1997: Dear Ann Richmond Gardner, Just Listen

Dear Ann,

Your role was tough… sitting between client and agency.  The diplomacy required spanned a gamut of topics from the strategic to mundane.  Everything from which idea to pursue to what color something might be may be up for debate.  Beyond the internal players we also had a swirling array of audiences from regulators, lawyers, partners… who might want to jump into the fray.  

I know we both absolutely loved our dear Dad’s.  Mine had a great saying… “Honey, I never learned anything by talking”.  Ann, I think you were the first and best lasting example of a friend and partner I have ever had who is stellar listener.  Countless times I watched you diffuse an argument, patiently taking in both the words and unspoken fuel behind someone’s position to artfully thread a needle of compromise or clarity.  

Lucky for me, I still get to leverage your remarkable ear and heart as my beloved lifelong friend.

Much Love,

Ann Simonds

aka Annie Hoagland