Building Bonds and Shaping the Future: Rivergate Strategy Offsite
This past November, our team gathered together in Salisbury, MA for our annual strategy offsite. The retreat provided us with the opportunity to reflect on the company’s recent growth and to build bonds and friendships.
Blog by Brittany Averill
At Rivergate Marketing, we recently held our annual strategy offsite and team-building event, providing an opportunity for our team to connect and collaborate. From the picturesque location to the invigorating activities, it was an experience that left a lasting impact on our team and our approach to work.
Situated in Salisbury, MA, our team offsite this year took place in a beautiful house right on the ocean. The serenity and calmness of the ocean in wintertime were a welcome break from the chaos of the holiday season and a busy end to the work year for the company.
As a fully virtual team, our in-person offsite gives us a rare and much-needed opportunity to connect and build the core trust and friendship that underpin our work at Rivergate Marketing. From savoring unexpectedly spicy Thai takeout lunch to playing “What You Don’t Know About Me” over sushi in town, all the bonding and time spent together brought us closer and boosted team morale.
“Being able to spend face-time with the team goes a long way,” said Digital Marketing Specialist Julia Plott. “I cherish being able to share stories in the evening and talking strategy the next morning. It’s a balance that gives us all confidence in each other and keeps us running as a well-oiled machine.”
With members flying in from across the country, it was a testament to our dedication to shaping our collective future and that of our clients. The company’s recent growth necessitated a strategic focus during our retreat. We delved into discussions on how to grow effectively, identify business development goals, and navigate the ever-changing landscape of manufacturing and engineering.
Having welcomed two new teammates since the last offsite, Brittany and Kirsten, one of the main focuses of our strategy sessions was based on identifying our strengths and weaknesses, both individually and as a team. Doing this allows us to ensure that we work in a way that’s most effective for our clients and leverages the best of every team member’s skill set. We also realized the importance of streamlining our onboarding procedures to help our company grow and flourish while ensuring our clients don’t feel any growing pains.
“Joining a marketing company that does a lot of technical writing about robotics in manufacturing can be daunting for someone without prior experience in the field,” said Digital Marketing Specialist Kirsten LeRoij. “Rivergate does an exceptional job at bringing each new member up to speed.”
Another key focus that we centered our working sessions around was education, ensuring that the entire team stays up to date and ahead of marketing industry trends, thus keeping our clients ahead of the curve as thought leaders in the space.
Our time together during the strategy offsite was a perfect blend of work and play. It reinvigorated our team with a renewed sense of camaraderie and determination that we will carry with us as we return to our virtual workspaces. We left the retreat with a clear vision of where our company is going and an unwavering excitement for the future of our work and the success of our clients’ businesses.
“We greatly look forward to our annual in-person strategy retreats,” said Georgia Whalen, founder of Rivergate Marketing. “At the end of the day, we are focused on continuous improvement with the goal of delivering the highest value to our clients while maintaining a strong company culture and support system for our employees. That doesn’t happen by accident, and this strategy session is vital part of achieving that goal. We use this opportunity not only to refocus our strategy and fine-tune our approach, but also to strengthen our team by having fun and building memories.”
While the serene ocean surroundings provided the perfect backdrop for reflection and inspiration during our working sessions, we also embraced the not-so-tranquil side of the New England winter shoreline by doing our very own “polar plunge.” The quick dip got our blood pumping and will be remembered fondly by the team for many years to come.
“Each year we meet at a different location and with the fun activities we build into the schedule, at times it feels like a girls’ trip getaway,” said Christine McQuilkin, vice president of account services. “My personal favorite moments were playing ‘What You Don’t Know About Me’ and witnessing the polar plunge. We also had an unforgettable Secret Santa gift exchange that went awry with one team member receiving all the gifts!”
Stay tuned for more updates on our continued growth and the extraordinary work we are doing at Rivergate Marketing! Ready to “take the plunge” with your marketing goals? Contact us today to see how we can work together!