Next month is my one year anniversary working for one of the greatest companies I have ever been privileged to be part of and employed with. The funny thing is, I have been working here all this time and have never been to our Corporate Headquarters located in Washington State. Today, I am sitting in our main office with the rest of the ActiveRain Staff, and while they are all working hard to keep things up and running, working smooth and efficiently, I'm hiding in the conference room writing this post! Hey, I'm working hard too... lol~
Bob Stewart has asked that I disclose that these photo's above are not of the entire ActiveRain Office, just the building where we are located. If you look close behind the handicapped parking sign, you'll see Bob waving from the window of our little section of this gorgeous structure.
It was very exciting to walk into the office for the very first time. My first impression was WOW, there really is an ActiveRain Office! Within moments, a very surreal feeling came over me... this is the place where the heart and transmission of the entire network is housed and controlled. These are the people who make it all happen on ActiveRain. I'm actually here now with the staff TEAM who have not only built the most powerful Real Estate Network in the Country, but soon I'll be having lunch, answering phones, and working right along side with them. Up until today, I have only spoke to them on the phone or via email. It's a great feeling here of being "home away from home."
Today they are letting me pick where we'll be having lunch. This is an ActiveRain tradition in the office. Each week, someone gets to select the lunch menu and chooses where they'll be dining for that day. Since I am here, I get the honors. Tomorrow, some of us will be heading over to the REBarCamp at Zillow's Headquarters. It's going to be a great event packed information, experience and ideas from some of the greatest folks in the Industry. Did I mention it's FREE? If you're in the area or within 1000 miles, I recommend you come join us.
I'll be flying back home on Valentine's Day to be with my sweetheart, and it will be a Happy/Sad Day. Why? Happy for obvious reasons, and sad because I have already become attached to our office here in Washington. The Big Screen in the conference room, lunches with the staff, the synergy in the air, and the fun and laughter that is shared along with the hard work these guys (and gal) deliver daily.
I have come to appreciate this Network not only as my place of employment, but as a place where PEOPLE with HEART makeup the environment that we have all come to know and love. It is one of the greatest experiences in my life to be part of this team of dynamic, creative, and down to earth people. If you ever get the chance to visit the ActiveRain Main Office, you'll know exactly what I mean.
I hope you ALL know how hard these guys work to make your experience on ActiveRain an enjoyable one.
Rich - love to see the "inside" scoop of AR. Hey I can come work there - I see my workspace too... the couch :) ~Rita
Brad, what a very heartfelt post about the main office at Active Rain. You need someone to take a picture of you in the office -- so we know you were actually there!
Hi Brad-That is an awesome building, but what makes it truly awesome is the fine folks who make up this incredible network. I'm very proud and feel privileged to be a part of this place. It doesn't get any better than Active Rain and all the people that make this possible. Have a blessed day. Enjoy your Valentines with your wife and kids. :-)
One of the images look like drive thru...what did you have?
Thanks for the post Brad. I bet the AR office is always full of energy, congratulations.
That place buries my office...Are you hiring?? LOL!
Thanks for being the first to comment Sally... (wink wink) :-))
Brian - how do I know this is really you??? lol~
I wouldn't have believed it if you told me, but now I know there really issuch a thing as "TalkingRain!" Got this from the kitchen just now.
WOW, I love that MEE CHIGAN...........shirt on Bob!!
What an office but gee those desks are way to clean. Have fun, wish I was there.
Congratulations (a little early) on your anniversary. It is kind of cool to put some faces behind the AR name. Call if you open an office in or around Charlotte, NC HaHa
Brad - With your child-like sense of wonder and excitement....I'm pretty sure they enjoyed having you visit as much as you enjoyed being at HQ. I'm with Missy, those desks are way too clean...was that for real or for photo-op ;-)
TalkingRain? Must be a Seattle thing! :)
The lady in the upper left hand corner is my kind of gal: Post It notes on her desk :-)
Ditto on the MICHIGAN shirt that Bob is wearing! So glad you got a chance to visit the main office and share it with all of us.
Looks like a great place to work. Congratulations Brad. Keep up the good work.
Brad,
What an incredible environment...beautiful. And you make up part of the incredible TEAM that you speak of so highly. Thanks for opening the door so that we're able to see how awesome it is. Love Washington State! Olga
Brad- We need to get the scoop from Claire. Are the guys always this neat or is it just that these are still fairly neww offices for them?
