“United Story” Campaign for United Way of Wyandotte County
Client: United Way of Wyandotte County
Project: Real-Life Storytelling Campaign
Year: 2014
The Challenge
United Way of Wyandotte County needed compelling, authentic stories to demonstrate the real-world impact of their programs. These stories would be used in fundraising, community engagement, and promotional materials. However, many of the partner agencies they worked with operated under strict confidentiality policies, making it difficult to access and share individual success stories while protecting the dignity and privacy of recipients.
The Solution
To address the challenge, Randall Skach embarked on a six-month documentation initiative, visiting over 30 partner agencies and connecting with more than 40 groups of individuals impacted by United Way-supported programs.
Using a sensitive and relationship-based approach, Randall collected:
Written stories, Audio recordings, Photographs. Video footage
These stories spanned a wide variety of human experiences, reflecting the diversity and breadth of services that United Way supports. By working closely with agency staff and following privacy guidelines, Randall was able to authentically capture the voices of recipients while maintaining their confidentiality when needed.
The Result
The collected content became the foundation of “United Story,” a 2014 awareness campaign that appeared across:
United Way’s website
Printed pamphlets and marketing materials
Community presentations and events
The campaign’s success extended to multimedia:
Two original videos were produced using the stories and visuals as the narrative framework.
The first video, titled “A United Story,” told a powerful tale of collaboration between Duchesne Clinic and Riverview Health, illustrating how United Way’s support enabled these agencies to provide more holistic care to their clients.
The video featured original music composed by Randall Skach, adding a personal and emotional layer to the storytelling.
Impact
The “United Story” campaign elevated community understanding of United Way’s work and provided tangible proof of the organization’s value. By using real voices and faces from the community, the campaign fostered a stronger connection between donors, partners, and those directly impacted by their generosity.
This project not only addressed a sensitive storytelling challenge but also set a precedent for how nonprofits can gather and share meaningful stories while respecting the dignity and privacy of those they serve.
SFA Showroom Development
Client: Shinn Fu of America (SFA)
Location: Kansas City, MO
Project: Showroom Design and Installation
The Challenge
With a high-priority potential sales client scheduled to visit in just two months by May of 2024, SFA needed to quickly transform a cafeteria that doubled as a makeshift product display into a comprehensive, professional showroom. The goal was to showcase all nine SFA brands in a compelling and cohesive way—on a limited budget—while also allowing for the flexibility to repurpose elements for mobile trade show use.
The Solution
To meet the deadline and deliver impact, the team partnered with Exhibit Associates, a local exhibit and trade show company. The approach focused on smart, multi-use design and strategic vendor coordination to maximize the budget and elevate the experience.
Key Project Elements:
Ideation & Planning:
Early brainstorming sessions determined the dual-purpose showroom/trade show strategy. The design concept focused on nine branded zones, each highlighting a different SFA brand with a mix of visuals and physical products.
Design & Layout:
Collaborated with Exhibit Associates to finalize the overall showroom layout, optimizing flow and visibility.
Lightboxes were designed to serve as focal points for each brand zone, using application photos featuring real people and real-world use cases.
Placement of lightboxes was carefully mapped to minimize rerouting of electrical outlets, reducing costs and installation time.
Product Integration:
Worked closely with Henry Hill, BVA Sales Director, to select and display key physical products that best represented each brand’s value and range. Custom-branded display boxes were used to enhance presentation and maintain consistency across zones.
Vendor Management:
Exhibit Associates: Trade show design and fabrication
Electrician: Power outlet planning and lightbox connectivity
Epoxy Flooring: Durable and polished showroom finish
Painters: Brand-aligned color palette throughout the space
Visual Content Creation:
Curated and directed a photo collection campaign to capture SFA products in real-world applications, featuring actual users across different industries.
Collaborated with the graphic design team to create custom visuals for each brand’s lightbox, including two lightboxes unifying all SFA brands for broader identity storytelling.
The Result
In just under two months, SFA successfully launched a visually impactful, highly functional showroom that left a strong impression on the visiting client. The dual-use design enables ongoing value by supporting future trade show appearances. The project highlighted the power of cross-functional teamwork, creative problem-solving, and brand storytelling—all executed on time and within budget.
Client: Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Project: Creation of a Custom Music Library for Personalized DVDs and Sound Products
Year: 2009
Location: Kansas City, MO
The Challenge
Hallmark Cards needed to develop a robust and versatile music library to support a new personalized DVD product line. The goals were twofold:
Create high-quality recordings of songs—both public domain and licensed—for immediate use.
