A Year of Connection, Appreciation, and Growth

By: Jenn Rivera, Sr. Director of Finance & Operations & Bridget Higgins, Human Resources Manager

“What makes &Barr stand out?” is a question we ask often. We ask it of our current team members, our previous team members, our leadership, and even our clients and vendors. The answer is usually the same. It’s our people.

Culture is something that evolves over time. It can shift quickly and it can be fragile, which means it requires steady care and thoughtful attention across every part of the agency. Our environment is fast paced, filled with tight deadlines and heavy workloads. If we focused only on the pressure of each deadline or the projects that test our patience, it would be difficult to feel fulfilled. This is why our focus each year remains on our people. We create a workplace where hard work is recognized, growth is encouraged, and the effort behind every win is valued.

Throughout the year, we commit to creating moments that bring the team together. Our events committee, made up of people from every department in the agency, meets monthly to come up with new ways to keep us connected. They are always looking for ideas that go beyond the traditional happy hour and offer a chance to connect with everyone throughout the agency.

To start the year, while many of us were clearing out our homes after the holidays, the committee organized a thrift shop where team members could donate items and swap for things they needed. It was a simple idea that created a sense of giving and community.

A few months later, we hosted our first ever Adult Field Day. Phones were put away, teams were formed, and the agency spent the afternoon competing in musical chairs, hula hoop contests, scavenger hunts, and water bucket relays. It was the kind of day that let everyone laugh and enjoy each other’s company away from deadlines and meetings. And it was an event that I’m sure our team would like to see return every year.

Halloween is always a highlight at &Barr, and this year we expanded the celebration into a full week. We painted pumpkins, hosted a bake off, and showed off our costumes, bringing a festive energy into the office that carried through to the end of the week. That spirit of togetherness continued into November as we shared a potluck meal for Thanksgiving. The food was wonderful, but the simple act of gathering around a table was what made it special.

We wrapped up the year with our team member holiday party. This year, we gave the team most of the day off and spent it together at Epcot. The most magical place in Orlando helped us get our steps in as we walked the worlds. We enjoyed the rides together, tried a variety of food and drinks from different countries, laughed the whole time, and snapped more photos than we could count.

We balanced the fun events this year with additional perks that recognize the effort everyone gives throughout the year. Summer lunches returned after being a hit in 2024, and every Thursday the agency provided a meal for the entire team. The most talked about meals were the chipotle bar and the chicken tacos, both homemade and better than store bought. We also offered shortened workdays on Fridays during the summer to allow everyone start their weekends a little earlier and enjoy more time with family and friends. There are never enough moments in a year to express how much we appreciate our team. In the service industry, our people and the care we put into our work are the heart of everything we do. Dedication and hard work are the reasons we continue to grow, and our teams’ commitment sets us apart from other agencies.