December 12, 2022

Mystery at the Mansion: Putting the fun in fundraising.

Leah Sullivan

Who said nonprofit events must be stuffy and strict? The JC Runyon Foundation put a new spin on supporting their cause with a night of great food, a phenomenal atmosphere, and superb theatrics. We were honored to spend the evening solving mysteries and celebrating with new friends at the Mystery at the Mansion.

About the JC Runyon Foundation

Inspired by the late Jack “JC” Runyon, the JC Runyon Foundation aims to provide students a chance to reach their goals despite their battles with mental health. JCRF provides more than just scholarships for their students, but also a community of support, education, and awareness centered around mental health – especially in college. We are honored to have worked with JCRF and to see the direct effect they have on their students.

The Mystery at the Mansion

JCRF holds a yearly event to support the mission – often a gala or party for supporters to gather and celebrate. Executive Director, Niki Shaheen, approached us with her idea of a mystery theater dinner which she had already begun progress on planning. We knew this would be a night we could not miss out on.

The night would include fun food trucks, amazing drinks, and a 1920’s mob family theme. What more could you ask for? That is where the mystery comes in! In partnership with a dinner theater group, the evening was planned to include a faux wedding that gasp a murder would halt! The dinner party guests would take the role of detectives solving the case and hunting for helpful clues.

Joining in the fun

I may or may not have a slight obsession with theater and all things theatrical and dramatic. That said, to participate in the role of “mother of the bride,” I was more than happy to lend a hand.

Surprise: I ended up being the criminal. I should be ashamed of myself, but I had too much fun.

A Lasting Impression

At the night’s end, The Mystery at the Mansion was much more than a good party. It was a night to commune and share in one similar goal – supporting students fighting a hard battle with the added benefit of having some fun.

I hugged a sweet student – Myla – who was the recipient of an extra special JC Runyon Scholarship. Myla was granted the Mary Catherine White Scholarship in honor of Mary Catherine White, a beautiful young lady whose life was cut far too short due to her mental health struggles. Her family joins with the JC Runyon Foundation to support young women like Mary Catherine and encourage them to live their next chapter and always to keep fighting.

You can join the fight

Attending the JC Runyon Foundation events are wonderful ways to support their mission firsthand while experiencing unforgettable fun. You can follow JC Runyon on Facebook and Instagram, or you can follow them on Eventbrite to stay up to date on any new events they have coming up.

If you are looking for an easy way to support today, go to jcrunyonfoundation.org to donate online or set up monthly donations.

We are proud to support the JC Runyon Foundation and its students. #liveyournextchapter

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Way-Finding Psychology

A significant degree of science is behind the interaction of a building and its visitors. Distance to typography size ratios, line-of-sight placement, cognitive patterns, physical barriers, and design simplicity are just some considerations when building a functional way-finding strategy.

When navigating a space, visitors look for three keys: information, engagement, and efficiency. How each of those aspects is delivered is where the psychology behind user habits comes in. Information is always the primary focus; providing clear and concise directions to destinations and features is necessary for the user experience. However, it can quickly become a negative visit when visitors are left in limbo and frustrations grow over navigation. These experiences, both positively and negatively can have a direct impact on your brand.

Many tend to think inspiration is not a central need in non-retail spaces. We tend to believe the opposite. Retail requires quicker decisions and navigation. The visits are shorter in time, and the reasons for visits are less broad than those in an educational or municipal space. Engaging with audiences in spaces with repeat visitors and frequent functional needs is where your brand can play an important role. Your brand story and why it matters to the viewer should be prominently displayed in thought-provoking ways to capture imaginations, build offline awareness, and, ultimately brand ambassadors.

The ultimate goal of this experience is guest retention. The odds of gaining an audience and getting them to engage with you again via future visits, social media, purchasing, or referrals depend on your connection with them. Way-finding and brand implementation are great opportunities to showcase your care and concern toward your audience. There are also opportunities for interactivity via technologies beyond traditional signage. Digital signage, mobile device interactions, and social media opportunities can elevate viewer engagement.

The experience of getting from point A to point B in a building should be much like navigating a website, efficient. As we all navigate online experiences, they can quickly make the process of absorbing content or making purchasing decisions either smooth or mentally taxing. Now think about your space as if it’s a website; when visitors can get where they need to go quickly, it increases the odds of positive referrals and return visits, or they can get stonewalled. Their brand interaction with you can become harmful.

