Time can be weird. Six months ago, I joined the MadAddie team. At least that's what the calculator tells me. My feelings give me a different time period, measured more so in years. Nevertheless, this is my last MadAddie blog post.

For those of you who know me even just a little, you know how amped I get about politics in government. I was given the opportunity to join the team at the Board of Elections in Albany County and I accepted. Before I start this new chapter, I cannot leave without giving a quasi diary entry about my time at MadAddie.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been thinking about why it feels like I have been a member of the MadAddie team for way longer than half a year. After some reflection, I realized there were three areas that made my time at MadAddie a hearty experience; the work, the learning, and the people.

Boredom does not exist in the MadAddie vernacular. There is always work — important work — to be done for our wonderful clients. Research, writing, SEO, social media, trade shows, and on and on. While I have had many great experiences at MadAddie, our trip to Montreal stands out in particular.

If someone said to me a year ago, “Judd, you’re going to go to an elevator trade show in Montreal, learn about the elevator industry and find it interesting,” I would have gently suggested to that someone that an fMRI on their noggin would be wise. Yet, there I was, in beautiful Montreal, speaking to all kinds of vendors, soaking in a plethora of information about the elevator industry, and loving it. That experience was made possible by the great guys at Bay State Elevator.

When we weren’t at the trade show, I was working with the team on cooking up marketing strategies for other clients, laying out our strategy documents, and delving into competitor research. When I think of the meaningful and fascinating work I did for MadAddie, I’m reminded of a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt. “Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product of a life well lived.” Part of a well-lived life is doing work that you love.

Then, there was the learning component of being at MadAddie. In addition to the elevator industry, every day I was learning something new about the marketing field or the industry of one of our clients. Kariann emphasizes the importance of being an insatiable sponge when it comes to knowledge. There's knowledge for the sake of knowledge and knowledge for the sake of bettering yourself and others, a key component to living life. In my short time at MadAddie, I learned a mountain of information. For that, I am enormously grateful and lucky.

Finally, there are the people who make up MadAddie, that includes a lot of folks, but I want to speak about three people, Kariann, Frank and Natalie.

Kariann Wolf is the one who taught me the most. She's a powerhouse in the industry. And is building a top-notch brand. Frank Romeo is one of the most talented graphic designers I've ever met. He's a humble guy with artistic vision that isn't often seen. Then there's Natalie Pollard. Natalie is the youngest of the crew and is on a professional level that most folks don't reach until they are in their 30s. That's because she is sharp, articulate, and a joy to be around.

MadAddie’s best days are yet to come. I’m honored that I was part of the ride.