If you don't love what you do, then why bother doing it all! Good for you that you like who you work with and what you do for a living. Have a great time in WA and travel home safely!
It's nice to know that activerain has a real address, not just a url. It looks like a great place to work.
Brad, Very nice pics...nice to put a "face' to the AR name!
Hey Brad, Thanks for giving us a peek inside the home office ! Very cool.
First time I have seen or heard of Talking Rain. What flavors are there?
Brad - what fun to finally get to see the HQ, for you AND for us. Having worked in field offices before when I was in corporate I know what that feels like It is such a great group of people and neat to where they hang out. Thanks for sharing, and have a blast at REBarCamp Seattle.
Jeff
Brad, There really is a brick and mortar office...amazing! Where is the chaos? Well hidden I assume.
Brad: Thanks for posting the pictures of the A|R headquarters, that was neat for all of us to see. It looks like a great place to work.
Have a great day,
Anne Rains
P.S. I've never heard of Talking Rain before, is that a Washington thing?
Brad, It is a small percentage, unfortunately, of people who actually enjoy their work, the people they work with, and the whole package. I am happy for all of you and congratulate you on your first of what will be many years at Active Rain! Thanks for all you do! Happy Valentine's day!
Hey Brad - Thanks for sharing these photos of the Active Rain headquarter, and wow, everyone seem so young in there! Those are some serious computer geniuses!
Brad - Some day, just some day I might!!! I'm excited about your opportunity to visit the office.
Strangely, the clean desks are TOTALLY for real...except mine. If you notice the pic Brad got of the backside of my head, I have stickynotes all over the desk and piles of paperwork. I'm sure it irks Jon EVERY day ;)
Brad - who said we were letting you leave? You only THINK I made you return reservations, but little do you know, muwahahahahahaha.... Your wife is going to be SO mad at me when she finds out that I've absconded with you.
Great pics Brad. I bet you never thought in a million years that this is where you would be today. From title work to your dream job. Good for you.
Claire it actually looks like you are the only one really WORKING!!!! But we knew that:)
Missy and Kris,
I only wore that Michigan shirt because I was at the end of my laundry cycle......HAHAHAAA!!!
Brad,
Go home already! hahahahahaha
Bryant - Lol, I assure you, these guys work their tails off. I wouldn't be associated with them otherwise! ;)
Brad,
Thanks for sharing. I always love to see the behind the scenes of some of my favorite places.
Brad- thanks for sharing those awesome photos, they are just too humble those guys:) I would have been showing off these photos long ago:)
Brad thanks for sharing this its nice to see photos of who is running things....peace zane
Brad, thanks! Now you'll want to go more often. Happy Valentine's Day
Brad - Thanks for a look into the inner sanctum of all things ActiveRain. Its always nice to see where it all happens. Maybe some day I'll swing by and demand a tour.
Brad, I didn't know ActiveRain has an office:) Is it in Washington state? If yes, I'll be there very soon:)
Guess I will have to send Bob an Ohio State shirt for some equal time. I know Missy was thrilled to see her "colors". Good job, Brad! Nice to see HQ!
Hey Brad, Very cool! Can't believe that we have never seen a picture of the building before...not that it's a big deal...but AR...Pictures... you know. We go picture crazy on here. :0) LOL
Hope all of you have an awesome time tomorrow at BarCamp!!! Give everyone a hug for me! (and one for you too) :)
Thanks for all you do Brad and Team!
Passion Rules!
Tom Ferry
Well Brad....I guess you'll just have to move to our great state to be close the the team!!! See you tomorrow!
You are certainly blessed, my friend. I'm glad you are getting the opportunity to experience AR "Washing style" just so you have something to compare to.
Happy Valentine's day to you and Debra!
Awww....I loved reading this Brad. Maybe you'll need to make some regular trips out there every few weeks...or open up a satellite office in your area & have all the monitors & webcams set up and "import" those guys...I bet some of those guys have never been to Fairfield...It's fun to see the pics...and unbelieveable to see hardly anything covering those desks...was that staged? ...and where do they hide the Wii Station???
Brad, Happy Anniversary to you! I'd be every bit as excited as you were to see that awesome place. The Activerain support staff TEAM have made this a wonderful place to be for everyone. I always thank you for all the help and support you've given me and so many others.
