You might not know it, but hiring creative, digital, and marketing talent is one of the most critical decisions a business can make. Whether you’re building a marketing team, launching a new product, or creating a standout campaign, the right creative professionals can bring your vision to life. But finding and hiring top-tier creative talent isn’t always easy. From vetting candidates to avoiding common pitfalls, here’s a step-by-step guide to help businesses make smart hiring decisions.

Step 1: Define Your Needs and Goals

Before diving into the hiring process, it’s essential to clearly define what you’re looking for. Creative, digital, and marketing roles can vary widely, so understanding your specific needs will save time and ensure you attract the right candidates.

Key Questions to Ask:

• What’s the scope of the project or role?
• Is this a freelance, contract, or full-time position?
• What skills and experience are essential for success?
• What’s your budget?

Pro Tip: Create a detailed job description that outlines responsibilities, required skills, and desired experience. Be transparent about whether the role is on-site, remote, or hybrid.

Step 2: Source Talent Strategically

Finding creative, digital, and marketing talent isn’t just about posting a job and waiting for applications to roll in. It requires a strategic approach to reach the right candidates.

Where to Look:

• Specialized Staffing Agencies: Partner with a resource like smartdept. to access pre-vetted creative professionals.
• Professional Networks: Use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with candidates who have relevant experience.
• Creative Communities: Explore industry-specific forums, portfolio sites (e.g., Behance, Dribbble), and alumni networks.

Avoid This Pitfall: Posting roles on general gig platforms or social media can result in an overwhelming flood of unqualified applicants, making it harder to identify top talent.

Step 3: Vet Candidates Thoroughly

Once you have a pool of candidates, the vetting process becomes crucial. This step ensures you’re hiring someone with the right skills, work ethic, and cultural fit for your team.

How to Vet Niched Talent:

• Review Portfolios: Look for quality, consistency, and work that aligns with your brand’s style and goals.
• Conduct Behavioral Interviews: Ask situational questions to understand how candidates approach challenges, collaborate, and meet deadlines.
• Check References: Speak with past clients or employers to verify reliability, professionalism, and results.
• Test Their Skills: For certain roles, consider a small paid project or skills assessment to evaluate their abilities in action.

Pro Tip: Avoid relying solely on resumes. A candidate’s portfolio and problem-solving abilities often reveal more about their potential.

Step 4: Focus on Cultural Fit

Creative, digital, and marketing professionals don’t just need to have the right skills—they also need to align with your company’s culture and values. A good cultural fit ensures a smoother collaboration and better long-term results.

What to Look For:

• Alignment with your company’s mission and values.
• Ability to adapt to your team’s communication and workflow style.
• Enthusiasm for your brand or industry.

Avoid This Pitfall: Don’t compromise on cultural fit just because someone has an impressive portfolio. Misaligned values can lead to conflicts down the line.

Step 5: Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits

Top creative, digital, and marketing talent know their worth, and businesses must be prepared to offer competitive packages to attract and retain them. This doesn’t just mean salary—it also includes benefits and perks.

What to Consider:

• Freelance/Contract Roles: Offer fair hourly or project-based rates, and ensure timely payment.
• Full-Time Roles: Provide healthcare, PTO, 401(k), and other benefits to make your offer stand out.
• Additional Perks: Flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a positive work environment go a long way.

Pro Tip: Don’t focus solely on cost. Investing in quality talent upfront can save you time and money in the long run by avoiding subpar work or high turnover.

Step 6: Avoid Common Hiring Pitfalls

The hiring process can be tricky, but being aware of common mistakes can help you avoid costly missteps.

Pitfalls to Watch Out For:

• Rushing the Process: Hiring quickly to fill a gap can lead to poor decisions. Take the time to find the right fit.
• Ignoring Red Flags: Pay attention to warning signs like inconsistent communication, incomplete portfolios, or negative references.
• Overlooking Soft Skills: Creativity is important, but so are collaboration, communication, and adaptability.

