At Saxum, we like to do things a little differently. We want our events and our clients’ events to be memorable. We want to generate buzz and exposure for our announcements. We want to create authentic experiences.
A perfect example of this was our open house event in Tulsa. Even though it took place in late June, I still hear people talking about our surprise, a special rendition of the song “Downtown,” to help announce our new location in the Brady District. This “interruption” was a complete shock to the crowd, thanks to the help from our undercover friends from Light Opera Oklahoma. The discussion of the event is always followed up by the comment, “That was so cool! Whose idea was that?”
Thanks to our social media efforts after the event, even those who didn’t attend still got to appreciate the entertainment. We definitely accomplished our goal. The word is out — Saxum is in Tulsa.
Not only did we try to make our event memorable, but we also made it fun. People were mingling long after the official end of the open house, enjoying our signature Saxum drink, delicious food and music. We wanted all aspects of the event to focus on Tulsa, including the décor and our takeaway gift, customized Saxum coasters featuring Tulsa landmarks, including ONEOK Field and the Brady Theater, to name a few.
The real key to the event’s success, however, was that it was different. It stood out among all of the events we attend on a regular basis. You know the ones…the same place, the same people, the same food, etc. Sometimes what’s supposed to be fun can become monotonous.
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It’s an exciting time for Saxum Tulsa. The last few weeks have been among the most fun in my career, doing everything from hiring staff and landing the best office space in Tulsa (We love you, Brady Arts District!), to whirlwind meetings across the state, writing proposals and working with our outstanding clients.
Having worked for years with the franchisees of Thrifty Car Rental and Dollar Rent A Car, I received a strong dose of entrepreneurial spirit. But never in a million years had I dreamed I’d be part of the entrepreneurial world through helping to launch the Tulsa branch of Saxum, a creative public relations and strategic marketing firm.
Lucky for me, I’ve had great support from the Saxum troop, particularly from our newest team member, Chris Oden, formerly with the Tulsa Metro Chamber, where she served as executive director of TYPros (Tulsa Young Professionals). If Chris O. wasn’t already accomplished enough, she was recently named an “Achiever Under 40” by the Journal Record for her accomplishments as one of Oklahoma’s talented young leaders. Then she also made Oklahoma Magazine’s “40 Under 40.” The awards are stacking up on the many shelves in our new building.
We are up and running smoothly in the new Tulsa office at 200 E. Brady. Tom Wallace and his crew at Wallace Engineering are very welcoming, and we appreciate them greatly. Not to mention the added bonus of being smack-dab in the middle of a lot of exciting things happening in Tulsa.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Saxum Public Relations, an integrated public relations, strategic marketing and creative firm, today announced the opening of its new Tulsa office in the heart of the Brady Arts District, 200 E. Brady Street. Located on the ground floor of the Wallace Engineering Building, the approximately 3,000-square-foot space will be home to Saxum’s Tulsa office.
“We were strategic in our choice of the Brady District as home to Saxum’s new office,” said Christopher Payne, vice president and general manager in Tulsa. “While we are effectively a start-up in Tulsa, we wanted to be part of the Brady District, with its artistic roots and ongoing transformation. It is our plan for Saxum Tulsa to grow in tandem with the city’s revitalization efforts.”
Six weeks ago, Saxum announced the opening of the Tulsa office and the hiring of Christopher Payne, APR, formerly of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Additionally, the firm has hired Christina Oden as account supervisor. She previously served as executive director of the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s Tulsa Young Professionals (TYPros) program.
“We are energized by being in this historic part of the city, just blocks away from the Brady Theater and Cain’s Ballroom and steps away from Tulsa’s ONEOK Field,” said Renzi Stone, Saxum president and CEO. “Given the proximity to downtown, the Blue Dome and Greenwood districts and a number of our Tulsa clients and the buzz of excitement in the Brady area, we found this location especially appealing.”
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“Billboard in Oklahoma says parking meter invented there. Reason #200 why I hate Oklahoma.”
This recent tweet from one of my former Dallas colleagues caught my eye. Having lived in Dallas for the past 10 years, I’d heard my fair share of Okie jokes, but this tweet really made me stop and think about my own home state pride. It’s something I never considered I had in my first 23 years of living in Oklahoma. I wasn’t ashamed of my home state; it was honestly just something I never thought about—until last year.
My wife and I were sitting outside Eskimo Joe’s during a trip back home for an Oklahoma State football game, and we decided right then and there that we wanted to be back in our home state. We noticed that we missed the little things we took for granted while living in Oklahoma, from the pace and quality of life to an overall appreciation for how Oklahomans treat each other. A five-year plan became a five-month plan, and in November we were officially Oklahoma residents again. What we didn’t truly realize was the dramatic changes and progress that both Oklahoma City and Tulsa had undergone during our 10-year absence.
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My professional life has recently come full circle. Saxum Public Relations, a creative public relations firm that I started in Oklahoma City nearly seven years ago, announced this week that we have hired veteran Tulsa public relations professional Chris Payne, APR, from Dollar Thrifty Auto Group as vice president and general manager to run an office we are opening in Tulsa soon.
This business decision had a lot of personal investment and thought. For starters, I’m a Tulsa native. Following a terrific experience as a student in the Jenks Public School System, I attended the University of Oklahoma, where I was privileged to play basketball for the Sooners. Four NCAA tournaments later, I graduated with honors and began looking for a job. I chose Oklahoma City as my home because I was offered a job there. Then, I married an Oklahoma City girl and the love of my life, Lee Anne.
Ten years later, I find myself a native Tulsan living in Oklahoma City. There are not many of us. As someone who always thought I’d spread my wings and fly somewhere far away, Oklahoma City and Tulsa offer unique and rewarding experiences without having to leave a state where we’ve put down solid roots.
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