Brighton Named One of Greater St. Louis’ Top Workplaces by The St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently affirmed something I'm very proud of: Brighton Agency is a Top Workplace. I believe a great culture begins and ends with hard-working, but fun-loving,  people. The 80-plus Brightonians who call this place their home away from home are just that. It never ceases to amaze me how they come together to get a job done, and done well, no matter what the deadline or budget. But they also like to have a good time. The reason this recognition is so special to me is because it is evidence that we artfully blend exceptional work with a healthy dose of fun.

I love that this award isn’t the result of a PR move, nor is it a title one can purchase. It is entirely based on the anonymous feedback of Brighton employees, who shared input via a third-party survey.

Some voiced their appreciation for large agency events — our annual, all-agency bus trip to the wineries; the annual fall “Zufällig” celebration (a German word that means “random,” as every year we bring a new random party theme to life); our “Mini-Masters” miniature golf tournament; or the day each year that we shut down early to take in a movie matinee at a local theater.

Others spoke of the smaller, more regular activities we host, like barbecues on our terrace during every home Cardinals game, happy hours each Friday or summertime visits by the ice cream truck. Many take advantage of the professional development opportunities, like memberships in relevant industry groups, webinars and even a chance to take a sabbatical to refresh and learn a new skill in an exotic locale.

We also offer a number of perks to connect our employees and make their lives a little easier. Summer hours. Quarterly Take Your Dog to Work Days (with proceeds benefiting local animal shelters). Book clubs. Movie nights. Dry cleaning service. Yoga. Birthday PTO days. The list goes on and on.

From joining Brighton Ambassadors to leaving suggestions in a jar outside my office, I truly hope that each and every Brighton employee will continue to take an active role in shaping our culture. In doing so, we attract and retain top talent, while continuously growing our knowledge and offerings — and that benefits employees and clients alike.

I’m thrilled that we’ve added more than a dozen new team members over the past year. When I interview them, I rarely ask about their previous employment experience; I assume, if they’ve gotten to this point, they have the skill sets the job requires. I interview for culture. I want to be sure prospective employees embody the Brighton values we hold dear — a willingness to roll up one’s sleeves to get the job done, a mindset that customer service is paramount…and a positive, fun-loving attitude.

We work some long hours and do some hard work. It’s nice to balance that with a little fun and relaxation. I invite you to follow our social channels to get to know us a little better. If you’re in the marketing industry, visit our web site to see if you might be a fit for our unique culture, or contact us to discuss how we might help you build and promote your brand.

Sincerely,

Tina VonderHaar

Brighton CEO

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