Pro Tip: Partnering with a staffing agency like smartdept. can help you avoid these pitfalls by pre-vetting candidates and ensuring a seamless hiring process.

Step 7: Build Long-Term Relationships

Hiring creative, digital, and marketing talent isn’t just about filling a role—it’s about building relationships that can grow with your business. Whether you’re working with freelancers or full-time employees, fostering strong connections can lead to better results and future collaborations.

How to Build Relationships:

• Provide clear expectations and constructive feedback.
• Recognize and reward great work.
• Stay in touch with freelancers for future projects.

Pro Tip: A staffing agency like smartdept. can act as a bridge, ensuring both clients and candidates feel supported and valued throughout the partnership.

Why Partner with smartdept.?

At smartdept., we specialize in connecting businesses with top creative and marketing talent. With over 20 years of experience, we’ve built a reputation for delivering pre-vetted professionals who are ready to hit the ground running.

What We Offer:

• Pre-Qualified Talent: Our candidates are carefully screened for skills, experience, and cultural fit.
• Streamlined Process: We handle the heavy lifting, from sourcing to payroll, so you can focus on your business.
• Nationwide Reach: Whether you need on-site, hybrid, or remote talent, we’ve got you covered.

Hiring Creative, Digital, and Marketing Talent Made Easy

Hiring creative, digital, and marketing talent doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By following this guide and partnering with a trusted staffing resource like smartdept., you can attract top-tier professionals who will help your business thrive.

Ready to find the perfect talent for your team? Contact smartdept. today and let us take the stress out of hiring.

#creativehiring #marketingtalent #smartdept #staffingsolutions #hiringtips

Growing up a Chicago Bears fan in the 80s was an experience filled with both heartbreak and unshakable pride. And if you were lucky enough to witness Super Bowl XX, you know exactly why it remains one of the greatest moments in Bears history. I was 14 years old when the Bears steamrolled the New England Patriots 46-10, cementing their legacy as one of the most dominant teams to ever play the game. It was a moment of pure joy, one that Bears fans are still chasing nearly four decades later.

But before the glory, there was pain. Any true Bears fan remembers the devastation of that one blemish on our 1985 season: the loss to the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football. That game crushed our dreams of an undefeated season, and it stung even more because it felt like Dan Marino and the Dolphins exposed the one tiny crack in our seemingly invincible team. Looking back, though, maybe it was a blessing in disguise. That loss lit a fire under the Bears, and they never looked back.

The confidence of that team was something special. Who else but the ’85 Bears would have the audacity to film the “Super Bowl Shuffle” before they had even won the big game? Some called it cocky, but Bears fans knew it was just pure swagger. Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, Mike Singletary, and the rest of the squad weren’t just playing football—they were putting on a show. And when they hit the field in New Orleans for Super Bowl XX, they backed up every bit of that bravado.

The defense was legendary—hands down the best defense in the history of the NFL. Mike Singletary was the heart and soul, reading offenses like a book and delivering punishing hits. Richard Dent and Steve McMichael were absolute nightmares for opposing quarterbacks. Wilber Marshall was a force of nature. And let’s not forget William “The Refrigerator” Perry, who somehow managed to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl as a defensive lineman. It was a unit unlike any other, and they made life miserable for Tony Eason and the Patriots that day.

Of course, as much as that Super Bowl was a dream come true, it also feels like a lifetime ago. Who would have thought that, 39 years later, Bears fans would still be waiting for another championship? We’ve had glimpses of hope—Devin Hester’s opening kickoff return in Super Bowl XLI had us believing for a moment—but nothing has come close to the dominance of that ’85 team.

Still, no matter how long we wait, that Super Bowl XX victory remains one of the greatest memories of my life. It was more than just a game—it was a statement. The Bears weren’t just champions; they were legends. And for those of us lucky enough to witness it, we’ll always remember the day the Monsters of the Midway ruled the football world.

