The Builders in the Room – Community Looks Like This

On February 24th, Creative Collective and Salem Rotary came together at The Hawthorne Hotel for The Mixer: A Collaborative Winter Celebration — and what started as a cocktail reception turned into something much bigger. Nearly 200 people packed the Grand Ballroom for an evening of food, music, photo experiences, and genuine community energy. But the heart of the night was the awards. Nine people. Nine stories. Nine custom glass pieces from North Shore Glass. Here they are.

The Mixer: A Collaborative Winter Celebration

Jennifer Close — All In

“I have known Jen Close for a long time now, and here’s what I can tell you — it doesn’t matter what stage of my career I’ve been at, she has always leaned in to show support. All the way back when I was just a guy taking pictures roughly ten years ago, to the big smiles and hugs I get in the middle of the madness of October when I catch her working the front door at PEM — Jen is always supportive, always empathetic, always kind. I don’t know many people who have given more to this city than her. And that doesn’t even touch the job she does every day at the Peabody Essex Museum as Director of Visitor Engagement — a role that might as well have been created just for her.

And then there’s Rotary. Jen didn’t just join Salem Rotary, she led it — served as President, is chairing the Mad Hatters fundraiser, more info in the back by the photobooth, helped guide tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to Salem students, and stayed on as Executive Secretary because that’s just what Jen does. She doesn’t walk away when the title changes. A great mom, an amazing human, and one of the people who made it so I could be here today doing this event. The ALL IN award is for somebody who never hedges, never half-steps, and never phones it in. That’s Jen. Every single time.”

Robyn Burns — Family Meal

“”So in the restaurant world, there’s this thing called the family meal — it’s the moment before service when the kitchen feeds its own people first. Before you take care of anyone else, you take care of yours. That’s Robyn Burns. Robyn became Executive Director of The Salem Pantry in March of 2020 — yes, THAT March — and while the rest of us were trying to figure out a world turned upside down, Robyn was figuring out how to feed it. And what she’s built since then blows my mind. Over 31,500 people served, one in five Salem households, nearly four million pounds of food a year — and she designed the whole model around this radical idea that getting food assistance should feel like going grocery shopping, not accepting charity. AND she is just getting started, with the Salem Pantry moving to a HUGE new location on Highland Ave.

I got to know Robyn even better through our shared LEADS experience, and I saw firsthand what makes her one of the strongest leaders I know — a rare combination of fierce drive and genuine kindness that just makes everyone around her want to be better. Robyn also shared her story one night with all of us as part of LEADS Out Loud, a story slam event we helped produce, and she showed me strength, honesty, vulnerability, and truth. It was a core memory for me that I will not forget anytime soon — given the current climate, to own your identity and push forward… Robyn is exactly the type of leader we all need. She’s a Salem Rotary Board Director, she’s been President of the Salem Chamber Board, and she’s become a leading voice in statewide food insecurity advocacy. The FAMILY MEAL award is for a leader who understands that community starts with making sure people are seen, fed, and cared for — with dignity at the center of everything. Robyn doesn’t just feed Salem. She nourishes it.”

Jeff Swartz — Corner Office

“Alright, so — every organization has that moment when somebody new steps into the big chair and the whole room holds its breath a little bit, right? For the Salem Chamber of Commerce, that moment came when Jeff Swartz moved into the corner office. And if you’ve ever walked by the Chamber downtown, you know that office is RIGHT there on the ground floor — everybody can see you! No pressure, Jeff!

Here’s what I love about Jeff’s story. I first met him as the assistant director at the Chamber, and before that, he was behind the front desk at the Hawthorne Hotel — yes, THIS building. So from greeting guests in this lobby to running the organization that represents every business in this city — that’s a Salem story if I’ve ever heard one. Salem State alum. Hawthorne Hotel guy. History nerd. Gaming enthusiast. And now the person who gets to work with all of us and shape what the Salem business community looks like going forward. He’s not trying to be what came before — he’s honoring the legacy while carving his own path. And through the Chamber’s partnership with Salem Rotary on things like the legislative lunch series right here at the Hawthorne, he’s already proving collaboration is his default setting. The CORNER OFFICE award goes to someone who didn’t just get the promotion — he earned the room. And I gotta say, rookie season is looking pretty good.”

Randyll Collum — Full Volume

“Okay so here’s one a lot of people in this room might not see coming. There are people who tell stories, and then there are people who make absolutely sure that the stories that NEED telling actually get heard. Randyll Collum is the second kind. As Associate Director of Education at Peabody TV, Randyll has taken community access television and turned it into something way more powerful — a real platform where voices that are too often turned down get turned all the way up. Her documentary, “The Drag Queens, Kings, and Things of Salem,” premiered at the Peabody Essex Museum and gave a community that’s too often kept in the margins its own spotlight on one of the region’s biggest stages. That’s not just filmmaking. That’s advocacy with a camera.

