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Stephen Thomas. It’s all in a name.
By Steve Thomas on May 3, 2011
I was named Stephen Morley Thomas. Morley is after my paternal grandfather who died of influenza in the 1918 epidemic when my Dad was a couple of months old.
I persuaded my parents to call me Stephen, rather than Stevie (Horrors!) when I was four or five.
In grade one my best friend was Stephen Ferris. We bonded over our names. Neither one of us bonded with the other Steven in our class (note the ‘v’).
Ferris and I decided we wanted to be Steve way back then — years before the movie Tao of Steve. And so I’ve been since then. (And a shout out to my still good buddy; Steve Ferris, Professor of Economics at Carleton!).
But when I set up the agency in 1980 I was looking for dignity. Like Stephen Lewis. So Stephen Thomas Associates Consulting Ltd. it became. Associates because of the senior folks who worked with me at the time; fundraisers like John Goyeau and Beverley Howell. And Consulting because we saw ourselves as consultants.
Not ‘and Associates’ just ‘Associates’. I saw that in a US fundraising publication and thought it was cool.
Fast forward ten years to the early nineties. We clearly weren’t consultants, we were an agency. I had the bright idea of changing the firm’s name to Direct Response Fundraising Ltd. or some such.
Vice President Carine Blin (alas for us she returned to fulltime motherhood shortly thereafter) had a Schulich MBA. “Don’t you dare”, she said, “There is great brand equity in the name Stephen Thomas.” So we didn’t change the name.
The lawyers had us change the name to Stephen Thomas Ltd. in the early nineties; I can’t really remember why.
It’s been Stephen Thomas for over thirty years now. I can honestly say it still feels a bit weird hearing my formal name all the time. But my mother likes it!
And I guess Carine was right. Now Stephen Thomas means the best of direct marketing for non-profits. The tried and true like Direct Mail, and the new exciting stuff like Digital Fundraising.
President Neil Gallaiford runs the ship now, but I’m still much involved as Chairman. I’m proud as punch of Stephen Thomas.
Yours,
Steve Thomas
Morley Thomas wrote, on 07:32 at May 04, 2011
Pretty neat – I learned sveral things Dad
Paula Attfield wrote, on 11:13 at May 04, 2011
Well put Steve! And speaking as someone who has the honour to work with you (and to be a part of your family!) I’m proud as punch of you too.
Well done Steve, well done!
Tina Rocha wrote, on 11:29 at May 04, 2011
Great Blog Steve! I, Tina Rocha, have been saying your name daily 9 to 5, Monday to Friday for 21 years and I like it too! Proud to be part of the Agency.
Tina
Carine Blin wrote, on 12:59 at Jun 16, 2011
Great name. Big heart. Long standing commitment to do good in the world. You’ve inspired many along the way Steve! Always a fan.
Carine
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