You’ve probably encountered the term “SEO” in digital marketing numerous times. It’s one of those buzzwords that get thrown around a lot, but what does it mean, and why is it so crucial in a business setting? In this blog post, we’ll demystify SEO, shedding light on its importance and exploring the potential consequences of neglecting it in your business practices.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. At its core, SEO is the practice of organically enhancing your website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). It’s about ensuring your website ranks as high as possible when people search for relevant keywords or phrases on search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo.

Why is SEO Important for Businesses?

1. Increased Visibility: Businesses primarily invest in SEO to improve their online visibility. When your website appears at the top of search results for keywords related to your products or services, it’s more likely that potential customers will find and visit your site.
2. Traffic Growth: Higher visibility leads to increased website traffic. And more traffic means more opportunities to convert visitors into paying customers, subscribers, or leads.
3. Credibility and Trust: Websites that rank highly in search results are often perceived as more credible and trustworthy by users. People trust Google’s recommendations so a top-ranking spot can boost your brand’s credibility.
4. Cost-Effective Marketing: SEO can be a cost-effective long-term strategy compared to traditional advertising. While it requires an initial investment, it can lead to sustained traffic and conversions without the ongoing expenses associated with pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.
5. Competitive Advantage: In today’s competitive online landscape, your competitors are likely investing in SEO. By doing so, you can also level the playing field or even gain an edge over them.

Consequences of Neglecting SEO

Now that we’ve established why SEO is important let’s discuss what can happen if it’s not part of your business practices:

1. Low Visibility: Without SEO, your website may remain buried in search engine results. This means potential customers are unlikely to find you when they search for products or services you offer, resulting in missed opportunities.
2. Loss of Customers: A lack of SEO can lead to declining website traffic, meaning fewer customers. Your competitors who invest in SEO will capture a larger market share.
3. Wasted Marketing Budget: If you’re relying solely on paid advertising and not optimizing your website for organic search, you may spend a significant portion of your marketing budget on ads without reaping the long-term benefits that SEO can provide.
4. Inconsistent Branding: SEO is not just about keywords and rankings; it’s also about creating valuable, relevant, and high-quality content. Neglecting SEO means missing opportunities to strengthen your brand’s online presence and reputation.
5. Difficulty in Recovery: If you ignore SEO for an extended period, it can be challenging to catch up with competitors who have consistently invested in it. SEO is an ongoing process; playing catch-up can be time-consuming and expensive.

In conclusion, SEO is not just marketing jargon; it’s a fundamental aspect of digital marketing that can significantly impact your business’s success. By understanding its importance and the potential consequences of neglecting it, you can make informed decisions about incorporating SEO into your business practices. In today’s online-driven world, SEO is not an option; it’s necessary for any business looking to thrive in the digital landscape.

by Art Intelligenza

by Art Intelligenza

With a flair for the dramatic, please welcome smartdept.’s newest social media contributor, Art Intelligenza. Art will join us occasionally to give his unique perspective on all amazing employment-related topics. His first assignment – the open-toed shoe dilemma.

In the era of remote work and virtual interactions, professional and casual attire boundaries have become increasingly blurred. While the convenience of video interviews on platforms like Zoom has revolutionized the job application process, it’s important to remember that first impressions still matter. One often overlooked aspect of appearance in a virtual job interview is footwear. Specifically, wearing open-toed shoes can inadvertently send the wrong message and negatively impact how a hiring manager perceives you.

The Message of Casualness

Open-toed shoes are often associated with warm weather and leisurely activities. They can be comfortable and stylish choices for relaxed social gatherings or outings. However, wearing them to a job interview, even a virtual one, can convey a sense of casualness and lack of seriousness. In a professional setting, footwear is integral to one’s overall appearance, contributing to the impression of professionalism and attention to detail. Opting for open-toed shoes might suggest to the hiring manager that you didn’t put in the effort to present yourself in a polished and formal manner.

