Project Homeless Connect

What are your plans on Monday, May 14th? Join us as we volunteer our time and labor in support of Project Homeless Connect. This amazing event provides a plethora of services normally unavailable to the area’s homeless and impoverished. The Minneapolis Convention Center is turned into a gigantic service center where struggling Twin Citians can receive food, water, dental and medical care, haircuts and – most importantly – information about the resources available. The ADS Group and Studio 120 have supported the efforts of Project Homeless Connect both with our video services and our people. In 2009, we shot a documentary called Heading Home Hennepin that outlines the county’s 10-year plan to end homelessness based on proven models and national best practices. You can see the video HERE. A massive event such as this requires the cooperation of hundreds, and we’re hoping you’ll see the need for your helping hands. Project Homeless Connect needs 1200 volunteers to make this event a success. One day. One town. But how many lives can we touch? Join us to find out. Sign up here to volunteer on Monday, May 14th. We’ll see you...

MicroGrants Video

MicroGrants is the brainchild of local resident Joe Selvaggio. He believes that good ideas come from all around us and sometimes low-income people simply need a small boost to help them move forward with their dreams. MicroGrants offers small grants to people in the Twin Cities to pursue and further their small business goals. A typical grant is $1,000, and they are used to purchase items such as computers for home-based businesses, construction tools, office equipment and supplies, books, job training, tuition and more. Last fall, MicroGrants was put in touch with our crew at Studio 120 and we helped them to develop a marketing video to raise awareness of the positive impact they are bringing into our community. We are proud to announce that MicroGrants Work! has been honored with a 2012 Telly Award. Selected from nearly 11,000 applicants across the country, it is truly exciting to have been a part of such a project. Click here to learn more about MicroGrants and to see the award-winning video, or click here to read the article in Twin Cities Business. And as always, click here for YOUR studio production...

Spring Safety

Spring has sprung and the fever is hitting everyone – nobody wants to be inside. The sun is shining, the temps are soaring – and spring break is upon us… …which is a great time to remind everyone to always have a sober driver. In 2010, Minnesota reported a record LOW number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities – only 131 deaths. We believe that this is 131 deaths too many. On November 18th, 2005 The ADS Group lost one of our own. Michelle Newby was headed home from work on a two-lane highway in Rockford when a drunk driver crossed the center line and hit her vehicle head-on. The ADS Group has partnered with KQRS in an audio campaign reminding people – and teens especially – not to drink and drive. There is always another option – Googling MN sober cab, for example, returns over 700,000 results. So as thoughts turn to spring break and summer vacation, please remember to put your own safety first. Don’t drink and drive, and never get into a vehicle with an impaired driver. There are always more choices, and there are always more parties, but not everybody gets more...

Taste of the Timberwolves

Last night we donned our finest fine finery and hobnobbed with the T-Wolves. Taste of the Timberwolves is an annual gala to raise money for the FastBreak Foundation, the Wolves’ youth community program, and we were lucky enough to be invited. Hosted at the Target Center, we played meet and greet while noshing on tasty snacks from area restaurants. There was a silent auction loaded with goodies and the live auction included such prizes as a road trip with the team or an afternoon fishing with Nikola Pekovic. The players were gracious, the food was delicious and good times were had by all. Now we’re just excited to hear the results of how much funding the event raised for Minnesota kids.    Mike practicing his benevolent face,  Chris practicing his happy face and Mitch…. well, we’re not sure what Mitch is thinking.  A quick sales meeting before the gala.  Todd looks happy to be bidding at the live auction. Er, wait – that’s because he’s using Tricia’s bid card!  Our sales team never gets a break –  they’re always networking.  Ricky giving the coach some pointers.  Tricia and…a really tall guy who plays ball…  In line for the Wheel O’ Prizes! Ricky wanted Ricky’s autograph but we said we don’t let our sales guys sign autographs unless they’re on ADS-branded merchandise…  Getting a little...

Hearts

Last night we celebrated. After a heart attack nearly killed him last year, seeing Bobby Z take the stage at First Avenue was truly miraculous. The Revolution unleashed on a packed house in support of the American Heart Association and My Purple Heart. Last night we celebrated. Bobby wasn’t the only one there by grace, or even the only coworker of ours we’re lucky to still have in our midst. Two of our people photographed in this blog post have also suffered heart attacks in the past four years. Last night we celebrated. We celebrated Bobby’s recovery. We celebrated his choice to use his name and his talents to raise funds for the research and treatment of heart disease. We celebrated the recovery of our colleagues, our friends. We celebrated life. You may have missed the show, but you can still support the cause. Give generously to the American Heart Association and to My Purple Heart, so that we can all continue to celebrate...

Made in the USA

It has long been known that, if you have time on your hands,  your CDs and DVDs can be manufactured overseas at rock-bottom pricing. If you’re looking for a commodity product, and you plan to submit an order and let it run its course with fingers crossed, perhaps you won’t mind if your discs are made in a foreign country.  But what about the relationship? Are you going to call China the day before your project ships because you want to change the shipping information?  How will you deal with different time zones? Language barriers? Oh, and let’s not forget our speedy friends in customs and all the additional paperwork that international shipments require. Frankly, those are merely the simplest issues that arise when you work with overseas manufacturers. Consider the ramifications of having your discs manufactured in countries notorious for intellectual property pirates.  The issue of intellectual property theft is so vital that the president of the United States spoke on the subject in his state of the union message on January 24. Our optical media is replicated in house – in America – under our strict supervision in our facility employing over 150 team members. We use American suppliers and vendors, and we believe in keeping our revenue – and our payroll – here at home. We strive to be strong pillars within our community. We’re actively engaged in multiple initiatives to benefit local charities and nonprofits.  We do so not out of a sense of duty.  We do so out of a sense of gratitude. Gratitude for our dedicated team…gratitude for our suppliers…and gratitude –  most of all – for our loyal and committed customers.    We’re...