IAFE 2011: I Love This Bar… and Our Clients!

With so many of our clients attending the IAFE Conference in Las Vegas, the Saffire team decided to seize the opportunity and bring them all together for a group dinner on Monday evening at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill. Of course we had a little thank you gift for our clients! We … Continue reading “IAFE 2011: I Love This Bar… and Our Clients!”

With so many of our clients attending the IAFE Conference in Las Vegas, the Saffire team decided to seize the opportunity and bring them all together for a group dinner on Monday evening at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill.

Of course we had a little thank you gift for our clients!

We had such a fun time visiting and catching up with the teams from Brazos Valley Fair & Expo, Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo, Western Fairs Association, and our newest client who signed on earlier that very day, but that’s a surprise.

Rebekah and Cassie with Liz and Carrie from WFA.

For many of us, it was our first time to meet each other in person and really put a face with a name.  It was also a great opportunity for our clients to get to know each other and share their own stories and experiences.

Some of the highlights of the meal included the fried mac and cheese balls, fried jalapeno poppers, chicken fried steak and fried Twinkies for dessert.  Are you noticing the trend?  

Fried Twinkies = Yummy

We also enjoyed some live music and some very entertaining people watching.  Thank you to all who joined us for such a memorable evening! It was a joy to see and visit with you all!

– Jessica

Giving Thanks

Our team would like to wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving! Just a friendly reminder that our offices will be closed tomorrow and Friday to spend time with our loved ones. We have a lot to be grateful for this year, and we hope you’ll take a moment tomorrow to count your blessings. So … Continue reading “Giving Thanks”

Our team would like to wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving!

Just a friendly reminder that our offices will be closed tomorrow and Friday to spend time with our loved ones.

We have a lot to be grateful for this year, and we hope you’ll take a moment tomorrow to count your blessings.

So here’s to Thanksgiving!  May your day be filled with family, friends, food and football. 

Fire Relief: The Concert for Central Texas

The Austin office had the opportunity to support our neighbors in Bastrop last night by attending Fire Relief: The Concert for Central Texas.  It was an evening filled with some of the best live musicians around and a great example of our community pulling together to support one another. The lineup included Texas Country All-Stars … Continue reading “Fire Relief: The Concert for Central Texas”

The Austin office had the opportunity to support our neighbors in Bastrop last night by attending Fire Relief: The Concert for Central Texas.  It was an evening filled with some of the best live musicians around and a great example of our community pulling together to support one another.

The lineup included Texas Country All-Stars like Asleep at the Wheel, Lyle Lovett, Randy Rogers, Willie Nelson, Dixie Chicks and George Strait!

There were so many great moments last night, we wanted to give you a little glimpse of the greatness by sharing our favorite things about the concert.

Kendra: I loved George’s understated cool presence, how the Dixie Chicks didn’t try to show us anything new but just reminded us how amazing they were, and how Willie still made me so happy after all these times seeing him. Great show!

Rebekah: Last night, I witnessed the perfect combination of some of my favorite musicians when Ray Benson, Willie Nelson and the Avett Brothers sang “On The Road Again.”  I mean really, nothing can top that….except maybe the Dixie Chicks singing “Cowboy Take Me Away.”  Please don’t make me choose a favorite!

Jessica: The best part of last night was simply seeing so many amazing Texas artists, in various stages of popularity and stardom, pooling their talents to help raise money for a fellow Texas community in need.  For me, it was my first time to see Flaco Jimenez and the Texas Tornados live, as well as Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, both of which lived up to the iconic status I had built up in my mind.  And while it wasn’t’ my first time to see George, Willie, the Dixie Chicks or Asleep at the Wheel, it was a rare and special thing to see them all together in one night.  Throw in a few guests spots from Coach Taylor (a.k.a. Buddy Jackson, a.k.a. Kyle Chandler), and consider my night completely made!

Cassie: You know I’m a country girl at heart, so this was definitely the event for me. Seeing the Dixie Chicks was fantastic. It was like going back to middle school all over again. Randy Rogers Band was a nice addition too – gotta love some good Texas Country! I was so proud of the city of Austin for the large turn out. Events like this show what our city is made of, and I’m proud to call it my home!

We wish we had photos to show you, but iPhone photos just won’t do this concert justice.  Check out concert photos here!

We’d also like to remind you that you can still do your part to support the people of Bastrop!

Text FIRE to number 84465 to donate $10 to the Central Texas Wildfire Fund through the Austin Community Foundation.

2011 College Football Predictions

Do you feel that?  It’s something different in the air this week…excitement and a little bit of animosity. That’s right ladies and gents, it’s college football season!  The truth is that the folks in Austin and Portland have some pretty different views on how this season will turn out, so we decided to share our … Continue reading “2011 College Football Predictions”

Do you feel that?  It’s something different in the air this week…excitement and a little bit of animosity.