Hiring Manager’s Reaction

A hiring manager’s perception of your footwear choice can influence their overall impression of you as a candidate. While it might seem like a small detail, it can reveal your approach to professionalism and your understanding of appropriate dress codes. A hiring manager could interpret open-toed shoes as a need for understanding the importance of dressing appropriately for the interview, potentially signaling that you might not take the job seriously or may not be an excellent cultural fit for the company. This could inadvertently cast a shadow over your qualifications and expertise, overshadowing the valuable skills you bring to the table.

Advantages of Open-Toed Shoes

While open-toed shoes might not be the ideal choice for a virtual job interview, there are some scenarios where they could work to your advantage. In industries with a more relaxed dress code, such as creative fields or startups, wearing open-toed shoes could align with the company culture and show that you understand and respect the company’s values. Additionally, open-toed shoes might be more acceptable if the position involves working in a warm climate or in roles where comfort and movement are essential.

Navigating the Shoe Dilemma

When preparing for a virtual job interview, it’s best to err on the side of caution and opt for closed-toe, professional footwear. This choice conveys that you take the interview seriously and understand professional dress codes strongly. Classic black or brown closed-toe shoes are safe choices that won’t distract the hiring manager from your qualifications and experience.

In conclusion, the pitfalls of wearing open-toed shoes to a Zoom job interview are rooted in the potential message of casualness they convey. While they might be comfortable and stylish, their presence can inadvertently weaken the overall impression you make on a hiring manager. To ensure that you project professionalism and attention to detail, choosing closed-toe shoes that align with the traditional interview attire expectations is best. Remember, in virtual interactions, every element of your appearance matters, and by carefully considering your attire, you can increase your chances of making a positive and lasting impression.

Nice work, Arthur! Way to expose the potentially dark underside of the Zoom interview. Hiring managers beware!

International Pronouns Day takes place every year on the 3rd Wednesday of October. This year Pronouns Day is October 19th. International Pronouns Day takes place each year with a straightforward goal; to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. That’s amazing because it’s one of our goals at smartdept., too. With that in mind, let’s look at what Pronouns are, why they are essential, and how we can use them in the workplace to create an inclusive and welcoming environment.

What is a Pronoun?

That’s a great question! Thanks for asking. Personal gender pronouns are those a person identifies with and would like to be called when their proper name is not used. The goal is for all people to decide how they want to be addressed. Some examples of commonly used Pronouns are:

• she/her/hers
• he/him/his
• they/them/their
• zi/zir/zirs/zirself
• hi/hir/hirs/hirself

Being referred to by the wrong pronouns mainly affects transgender and gender-nonconforming people.

Why are they important?

Another great question! Referring to a person by the Pronoun of their choice is essential to human dignity. At smartdept., we use them because it allows us to see the whole picture of a person. Referring to people in our environment by the Pronoun of their choosing normalizes non-binary and transgender identities in the workplace and creates a safer environment for everyone. Additionally, it shows our commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and allows us to respect our candidates, clients, and others.

How can we use them?

Ding, Ding, Ding! Five Stars! We should all consider including our Pronouns in our email signature and incorporate neutral language in greetings. If you are not sure how someone would like to be addressed, it’s okay. Just Ask. Try something appropriate like, “My pronouns are _______. Are you comfortable sharing your pronouns with me?” And if you make a mistake and someone corrects you, say “Thank you” instead of “I’m sorry.”

For ideas on how to participate in #pronounsday and for additional resources, please visit pronounsday.org.

By Haley Stowell, Sr. Creative Account Manager

The smarty team continues to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with more influential views on Hispanic culture.

Creative Account Manager, Haley Stowell, enjoys the writing of Sandra Cisneros.  Known for work that experiments with literary forms which investigate emerging subject positions, Cisneros, herself, attributes her style to growing up in a context of cultural hybridity and economic inequality. Sandra is the only daughter in a family of six brothers which often made her feel isolated. Additionally, the constant migration of her family between Mexico and the United States made her feel as though she was always straddling two countries, while never really belonging to either culture. As a result, her work deals with the formation of Chicana identity, exploring the challenges of being caught between Mexican and Anglo-American cultures, facing the misogynist attitudes present in both these cultures, and experiencing poverty.

