It gives me great pleasure to have an opportunity to tell you folks how great I think you are. You all spend so much time telling me (and others I’m sure) what great jobs we are doing that to have a moment to return that kindness is a treat.

As the responsibility for all admission publications and marketing fell abruptly upon my shoulders seven years ago, I was literally confused about where to begin. Even the task of sending our RFPs was daunting. However, as I perused the many awards received by RHB in various advertising competitions, it quickly became clear I needed to include your agency in my considerations. From the moment we made our first contact by telephone, received your paperwork, then brought you to campus, it was evident to me, as well as others, that RHB/The Agency was the chosen group for us.

Why? Your responses were quick, friendly, non-aggressive and helpful. Your presentation styles were like talking to old friends. Again, non-obtrusive but helpful and thoughtful. You took the time to get to know us and allowed the same with you. As we went to work analyzing Westmont’s publication needs, working on messaging, etc., you were the astute professionals, guiding me and allowing me to make some mistakes along the way. You listened to my concerns. Some you heeded, others you were covertly convincing that we needed to go another way. When we stumbled upon institutional challenges, you did not shy away, but came forward over and over again to help bring clarification and understanding to the importance of our work. There were times these actions did not make you folks popular to all on campus as you have been with me. You did not allow that to deter your passion in and for helping make Westmont’s message broader and smarter.

I have so appreciated my association with Julianne, Sam, Scott and others who have always, always been there when I called or emailed. Never have I had to wait more than 24 hours, if that, to talk about or plan through a project, regardless of where they may have been. I have always sensed a deep personal caring attitude for me and for Westmont in my work with you. This certainly makes our tough tasks easier. Sure, there have been some challenges for us both — things we would all like to change. But the bottom line has been very positive. Since our inception with RHB, Westmont publications have received high praise and some awards. Our prospective families and other constituents are saying: “They get it…they get what we are saying.” It does not come any better than that.

RHB’s creation of Grow Deeper has resonated and now become a clear and strong message aligning Westmont to those words. Prospective students use it in their essays, and we are able to draw in parallels of just how we Grow Deeper at Westmont. As far as I am concerned, Grow Deeper is here to stay at Westmont. Our postcard series remains one of my “favs” from RHB. Their clear, crisp, messages are “right on,” students love them and they are a relatively inexpensive form of communication. Our long-awaited poster, which also won a Silver award from Admissions Marketing Report this year, is an exceptional stand-alone piece. We just continue to get better and better together.

The next years will again be challenging and interesting. However, I know I look forward to going into those challenges with the expertise of Richard Harrison Bailey/The Agency and your team. Many thanks to you all for several years of strong partnership, loyalty and friendship. We are truly blessed to have found an agency with talent and heart!

Thank you for the opportunity to share.

Yours most sincerely,

Joyce Luy
Dean of Admission
Westmont College

Want to hear more from Joyce? Please click here to listen to her in The Studio.