Today we’d like to introduce you to Allyson Wermelskirchen.
Hi Allyson, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
It’s always been my little fun fact that I had never even touched a professional camera before I got hired at Five Stone Creative in 2018. Now that I’m one of two people leading the company, that fact is even funnier to me. Back then, I was just looking for a change, and for some reason these guys decided to take a chance on me purely on potential. I’m so glad they did.
My whole life I’ve been described as creative. Conversely, no one has ever described me as tech-savvy. Everything I know about video and event production has been hard learned through years of practice, a commitment to growing as a person and professional, and a series of ego deaths along the way. Learning on the job really has been a through line of my work.
Early on it was learning how to apply technical skills like video editing to my natural gifts like storytelling. As my confidence grew there, I was given opportunities to run shoots and lead a crew on my own. I got invited into boardroom meetings with high-powered clients where I learned how to find my voice even when I felt intimidated or insecure. And then 18 months ago, I had the opportunity to buy into the company and start learning what it means to be a small business owner. How to lead a company with integrity, how to make big picture decisions, how to balance the million little things it takes to keep a small business thriving.
One thing I love about this job is that no two weeks are the same. One day we’re in a restaurant’s back of house creating menu training videos (and stuffing our faces with delicious food), the next day we’re on a CEO’s private plane to West Texas to film forklifts, the next day we’re doing AV for a local fundraiser and throwing a spotlight on Jeff Foxworthy. It’s never boring, this job!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think it’s safe to say that any small business that existed before 2020 and continues today has not had a ‘smooth road.’ In the span of one day, every project and contract on our horizon was canceled with no guarantee they would ever return. Some of them never did. I know our story isn’t unique in that way. Looking back on it all, I’m not only proud that we made it to the other side, but I’m really proud of how we evolved during that season.
With nothing but time on our hands, we spent it practicing, diving deeper, and getting more fluent in our craft. We became experts on the frontier of live streaming and providing virtual experiences, skills that we knew would behoove us in this new world. On a personal level, it gave me the chance to play around and sharpen the tools in my belt without the pressure of deadlines or client expectations. I’ll always be grateful for the knowledge and skills I gained during a time otherwise marked by so much loss.
As you know, we’re big fans of Five Stone Creative. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We started out 10 years ago as a small video production company. Along the way, some of our video clients started asking about A/V services and it felt like a natural area to foray into. Now, we’re a full blown creative agency and a live event production house all rolled into one.
I think that fact already sets us apart. We aren’t just a creative team or a group of A/V technicians, we’re all of that and more. Of course we’re going to show up with the right gear, hit our deadlines, do all the usual and expected things. But we partner with our clients in a bigger, and more holistic way than just that. We often get to join them on the ground floor of an idea and see it all the way through. We’re part of the brainstorming stages, we’re consulting and collaborating on the big picture of it all. That’s a pretty cool and unique thing in this line of work.
Obviously we’re motivated to make our clients happy, but selfishly we also just think it all feels way more meaningful when we’re fully bought in. It’s a lot more fun to care about the overall success of the project than to just show up and try to do our part well. And that’s another thing that sets us apart: we’re fun! Company culture is big with our crew. They’re all fantastic at what they do, but it’s also paramount that the vibes are good. We’ve got a deep roster of experienced and talented technicians, and pretty much all of them are some kind of multi-hyphenate. Rolling with a crew like that allows us to get really creative when it comes to solving a problem or bringing a complicated idea to life.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I’m one of those people who’s never really known what they wanted to do when they grow up. I’ve got a degree in Creative Writing, of all things, and I spent many years performing spoken word poetry. I’ve been a nanny, a musician, a barista, even a carhop way back in the day. I used to spend a lot of time and energy wondering what I should do with my life.
8 years ago, this job was just a way to shake things up. I would never have predicted that I’d be where I am today, but boy am I grateful. I could easily do this job for the rest of my life, or who knows? Maybe everything will change again one day. Either way, it feels amazing to be part of something I love and am proud of.
Another way I could answer this question is: I love to bake and I have a hyper-fixation with mastering the art of the macaron. I don’t mean to brag, but they’re getting pretty, pretty good. Truth be told, that answer may not surprise that many people who read this as I do regularly force them on anyone and everyone we work with. But hey, if you love a little sweet treat, that’s just one more reason to hire us!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fivestonecreative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_fivestone/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fivestonecreative
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allyson-wermelskirchen-a92084347/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fivestonecreative