Cisneros has received numerous awards, including a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and the Ford Foundation Art of Change fellowship in 2017, and is regarded as a key figure in Chicano literature.

In Haley’s Words…

“I admire her bold prose which lends itself to exemplifying the stories of Latinx individuals that are truly felt and understood across cultures.”

Haley’s Pick…

Sandra Cisneros penned one of Haley’s favorite books. A coming-of-age story called The House on Mango Street. Check it out!

Read more about Sandra Cisneros here.

Eryn Briscoe, Talent Acquisition Specialist at smartdept., admires the work of Mexican Painter, Frida Kahlo. Frida is known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Born to a German father and a mestiza mother, Kahlo spent most of her childhood and adult life at La Casa Azul, her family home in Cayoacán. Inspired by the country’s popular culture, she employed a naïve folk art style to explore questions of identity, postcolonialism, gender, class, and race in Mexican society. Often mixing strong autobiographical elements and mixed realism with fantasy. Kahlo has been described as both a surrealist and a magical realist.

Kahlo is known for painting her experience with chronic pain. She contracted polio as a child and was injured in a bus accident at the age of 18, which caused her lifelong pain and medical problems. It was then she returned to her childhood interest in art.

In Eryn’s own words…

“I think I admire Frida because of her exclamation, I paint the flowers so they will not die. I love that philosophy! Seeing art as a way to own the unknownable, to protect the things and people you love against the cruelty of time. Also, the fact that she’s a woman of color in a patriarchal society, is very impactful.”

Eryn’s Pick…

Check out, Diego and I. In this painting, Frida’s great anguish over Diego Rivera is revealed after his affair with Maria Felix nearly resulted in their divorce.

Read more about Frida Kahlo here.

Credits: “Sandra Cisneros” by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Photograph of Frida Kahlo’s 1949 oil painting Diego And I via Wikipedia. Header photo: crop of Emmy Star Brown painting.

The smarty team continues to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with more influential views on Hispanic culture.

Creative Account Manager, Morgan Gorecki, would like you to take some time to learn about Sylvia Rivera. Born on July 2, 1951, this Latina trailblazer was a Venezuelan-Puerto Rican trans woman who pioneered LGBT activism, fighting for trans rights. Raised in New York City, Sylvia was abandoned by her birth father and became an orphan after her mother died by suicide. Living on the streets before her 11^th birthday, Rivera was forced to work as a child prostitute before she was taken in by a local community of drag queens who gave her the name Sylvia. Together she and Marsha P Johnson (who allegedly was the first person who threw a brick in the Stonewall riots) created the “Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries” (STAR) organization that provided a home for trans people living on the streets in the 1970s in NY as well as offered organizers a space to discuss issues facing the transgender community in NY.

In Morgan’s Words…

I admire Sylvia on many levels. As time goes on, the trans community has become more and more accepted, and it is clear the work Sylvia had done in the past was the catalyst to this. She had paved the way for the LGBT community to walk; feeling much more normal than our past histories have depicted. In hindsight, Sylvia has saved so many LGBT lives with her efforts not only at the Stonewall riots, but her legacy lives on as the world continues to move in a more positive direction.

Morgan’s Pick…

Check out the book, The Stone Wall Reader, an anthology chronicling the tumultuous fight for LGBTQ rights in the 1960s and the activists who spearheaded it.

Read more about Sylvia Rivera here and here.

Rob Leinheiser, Talent Acquisition Specialist at smartdept., admires the work of Jacob Padrón. This Mexican American is the artistic director of Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT. He is also the Artistic Director of The Sol Project and a co-founder of the Artists’ Anti-Racism Coalition. A graduate of Loyola Marymount University where he studied Theatre and Communications, Jacob also attended the Yale School of Drama studying Theatre Management.

