www.theagencysd.com/downloads/comic-conBINGO.pdf

We’ve always said we want to be partners with our clients. This was one of those rare opportunities where you can actually back up those words with action. On this trip our two companies were one team working together for the same goal.

That’s not to say we didn’t have a lot of while we were there.

In Las Vegas for another meeting, we caught the red eye to NYC. After minimal sleep we debarked, caught a cab to the hotel, suited up and went straight to the convention for 8 hours of shaking hands, schmoozing and selling in front of one great looking trade show booth. That was basically how our days went with the occasional Mole sighting and signing.

Our nights, however, varied drastically.

Our first night we did a big fancy dinner at a place called STK. It’s the only place I’ve ever been where I got steak covered with crab. It was amazing and the quality of wine we had recalibrated what my idea of good wine was (it was that good). After dinner I ran into some friends from San Diego. They asked us to join them at a club down the street since their friend knew the owner. The club turned out to be 10Jun, one of the best clubs in the city. There was a high cover and a huge line but we walked in with barely a pause. It turned out to be fashion week as well so the place was packed with wannabe models trying to get discovered. We got the paparazzi treatment on the way out.

The 2nd night we experienced the “struggling to make it in the big city” night. Our friend Chip moved to New York from San Diego four months ago. He’s living the cliché of grinding out the job, living in a tiny apartment, and trying to make big. He took us around the more everyman side of town. We had some classic New York pizza, found a place that had 5 shots for $10 and went to see Chip’s roommate perform at an open mike night.

For the 3rd night we met up with some huge Mole fans/friends for dinner and surprised them with Bobby driving in from Philly to join us. After dinner we hung out with some other fan/friends and called up Dorothy Hui (winner of the 2nd Mole) who happened to be just minutes away. She joined us and we had a mini Mole reunion.

4th night was our last night there and we went out in style. After a delicious Italian dinner we took in a Broadway show. Jersey Boys was amazing; I think it was the highlight of Joel’s trip. A warning to our more conservative readers: Jersey Boys contains authentic Jersey vocabulary (swearing) and lots of it. Afterwards we took in Times Square, met up with some friends and hit up an authentic Russian bar with a huge variety of homemade infused vodka. Pomegranate was by far the best.

Our New York experience was fantastic. We made some good contacts and had a great time. We can’t wait to go back. In fact- if you know anyone who needs Graphic Design or Advertising in NYC, let us know, we want a reason to return.

Craig in Times Square

Joel in Times Square

Craig made the paper.

I first heard about the 3 Day in a radio commercial years ago. It was a time when a lot of my friends and family were either being diagnosed with or losing there battle to cancer. I felt helpless. I felt like there was nothing I could do. Then I heard the radio spot. It sounded exactly like what I needed- a purpose and a goal. I wanted it to be hard, I wanted to be in a community of people who were going through the same things I was. I wanted to feel like I was accomplishing something and making a difference. I walked the first 2 years solo but I wasn’t alone for long. The 3-Day is a giant moving community of outgoing people who care about others. You make friends very fast. By the end of the walk I think I had 30 new “moms”.

I noticed there was a serious shortage of men on this walk. Let me make this clear: Breast Cancer is not a “woman’s” disease; it’s a Human disease that affects us all. You find the cure for one form of cancer- you’re on the road to curing all forms. With that reasoning I set out to put together an all male team. We started with many well-intentioned men but ended up with just three of us actually walking: Joel Kordyak, Doug Downing and myself. Our team name was “Walking for Second Base” but since we all had grandmothers who had battled breast cancer we were soon renamed “Grandma’s Boys”. We made quite an impression that year- leading songs, making friends and keeping everyone around us motivated. Due to injury we were the last team to come into camp the 2nd night. They stopped the entertainment and dinner as thousands of walkers, volunteers and survivors got to their feet and cheered as we limped through the giant tent to raise the 3-Day flag at the far end. That was the end of Doug’s walk due to a sprained ankle and I was forced to stop the last day just miles from the finish. Luckily we were able to limp in at the end with everyone else.

Each walker is responsible for raising a minimum of $2,200 to help fund your walk and fight Breast Cancer. I started up the Breast Fest Concert Series to meet my goal. Every year we seem to have trouble with fund raising so we continue to ask for donations throughout the entire walk. This year we didn’t make our goal until I won a holiday poker tournament to cover the last of the expenses.

In 2008 our team name was simply “the Agency” (for obvious reasons). It was Joel’s 2nd walk and my 4th. We’re getting pretty good at it now- learning more songs, negotiating the route, pit stops and med tents and most importantly staying injury free. We even charmed our way into having our own tents.

The Breast Cancer 3-Day is an incredible journey filled with fun, emotion, and depth.  We look forward to it every year. Our hope is that one-day we won’t need to walk to cure breast cancer anymore and we’ll have to move onto another cause. We’re already talking about next year and we’d love for all of you to join us. You just have to follow a few rules 1. no whining 2. no complaining 3. you must keep an upbeat attitude at all times 4. you must participate in raptor tag to the best of your ability and 5. you must sing at the top of your lungs and play along when I lead a group of 40 walkers in laugh yoga.

We are very grateful to everyone who supported us for this event, both financially and emotionally. I know it sounds cliché but we literally could not have done it without you. -Craig Slike

The It’s All About the Kids Foundation has built a lasting relationship with the teens at Toussaint. It is a goal of the foundation to provide the students with the normal life experiences of any other teenager such as sporting events, day trips and yes, even Prom.

