Avid [av·id] is defined as showing great enthusiasm and interest.  If ever was there was a company name that defined its owner, it is AVID Productions.  As the feature of this month’s business profile, I was fortunate enough to meet with Glenn Morel, owner and the man in the hot seat.  If Glenn offers as much personality and engagement to his organization as he did to our interview, I am confident AVID Productions is here to stay.  During our time together, I received a faux award in the middle of a coffee shop for being the last person standing having not yet joined Facebook, but most importantly I got to hear about his road less traveled, albeit the one that led to his success.

With 20 years of experience in event and television production under his belt, I was eager to hear about how Glenn started off and how he found himself in the Alexandria area.  As an extrovert and lover of show business, he began his career as an actor struggling for work in New York City. (I received explicit instructions not to spend too much time on this part of the road less traveled, so moving on…)  After some time in Manhattan, he recognized that the people making things happen were those behind the scenes and that was where he belonged.

Glenn knew a couple of things for sure. First, he knew that he wanted to be in the Washington, D.C. area and running or working for a successful business. Second, Glenn knew he didn’t want to be in L.A. regardless of the envious climate during Virginia’s winter months.  Glenn knew opportunity when he saw it, and as he more eloquently stated, if D.C. is seen as the business capital of the east coast, Old Town is the capital of trade associations. After landing in the Alexandria area, he found himself in the corporate production world in a job he described as “so wicked cool”. (Anyone feeling a little job envy right about now?)

While there were still years of hard work to come, the rest was history. With the target market defined and Glenn’s client management skills in tow, hard work led to success.  From small groups to big names, hundreds to thousands have experienced the expertise and flawless attention to detail which AVID Productions has mastered through the production of staged events, commercial and multi-media, entertainment and video marketing.

While it would take an entire edition of the Old Town Crier to describe the magic Glenn and his dedicated team make happen on the job, I can tell you that this ‘behind the scenes’ group is able to adapt to change and take it as it comes, never losing sight of what is most important – the client.  In a dog eat dog world, Glenn knows the importance of providing quality service over spreading oneself too thin for the dollar. He is in the business of making people happy, which requires you to be a “yes-man” most of the time.  Glenn’s instincts, paired with his ethical approach to meeting the profit margin efficiently is what has contributed to the overall success of AVID productions.

When asked what his favorite part of his work was, it was obvious that he would not be able to narrow in on just one thing.  However, one of the best things he has gotten to do lately is solicit colleagues for references and feedback.  Gino Bruno, Director of Photography perhaps sums up his experience working with AVID Productions best:

“There are 3 big reasons for working with Glenn. One is his total commitment to making the project better than ever before. Nothing is more important to him. Two is his smarts to hire people who are the best at what they do. Whatever the extra cost to him. That’s it! You need to know no more. (I know I said 3 reasons and only gave 2. I’m one of the guys he hires to be clever.)”

When asked to describe what inspires him, Glenn explained that production and his work is “like launching a mini space ship… and that is why I do it.”  Not only does he enjoy being in the hot seat, I am quite certain he was made for it and the 20 years of experience that he has gained brings with it well-deserved confidence and success.  As many of us know, you fake it until you make it; but at some point you start realizing your value.  Those who are smart, such as Glenn, find success by surrounding themselves with people who carry the experience and know-how to support their vision.

So, what is in the future for AVID Productions?  While the options are limitless, Glenn’s priorities and focus are right on target.  His goal is to continue to love what he does and to do it well, in hopes that his legacy and the success AVID Productions can one day be inherited and led by his 12 year-old son, Colby.  (No question he is Glenn’s number one client.)

Find out more about Glenn, his team, and what AVID Productions has to offer your organization by visiting http://www.avidproductions.com.  Unlike those that are old school (like me), Glenn and his team are connected in just about every form of social media, so follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube to learn more!

1629 K Street, Suite 300
Washington D.C., 20006
info@avidproductions.com
202-505-5297

Written by: Elizabeth Jones