Padrón was raised in Gilroy, California. During his youth, he attended a production of “La Virgen del Tepeyac” put on by El Teatro Campesino. He soon joined the company and was a member throughout his teenage years. After graduating college Jacob volunteered with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, providing support for those living with HIV/AIDS. Before his role at Long Warf Theatre, he worked as an associate producer for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a producer at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, and a producer for the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles. Padrón was named “one to watch” by American Theatre Magazine.

In Rob’s own words…

“I love the theatre scene in New Haven, where I live, and it has been made even better the last few years with Jacob Padrón’s artistic leadership at Long Wharf Theatre. Jacob is a talented producer who has dedicated his work to lift new and exciting voices, reckoning with the legacy of racism in American theatre, and fulfilling Long Wharf’s mission statement of creating theatre for everyone.”

Rob’s Pick…

If you’re local to New Haven (and even if you’re not, join or support the Long Wharf Theatre because “theatre is for everyone.”

Read more about Jacob Padrón here and here.

Credits: Sylvia Rivera with STAR banner by Roseleechs – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0; header photo: crop of Emmy Star Brown painting.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, smartdept. has asked a few of its smarties to share whom it is that they admire from this richly talented and diverse community.

One of our founders, Michelle Pairitz, would like you to know about Judithe Hernández, an artist, educator, muralist, pastel artist, and painter. Judithe is a pioneer of the Chicano Art Movement and a former member of the art collective Los Four. She is based in Los Angeles, CA, and previously lived in Chicago, IL.

Judithe first received acclaim in the 1970s for her mural work. Her artistic practice shifted over time and now is centered on works on paper, principally pastels, which frequently incorporate indigenous imagery and the social-political tension of gender roles.

In 1974, she became the fifth and only woman member of Los Four, the influential and celebrated East Los Angeles Chicano artist collective. Additionally, she was later part of the art collective, Centro de Arte Público. As early as 1970, Hernández was involved in the initial efforts of Chicano artists in East Los Angeles. During a time in which she was the only female at meetings who was not a girlfriend or wife but an active artist participant.

In Michelle’s Words…

“I identify with and admire Judithe Hernandez on many levels. I, too, am an Artist who similarly produces large works and expresses my point of view through my work. As a professional, I consider myself a trailblazer, like Judithe. Starting a niched staffing resource more than twenty years ago involved imagination, courage, and a multitude of risks. Still today, smartdept. is one of just a few creative, digital, and marketing-niched staffing resources certified as a women’s business enterprise.”

Michelle’s Pick…

Check out Summer, created by Judithe in 2013 as a portion of the Santa Monica Metro public art project transcultural depictions of sun-related mythology.

Learn more about Judithe Hernández here and here.

Melissa Imbrogno, Senior National Account Manager at smartdept. admires the work of actor, rapper, composer, playwright, and filmmaker Lin-Manuel Miranda. Known for creating the Broadway musicals Hamilton and In the Heights, and the soundtrack of Disney’s Encanto, his work has earned him three Tony Awards, three Grammy Awards, two Laurence Olivier Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, an Annie Award, a MacArthur Fellowship Award, a Kennedy Center Honor, and a Pulitzer Prize.

A graduate of Wesleyan University, Miranda made his Broadway debut in the 2008 musical In the Heights, starring, and writing the music and lyrics. A critical and commercial success, In the Heights, won Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Original Score, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album, and was adapted into a film released in June 2021. Miranda is perhaps most recognized for writing the script, music, and lyrics for the pop culture phenomenon Hamilton in 2015. It earned the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for a record 16 Tony Awards, winning eleven.

In Melissa’s own words…

“Lin is an amazing writer and performer and has inspired a whole new demographic with his release of Hamilton. He took something that’s been the same way since the beginning of time and flipped it on its head. He is a minority, embraces his culture, and has inspired and taught so many.”

Melissa’s Pick…

Disney’s Encanto because the musical style is immediately recognizable and the impression it leaves on you is unforgettable.

Learn more about Lin-Manuel Miranda here and here.

Credits: Judithe Hernández in 2010 via Wikipedia; Miranda in March 2022, via Wikipedia; header photo: crop of Emmy Star Brown painting.