Brad I am glad you posted pictures of the AR offices. At times I think of this place as just a website but it is so much more than that...
That sure is an interesting layout with no walls, just a bunch of desks. No privacy, but I guess it makes for a more friendly atmosphere.
Yeah, so it is official, Jorgen is definitely Mcconaugheys brother!
Brad, what was for lunch? Lemme guess, sushi!
I have always wondered what the physical AR was like, so thanks for sharing. You can easily sense it's not your typical type of company and it shows from everyone on AR's side.
Hi Brad! How cool is this post--I know that others, like me, have had a mind's eye view of your office and it looked nothing like this! What a great way to show us the inside scoop!
One thing that stood out to me is Claire's sticky notes--isn't it funny that we girls are still the ones taking notes?! ;-)
Hi Brad!
I LOVE picturing where people are working...even did a post on it, with very little success. Anyway, thanks for giving us some insight into the physical AR!
Thanks for tour of the headquarters -- appreciate seeing the space. All the best.
We've come a long way baby ...lol.... Well, just think...you're the cali guy ...former hawaii guy. You guys need to come here...just once...and pacify us over here. Bob speaking on the other island was no fun... there has got to be something besides ...work. How about just a vacation...get a bungalow on North Shore or something and invite us for a bbq (we don't drink :)
Brad, thanks for sharing. How cool is that? I'd pictured them working out of a garage! ;-) NOT!!!
WoW Brad... Seems like just a few months ago when Bob made tha anouncement... And you have not worked in the office.. who would have known.... Happy Anniversary
Not sure how you call what you do work... sounds like you have too much fun doing what you do. Everyone should enjoy their work and coworkers the way you do. You are a lucky guy. Keep having fun.
Congratulations on your one year anniversary! Those look like great offices! Thanks for all you and the entire staff at AR do!
Brad
I'm glad you shared these photos. I always wanted a glimpse of the inner sanctum.
Hmm. Thanks for the pics. I've wondered if they were still in a garage down some crack-house alley-way. They've moved up.
Looks like a real fun environment to work in...you have a job for me - LOL
Too cool! And congrats on your year with AR, as part of the main team, that is :)
Thanks for showing us that there really are live people behind Active Rain.
Brad,
Awesome post! Thanks for sharing. What a great looking structure. Wish I was within 1000 miles, ha! Let us know all the great info you are filled with at the zillow REBarCamp! Hope you have a great weekend.
Brad, very cool. I have wondered (without asking) what that place looks like or if you all work out of your home. :-) Very nice building. Thanks for sharing.
I'm looking at snow and you're looking at a sunny day?
I'm envious.
What a blast it was getting to visit our office and spend time with these folks. It was really nice to finally meet them in person, see the office, and visit the Seattle, Bellevue, and Kirkland areas of Washington. I'm looking forward to doing it again real soon, and more often in the future.
I made it back home in time to be with my wife for Valentine's Day, what a grand finale to an awesome trip.
Hi Brad! WOW, I can't believe ActiveRain has an office. For some reason, I thought this giant was totally virtual. I suppose somebody had to be sitting down at a computer somewhere, but never thought of the "where"? Nice to see pics. Love Washington too! Yeah, for the Pacific Northwest!
Brad- thanks for sharing the photos of the building and mostly the people there at Active Rain headquarters! I enjoyed your thoughts... hope you had a phenomenal Valentine's Day!
I'm going to have to make it out there. I'd show you guys my office, but I can't have more than one person in there at a time and you have to jump over the welder.
Wow. Certainly does not look like a real estate office. The desks are free of papers and no big phones on the desks.
Don't be fooled Maureen, we know some really great stagers here on AR. :-))))
Don't be fooled Maureen, we know some really great stagers here on AR.
Aha! I should have suspected something was going on.
Besides, you know that old saying. "A clean desk is a sign of a sick mind". :)
Thanks for sharing the pictures of AR - looks like a fun place to work!
Brad - What a great post ! Awesome photos and a great place ! Is cool when one has the opportunity to be part of such a great team. Very very very cool : )
Hi Brad, this is incrediable! It's nice to see what the REAL office looks like! Thanks for sharing!! Take care!
... Nice offices filled with smart people. How do I get a job there ;)
Nice pics, thanks, Brad, but it looks like Claire is doing all of the work.