This week, we're asking an important question: How can artists bring their unique vision to the role of communications leader? To help us answer this question, meet visionary communicator Blake Stenning, a photographer, graphic designer, and Director of Communications at the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA). During his career as an artist, small business owner, and communications leader, Blake has learned that the key to success lies in remaining versatile. Blake brings a highly creative mindset to every initiative he oversees, relying on his ever-evolving style of problem solving. According to Blake, the ability to tackle challenges in the office is often facilitated by an openness to learning skills outside of the daily 9 to 5. To build on his fine arts education as well as inform his work in the realm of graphic design, Blake began to focus on photography in his spare time. "I started to do these very intense workshops in rural Maine and I'd read books by Ansel Adams...on how to expose a proper negative...really heavy stuff!" he states. "I began to meet fellow photographers and they were all really interesting people and came from very diverse backgrounds. I realized that this was something that was going to become more than just a hobby." Whether through words or his crisp visuals, Blake's goal has always been to make the picture even clearer for PHADA's membership, executives, policy analysts, and staff. He successfuly redesigned the organization's website (insert link here) in a way that make information quickly and readily available, ranging from breaking legislative news to very important upcoming events. So if you're wondering what it takes to perfect effective visual messaging for your organization, be sure to check out Blake's fantastic interview below. And let's always keep in mind all the people intuitively working hard behind the scenes to bring us the vital, interactive information that we need to keep us in the know! Find us on social media! Twitter: @DragonTreeComms Threads: @dragontreecomms BlueSky: @chrishobson.bsky.social Instagram: / dragontreecomms Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: ROKSTDAAWYZ8H5IE Song: Elevate