Strategies to incorporate properly placed visual triggers and clear communications along every path of a visitor’s journey can ensure their visits are efficient. When visitors feel unencumbered with their ability to navigate a space, it decreases the chances of frustrations and confusion when they ultimately reach their destination or interaction. The speed at which we all consume content in media these days is breakneck; we scroll fast, click fast, and type fast. These are the same audiences in your space; keep up with them.

Below are some insightful articles on branded environments and way-finding effects on visitor habits and psychology.

nature.com: Visibility Matters in Way-Finding

thercfgroup.com: Compelling Branded Environments in Higher Education

workdesign.com: Branded Environments and the Impact on Employee Mental Health

hello@saintemblem.com

423 380 2622

110 Somerville Ave, Chattanooga TN 37405

Full-Time Marketing/Communications Strategist

Employment Type:

Full-Time, In-Office

Location:

Chattanooga, TN

Job Summary:

Saint Emblem seeks an insightful, diligent, and organized Marketing/Communications Strategist to generate effective promotional strategies for our clients and agency. 

The Marketing/Communications Strategist is a hybrid role, also requiring proficiency in managing creative projects, campaigns, and client objectives. This individual will be task-driven, responsive, and take an assertive approach to problem-solving.

To succeed in this role, you must be able to research consumer and client metrics, translating this information to Saint Emblem branded campaigns. The Marketing/Communications Strategist is primarily an idea-generating position within a creative agency, making the ability to bring unique and tactful thought to the table key.

About the Agency:

Saint Emblem is a small team based in Chattanooga, TN, specializing in brand and marketing strategy. Our philosophy is that great brands are created with a story-first approach, understanding the client’s and audience’s mission and goals before ever putting pen to paper or pixel to screen. We push ourselves daily to deliver tactful solutions that take an extra step in the creative process, providing an elevated result our clients may not receive elsewhere.

Responsibilities:

  • Create adaptable marketing strategies for clients and the agency (social media, digital marketing, and print marketing) at a variety of budgets.
  • Plan, estimate, and track progress on creative campaigns, branding projects, print orders, and more.
  • Keep remote and internal team members accountable for timelines, sprints, hours, and product quality.
  • Communicate consistently with clients and vendors via email and video call to schedule calls, record issues and requests, and present project outcomes.
  • Assist in managing the day-to-day operations of creative projects to ensure they are completed on time, within budget, and to the client’s satisfaction.( monday.com is utilized for agency project management – experience with the platform is helpful but not required.)
  • Assist in the planning, execution, and management of organic social media marketing for the agency (FB, Linkedin, and IG). (Later.com is utilized for agency social media – experience with the platform is helpful but not required.)

Requirments:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., marketing, communications) or equivalent experience
  • 2+ years of marketing strategy and/or client communications experience preferred
  • 1+ years of project management experience preferred
  • Excellent organizational and communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
  • Experience with developing and implementing marketing strategies (social, digital, print)
  • Experience with Monday.com (Some training will be provided)
  • Experience with creative agencies is preferred but not required
  • Experience with Adobe Creative Suite is a bonus

Statement of Diversity:

Saint Emblem may be small; however, we think big in many regards. This is seen in a universal process of creative collaboration, no matter the size or theme of our clients. Our team’s creativity is best harnessed when the diversity of people and their thinking is embraced, regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, cultural beliefs, or physical/mental capabilities. These agency ideals are reflected in a spirit of equality, empowerment, and respect for those we work for and with.

Branding is all about fostering a connection with a message and, ultimately, the people behind it. We believe these connections can be generated or followed by minds of any background, providing a platform for all to feel welcomed.

Salary and Benefits:

  • Base Salary $48,000 – $62,000 DOE
  • (HRA) Health Reimbursement Arrangements
  • Paid vacation days (10 in the first year)
  • Flexible time off – sick, parental leave
  • Potential coverage for on-the-job training, professional development courses, and certificates

Your Resume

hello@saintemblem.com

423 380 2622

651 E. 4th St | Chattanooga TN 37403 ​

hello@saintemblem.com

423 380 2622

110 Somerville Ave, Chattanooga TN 37405​