August 13, 2025
Meaning Behind The Name
When your company is named after someone (or a long list of someones), no one asks a lot of questions. But when your name is
May 12, 2025
Leadership
This year, more than most, brings the topic of leadership to mind. Of course, not everyone who calls themselves a leader truly is one. But
April 4, 2025
Hello
While it might be hard to top Oxford’s 2024 Word of the Year (“Brain Rot”—which is technically two words, right?), I’d like to nominate a
March 3, 2025
Hydrogen from Home
The discovery was made under duress, not by choice. A full ten days before Washington’s Governor Inslee issued what was meant to be a two-week
August 9, 2021
Leveraging the Voices of a New Generation for Planned Parenthood
Most younger adults have heard of Planned Parenthood but may not know if it’s right for them. Hydrogen partnered with Planned Parenthood to leverage strategic
August 9, 2021
Crack Open our New Packaging for Winterport Winery Cider
Coming off a successful rebrand for Penobscot Bay Brewery that visually tied their line of products together and provided a much-needed presence on shelf, their
November 16, 2020
Camera-ready Healthcare
This year’s pandemic and subsequent shutdown have forced us to rethink everything. From business meetings to family gatherings to eating in restaurants, to yes, visiting
November 16, 2020
Virtual Conferencing: No Hotel Room Required
With business travel curtailed and budgets working harder than ever, chances are you’ve already attended, or found your business a sponsor of, the must-attend events of
July 21, 2020
A Strategist, a Marketer and a Creative Director Walked Into Amazon…
The Effie Awards is a celebration of creative and effective advertising that reinforces teamwork between agency, client and researchers. It is regarded as the most significant award in the
July 21, 2020
Working Forests, Wood Products and Paper Towels
After 2020, we’ll never take paper towels for granted again. In the early days of the pandemic, in the midst of the fear and uncertainty, many
October 16, 2019
The Delicate Balance of Emotion and Brand
If you’ve worked beside me for any length of time, you know I am a fierce protector of relevant emotional connections. And while “fierce protector”
October 7, 2019
Genuinely Genuine Health Care
Quick, who’s the only local health care system in the North Sound? Most locals would probably guess it’s the one with “Everett” in the name.
October 7, 2019
You Had Me at Caffeinated
The Dog Days of Summer were a little cooler here this year at Hydrogen. Because in late July, we partnered with Cascade Ice to create
October 7, 2019
Real Wood Turning the Industry Upside Down
Meet LIGNIA® Wood Company. Real wood suitable both inside and out. LIGNIA is Hydrogen’s newest wood product client in the built environment category. In July,
June 11, 2019
Enough with the robots, already
Recently, Michael McGrath and I were in Los Angeles attending our Worldwide Partners global conference. (Hydrogen is a shareholder in Worldwide Partners, an invitation-only independent
June 11, 2019
Playing Nice
The strength of a healthy internal/external agency relationship “Do you have experience working with an in-house team?” is a question I hear almost any time I
February 4, 2019
Jumping on the Social Cause Bandwagon
Back when I was a copywriting puppy, I remember sitting across a suit-filled table from the CMO of a very large airline client. His point?
February 4, 2019
CES Hits Home
The Consumer Electronics Show, known as CES, is the world’s largest gathering place for innovative, game-changing technology attracting 4,500 exhibiting companies, 180,000-plus attendees from more
January 28, 2019
Social Influencers: Dot Com Déjà vu?
An update to the story. Two documentaries and almost as many years after I posted this story about the Fyre Festival, Hulu and Netflix have stirred
October 29, 2018
Two Events. One Community.
Heritage Bank and Hydrogen partnered to launch Heritage’s new “Branch of the Future” in light of its innovative design and enhanced use of technology—to make
October 29, 2018
Harness the Power of the Universe
Imagine your world as little as 10 years ago. WiFi access was sporadic. Banking was done, well, at a bank. And social media was Myspace. But
July 27, 2018
Hydrogen Continues Successful “What’s Your Heritage?” Campaign with Heritage Bank
Hydrogen extends and evolves its signature, long-running campaign “What’s Your Heritage?” with new television and online video for Heritage Bank. The businesses featured include 7
July 27, 2018
Mmmm, new beer packaging
Penobscot Bay Brewery, an award-winning, small batch brewery in the historic village of Winterport, Maine, recently approached Hydrogen to rethink their packaging for a new
April 20, 2018
The Polyclinic, Part Deux
Sequels. Few are as entertaining and creative as the original. But just like the makers of The Godfather Part 2 and Thor: Ragnarok, we took
April 20, 2018
3 Judges. 2 Days. 700 Ads.
People occasionally ask me why I like to judge advertising awards shows. After all, it means leaving my family, giving up a precious weekend and
April 20, 2018
10 Years in Social Media. That’s like 70 in Dog Years, Right?
“If you post it, they will come.” Maybe that philosophy worked back when I joined LinkedIn as an “Early Adopter” in March of 2004, but
April 20, 2018
Who do you love?
We’ve all been there. The vision and mission statements have been carefully written. The marketing plan has been approved. The customer deep dive has been
January 16, 2018
Hydrogen’s Holly Jelly Holiday Party
When was the last time you got to "dress down" for your company holiday party? This December, instead of the typical holiday gathering, the folks
January 16, 2018
Hydrogen’s “Labor of Love”
Here at Hydrogen, we believe the power of advertising can make a big difference. That's why working on "Labor of Love" clients is important to
January 16, 2018
Earned Media: Your Reputation is at Stake
When most people think of the term "media," they think of paid advertising. But media can also be earned or owned. Both paid and owned
October 20, 2017
Humor: The ultimate foot in the door.
As a creative, I’ve long known the power of building a meaningful emotional connection between a brand and its audience. Emotions make us (and our
August 1, 2017
Which Came First: The Message or The Medium?
A long time ago in an industry far, far from where we are today, a professor/controversial philosopher/all around big thinker named Marshall McLuhan coined the
March 13, 2017
The Persuasive Power of Personality
This month, Hydrogen celebrates The Polyclinic’s breadth of physicians and specialists in a new online and offline advertising campaign. The Polyclinic, one of the largest
March 13, 2017
Fiercely Independent. Together.
When 65 likeminded advertising agencies in 50 countries work together, clients win. Jumbo shrimp. Hell’s Angels. Seriously funny. I love a good oxymoron, don’t you? But
September 15, 2016
Launching a new brand while staying true to the Mothership
When a beloved brand introduces change, everyone has an opinion. The highly anticipated launch of Whole Foods Market’s new brand, 365 by Whole Foods Market,
June 29, 2016
Going Glocal for 365 by Whole Foods Market
How did we help 365 by Whole Foods Market launch a national brand campaign while creating local buzz around their first brick and mortar? Glocalization,
November 17, 2015
Content Failure: Are You About to Implode?
“Life is hard. After all, it kills you.” – Katharine Hepburn Ok, we’re not talking literal life and death here. But done wrong, your content strategy
March 17, 2014
Thousands of entries. Dozens of talented peers. (The) One Show.
Time for a shot of inspiration, talent and humility. Yes, I just finished judging print for The One Club in beautiful, sunny Santa Barbara, California. Now
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