Oran Parker, the new Creative Services Director for Sweet Spot Telemedia, thinking about some really sweet things to come

June 1, 2009

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I'm no stranger to sticking things out and waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. Those same people will also tell you that I'm not one to wait too dang long for something to happen before I take action myself. I'm willing to step off the edge to get things moving, which is in complete alignment with my philosophy of creative momentum.

Now, sometimes things take their own course and the right action arises on it's own. The big trick is to be aware when it happens. That moment came for me recently in the form of an offer to join Judd Bares in his efforts to expand his company, Sweet Spot Telemedia, in creative and exciting new directions. The offer was too (dare I say it) sweet to refuse.

Sweet Spot Telemedia is located in Sulphur, Louisiana-Oran & Judd's hometown

Joining Sweet Spot Telemedia as the Creative Services Director puts me in a position in which I can focus my talents in new directions while putting my existing skill set to good use. Anyone who has worked with me knows that I expect the best out of myself and those that I work with, while at the same time maintaining a high level of efficiency throughout the entire creative process. Judd and I have worked together on many projects over the past two years, including the 2009 ADDY Awards production, and I foresee many creative works coming to life as a result of the Bares/Parker team.

Peter O'Carroll, Oran Parker & Judd Bares discussing the future over coffee

Leaving the employ of Peter O'Carroll and his O'Carroll Group was not a decision I made lightly. Working for Peter has been a good experience and I look forward to working with him and his team in the future.

My two and half years at O'Carroll Group has left me with plenty of fond memories, and has ingrained in me many strong marketing lessons that I will utilize as my professional career evolves. My final days at O'Carroll Group are once again reminding me that this is an advertising agency that has the salt to produce quality advertising that works.

I imagine that the coming weeks be filled with good & healthy creative energy as I get closer to my final days as the Creative Director for Peter's group. As for my future with Judd's telemedia company? Well, I like to say that my personal brand of creative juice is always looking for an outlet and Sulphur seems to be just the spot to let it flow.

Expect some really sweet things to come.

-Oran

October 3, 2007
Reported by Pam Dixon

Hundreds of area students put their creativity to the test in a competition for the best design for a logo for Adventure Cove playground. Oran Parker, a designer with the O'Carroll Group, helped select the winning logo. Oran says, "There are certain things you're looking for. Does it send a clear message? Do you get the point? Is it interesting?"

Pam says, "After a couple of days of judging, the winning design was selected. Now we're going inside this classroom to surprise the winner."

Nine year old Greg Breinin, a fourth grader at Bell City High School, came up with the winning idea. Greg says, "I was thinking about an alligator at first, so I drew the eyes and then I started thinking what if it would be in a swamp, so that's when I came up with all the trees and stuff."

After the surprise, Oran gave Greg a one on one crash course in developing his logo idea into a professional design. Oran says, "He says it's an alligator behind there, but you really don't know that that's an alligator. It can be a child. It can be just something. So there was this element of mystery, which is kind of cool because the park isn't built yet and even though there's a plan and such, you don't really know what you're going to see at the end. So it's kind of inviting you inside."

Greg won a $100 savings bond and something money can't buy-- pride in a job well done. Greg says, "I might go there and look at my logo again and say... hmm I remember when I drew that logo." And that logo will be around for a long time.

Greg won the savings bond and his art teacher, Lisa Myers, won a $100 gift card for art or school supplies. Greg's logo will soon be on T-shirts, and you'll see a lot of those shirts on volunteers out at the park site off Highway 14.

If you'd like to volunteer to help build Adventure Cove or work in off site jobs like child care or food services, click here or call 491-9151. The park will be built from October 16th through the 21st.