Hey there,

April usually fills my mind with one thing, baseball opening day and the chance that this might finally be the year for my beloved Minnesota Twins! After some big roster changes this spring, my expectations are high for a World Series title! Still, I have to remember, it’s a long season and there’s a lot of work to be done if this team is going to be a contender.

This year my excitement for baseball has been tempered a little by the real world. Continued war and devastation in Ukraine… further revelations about the January 6 insurrection… even the Oscars weren’t immune from chaos and violence. It’s tough out there right now, and we really only have two options. We can either lose hope. Or, we can commit ourselves to the hard work that will take us forward to better days. At TEN7, we are committed to the latter. 

Supporting Clients Who Matter

One way we can make a difference is by supporting clients who are doing great things in the community. That’s why we’re proud of the work we’ve done with the Animal Humane Society (AHS), helping them promote safe and happy homes for pets.

As you can read in our case study, TEN7 helped AHS through a complete strategic refresh of their website, creating a better pet adoption experience while also developing a hub for resources to help potential and existing pet owners. The human-animal connection is special to us, so this project has been particularly fulfilling.

Telling Inspiring Stories

Another way we can contribute to the common good is by sharing the incredible stories of people who inspire us. Recently we released an episode of ONE OF 8 BILLION featuring digital marketing expert and owner of gish&co., Lindsi Gish.

In the podcast, Lindsi talks about her journey with in vitro fertilization that led her to Barbados and a clinic that offered a much more affordable option than the United States. She and her husband stayed in a beach-side VRBO while she went through the procedure. Today she is the proud mother of a boy who will soon turn one year old. Listen to the episode to hear how Lindsi is working to put meaning at the center of work and life.

Building Our Team

The only way we can Make Things That Matter is by having team members who are driven to use their talents to make a difference. That’s why I’m thrilled to announce that we have hired a new Junior Drupal Developer, Max Starkenburg! Max joins us from his home in Washington, DC, bringing a wealth of experience in higher education and open source development. Welcome aboard, Max! 

Being Part of the Solution

The war in Ukraine is a stark reminder that we are a global community. We have a responsibility to each other and, even when we’re facing tremendous challenges, our contributions multiply when we work together. Our whole is more than the sum of our parts.

With that in mind, TEN7 has supported organizations who are doing incredible work. We donated $500 to Razom for Ukraine and $500 to World Central Kitchen, and we matched gifts that our team members made, up to $100 per employee. We were able to raise and give a total of $2,087.20 combined.

There are many worthy organizations working to support the people of Ukraine. We hope you will take a moment to contribute however you can.

Choosing Hope

Our mission to Make Things That Matter continues to drive us to contribute to the greater good, and part of that means focusing on hope even in the midst of challenge.

Just like in baseball, it’s a long journey sometimes, but we’re ready to move things forward one step at a time. That’s why, once again, you’ll see me at Target Field on opening day, cheering loudly because, maybe, this is finally our year! Go Twins!
 

Until next time,
Ivan