Capitol Communicator is running “Up Close and Personal” profiles of communicators in the mid-Atlantic. In this profile we feature Bob Sprague . Photography for the series is by Cade Martin, wardrobe styling by Pascale Lemaire and Sybil Street for THE Artist Agency; and hair and makeup by Patti D Nelson, Janice Kinigopoulos and Lori Pressman for THE Artist Agency.
Bob, please provide us a short bio.
I am President & CEO of Yes&, a new agency formed by the merger of PCI, LeapFrog Solutions, Carousel30, and ConnellyWorks. I work with clients as a writer, consultant, strategist, and crisis communicator while doing my best to lead an astonishingly creative group of people. I founded PCI almost 33 years ago as a music production company, and it’s been quite a ride evolving to today’s performance-driven marketing agency. I was born in the District of Columbia, grew up in Maryland, and built the business in Northern Virginia.
Are you involved in any other organizations?
I am a member of ASAE and the Ad Club of Washington.
What are the things you are most proud of?
Professionally, I am very proud of the Yes& employee retention rate. We have a number of key staff who have been with the company for eight years or more — pretty great in this business — and I think it speaks to the kind of satisfaction they get working here. Personally, I am proud that I have two children and that both of them still talk to me.
Who is your personal role model?
My junior high school band director was a big influence. He was a tyrant. He taught us all what it meant to be professionals, and our junior high band regularly beat out high school bands at competitions.
Did your junior high school band director offer professional advice that helped you in your career and, if so, what was it?
Listen. Always watch the conductor. The good musician always carries a pencil.
What professional advice do you have for others?
Realize that your fears are probably wildly exaggerated. You may be embarrassed, you may be humiliated, you may even fail, but you probably won’t starve or be left to the wolves. The sooner you can identify what really scares you — and how inconsequential it probably is — the sooner you can realize your potential. Ask me how I know.
What’s on your Spotify and Pandora playlists?
Brahms. Julia Fordham. Rosa Passos. The algorithms don’t know what to make of me.
What’s your favorite restaurant?
The Charleston, Baltimore. Chef’s tasting menu with wine pairings.
Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
Who said I wanted you to know that much?
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