That’s right ladies and gents, it’s college football season! 

The truth is that the folks in Austin and Portland have some pretty different views on how this season will turn out, so we decided to share our predictions for who will win it all in the 2011-12 NCAA College Football Season with you.

Who is going to take home the big prize this year?  Well, let the guesses and trash talking begin!

OU

Aaron

The University of Oklahoma – I’m curious to see if I’ll be able to hear the disappointment in Texas if OU wins it all.

ASU

Adam

I’m going to pick Arizona State. I actually almost ended up going to college there (and the Beavers keep letting me down).

Nebraska

Cassie

Even though the Texas Longhorns won six years of my tuition dollars, my season ticket purchase and their own ESPN network (HOOK EM HORNS!), I don’t think this is their year for a title run. I’m going to pick the Nebraska Cornhuskers, making their Big Ten conference debut. There is no place like Nebraska: Taylor Martinez is now an experienced QB, and DT Jared Crick was voted the preseason #1 player in his new conference, making the blackshirt defense hard to beat. The Huskers’ success ultimately hinges on their ability to develop the passing game, which seems to always be Nebraska’s biggest downfall–are you listening Bo Pelini? GO BIG RED!

Oregon

Chris

I’m rooting for the University of Oregon because I’m from Oregon. And I like all 384 combinations of their uniforms. Go Ducks!

Oregon

Dan

I’m going with the Oregon Ducks. They have a lot of returning players and I think they can go all the way this year.

Texas

Jessica

Call me a Homer but my prediction for the 2011 National Championship team is the University of Texas Longhorns. You may say it’s “just” a rebuilding year, but I say we’re rebuilding our way all the way back to the top, baby! Fortunately, college football is a game of passion and heart, so it’s not completely unheard of an AP Poll, preseason unranked team to walk away with the title. The Horns’ new coaching staff will ignite that fire to lead us to victory, week in and week out! Hook ‘Em!

Seattle Seahawks

Jeremy

Last year, I chose my dear Portland State University Vikings, only to be mocked by everyone in my office. This year, I have aimed to be a little more realistic, so I am choosing my also beloved Seattle Seahawks to win the NCAA National Championship. With the off-season acquisition of Tarvaris Jackson, under the tutelage of former outstanding college head coach Pete Carroll. I am quite certain that we would have a way better chance of winning something if we were playing at the NCAA level. Go ‘Hawks!

Boise State

Justin

I’m going with Boise State. They are returning the same team that climbed to as high as No. 2 in the rankings in 2010. The senior class is 38-2 since 2008 and are ready for the big time this year.

Oregon

Kendra

Although OU has is one of the strongest returning teams, as a Longhorn, there is no way that I can pick them to win.

So I am picking the Oregon Ducks.

15 of 22 starters are returning, and assuming a win against LSU this Saturday at Cowboys Stadium, their only schedule challenge will be Stanford on Nov. 12th, which will easily be the biggest Pac 12 game of the season and could be 1 vs. 2 match-up by that time.

Texas

Monika

As I thought about my prediction, I looked at the top teams and realized that I hate them all so much I couldn’t bear to pick any of them. My “other” perennial favorite, Ohio State (I was born in Ohio and raised by Buckeyes), just admitted their coach was a cheater-pants, so I obviously can’t pick them.

So what’s a girl to do? I’ll pick my Alma Mater and root for my Texas Longhorns, although all I’m personally hoping for is a running game and a winning season.

Baylor

Rebekah

With the return of star quarterback Robert Griffin III, the Baylor Bears are hopeful to prove they aren’t just the little sister of the Big XII anymore with a winning season in 2011-2012. (By the way, am I the only one that doesn’t understand why it’s still called the Big XII if there are only 10 teams?) Crossing my fingers for a bowl game again! Sic ‘em Bears!

Fun at the Rodeo Austin Gala

Our team had lots of fun at the Rodeo Austin Gala Saturday night!  We were so glad Jeremy and his wife, Shelly, came to Austin to join us. Kendra and Jeremy are excited to get going to the Gala! The Palmer Events Center was the perfect location for the evening. Our table and cute centerpiece … Continue reading “Fun at the Rodeo Austin Gala”

Our team had lots of fun at the Rodeo Austin Gala Saturday night!  We were so glad Jeremy and his wife, Shelly, came to Austin to join us.

Kendra and Jeremy are excited to get going to the Gala!

The Palmer Events Center was the perfect location for the evening.

Our table and cute centerpiece

The guys were all smiles when having their picture made with the Rodeo Austin Princess!

Vince Gill did a great job entertaining the crowd.

Jeremy and Shelly danced the night away to Vince Gill and Jack Ingram.

A Wright Strategies team picture (We missed you Aaron, Justin, Chris and Mike!)

These cupcakes were delicious!

The Austin Office Girls

Lauren and Shane

Thanks for a great evening Rodeo Austin!  We’re already looking forward to next year.