For the first week of Hispanic Heritage month, smartdept. is highlighting the life and career of Hall of Famer and former Pittsburgh Pirate, Roberto Clemente.

Stick to what you know, right?

Clemente played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball, all with the Pirates. Among his player achievements are 15 All-Star games, 1966 NL MVP award, 4-time NL batting champion, 12 consecutive gold gloves, 3000 career hits, 2x World Series champion, and a World Series MVP.

Oh, yeah, and he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and 6 months after his untimely death Baseball waived its standard 5-year waiting period and inducted him into the Baseball Hall of Fame (1973). His induction made him the first Caribbean-born and Latin player to receive enshrinement.

But in my opinion, that’s not even what makes him special.

Roberto Clemente was a tireless humanitarian, spending his off-seasons focused on charitable causes. His efforts both on and off the field lead Major League Baseball to rename its Commissioners Award to The Roberto Clemente Award given to the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement, and the individual’s contribution to his team.

So, it was no surprise that when Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua, was affected by an earthquake on December 23, 1972, Clemente immediately went to work arranging emergency relief. But he learned that because of corrupt officials in the Somoza government, the aid packages that he set up were not being delivered. On New Year’s Eve 1972, he decided to accompany the relief flight, hoping that his presence would ensure the delivery of the much-needed aid to the survivors. The Douglas DC-7 cargo plane he chartered had a history of mechanical problems, an insufficient number of flight personnel, and was overloaded by 4,200 pounds when it crashed immediately after take-off into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Isla Verde Puerto Rico. There were no survivors.

If you investigated it, you would find endless examples of selfless acts performed by the late Roberto Clemente. One that sticks out for me happened on the day of his passing and was quite possibly the last selfless thing he did.

Tom Walker was a pitcher who pitch parts of six seasons in the big leagues and got to know Clemente while playing winter ball in Puerto Rico. He had just finished his rookie campaign when, on Dec. 31, 1972, he was among a handful of ballplayers helping to load the small plane in San Juan with food, clothing, and medical supplies.

Walker, who was single at the time, was to travel along on the ill-fated journey, but Clemente urged him and several others to stay back and celebrate the new year. Walker stayed, and he survived. And as only fate would have it, Walker was drawn to Clemente’s adopted hometown of Pittsburgh. Where he would raise his family and where his son, Neil on September 1, 2009, would make his Major League debut as a member of (you guessed it) the Pittsburgh Pirates. Neil Walker has been quoted, as saying “I literally owe my life to Roberto Clemente.”

Join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage this month, and share who has inspired you.

By Eric Pairitz, smartdept. Principal

Jackie Robinson says to Branch Rickey, “You want a player who doesn’t have the guts to fight back”? Rickey returns, “No. I want a player who’s got the guts not to fight back.”

Before Martin Luther King Jr., there was Jackie Robinson. By being the first Black player to play in the Major Leagues and doing so without conflict, he was leading peaceful protests one game at a time, inspiring a nation, allowing an entire race of people to see what could be done, and giving them the courage to follow his lead.

April 15^th is Jackie Robinson Day in the United States. And this April 15^th marks the 75^th anniversary of the day that Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in a Major League Baseball game. When in 1947, he took the field as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Though baseball was not the first sport to integrate (football did it one year earlier), Jackie’s ability to follow through on his promise to not “fight back” paved the way for countless athletes of African American descent to follow.

At smartdept., we take the time to recognize and celebrate Jackie Robinson Day. The first step in creating a culture that promotes diversity, equality, and inclusion involves education. Through conversation, we can begin to understand what is essential to an individual and an organization and develop strategies around solutions. As I reflect on past Jackie Robinson Days, I’m reminded of the time my oldest daughter excitedly came home from second grade to share with me that her class was studying a chapter on Negro League Baseball. Knowing she was named after Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux and that her dad was a baseball nut, Maddy knew I would be excited. She didn’t know that I have an extensive collection of Negro League memorabilia, including cards, jerseys, posters, autographs, videos, and more. And I love to share.

