We ask that you join us in celebrating! Why? Well, Bloom is officially bi-coastal.
We are excited to announce that we have established a third location in Asheville, North Carolina. This expansion enables us to amplify our client service efforts on the East Coast and strengthens our ability to provide meaningful work that supports the greater good across the North and Southeastern parts of the country.
New to us? First, it’s great to meet you! Second, we’d love to share with you more about who we are. With a client portfolio of nonprofit, healthcare, government, and community-minded for-profit organizations, Bloom is dedicated to client success as well as fostering healthier and more sustainable communities. We invested $223,000 in monetary donations and pro bono time in 2021 alone, focusing on communities in which our clients and employees live and work—which will now include Asheville.
“We are so excited about establishing a presence in North Carolina,” said our founder and CEO, Brianna McKinney. “As a passionate team that cares deeply about the growth of our people, the success of our clients, and the collective impact we can make, we look forward to the positive effect our growth will have on the Asheville community, and to giving back in new ways.”
Why Asheville
With so many cities to choose from, it was a tough decision as to where we should open our next location; but after spending some time in the Asheville area, it became a no-brainer for Brianna that Asheville is the perfect fit for Bloom.
Drawn to Asheville’s engaged communities, cultural values, friendly people, creative spirit, abundant nature, and environmental preservation mindset, Brianna knew Asheville was the right place for Bloom to land. With offices already in Austin, TX, and Portland, OR, Brianna felt that the similarities between the three locations would allow for a smooth transition into opening the Asheville office. The type of culture and community among these cities in terms of music, performing arts, museums, food, and art galleries quickly made Brianna feel at home. The “Keep Portland/Austin Weird” motto could easily be translated into “Keep Asheville Weird” with its funky, upbeat, and vibrant energy.
“I’d been open to the idea of someday establishing an East-coast presence, and Asheville just felt like the right spot,” shared Brianna. “In doing further research and spending more time there, I discovered its shared values of supporting local businesses, fostering community, and protecting and furthering the health of its community members and environment.”
Building a Presence in Asheville
Kasey Kane, a Marketing Account Supervisor here at Bloom, is taking over as our lead in the Asheville office. Just recently, Kasey, her husband, and their two fur babies packed their bags and headed to the mountains to be closer to their roots—offering Bloom the perfect chance to expand into such a beloved area.
“As a North Carolina native, I’ve always loved this naturally beautiful state—especially Western NC. Asheville is full of creative energy and innovative businesses I know we’d love to support in their growth,” shared Kasey. “We also have a lot to learn from the people and businesses of this area and are eager to expand our role in serving the local community.”
As an agency, we couldn’t be more excited about the new doors that Asheville opens for our team—but we’re even more excited about the chance to give back to such a great community like Asheville.
Recently, Brianna and Kristin Thumlert, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, took a trip to Asheville to connect with organizations in the community. “Asheville is a growing community with a lot of people moving there during Covid,” explained Kristin. “Its focus on mission-driven and non-profit organizations, as well as tons of B-Corp businesses, presents us (Bloom) with a lot of unique business opportunities.”
After hearing from businesses in the area, Brianna and Kristin learned that there is a real need for mission-based communications services in Asheville—a gap we’re looking forward to filling. Not only that, but Kristin divulged that there’s a real chance here to become more than a resource—we’re becoming a part of a community.
With Kasey currently being the only active member of the Bloom team in Asheville, we are looking to grow our team with new talent in the area as we continue to grow as an organization. As noted by Kasey, “The Asheville community has a lot to teach Bloom… [it] will also impact Bloom through the talent we add to our team here. We know there are many sharp and talented marketing, PR, and creative professionals in this area.”
Do you know, or are you, a mission-driven business owner or executive in the nonprofit, healthcare, or value-based for-profit field who would benefit from access to Bloom’s integrated communications services? Send them our way! From public relations and crisis management to creative brand management and digital marketing, Bloom has you covered.
Feel free to reach out to Kristin Thumlert at kristin@bloomcommunications.com or share her information with your contact.
Ready for a communications career rooted in giving back and providing meaningful work to an array of mission-based clients? Check out our careers page for the latest job opportunities with us.