Welcome to Tellwell’s weekly Plog (photo-blog)!
Birthdays were celebrated, BBQ was enjoyed, travel threw in a few curveballs, Froggy surprised us with free chicken, and through it all we kept cheering on our amazing Story Makers. A week full of food, fun, and a whole lot of gratitude!
This week’s writer
Go Shorty, It’s Your Birthday!
We hit pause on the afternoon hustle to celebrate our incredible Chief of Staff, Annie! Nothing says “birthday vibes” like a box of gooey Insomnia cookies and a little throwback jam session to 50 Cent’s In Da Club. Annie keeps Tellwell running with so much heart and dedication, so it was only right that we took time to celebrate her. Here’s to another year of big wins, joy, and lots of cookies—happy birthday, Annie!
From BBQ to Bumpy Flights
The film crew hit the road (and the skies!) for their fourth trip to the Montana Pitmaster Classic, hosted by our Story Maker Kenyon Noble. This annual event is a feast for the senses—think free samples, a rib-eating contest, smoky BBQ competition, and all the community energy you can pack into one weekend. Our team was there to capture it all on film, while also shooting a new commercial and extra content to help bring the story to life. The adventure didn’t stop at the BBQ, though, their return flight was diverted to a tiny Nebraska airport where they spent hours on the tarmac. Thankfully, the team was stocked with snacks, laughter, and plenty of patience. After a surprise Denver detour, everyone made it home tired but full of stories (and maybe still smelling like BBQ smoke).
Project Highlight
We received an amazing note from Tom, our Story Maker from Thrivent Financial. Our film team traveled to 12 locations across the country earlier this year to capture interviews for their 2025 Hall of Fame inductees.
‘The Tellwell team is so easy to work with. They delivered a beautiful film and on deadline. They really went above and beyond. Our inductees always tell us how great the teams are to work with. That means so much, especially with knowing that they are going into their homes. These films have become something that everyone looks forward to at our gala every year.”
Thank you, Thrivent Financial!
Haven Gala
This week, Jenny and Max put on their best gala shoes to support our longtime Story Maker, Haven Midwest, at their annual fundraising event. Jenny had the honor of opening the night by sharing why Haven’s work makes such a powerful impact and by introducing Executive Director Jen to the stage. The evening was filled with inspiring stories, community support, and a reminder of why Haven’s mission matters so deeply. Tellwell has been proud to walk alongside Haven for many years, and it was a joy to celebrate their continued growth and impact. Learn more about their incredible work here.
Hangry No More
On Thursday, the Tellwell team got an unexpected treat thanks to Tank from the Froggy Wake Up Call! They surprised us with lunch from Hangry Joe’s, which quickly turned into a spontaneous team lunch. It was such a fun way to break up the day, share some stories about the film team’s travel woes, and enjoy great food together.
That wraps up this week! Keep an eye out for our next plog, coming September 5th!