Like any good salesperson would do, I identified my target, got the contact information for Second Grade Teacher, Mrs. Marsh, and made my pitch (pun intended) to come to share my knowledge and treasures with her second-grade classroom. Okay, I admit it’s not a tough sell! Pretty much, anyone who calls any grade-school teacher and offers to fill 30 minutes of class time (so they don’t have to) will be welcomed with open arms. She may have offered to come to the house and drive me to the school to make sure I showed up. All kidding aside, it was an honor to have the opportunity to go to each of my four daughters’ second-grade classrooms to talk about Negro League Baseball, Jackie Robinson, and what he had to endure to leave his legacy. It was a privilege and a time in my life that I will always look back on fondly.

Join us in the celebration by dawning a number 42 jersey on Friday, April 15^th. Or any other day. And learn more about Jackie’s impact on our game here. Then share it!

By Eric Pairitz, smartdept. Principal

Women’s history month is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the important female figures who have shaped our paths through life. These might be family members, friends, or mentors. Some might be individuals we see every day, while others influence us from our memories alone.

One influential woman in my life was my Grandma Lissy, who passed away last October. She led a remarkable life, by all accounts. At sixteen years old, she escaped from the Holocaust, fleeing south from the Netherlands through France. It was only through good fortune and the heroic actions of the Portuguese consulate Aristides de Sousa Mendes that she and her family were able to cross into Spain, Portugal, and, eventually, the United States.

Upon arriving in the U.S., Lissy Jarvik continued her studies and eventually attended what is now Case Western University School of Medicine. In her early thirties, she married and began a family, juggling a prolific career. She led incredible advancements in the field of psychology and specifically in her research on twins and Alzheimer’s disease. Eventually, she became a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at UCLA, where she was a pioneer in the field of psychogeriatrics.

In her later life, my grandma thought a lot about how to document and share a life lived. She spent years working on an unfinished memoir and was passionately vocal about her escape from the Nazis thanks to de Sousa Mendes. Perhaps it was through her influence that I found myself pondering the same questions when she passed away in October of 2021. How do you honor such a life as it ends? How can you share and celebrate its memory?

This is a question many great thinkers have pondered over time. Several William Shakespeare’s sonnets, for instance, are dedicated to the notion, often concluding that children are the purest form of legacy. “Die single, and thine image dies with thee,” reads the last line in Sonnet 3, as it urges a youth gazing in a mirror to have children or be forgotten to the mists of time. Other individuals focus on the work we do in our lives. “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing [about],” advised Benjamin Franklin in the 1738 edition of “Poor Richard’s Almanac.”

These ideas echoed in my head as I helped clean out Grandma’s apartment last October. As we emptied the bookshelves, it occurred to me that the collection reflected her life. They held her interests and passions, friends and colleagues, and history. Her escape. Her career. Her family. Her joys. I felt her there. That is when it occurred to me—what better way to honor my grandma, who loved to give gifts, than to re-gift each book in her collection?

Thus began the “Lissy’s Library” project. I packed up all 375 unclaimed books from my grandma’s collection and brought them back to my apartment. I organized them, created an online survey, and invited everyone and anyone who might be interested in signing up for a book. So far, around 200 books have been claimed, and 100 have been mailed out to 27 US states and nine countries, spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. (And the project is still ongoing! If you’d like to receive a book, you can still sign up here.)

One of my favorite things about the project has been learning a little bit about each book recipient. Some people leave comments about their lives, making me feel the beauty of this impermanent community I am creating. One woman sent me a message that she had read about my grandma’s life and was inspired to share the story with her children. Other recipients commented on how the project helped them reflect on themselves or reminded them of their loved ones. That is a legacy for which I know my grandma would be proud.

So, this women’s month, I hope you, too, will take the opportunity to reflect on the people that have shaped you, the journeys they have taken, and the ways you can honor them.

By Leah Jarvik, guest contributor