At George P. Johnson, we don’t just celebrate corporate experiences—we celebrate the everyday ones, too. We draw our creativity from meaningful memories and work those creative muscles through storytelling. This year, we’re honoring Mother’s Day by doing just that: sharing stories of the women who’ve shaped us into the people we are today.
LAUREN MELESCIUC
GPJ Boston
“This is my mom Karen. She passed away 3 years ago from complications from fighting thyroid cancer. She passed right before I got engaged and a time my mom and I talked about together for years. That was hard, but through that whole process I truly never felt closer to someone I had just lost. Just like anyone that goes through cancer she was a warrior. The kindest soul with the best laugh. I am an only child so my mom and I grew from mother/daughter to truly best friends. I mean calling her 20 times a day,
face-timing her so she could see her grand-dog and texting her definitely way too many times a day but in my defense she always answered within a millisecond of me hitting send. She was always reminding me to “be strong, be positive, be good.” Something I repeat to myself in the hard moments. She was the kind of friend you were lucky enough to have, the kind of stranger that instantly gave you a warm smile and the kind of woman that I will forever be grateful to call my mom. I don’t have any children of my own yet but when I do she built the mold for exactly the kind of mom I want to be. She truly is my role model. Mother’s Day is always a bit bittersweet but I choose to spend the day celebrating what an incredible mom she was. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there, you are truly superheros!”
SARAH FRANTZ
GPJ Detroit
“My mom Nancy, turned 75 in April. She has never met a stranger. Her smile lights up every room. And she can out plank all of us! Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers that are leading with love and light!”
IRINA TAYLOR
GPJ Los Angeles
“This is Lily, my mother. If she were alive today she’d be expecting us to come up to her house for celebratory champagne on Mother’s Day—she just loved celebratory bubbles. A real homebody, she made every outing an event—even when we’d go out shoe shopping she’d want to end the day with a champagne toast (which is still a fantastic way to end a day.) If she were alive we’d be bringing her sweets too—she loved chocolates and pastries. I’ll never forget her and my five-year old son wrestling over the last chocolate in the box, or how in spite of being such a neat freak she didn’t mind opening a packet of powdered sugar
mini-donuts in her car and letting that sugar snow fly. She was a tiny woman who drove a tiny car and liked tiny doughnuts. She was a tiny woman but a HUGE force of nature. So if you get a chance, when you raise a glass of champers in a toast to your own mom on Sunday, give a wink and a thought to Lily, one of the most colorful people that ever walked the earth.
How being a mother has brought me joy?The best part of being a mother has been seeing my son grow into a completely unique individual, a good person. I’m continually awed by this smart, witty, caring, animal-loving, loyal, talented, interesting young man. He’s the best person to have on a road trip or in a crisis. Of all the people on the planet he’s the one person who means the whole world to me. In helping develop a good person you find yourself developing into a better person. That brings me (and hopefully those around me) joy.
All of the clichés—”the toughest job you’ll ever love”, “children do not need us to shape them: they need us to respond to who they are”, “Careful the things you say; children will listen. Careful the things you do; children will see and learn”—all are true. And CARING brings you joy, against all odds.”
GRACE SACOMAN
GPJ Detroit
“My mom, Kelly, is one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet. She is so personable, welcoming, and incredibly empathetic with a moral compass of gold. Growing up, she always made sure I stopped and thought twice about mean kids at school, annoying teachers, or arguments with friends. “You never know what kind of day they’ve had,” she’d say. And she’d make it a point to empathize with me, but also call my bluff when I was
in the wrong, too (even if I didn’t wanna hear it!) She’s not one to coddle, but she loves and cares fiercely, and would do anything for her loved ones. After exhausting every sport I could possibly play at 5 years old (she got tired of watching me pick dandelions in the outfield during softball), we found horses. From show entries, to grooming, to complex theories and schools of riding, she absorbed all of it like a sponge, even learning how to ride herself at 40 years old! Nothing stopped her from helping me manifest my dreams. How lucky am I to have had (and still have!) such a supportive person growing up? She’s always told me, “my job is to raise a good and kind person. The rest is up to you”. You make my world go round, Ma. I love you!”
BECKY PUGLIESE
GPJ Austin
“Happy Mother’s Day to all! This was over 10 years ago when my daughter was born, it didn’t seem real until we had all 4 generations together. My grandmother has since passed, but I’ll always cherish these precious memories. Being a mother is the hardest, but most rewarding job I have ever had!”
JENNIFER HOUSTON
GPJ Los Angeles
“My mom died of ovarian cancer 11 years ago. She was an amazing woman who led by example. She touched so many lives. When I was a kid I would come home from school and Gloria Steinham would be stratigizing in kitchen with my mom.
She was my hero. Founder of the Women’s Center of WI, her work and legacy still live on. Her biggest lesson to we was, if you see something that needs to be changed, don’t wait for others to change it, change it for others. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom I love you.”
STACY HOGUE
GPJ Austin
“My mom was a spitfire! Even though she passed away 20 years ago, I still think about her every day. My first Mother’s Day in Austin, about 11 years ago, I was a little melancholy so my boyfriend took me kayaking as an attempt to lift my spirits. We kayaked a good long way and then decided to turn back. As soon as we made the turn to head back, we noticed thousands of rose petals floating on top of the water that had not been there when were first came through. Someone had dumped probably 100,000+ petals into the water from the Congress Bridge. It was a lovely surprise and I have always thought of it as a gift from my mom from above. Happy Mother’s Day.”
STEPHANIE FLORES
GPJ Austin
“Happy Mother’s Day!!! I have been so blessed to be a Mother to my daughter! We are best friends and my one and only!!”
JAIMIE KNIFE
GPJ Boston
“I’ve had many titles over the years. The typical: daughter, sister, granddaughter, aunt, great aunt (or greatest aunt, as I prefer to be called), nanny, graphic designer, graphic producer, and more. The not so typical: Coast Guardsman, certified crane operator, buoy deck supervisor, Dept. of Homeland Security Plank Owner, veteran.
The one that has brought me endless joy, immense growth and two of my favorite humans though: mom. My two kids, even as now teenagers, are bright spots in this crazy world, and I am so thankful I am their mom. Happy Mother’s Day to all my fellow moms.”
THEMMI HAMILTON
GPJ Austin
“Here’s some photos of me and my little one. Becoming a first-time mom has been the wildest, most wonderful ride—full of love, learning, and lots of coffee. Balancing work and life has taken on new meaning, and I’m so grateful for a workplace that supports both. Here’s to embracing the chaos and the cuddles!”
To all the mother figures, mothers, and moms-to-be, Happy Mother’s Day. We are so thankful for you and all of the incredible experiences you’ve given us!