The Agency San Diego usually volunteers with Partying For a Purpose- the fund raising side of the foundation; however, when we heard about this event we thought is was important to help out. Having a meeting in LA the same day the team split up: Joel up to the meeting and Craig off to prom. Craig ended up dealing roulette, as it was a casino themed event at the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park. Due to his new reality show status is was soon dubbed the “Celebrity Roulette Table”

This was an event we were proud to be a part of. Not only was it a prom in the middle of summer for under privileged youths, it was also one of the coolest proms I had ever heard of. All the students arrived in the Stingaree stretch hummer limo all decked out in donated gowns and tuxes, complete with shoes, hair and make-up- these kids looked great. The Hall of Champions was hoping with a live DJ, Black Jack and Roulette table, a nice spread for dinner and drinks, a prize table, and even a VIP room for kids who passed a pop trivia quiz at the entrance.

One thing that struck me was the announcement of the prom court- King and Queen, Prince and Princess, Dutch and Duchess. The students nominated and voted for the court themselves. In doing so it was clear they had elected fellow students who were more than the stereotypical cheerleaders and jocks. The entire court was intelligent and well spoken. This wasn’t your usual popularity contest; they had honored peers whom had earned their respect.

Needless to say- we are proud to be working with this organization and with these remarkable students.

If you would like more information on how you can help just send us an email or go to www.itsallabouthekids.org

Partying for a Purpose’s biggest fundraiser of the year is their annual gala at the Playboy Mansion. The Agency San Diego has been donating the design of the program and all printed collateral for this event since it’s inception. We actually started this company designing for charity. Connections made from volunteering have in part allowed us to grow into what we are today.

Every year has a different theme. 2006 was a Jungle theme so we dressed as big game hunters on safari with the words “cougar hunt” across our shoulders. 2007 saw us dressed as the “official mansion lifeguards: grotto division” complete with Jr. lifeguard tags for our favorite party goers. This year’s theme, Brazilian Carnival, was our opportunity to fulfill a month long dream- dress up as South American Soccer stars. Our matching costumes were impressive with customized Brazilian soccer uniforms with knee-highs, green and yellow shoes, gold mirrored sunglasses, gold and green beads and a yellow card strung around our necks. The Agency logo was proudly displayed on our chests as the official team sponsor.  These costumes went hand in hand with the tag line for our ad in the program: “We know how to stand out in a crowd, let us do the same for your company.”

When we go to this party we have 3 goals:
1. Help raise money for underprivileged children.
2. Network, make more business connections.
3. Have Fun!

It was a success on all fronts. We helped raise enough money to continue to help these kids for another year, we had a blast and made connections with other charitable minded companies who need some advertising work. We have three current clients who are a direct result of this party and another three strong leads.

Partying for a Purpose and the It’s All About The Kids Foundation host events year round. Some are as simple as donating a Christmas Present to get into a club and others are as involved as a life skills scavenger hunt that includes roll playing for job interviews and opening a checking account to better prepare underprivileged youths for an adulthood as a contributing member of society. If you would like to get involved, stop by www.itsallaboutthekids.org for more information.

It will be updated occasionally as new information arrives but look for more frequent updates here and at the much-anticipated www.slikenation.com

Slike products now available at www.cafepress.com/slike

DigiTales Read Along With Me software is a truly unique but simple program that seeks to unite teachers, families, and communities in creating a society of passionate readers. By providing every child in our nation and throughout the world the magical and educational experience of read-aloud story time on a consistent and daily basis, DigiTales is committed to changing the world, one story at a time.

The Read Along With Me software was created by Giselle Uffens in loving memory of her mother, who passed away from breast cancer in 1998. Uffens wants every child to experience story time with a parent or grandparent, even when they can no longer be there in person.

The partnership was natural for The Agency as they share a common cause. Agency Partners Craig Slike and Joel Kordyak are both walkers in the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer 3-Day.

The Agency San Diego is also proud to announce they will be designing “Amnesty” the first full-length release from K4. K4 is a local San Diego band spearheaded by Khalid Hussain, a local musician known for his 2007 EP “A Few Songs By” also designed by The Agency.

Be sure to cheer on Agency Partner and San Diego local Craig Slike this summer as he risks life and limb competing on ABC’s The Mole. The Mole airs Monday nights at 10pm on ABC.

With a strong reputation for innovative design and creative solutions, Joel Kordyak and Craig Slike launch Southern California’s newest advertising agency: The Agency San Diego.

The Agency San Diego is an independent, creatively led full service advertising, marketing and design firm that exists to provide clients with the most effective and relevant solutions for their businesses. The Agency’s services include advertising, graphic design, branding, web design, mass media and package design.

Both graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University with degrees in Graphic Communications, Kordyak and Slike bring distinct approaches and vision to their work, which combine to create the company’s signature style of clean and timeless design with a modern twist.

Kordyak has spent the majority of his professional career as the backbone of a major advertising agency working for clients in the hi-end lifestyle, sports, and technology markets. Slike’s expertise includes designing complex projects for the legal industry as well as numerous non profit organizations. Slike has won a number of design contests and awards, including his most recent win for the Bumbershoot International Music Festival’s Ultimate CD Design competition.

“Our goal is simple,” says Kordyak. “We deliver meaningful, well-executed design by merging imagination with close client interaction. We provide our clients with the personal attention they just can’t get from large agencies, and we do it without the jaw-dropping large-agency fees.”

The Agency San Diego launches with a strong client base, including Archer & Moreno Realtors, Limelight Public Relations, the San Diego Economic Development Corporation and the It’s All About the Kids Foundation/Partying for a Purpose.

“We’re excited by the opportunity to branch out on our own,” says Slike. “Joel and I both thrive under pressure and we look forward to the challenges and opportunities of growing a business. We have different styles and viewpoints, which gives us a unique opportunity to approach design from 360 degrees.”