Cooper Smith

Cooper-Smith has been on the move to support an important cause that aligns closely with our company business and values. Last week, several members of the team from both our Stamford and Toledo offices attended  the annual T. Howard Foundation Diversity Awards Dinner in New York City. Lynnise Smith, President & CEO of Women's Business Enterprise Council Ohio River Valley (WBEC ORV) and Joshua Cooper, President & Co-Founder of Whitelabel also attended as part of our extended team. The T. Howard Foundation Foundation is a mission-driven organization dedicated to increasing diversity in the media industry.  The impressive honorees gave inspiring acceptance speeches that highlighted the economic and societal importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. If you are not familiar with the important work achieved by the T. Howard Foundation, we invite you to learn more at https://www.t-howard.org/. Their Internship Program and other education initiatives are truly impressive. #SupportDEI #Education #thowardfoundation

We attended an insightful lunch & learn event for women-owned businesses, hosted by the American Honda Motor Company, Inc. Procurement Diversity Team yesterday. It was shared that "Respect for the Individual" is the foundation of Honda. This was evident with every Honda executive we encountered, as well as in the small details that made everyone feel welcome. Lynnise Smith, President and CEO of WBEC Ohio River Valley and Pamela Prince-Eason, President and CEO of WBENC, were both excellent speakers and we could not have been more proud to be part of this amazing organization. Thank you to Daryl Watson, Procurement Diversity Manager at Honda, and the rest of the team for an enriching and informative experience.  #Honda #WBECORV #wbenc #procurementdiversity 

Cooper-Smith CEO Brad Rieger was recently featured on the YouTube series Taylor Community Connection. The show headed up by Steve Taylor (author, philanthropist and owner of Taylor Automotive Family), Tom Cole (Community Outreach Coordinator, Taylor Automotive Family) and “Super Cros” Terry Crosby (Community Outreach Ambassador, Taylor Automotive Family) features community leaders in the Toledo area. Usually the one asking the questions on his podcast, In the Arena: Conversations of a Lifetime, roles were reversed as Brad was asked about his work in education, his athletic background at The University of Toledo and much more. The team at Cooper-Smith is very proud of the impact Brad has had on our community and our company. Thanks to the Taylor Automotive family for highlighting our very accomplished, and humble CEO! Check out the interview at https://lnkd.in/gs6djFH3. #leadership

A team from Cooper-Smith attended a luncheon in Toledo on Friday in celebration of International Women’s Day and we were beyond impressed. Nina Corder, Sierra Ortiz, Rhonda Sewell, Tisha Mays and others from the Women of Toledo organization did an amazing job hosting and highlighting the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The personal stories and challenges shared were so inspiring and made us even more proud of our status as a certified woman-owned business (Women’s Business Enterprise Council Ohio River Valley). It was also an honor to have Andrea Brock and Cheri Spinos, our friends and clients from Bowling Green State University join us at this wonderful event. The luncheon concluded with a very moving performance by singer Negarina Cooper (Negarain), who is also the Corporate Development Officer for Toledo Museum of Art and was a former Media Buyer at Cooper-Smith. #inspireinclusion

We all set goals and benchmarks to help us achieve success, both professionally and personally. The journey we take to accomplish these goals allows us to continuously learn and develop new skills, raising the bar for our growth. In this episode of In the Arena: Conversations of a Lifetime, Sylvania Schools Superintendent, Dr. Veronica Motley, talks about how she measures success, not being satisfied and striving for continuous improvement.

Black History Month is an opportunity to honor the resilience, achievements, and contributions of Black individuals throughout history. It can serve as a reminder to celebrate diversity and promote equality, while fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Black culture and heritage. We should all strive to contribute to a more inclusive and respectful society not just during Black History Month, but year-round.

There seems to be a resurgence of nostalgia in branding as major companies reimagine vintage elements in contemporary ways. Brands like Pepsi, Burberry, and Silk's Next Milk are blending past aesthetics with modern twists, predicting that this nostalgia-driven trend, fueled by Gen-Z's unique access to historical content, will continue to shape the branding landscape in 2024 and beyond. With technological advancements like virtual reality and augmented reality on the horizon, the possibilities for creative nostalgia branding seem limitless.

Recently members of the Cooper-Smith team gathered from all over the country to be together and spread a little holiday cheer. After spending most of 2023 communicating electronically or over the phone, it was nice to interact in person and enjoy each other’s company. As we begin to gather with family and friends to celebrate, we hope it’s a time of love and happiness. So whether it’s Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah or happy holidays, we hope you all have a joyous and memorable holiday season.

As Hanukkah begins, we are mindful of the challenges and hardships that many are currently facing around the world. May peace and understanding prevail. We wish our friends, family and team hope, love, happiness and good health. #peace #HanukkahTogether

Taking in a podcast or two has become more and more part of everyday life. A recent study by Alter Agents and Audacy reveals that consumers are highly receptive to podcast advertising, considering it a safe environment for brands. Eight in ten consumers find branded podcast messages suitable when contextually relevant. Marketers and consumers highlight factors like controllability, ad fit within content, authenticity of hosts, and avoidance of defamatory language as crucial for brand safety in podcast advertising. Overall, consumers emphasize the importance of ad fit and authenticity in the podcasting space.