'Hardworking, alpha-male, jackhammer'

These were the words chosen by our new summer intern, Josh Butler, when we asked him to describe himself. Upon further reflection, the senior Graphic Design student from Bradley added "merciless" and "insatiable".

If nothing else, the (hypothetical) Ross hockey team just got a lot more dangerous. Here's hoping Josh brings his talent, enthusiasm and creepy self-assessment to the office (and the ice) every day.

Ross Brand Book brings home gold from regional ADDYs

The book we developed to help define and convey our brand to Ross employees, The Ross Brand Book, just won a Gold award in 2007 regional ADDY competition. From here, the book goes on to nationals. We wish it the best of luck.

New hire Christie Jensen is ready to attack

Ross has a new interactive developer. Christie Jensen comes to us with a BS in multimedia from Bradley and an MS in digital design from Philadelphia University. The avid knitter and paintball enthusiast looks forward to working in Ross's creative environment, where she can put all of her various abilities to use, including her talents at attacking people with paint.

It's a skunkin'!

For the third year in a row and fifth time in eight years, Ross walked away from the Peoria-area ADDY awards with the big prize. In addition to 3 gold ADDYs and 6 silvers, Ross won the 2008 competition's Best of Show award for its work on "Energy Crimes Spoof", a cross-platform consumer campaign for Better Built®'s Home Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest.

Ross also received ADDY awards for work serving Caterpillar Electric Power, The Heartland Partnership and Ross self-promotion.

Things we’ve learned: A Ross public service announcement

Just in case someone out there doesn’t realize this: some kinds of dish soap are designed for use in the sink, while others are designed for dishwasher use. To illustrate, Business Development Director Jared Barr recently put the sink kind into our dishwashing machine and set it to WASH. By the time we had vacuumed the suds out of the kitchen, the lesson was clear.

Thanks,
Jared!

Memories are made of this

Ross just received the results of an independent study that found our Cat Electric Power print ads to be the most memorable and effective ads appearing in Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine ­ which is pretty convincing proof that we know how to reach our clients' audiences and speak to them effectively.

K silent, deadly

New intern Amanda Knussman has informed Ross staff that the K in her last name is not only silent, but also deadly. A Metamora native who claims to enjoy jogging, Amanda provided no details as to the letter's martial arts style or signature moves. "Just watch your butt," she said.

Ross brochure wins national recognition from Graphis

Graphis recently awarded Ross its prestigious Gold Award for our TRICON "pencil" brochure, which appears in the annual collection of outstanding brochure design, Brochure 6. Ross is one of about 200 international design firms with work featured in the book.

Click here to view the brochure.

Heath Brandon 2.0

We made him buy drinks. We called him Heather in a press release. We ordered him to dance like an organ grinder's monkey. Despite it all, former intern Heath Brandon has agreed to join the Ross creative team full-time. Maybe he thinks, now that he's "one of us," things will change. Most of "us" see that as doubtful.

Ross president destroys "favorite" mug

In an act of inexplicable violence toward ceramics, Ross president Dave Goers placed an empty coffee mug inside a working microwave on Friday, reducing the mug to smoking shards of rubble. According to witnesses, the mug exploded after 1 min, 28 sec of microwave exposure, making a loud noise that frightened bystanders.

"He said it was his favorite mug," said Creative Director Nick Jibben, who witnessed the destruction. "I'd hate to see how he treats the mugs he doesn’t like."

Theologian and educator gets third degree at Ross

Shawn Prokes, multi-discipline academic and aspiring art director, currently serves as the Ross creative intern for summer 2007. In exchange for this experience, the Ross staff has on hand at all times a bona fide degree-holder in education and theology to address ontological disputes from the standpoint of world religion.

Ross introduces newest character, Heath Brandon

In the grand tradition of The Brady Bunch's Oliver, Diff'rent Strokes' Sam and The Cosby Show's Olivia, Heath Brandon joins Ross this week in an effort to increase the agency's appeal among younger audiences. Heath has signed on to play "Jimbo", our lovable and curious intern, for Ross's 55th season. He is also a graphic design major at Illinois State University, just in case his character doesn't catch on and is killed off in an intense-yet-poignant season finale.

"We believe Heath's boyish good looks and impish charm are the shot in the arm that our show needs," said ACD/Producer Kevin Kizer. "That, or an episode guest-starring Michael Landon."