Meet Ivan, our Chief Executive Dog

7/1/2020

Ivan, our Chief Executive Dog is extremely busy, but he took a few minutes to give us an exclusive interview! We are proud of the work Ivan does in the office to boost morale and remind us to take ergonomic-friendly breaks!

Simplified: Are you working from home? What's that like for a dog?
Ivan: There are pros and cons. It can be hard. Sometimes I have to move to the closet so I don’t have to listen to calls all day. I miss running around the office with my best friend, sitting in my office chair, and greeting our mailman everyday, but it’s nice to have my family home all the time. I get to bug my parents to play with me anytime I want. I don’t have to wait until 5 o'clock anymore! I like to work from my bed with my eyes closed.

Simplified: What do you do when you're not working?
Ivan: Now that it’s summer I’ve really been enjoying cabin weekends and road trips with my brother, Harris. I’ve also been doing a lot of swimming in the lake and boat rides with my friends.

Simplified: What recipes for success do you have to share?
Ivan: I highly recommend staring your parents down until they take you to the park over lunch. If they don’t take you to the park, you can also try staring at them until they give you a bite of their lunch. Trips to the Minnehaha dog park are great on a hot summer day.

Simplified: You're almost like a fly on the wall at Simplified Communications HQ; what's something you've noticed that the team hasn't admitted yet?
Ivan: In my tenure as CED I secretly make sure the team works very hard to take care of our clients and partners. They don’t think I’m paying attention, but I am! We have an amazing team and truly excellent clients. I'm lucky to be CED!

Simplified: Do you have any recommendations for dogs aspiring to be CED?
Ivan: Some might think it’s hard to be a CED, but I’ve noticed if you just show up to work every day and sleep on the floor you get promoted very quickly. So take it easy and before you know it you’ll be running the place!

If you're looking to enjoy the dog days of summer, call Simplified Communications today to learn how more of your business can be simplified, so more of your life can be enjoyed!

"The best way to get started, is to quit barking and start running!"
Ivan, CED

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.
The dog smells opportunity in every difficulty."
Ivan, CED

Unwinding After a Productive Quarter

Meditation Retreat

Let's get simplified!

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Meet Lindsay Swanson - Marketing Manager

5/27/2020

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You may know Lindsay Swanson as the Marketing Manager at Simplified Communications, but her major strengths are in reworking Big Business strategies into the environment of a smaller company, and leading games of Tag.

Lindsay brings nearly a decade of marketing experience to Simplified Communications. She's skilled in client engagement, social media, and marketing campaigns. Her favorite part of marketing is helping people discover the things they truly need--even if they didn't know what that product or service was called, or that it even existed!

Staying connected with clients and getting creative in marketing requires a certain level of fun and play. Lindsay might be found taking a much-needed computer screen break, playing tag in the office with her dog, Ivan. The desks are lined up to make a perfect path for tagging the office pup, with Reed and Patrick.

Lindsay's day-to-day life has changed quite a bit since last year, but not just because of the pandemic. She used to work for a large financial services company. Many of the strategies and tools that were used there have been retooled and applied to Simplified Communications. She loves the freedom of working in the telecom industry, which has so few rules and regulations compared to financial services. Tag wasn't really allowed at her previous office!

Simplified Communications isn't all fun and games, though. The telecom industry is extremely complex with the many options and myriad of ways to build solutions. Lindsay enjoys being able to work alongside industry experts who can brainstorm possibilities and help create excellent answers for clients.

Chief Executive Dog, Ivan is named after one of Lindsay's favorite beach bars on her favorite island, Jost Van Dyke, BVI.

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Meet Reed Knutsen - Simplified Communications Telecom Broker

4/28/2020

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Working in the telecommunications industry since 2002, Reed Knutsen has brought helpful solutions to his clients in good times and bad. He has made a number of COVID-19-required adjustments to his life and work. Luckily Reed is always up for a challenge.

The hardest part about living in lockdown is that Reed loves All The Food. A medium rare steak, pizza, Asian cuisine. His favorite--a hidden gem in the north Coon Rapids suburbs called Angkor, serving Chinese Cambodian. But lately, he is doing more cooking from home.

See Reed's Smokey Quarantine Chicken Legs Recipe below.

Reed has been working from home for over a month, and he is ready to get out of the house to go out to eat, see a movie, or go to a concert. He has high hopes for kayaking and camping in the future.

Reed's love for challenges and the outdoors makes the extreme Minnesota weather a delight. From hot to cold and back again, the landscape and wildlife are a beautiful backdrop for playing sports, writing music and spending time with his family.

You can imagine that a Minnesota guy who appreciates the extreme climate also enjoys the freedom and challenge that comes with being an independent telecom broker. Reed works fearlessly to find the best carrier and solutions for his clients.

Reed and his wife have 4 kids and 2 naughty rabbits, which keep them pretty busy most of the time, but Reed has been spending more time on his many hobbies and passions during quarantine. Reed is a musicphile, and after some extensive organization of his record collection, carefully compiled two imaginary Beatles double albums after “Let it Be,” using the best of their solo work from 1970-71. Music definitely helps relax the mind and energize the soul. Listen with us:

Reed's Smokey Quarantine Chicken Legs

Fresh chicken legs
Seasoned Salt
Salt
Black pepper
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Hickory smoking chips, soaked in water

Let the chicken sit out at room temperature for 20-25 minutes before putting on the grill. This allows the chicken to cook more evenly. Add the seasonings to the outside of the legs, covering all sides. Once you have hot coals, add hickory smoking chips that have been soaked in water for at least 30 minutes. Cook the chicken with the lid closed until it reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees at thickest part of the leg. Turn as needed to cook evenly and place legs closer to the coals for more char. You should have at least some charring and crispy skin. I like mine very charred. After removing from the grill, cover the chicken with aluminum foil and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Serve with Crispy Asparagus with olive oil and garlic.