Mad Hat Maven

Please describe your company and your position there.

AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc. (AFH), founded in 1982, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that was the first AIDS Service Organization in Texas and remains a national leader in HIV/STD programming. With the goal of creating a community where HIV is stigma-free and rare, and people have equitable access to care, AFH works towards the mission of ending the HIV epidemic in the Houston area. AFH services include prevention education, PrEP Care, nPEP, HIV Testing and Rapid Start Treatment, STI Testing and Treatment, outreach in Texas prisons, supportive housing, food assistance, a summer camp for children, and supportive services to all persons affected by or at risk for HIV. We are so excited to be celebrating 40 years or service to the greater Houston community. For more information, please visit www.AFHouston.org Our Vision Our vision is a community where HIV is stigma-free and rare, and people have equitable access to care.

For what projects/services did your company hire Mad Hat Maven, and what were your goals?

We partnered with MHM to design and execute campaigns around PrEP, Testing and Treatment for HIV and STIs. Our Mistr Campaign has won awards and was instrumental in driving clients to get on PrEP in 2020 and 2021 and is still running today. We also ran Love Yourself. Know Your Status and I am PrEP Worthy. All campaigns have been about getting tested for HIV/STI and getting treatment OR Prevention education and PrEP as prevention

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Vendor was referred to me by a mutual business partner and the LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and marking tools used.

We met several times in 2019 to discuss the scope of the original project. MHM came up with several concepts and we decided on which ones to test and then move forward with. Our Mistr campaign has been the longest running and as we have added projects and other campaigns, we have followed the same process during the partnership.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Andrea Simonton and Heather Taylor were my main points of contact, with assistance from other team members as needed

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

The campaigns were extremely successful and were the direct result of PrEP uptake in the greater Houston area, as well as driving new patients to our PrEP clinic and also clients for HIV/STI testing and treatment.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had a very open communication style and worked via email, text, phone calls, meetings. They are an amazing group to work with and very creative!

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I think the range of capabilities and innovative ideas that they offer is really amazing.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

I think they will continue to grow as a company and do even more work within the community.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder, president, and CEO of UPI Loan Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We’ve put together a loan fund to provide loans to the underbanked, low- and moderate-income communities so they don't have to go to payday or title loan lenders where they’d pay 300%–400% interest in fees.

We’re the first black-led community development loan fund within Arizona. Also, we’re an emerging community development financial institution (CDFI), which makes us the first black-led CDFI in the state.

What challenge were you trying to address with Mad Hat Maven?

We needed help with PR, marketing, and advertising services.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mad Hat Maven has worked on digital and social media marketing. They’ve designed our logo, done website design and implementation, and created press kits and releases. They’ve supported us during the Super Bowl, providing personnel to help us attend the booth. Overall, they’ve been a jack of all trades, doing whatever we need and accommodating to help us.

The website showcases our history, who we are, and how we started. It includes videos and precise information about our board, with photos and bios. Currently, they're in the process of upgrading the site because it’s three years old. 

What is the team composition?

We have 3–4 people dedicated to our project. 

How did you come to work with Mad Hat Maven?

I’ve known their founder since 2003. I met her when she was at another company, and I was pleased with her work back then. We’ve worked with them consistently throughout the years.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve worked with them since January 2019, and our relationship is ongoing.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The quality of their work is excellent. When we did the Super Bowl, they did a press release that went out and got several outrageously positive hits around the world. Moreover, their people are easy to work with.

How did Mad Hat Maven perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve performed 100% in all areas. We communicate through phone calls, emails, and Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their most significant strength is their ability to communicate and determine a good path to achieve our objectives — they truly become part of the team. Also, they’re professionals at what they do. We can only give them a high rating in terms of expertise. Finally, they’re a team-oriented company. We aren’t stagnant with one person; they move people around when necessary, which is good. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’ve never had an issue; they always solve them immediately.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communication is key. Bring your thoughts and ideas to the table and have an open mind. Listen to what they might propose.