Spurrier Media Group Nurtures a Mom-Friendly Workplace to Enhance Talent Recruitment & Retention
Ingrid Vax
Spurrier Media Group is a creative media shop founded by Donna Spurrier in 1996 to bridge the gap between media strategists and creative teams when working on advertising campaigns. The company’s all-female staff includes some of the most talented and experienced media planning/buying professionals in the Mid-Atlantic region.
“Women are smart and creative, and if we want to excel in our careers without having to sacrifice our precious and limited time with our families, then it’s imperative that we find a company with a healthy balance of required excellence in work performance and flexibility for the family,” said Donna Spurrier.
In order to attract and retain top caliber employees, Spurrier Media Group fosters an environment where working mothers can have both a successful career and a fulfilling life outside of the office. Early on, the firm established a number of family-friendly policies and amenities to ensure a satisfying work/life balance for all team members. These include flexible work hours, advanced technology for remote access computing, and even a yoga studio in their soon-to-be-built downtown office.
Several of the talented women at Spurrier Media Group shared their stories with Richmondmom.com:
JENNIFER WALKER, Media Planner/Buyer: “With today’s technology, it’s very easy to work remotely without missing out on helping my girls with their homework after school. Having this flexibility not only eliminates a lot mommy-guilt, it also inspires loyalty because I know I’m a trusted employee. Taking conference calls on the couch and checking emails while at my girls’ activities are my ‘normal’…and I love it!”
Emily Baldridge
Jennifer’s husband, Zach, commented on the impact that his wife’s daily routine has on family harmony. “It’s great to see Jennifer happy and productive in her career, which carries over at home,” he said. “Spurrier Media Group really walks the talk about work/life balance and, as a Dad, I’m very grateful.”
ANGIE ALEKSA, Digital Media Planner/Buyer: “Like many working moms, I struggled with the balancing act between work, home and family. I worried each day if the part-time sitters would show up or call in sick. But that daily stress ended when I joined the team at Spurrier Media Group. Now I can easily switch hats from ‘working mom’ to ‘mom.’”
Jennifer Walker
© Marissa Bowers, 2011
EMILY BALDRIDGE, Financial Director: “Spurrier Media Group provides remote access to my office computer so I can continue working from home when necessary. This is an invaluable resource when I need to be home with a sick child. Coming back to work after being home with small children was a daunting concept, but Spurrier Media Group has created a culture of support and respect that has made the transition easy and completely worthwhile.”
DEB BRAME, Media Planner/Buyer: “As a longtime employee of Spurrier Media Group, I’ve always been proud to work for a company that places a strong emphasis on family. I’m blessed to spend one day a week working from home to take care of my greatest joy—my granddaughter.”
INGRID VAX, Director of New Business Development & Agency Relations: “I’m a single-mom and also manage SMG’s satellite office serving the DC market. The flexibility offered by Spurrier Media Group is wonderful. I can be on email and phone calls from anywhere at any time. That allows me to focus on growing our client base and our agency business while at the same time focus on my son and his needs. It’s the best of both worlds.”
It’s obvious that Spurrier Media Group empowers team members to be their best selves, both at home and at the office.
“I’m so proud of all the amazing women at Spurrier Media Group, “ states Donna Spurrier. “They inspire me every day!”
You can find them at their website or also on Facebook. What a great place for Richmond moms and grandmoms to work!
