lively discussion, and we were left inspired by the brilliant minds of panelists from Honeywell, Ally and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.

We believe that inspiration at work can come from many sources, including our surroundings. We love being surrounded by inspiring spaces at our own office that fuel innovative ideas and foster creative conversations with coworkers.

Know a college student who might benefit from our FORM summer internship? Current full-time PR/Content Coordinator Julia Washington shares how her summer internship experience in the FORM class of 2022 gave her a unique way into the industry and offers tips to future applicants: https://bit.ly/3uFpoTA

To help combat the flurry of holidays, deadlines and busy social calendars that the year-end brings, our JOY team hosted a Stress Down Day at the office with Project 2 Heal.

During the Stress Down Day, we put work aside and made time to play with a group of adorable, loving puppies who will go on to be service dogs helping heal veterans, children with special needs and adults with disabilities.

Our testimonial? Puppy love is the cure!

We recently had the pleasure of hosting Brian Patrick Flynn, the talented interior designer and influencer known for his appearances on HGTV and Magnolia Network. Our time with Brian is always filled with inspiring conversations about design, and we can't get enough of the creativity and humor he brings to our collaborative projects.

Only 365 days left until next Halloween!

Congratulations to our executive chair Jennifer Appleby for being inducted to the Queens University of Charlotte's 13th annual Carolinas Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. Jennifer, you are well-deserving of this honor celebrating visionary leaders and their remarkable contributions.

Summer is all about making memories in the sunshine. This year, we toasted to the final days of the season with a fair-style celebration filled with games, prizes and treats of all kinds!

How do you turn the dog days of summer into something delightful? Roll in a hot dog truck! Last week, The Hog N Dog Too Food Truck & Catering dished out southern delicacies for our staff such as fried mac and cheese, zucchini sticks and fried pickles. Full bellies confirmed.

Our own executive chair Jennifer Appleby will be honored alongside other community leaders by the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte as an inductee to its Carolinas Entrepreneur Hall of Fame at a ceremony on September 26. All inductees are recognized for their innovative business leadership and economic impact in the Carolinas and beyond.

Congratulations, Jennifer!

Read more about this honor: https://bit.ly/45cKIxf

The first installment of our summer board game series was a success!

We cherish the opportunity to team up with our colleagues both during and after hours, especially for some old-fashioned, friendly competition.

We had a blast welcoming a handful of bright young minds into our space and providing them with a glimpse into the dynamic world of agency life at our inaugural career day event last week.

Students and recent graduates enjoyed getting the inside scoop about career paths at advertising agencies from CEO Kent Panther, Talent Development Director Charla Muller and Talent Acquisition Director LoriAnn Boyer. Attendees also got the opportunity to speak with a handful of Wray Wardians from across disciplines through a panel Q&A and shadowing sessions.

Stay tuned for more information on the next WW Career Day!

In honor of National Intern Day, we're giving a huge shoutout to this year's class of interns and all the hard work they accomplished.

Read about some of the FORM 2023 class's favorite summer moments and lessons learned: https://bit.ly/3Ydvu8o

We're hosting our "Careers in a Marketing Agency" Career Day on Friday, July 28. Know a student or young professional who may be interested? Throughout the event, our goal is to provide attendees with insights about our profession and help them gain a deeper understanding of the marketing industry and agency work.

The deadline to sign up for more information is Tuesday, July 25. Space is limited. Visit our page to learn more: https://bit.ly/44OUTHF

July marks National Ice Cream Month and we couldn't think of a better way to sprinkle some joy into the workplace than by celebrating with an ice cream sundae bar.

Get a load of our team's tasty creations.

When our talented coworkers get together, the ideas flow, creativity sparks and campaigns come to life.

This week, our former EmpoWWer partners at PFLAG Charlotte hosted their LGBTQ+ Fostering Allyship Workshop in the Wray Ward Studio as a learning session for our employees in honor of Pride Month.

During the workshop, we had the opportunity to learn more about LGBTQ+ nomenclature, inclusion resources, allyship strategies and more, plus a variety of ways to use this information to strengthen our relationships with our coworkers, our clients and our community. Thank you, PFLAG, for sharing this invaluable knowledge.

We believe in celebrating our differences and creating a space where everyone feels seen and heard. Our annual Summer Happiness Hour brings together the vibrant spirit of Pride Month and the rich history of Juneteenth, reminding us to honor and amplify the voices of all. Join us in spreading joy and kindness as we continue the journey towards a more inclusive and equitable world.

It’s time to welcome the FORM internship class of 2023! As their first official week wraps, go inside the beginning of their journey and follow along as they tackle real work. Get to know our new interns: https://bit.ly/3qE7dvQ

As the Charlotte Business Journal's 2023 Women in Business Lifetime Achievement Award winner, our executive chair Jennifer Appleby moderated a conversation between five other CBJ award winners as they discussed their keys to finding success in business and life.

Get the highlights from the panel here: https://bit.ly/3qauXas

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, our president and CEO, Kent Panther, reflects on lessons learned from three influential female leaders. Read his latest blog to discover the impact these women had on Kent’s career and his approach to leadership: https://bit.ly/3JNf2WT

A commitment to social responsibility is an important part of the culture at Wray Ward. Through our EmpoWWer service grant program, we’ve helped more than a dozen Charlotte-area nonprofits leverage the power of marketing to help create meaningful change. See how we helped our biggest grant recipient to date — United Way — refresh its brand and refine its story: https://bit.ly/3RCRMxn

We had a great time in Las Vegas at Design + Construction Week with terrific editor appointments, insightful panel discussions, energizing events, inspirational advice from designers and craftsmen, good conversations with partners, and sneak peeks of all the exciting things to come in 2023 in the home and building industries. Thanks to all the road warriors who attended the shows, and welcome home!

It’s not just Heather Tamol’s infectious smile that won her colleagues’ votes for the 2022 JB Award, although it was mentioned once or twice during nominations. Also mentioned: Heather’s passion for her craft and for Wray Ward’s success, her value as a beacon in the midst of daily chaos and her tendency to lead by rolling up her sleeves and diving into the weeds.

We are so proud to grace Heather with the 2022 JB Award, honoring the life and contributions of Jennifer Bunich, a special person, friend and colleague at Wray Ward. The JB Award is given to one employee who best reflects our agency’s core values, much like Jennifer did. Congratulations, Heather!