And here’s the part that connects to all of you — Randyll produces the Creativity Connects podcast for Creative Collective. She has worked with so many of our members that she’s basically become an extension of our team. She’s a Salem native, Curry College grad, and every single step of her career has been about one thing: giving people the tools and the trust to tell their own stories. The FULL VOLUME award is for someone who doesn’t just turn up the mic — she builds the entire stage. Randyll, we are honored to work with you and the whole Peabody TV team and look forward to so much more in the future!

Daybar Bugler — Full Spread

“If you have EVER been to a Creative Collective event (or many other events) and found yourself standing over a jaw-dropping grazing table, wondering how cheese could look like art — you have already met Daybar Bugler’s work. Daybar and her husband Phil have been in our world for a long time, way before COVID, back when they were food influencers running Eat Drink Explore North Shore and telling everyone the culinary scene up here was worth paying attention to. And then they did something that a lot of people talk about but very few people actually DO — they bet on themselves. EDEX Provisions opened in Peabody as New England’s first Black-owned cheese shop. First. In ALL of New England. And their philosophy is “Cheese for All” — vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free — everybody has a place at this table.

Daybar is an absolute delight to be around. She’s knowledgeable, she’s driven, and she brings this incredible energy and curiosity to everything she touches. She’s also a mom of two delightful little humans, and the fact that she’s doing all of this while raising a family makes it even more impressive. She and Phil have pivoted more times than most businesses pivot once, and every single time they come back stronger. The FULL SPREAD award is for someone who doesn’t just set the table — she turns it into something everyone wants to gather around. That’s Daybar.”

Dana Quigley — Full Frame

“So in photography, full frame means you’re seeing the complete picture — nothing cropped out, nothing hidden. That’s how Dana Quigley sees this community. And here’s what makes Dana extraordinary — it’s not the photos, even though they’re incredible. It’s what he does when the camera isn’t even in his hands. I met Dana as a Creative Collective member and he is one of the only photographers I allow to shoot for us — and if you know me, you know I’m usually the guy behind the camera. But Dana doesn’t just show up to photograph events. He shows up to BE there. Camera or no camera, he is present, he is engaged, and he is constantly supporting this community through his words, his social media, just his genuine investment in what we’re all building together.

“And here’s what I think sets Dana apart — he just wants to do good work, make meaningful art, and be better every day. That’s not a tagline, that’s just how he moves. Every shoot, every interaction, every time he shows up for someone in this community, that’s the standard. He is a talented artist, an excellent father, and one of the most genuinely good humans I know. The FULL FRAME award is for someone who sees the complete picture and makes sure everyone is in it. Dana, you’re in the frame tonight.”

 Yaya Rodríguez — Center Stage

“I want to talk about something for a second. The most unassuming people can sometimes lead our communities in ways we may not always see — but they are absolutely critical. Yaya Rodríguez is one of those people. I first met Yaya through community events in Lynn and what struck me immediately was the presence that her dance groups bring to every single space they enter. Cultura Latina Dance Academy is a nonprofit she founded in 2011 — teaching everything from folkloric dance to Afrobeat to ballet to salsa, ages two all the way through adult. She choreographs quinceañeras, weddings, community celebrations — the moments that families remember forever. And she just completed a full renovation of her space with citations from the Mayor and State Senator — because that space isn’t just a studio. When you have transformed a dance studio into a safe community space for all — where people can gather, celebrate, and belong — you have done something truly important and impressive. Whether it’s on site at a community event or inside her own four walls, Yaya is constantly creating that space for people.

Yaya is full of light and energy — she’s always down for a big hug AND a serious conversation about building a sustainable organization. What she does — preserving culture, building confidence, giving young people a way to connect to their heritage through movement — is irreplaceable. The CENTER STAGE award is for someone the community has depended on for years, often without the recognition they deserve. Tonight we change that. Yaya — this stage is yours.”

Matt & Ryan Murray — Double Take

“So I have FINALLY figured out how to tell Matt and Ryan Murray apart after all these years — and no, I’m not sharing my secret. It’s because nothing about these two is what you expect. Behind the Victorian-macabre aesthetic, behind one of the most iconic brands Salem has ever produced, are two of the kindest, funniest, most generous humans in this entire community. And THAT’S the real double take.

I met Matt and Ryan years ago when they had their shop in Beverly, and since then, we’ve done so much together — and Ryan has given me more tattoos than I should probably admit in a room full of professional colleagues. They opened Black Veil in 2012, they’ve been on Ink Master, they’ve got nearly 400,000 followers, and they created the Salem Night Faire, which has become one of the most anticipated events on the calendar. But none of that is why they’re up here tonight. They’re up here because they are REAL Salem people — they grew up here, they’re our favorites — and they use every bit of their platform to lift up other local artists, makers, and creators through their stores, through Night Faire, through just being who they are. The DOUBLE TAKE award is for two brothers who remind us that the most extraordinary things come wrapped in the unexpected. A little bit of darkness but a whole lot of heart.”