See wedding photos of Amy and Austin.

See engagement photos of Ron and Julia.

Nice job, Ali!

For our booth, we teamed up with Mark Giordono at HP/MagCloud to offer visitors 25% off the printing cost of any magazine-format publication. (If you missed the show, you can still save by using the coupon code MADCOLLECTIVE. Head over to MagCloud.com to learn more about printing possibilities for your business.) Booth visitors were also given copies of our hot-off-the-press 2nd edition MACtivity book, which includes Madison Ave. Collective’s newest members Dave Bassett, Sean Brown, and Amy Dasso. Swing by our office to get your copy. Not only are these ever-popular books FREE, we also like to think they’re priceless.

Finally, the MAC is grateful for the opportunity to help design some of the WIN 2010 promotional materials. Several months ago, Matt and I began working with Mark Van Patten and others from WIN to create the posters, handouts, postcards, and buttons for this year’s event. While we were setting up our booth last week, Mark came by and said he had something to show us. He walked us over to the keynote presentation hall, smiled proudly, and pointed to a WIN logo the size of King Kong being projected on the wall. Now that’s what I call a happy client.

Big thanks to Dave for capturing some great photos that night. You can see the full set at our MAC Flickr page.

Results of the portrait sessions can be seen here and here, as well as in the soon-to-be-released 2nd edition of our ever popular MACtivity book. Some production shots are below.

Big thanks to Dave for being willing to pull the trigger two or three hundred times for each of us.  I also hear that someone captured audio from a few of the sessions, but let’s hope that tape never finds its way onto the internet.

I am please to announce that Amy Dasso has won the 14th seat at Madison Ave. Collective. Running unopposed, victory was hers from the beginning.

Way to go, Amy! Welcome to the club.

This Thursday, August 26, Madison Ave. Collective is celebrating our second anniversary. You, faithful reader, are invited to celebrate with us. View details and RSVP here.

Bring a guest and stop by anytime between 4–7pm. This open-house party will be held at the Madison Ave. Collective world headquarters in downtown Corvallis, Oregon.

The party will feature munchies from Block 15, treats from Rocket Queen Cupcakes, fun pics from Smile Booth, and cool people like YOU. Oh, and something else we think is kinda fantastic, too. (You’ll have to show up to find out.) Hope to see you then!

In August the MAC has its second birthday. We are now up to 15 members, with an additional two just about to come on board. Some of our original members have moved on due to job changes or relocation. In Internet years, this might mean the MAC is coming of age. Things are evolving. We miss our colleagues who leave but we welcome new blood and the strength it gives the group.

BILL:

The same happens in our small businesses. Customers we had at first, go somewhere else. Employees we hired at first, move on. And we reminisce about how wonderful the “old days” were. Maybe they were wonderful, but they’re in the past, and businesses that are successful relentlessly focus on the future. In other words, nostalgia’s not good for business (unless you’re an antique dealer).

Yes, I remember my first big client. It was thrilling and rewarding. But what was exceptional for me then, is normal now. In fact, I’ve come to believe firmly that the best clients I’ll ever serve have not yet presented themselves.

I remember my first big hire. I was so excited to steal him away from a large corporation. But again, as wonderful as he was (and still is), attracting top talent to small business quickly became my new normal.

LAINIE:

And yes, we remember with fondness–great fondness–the first members of the MAC. They are wonderful, talented, creative professionals, every one of them! But the best MAC is yet to come, which challenges all of us to be our best.

And that’s good for business.

Lainie Turner
Bill Zipp

Bill Zipp is a sales and marketing veteran who loves to help independent business owners master the business side of their business. Apparently he also loves to write, and we’re soaking up every bit of it. Bill’s brand name is Summit Small Business, and here’s his Matchbook profile.

Ali Smith is a terrific portrait photographer who does business under the name Thistledown Photography. Ali has a background in textile design and hails from across the pond. Listen closely and you might hear a hint of that great British accent. Here’s Ali’s Matchbook profile.

We’re excited to have Ali and Bill join our group — two more nice people who do good work.

This Friday, April 23, the MAC is having its first-ever office furniture and electronics sale. We’ve gathered a bunch of stuff that’s been collecting dust… er, uh I mean quality, valuable items that you probably can’t live without. Read all about it on Craigslist… and we’ll see you Friday starting at 10am.

Our resident photographer, Danielle Anthony, known for her huge talent behind more professional cameras, is getting lots of questions about these simple 10 second pics. She snapped a few for us at the Collective recently and posted them up on her blog. While you are there, keep an eye out for the man in the suit.

Now, Danielle knows how to frame a shot, so your results may vary. But still, after hundreds of shots, your cat pics could use a little something extra, am I right?

Welcome aboard, Kevin! We’re happy to have you part of the crew.