Greening FirstAgain

HetzelMeade Communications got me started on this blog endeavour so I guess it is only fitting that my year ends with a great "small world" story involving Sue Hetzel.

Many months ago I talked to Sue about PR in San Diego - she is the best of the best and a wealth of information. Among a lot of ideas (and some margaritas), my green goddess blog was hatched as a vehicle that would help our company Contract Interiors San Diego expand our impact on the green furniture world. We have a ton of expertise on our staff yet there really is not an easy way to promote that unique quality.

So, on with the story....

I got an email from Sue last week about her experience at the new offices of FirstAgain in the Diamond View Tower in San Diego.

"Well, hope your ears were burning today. I was downtown visiting a new client in their posh new digs and commenting to the new VP of marketing about how hip and functional the place was. Being nosy, I asked who designed the space and supplied all the groovy work spaces, etc. So she found Betty Johnson who told me she used Contract Interiors and just loves, loves, loves everyone there including the boss lady. I replied that only AB and her crafty crew could crank out award-winning office space like the one they did for FirstAgain..... Guess it didn’t hurt the execs are all big Michigan fans (the CEO actually included his love for Michigan football in his intro to me)".

Well, the story had another edge to it that I particularly loved. FirstAgain deliberately made decisions about their offices and the design of the space keeping green practices in mind. It started with the demand for incredible views for everyone in the company, furniture that has Greenguard certification for healthier air to breathe and an overall approach that had its footings in take care of the whole team. I like the sign on their website that says they plant a tree with every loan. How great is that?

The small world of San Diego never ceases to amaze me. Have a great end to 2007, happy new year and may Michigan football recover from an awful season with a new coach in 2008.

The Green Goddess