SVPAZ was fortunate to have Andrea Tyler Evans, publisher of Frontdoors Media and founder of Evans Communication, join us for our first Fall Fireside Chat. It was a great mix of Partners – some of our long timers and new timers – at the home of immediate Past President Diane Walker. Tom Callinan put on his old journalist hat to moderate the evening with Andrea.
Here’s what we learned:
Andrea and her husband Tom have built a successful track record in the Valley as go-to event planners and strategic communicators. So in 2014, they officially joined forces under Evans Communications and quickly went from two to seven staff members. In late 2016, Julia Patrick approached them to purchase Frontdoors Media. Stunned, it took some time to process, and decided a publishing arm of Evans Communications with a publication they loved was smart.
“We’re so proud she [Julia] asked us,” Andrea shared. “It’s our responsibility to build and improve the foundation Julia created.”
March 1, 2017 they announced with a beautiful reception (some SVPAZ’ers were there!) at Schmitt Jewelers on Camelback. And developed a mission to “celebrate all forms of giving in the community.”
True to their promise Andrea, Tom and team are champions for the “good news business.” Their strictly digital magazine comes out the first Thursday of every month and fills 45-60 pages. Weekly, there’s The Knock, an email that comes out every Thursday with new stories and highlights from the monthly piece. And of course, they cover social media – Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Andrea’s favorite, Facebook.
In addition to print, Andrea is collaborating with Carey Pena of Inspired Media 360 to do a monthly behind-the-scenes story on a nonprofit and/or story from the monthly. There’s an investment to be made from the nonprofit side to be featured, but Carrie’s team packages the content for the nonprofit to be shared on multiple platforms.
Their creativity doesn’t stop there. Earlier this year, they soft launched a Tax Credit Directory, focused on 22 organizations (who paid to participate) and promoted it for six weeks. They are now taking that model and expanding it. On Nov. 1, they are going to publish the inaugural Directory that will go in to the hands of influencers (including the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants). Nonprofits included will receive six months of advertising, an article and a further explanation of how Valley tax payers can max out donations.
To Frontdoors Media, giving is hope. Thanks for giving; thanks for hope!
Be sure to support our great champions in the newsroom and become a subscriber (or follower) today!