By Amanda Biundo (VP of Creative & Marketing)
My sunburn is still peeling, and my blisters are still healing, but I can confidently say that my first industry conference was well worth the altitude and the hustle.
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the AAPC Pollie Awards in beautiful Colorado. As someone who’s typically behind my computer crafting campaigns and building creative strategy, stepping into a space filled with so many of the brightest minds in our field was an experience I won’t forget. I’m incredibly grateful to our team for encouraging me to be there and supporting the work that made it possible.
Even more meaningful was the number of people who took the time to come up and tell me they read and enjoyed this very newsletter. It’s easy to feel like you’re sending words into the void, so hearing that these reflections and insights resonate with folks across the industry meant a great deal.
Of course, we didn’t just attend. We brought home four national awards this year: two for our direct mail design, one in the overall category for phones (a recognition that highlights the best of a series rather than a single creative), and a major personal win for our partner Derek Dufresne, who was named to the AAPC’s prestigious 40 Under 40 list. Each year, only 20 Republicans and 20 Democrats are selected for this honor out of hundreds of nominations. This year, 381 nominations were submitted nationwide, making the recognition even more meaningful. We’re incredibly proud to see Derek recognized for his leadership, vision, and the hard work he puts into every campaign we touch.
To those of you who sat down with Derek and me during the conference, thank you. We had energizing conversations about what’s working, where we’re headed, and how to continue pushing the envelope creatively and strategically. We’re excited about the possibilities these conversations sparked and look forward to working with many of you in the future. It was clear that the 2026 cycle is already taking shape in exciting and innovative ways, and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead.
One of my favorite moments happened during a quick break between meetings. Derek and I were sitting outside when two attendees asked to join us. They worked for a tech-focused company that primarily serves Democratic campaigns and were chatting about their most significant takeaway from the conference: that Democrats were significantly outspent on direct mail. We had to laugh because we’d heard the opposite sentiment throughout our conversations all week. Many Republican consultants expressed concern that Democrats were outspending them on digital.
It was a fascinating moment and a reminder of how the grass often feels greener on the other side. Everyone is chasing that next edge, whether we’re talking about mail, digital, phones, or door-knocking. We’re all trying to do more, improve our results, and stay one step ahead of the opposition. In the chase, losing sight of how much we’ve already accomplished can be easy.
If the Pollies reminded me of anything, it’s that there’s value in listening, learning, and recognizing the shared drive that unites us across party lines. The tools will continue to evolve, and the strategies will shift, but the mission remains the same: connect, persuade, and win.
Here’s to what we’ve built and to what comes next.