Build a long-term library of liscensed or public domain songs that could be repurposed at low publishing costs across various products, while keeping production costs low.
The project demanded fast turnaround, professional quality, and flexible licensing—all within a tight two-month window.
The Solution
The Hallmark Sound Studio team, led by Randall Skach and Chris Dorsey, coordinated an ambitious two-month production effort involving three composers, multiple local studios, and dozens of musicians.
Composer Collaboration & Musical Direction
Three regional composers were selected based on their musical expertise and access to diverse talent:
Mark Lowrey, Kansas City jazz pianist and composer, handled orchestral and cinematic arrangements. With a 25-piece ensemble—including brass, strings, woodwinds, guitar, bass, and drums—
Mike Stover, known for his work with bands like Marco’s V7 and The Grisly Hand, coordinated a band of local musicians to record genre-spanning arrangements.
Chris Tolle, based in Lawrence, Kansas, produced a third batch of songs using his home studio. He contributed arrangements with rock and electronic influences, leveraging his versatility and access to emerging production tools.
Production Management
Hallmark Sound Studio oversaw the following logistical and creative processes:
Studio Booking: Sessions were scheduled across multiple Kansas City recording studios based on availability, instrumentation needs, and composer timelines.
Musician Coordination: Musicians were sourced by each composer, and rehearsals were organized in advance to ensure the right tone and execution.
Art Direction: Hallmark art directors were integrated into the recording process to ensure the music aligned with the brand and product vision.
Recording & Mixing: All 25 tracks were recorded, mixed, and formatted for DVD use—while preserving isolated instrument stems for future repurposing.
The Result
In just two months, the team delivered a fully produced library of 25 recorded songs, ready for use in Hallmark’s DVD products and other future applications. The estimated amount saved on publishing costs was around 5 million dollars over the next decade.
Key outcomes included:
Ownership of Master Recordings: Hallmark retained full rights to the recordings, reducing future licensing costs.
Public Domain Advantage: Recordings of public domain songs were owned outright, offering unlimited reuse.
Flexible Content Assets: Individual instrument tracks were archived, enabling custom remixes and rearrangements for new products.
Extended Value: In-studio time was used to create a sound effect library, capturing unique audio elements from the musicians and instruments.
Conclusion
The Hallmark Public Domain Recording Project demonstrated how thoughtful collaboration, strategic licensing, and local creative talent can produce high-quality content at scale and on budget. The resulting library remains a valuable asset for Hallmark's multimedia product lines
Hallcon San Jose Electric Bus Facility Branding
Client: Hallcon Corporation
Location: San Jose, California
Challenge:
Hallcon, a leading transportation service provider for companies like Facebook, Google and others, needed to fully brand its new San Jose electric bus location ahead of a high-profile client visit. With a tight timeline and high expectations, the company required a turnkey solution to create an engaging and professional environment that reflected its brand and mission.
Solution:
To meet Hallcon’s goals, a comprehensive visual branding strategy was developed and executed, transforming the facility into a cohesive and visually striking space. The project included:
Planning and Coordination Every detail of the installation needed to be planned and coordinated with onsight employees, vendors and local zoning laws.
Mural Design & Installation: Large-scale branded murals were designed by Randall Skach to reflect Hallcon’s commitment to customer experience and sustainability. These vibrant visuals were installed throughout key areas of the facility.
Photo Gallery Creation: A curated collection of photographs showcasing Hallcon vehicles in real-world operations was developed, offering a personal and authentic touchpoint for visitors.
Photography Management: Multiple professional photographers were hired, and coordinated with employees and clients in high profile areas to capture high-quality images that aligned with the brand’s values and aesthetic in real world applications.
Printing & Framing: All photos were professionally printed and framed to create a polished, gallery-style presentation.
Delivery & Installation: Every element—from murals to framed photos and signage—was delivered and coordinated to be installed on site with multiple vendors, ensuring a seamless and timely setup.
Signage Design & Installation: Custom signage was designed by Randall Skach and installed by vendors strategically throughout the location, reinforcing brand identity and guiding the visitor experience.
Vendor Coordination: The project was completed through close coordination with multiple vendors including photographers, printing, framing mural installation while managing timelines, budgets, and quality control.
Result:
The fully branded San Jose facility impressed both internal stakeholders and visiting clients. The cohesive environment elevated the perception of the location and effectively communicated Hallcon’s leadership in electric vehicle transportation. The installation met the deadline and demonstrated the impact of thoughtful, high-quality branding in operational spaces.