PART TWO: TOP 10 PROJECTS IN 10 YEARS
Wine tasting at Tutto il Giorno in Sag Harbor
Here it is, part two of my top 10 projects over the last 10+ years. Catch up on the first five and dive in…
First Florida Client
While pursuing websites for inspiration, Lauren Iorizzo of the Naples Art Institute came across the Southampton Arts Center website. She found my site credit and reached out. While I had never been to that part of Florida and had not previously been familiar with the organization, through many conversations with Lauren and the team I felt like I knew and understood the place. It was a fun, collaborative project. And this all happened years before I became a snowbird.
Website Portfolio
Website design is something I didn’t plan on doing when I started out on my own, but has become an incredible part of my business. All of my recently completed projects have been for nonprofit organizations, and currently I am working on two new small business websites.
With Jessica Green at James Lane Posts’ summer kick off party at the Pridwin on Shelter Island
Shifting the Narrative
In 2021 as the rise of Black Lives Matter continued upward, my best friend found herself at the center of local and regional media attention as a Black business owner. The attention her natural wine shop, Down the Rabbit Hole Wine Boutique, was getting was positive yet overwhelming. She didn’t want the narrative to be about race. We worked together to shift the story, focusing on the wines and producers she carried, how many hailed from biodynamic vineyards where diversity is paramount, and why no one, regardless of race or identity, should feel intimidated by buying wine. It gave her the confidence to speak on a topic she is passionate about without having to focus on what initially sparked media interest.
With Taralynn Reynolds, Group for the East End outreach director, at Downs Farm Preserve in Cutchogue
Bringing the Outside In
As an environmental conservation organization, much of the Group for the East End staff spend the majority of their time outdoors. When the pandemic hit, they were suddenly locked indoors. Our social media content had to shift as outdoor programs had come to halt. Working with staff, we developed a content strategy that focused on nature at home, utilizing a blog page on the website with additional resources. Staff submitted posts and learned to become comfortable in front of the camera. Outreach director Taralynn Reynolds is perhaps my favorite example, as now when I text something like “Would you be open to rolling on the ground for a video?” the response is “I can do that.”
Lesson Learned
This story is not a win, rather a profound lesson in knowing one’s value.
While working with marine research and rescue organizations, I often coordinated with the communications team at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries as they are the governing organization for protected species. I’ve always been proactive in my work, and when you’re dealing with Long Islanders, it’s the best course of action! After getting to know me a bit, I was approached about leading a workshop on the subject for NOAA’s New England/Mid-Atlantic office. Without consulting anyone, I turned it down as I felt I was unqualified.
When I told Rob DiGiovanni about it, he made me turn around and go back to them to say I could do it. He reminded me that I was the most capable person for the job and that if they came to me directly, they believed the same. It was too late unfortunately to convince them that I changed my mind on my capabilities. It doesn’t work like that. What a great addition this would have made to my 10 top list…
There are so many moments to reflect on over the past 10 years of communications and website design work on Long Island, in San Diego, and even the west coast of Florida. Each experience has molded me as a professional and a human being, and I look forward to what the next decade holds. And if you’ve made it this far, I thank you for sticking with me!
— RB
