7 Years of Saying Yes at Evergreen

They say in relationships that seven years is when the “Seven Year Itch” sets in—that time when the initial magic wears off, routine takes over, and you start feeling restless for something different. 

As I sit here on a cold, rainy morning in Indiana and reflect on Evergreen Strategic Communications seventh anniversary, I have to admit: I definitely have an itch. But it’s not an itch to walk away from this work or change course. It’s an itch to dream bigger and dig deeper for our clients and to keep building the extraordinary community the Evergreen team has created together. 

If someone had told me on day one—when Evergreen was just a simple idea, a laptop, and a huge dose of inexperience—what this journey would look like, I’m not sure I would have believed them.  I had just quit a job I loved with no plan for what was next and I knew I just needed something “good” to happen after months of trying to function in a toxic work environment. 

So I set out and started connecting with my network for any project available to keep me busy while I looked for another job. Somewhere along the way, I stopped looking for one-off projects and found myself growing something bigger. I can’t remember ever saying I wanted to own and run a marketing agency and business ownership was never a dream of mine. I just kept going and just kept saying yes. Sitting here seven years in, I can say that building and growing a business has been the most humbling, exhilarating, exhausting, and rewarding experience of my life. 

The Highs, the Lows, and Everything In Between

When people look at a business from the outside, they mostly see the highlights: the impressive client list, the polished brand launches, the milestone celebrations, and the glowing testimonials. And don’t get me wrong, those moments are incredible.

However, what they don't see are the quiet, late-night moments of self-doubt. The times I poured my heart into a proposal that I really wanted to win and didn't even get an email back. The anxiety of navigating uncertain economic tides, shifting market strategies, and the inevitable growing pains that come with scaling a team.

There are days when the weight of responsibility feels heavy, times when I ask myself if I have what it takes to keep pushing forward, and moments when imposter syndrome consumes my thoughts. 

Yet, for every steep climb, the view from the summit has been breathtaking.

The true magic of Evergreen isn't found in our pitch decks or our strategic plans—it’s in the messy, beautiful reality of doing hard work with people and missions we care deeply about. It’s in those "aha!" breakthroughs during a strategy session, the collective sighs of relief after a successful launch, and the quiet pride of knowing we helped a client tell a story that truly mattered. 

To Our Clients: The Heartbeat of Evergreen

To our clients—past, present, and future—thank you. Truly.

You have trusted us with your visions, your stories, and your goals. You’ve let us into your organizations, invited us to sit at your tables, and treated us not just as vendors, but as genuine partners and friends. 

We have celebrated your wins alongside you, worked through your challenges in the trenches, and learned so much from your passion and resilience. Watching your organizations grow, make an impact, and thrive is the ultimate reward for everything we do. Evergreen exists because of your trust, and that is a privilege I will never take for granted.

To My Team: The Engine and the Soul

To the incredible team at Evergreen: you are the heart and soul of this agency.

Your creativity, dedication, and unwavering standards of excellence inspire me every single day. You bring empathy, brilliance, and heart to every project and turn complex challenges into meaningful connections. Thank you for showing up, for caring so deeply, and for making Evergreen not just a marketing agency, but a special place for each of us. 

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter

I’m seven years in and I would be lying if I said I don’t often think: What’s next?

My hope for the future of Evergreen is simple: to keep growing without losing our soul.

I want us to continue pushing the boundaries of what strategic marketing can do for mission-driven organizations—embracing new tools, pioneering fresh approaches, and expanding our reach. But no matter how much we evolve, our core will remain unchanged. We will always be driven by authentic relationships, strategic clarity, and a passion for stories that create real impact.

If these past seven years have taught me anything, it’s that the journey is rarely linear, but it is always worth it when you’re surrounded by the right people.

So, here’s to the seven year itch—the kind that keeps us curious, passionate, and eager for whatever comes next. Thank you for being a part of our story. We can’t wait to share the next chapter with you.

With immense gratitude,

Emily