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Visiting MilliporeSigma
Emilee Kudla,
Project Coordinator and Guy Tiene, Business Director, Partner are pictured after a meeting at
MilliporeSigma, in this photo taken by Wei Gao, Accounts Director, Partner.
En Route to Boston
Wei Gao and Guy Tiene are
heading up Boston for an important meeting.
Caffeine and Carburetors
Caffeine and Carburetors had an event in New Canaan, CT this weekend. Luke Walker turned up and picked out his favorite car out of the 1000+ on display.
HME at Catalent
Nigel Walker is visiting Catalent today to learn more about their HME technology. The company's Somerset, NJ location has become their new home for early phase development.
Lady Liberty
Lady Liberty is always a welcoming sight as you pull into the New York City Harbor. Here she is, pictured from the INmune Bio IPO launch celebration.
New Lambo
The beautiful new Lamborghini Urus, picked up by one of our new clients this weekend at Manhattan Motors. Lamborghini proves that Italian design and German engineering are a perfect combination.
Birthday Winner
Luke Walker is a winner! He hit the 1000 ticket level at a weekend away 10th birthday bash.
Private Plane
Nigel Walker take his first charter flight in the US - fancy!
Prepping For A Rainy DCAT
When your getting ready for DCAT Week, you need to choose your umbrella carefully.
Greetings, Chicago
That’s Nice is in Chicago meeting new customers – and enjoying the magnificent views from one of its most iconic towers.
Detroit Brings the Chill
That’s Nice is dedicated to giving each and every client one on one attention. Here, managing director Nigel Walker is visiting a few in Detroit – snowstorm and all.
Photo Faux Pas
Lucas Visser on our digital capture team accidentally crashed the drone today while on a client shoot, slicing one of his fingers in the process. Here’s to a better day tomorrow, Lucas.
Leading the Charge
Our friend Shawn led us through the mountains with a 45-pound back pack and dragging a 60-pound sledge. Seems we’ve captured this outdoorsman in his element.
In the Elements
That’s Nice Director of Digital Capture Brian Pierce is pictured here doing what he does best, capturing the subject matter of our upcoming film — on 330 acres of private property.
Behind the Scenes in NH
Additional footage from this weekend’s photo and video shoot in the mountains of New Hampshire. From left: That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker, Photographer/Videographer Lucas Visser and Shawn, the subject of the film.
Weekend Getaway
Members of the That’s Nice team took a weekend trip to New Hampshire to shoot the third short film of the Nice Passion series. Pictured here is Managing Director Nigel Walker making his way up the two-and-a-half-mile trail to the location.
Harsh Conditions
Ever the trooper, our photographer Lucas Visser isn’t letting the snow get him down while on location for a client shoot in the Northeast.
Birthday Workday
That’s Nice Project Coordinator Emilee Kudla is celebrating her birthday today at a client photo shoot with Senior Project Manager Katie Baker. Surely the team is planning a proper celebration for her when she’s back in New York…
On Location
Members of our digital capture and accounts teams are on location today setting up for day one of a four-day photo and video shoot. Pictured here are That’s Nice director of digital capture, Brian Pierce, and photographer/videographer, Lucas Visser.
Setting the Scene
Pictured here behind the scenes of today's photo shoot (from left) are Emilee Kudla, project coordinator, Katie Baker, senior account manager, and Brian Pierce, director of digital capture.
Science Is Great
This UK campaign promoting the Best of Great Britain is one of our managing director Nigel Walker’s favorite print campaigns from the past 10 years. A nod to his British roots and science-driven career path, no doubt.
England Beats France
As if there was ever a doubt, England pulled it out for a 35-plus point win over France in the rugby Six Nations match on Sunday. Way to go, boys!
Go England
It was France versus England in Twickenham, London this weekend, where our managing director, Nigel Walker, was more than pleased to witness a big win from his home rugby team
Twickenham-Bound
That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker rode the bus this weekend in London for the first time in 20 years as he headed to see England beat France in the Six Nations Championship.
Sitting Down with Mr. Technow
That's Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker met with BioVectra President Oliver Technow this week at the company’s Charlottetown, PEI site. Oliver has been successfully growing the drug substance CDMO over the past four years.
Visiting BioVectra
That’s Nice is pleased to be visiting the team at BioVectra this week, even if it means traversing the winter tundra of Prince Edward Island to get there.
Icy Conditions
Ice was coming down sideways as we left Charlottetown, PEI for a four-hour drive to Halifax, NS during this week's treacherous ice storm.
Captured on iPhone X
We stumbled upon this beautiful old barn during our trip to Windsor, Nova Scotia this week. Nigel Walker captured the shot using the silver tone function on the iPhone X.
Rough Landing
Heavy snow fell as we arrived at Montréal–Trudeau Airport. Kudos to our great Air Canada pilot for getting us safely on the ground through a pretty rocky landing.
Donuts Around the World
This food snap, courtesy of our managing director, Nigel Walker, who believes the glazed donut could be better understood as a cultural staple of cities around the world. Our guess is he’s found a Tim Horton’s while on business in Canada.
Clearing a Path
That’s Nice is live from Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada, where (surprise!) it’s just snowed.
Talking Innovation with Therapure
We caught up with Therapure Biopharma CEO Nick Green during our extended trip to Toronto this week. The Therapure business has evolved as innovative drug development for rare disease opportunities are on the rise.
Connecting with Dalton Pharma
It was a pleasure to reconnect with Peter Pekos, Founder and Chairman of Toronto-based Dalton Pharma Services.
Freezing in Toronto
Just one more day of freezing weather (or so they say) as our managing director, Nigel Walker, heads into his next day of client meetings in Toronto.
Visiting Globyz Pharma
It was a pleasure to meet Globyz Pharma CEO Salman Parthan, who has a growing supply chain logistics company just outside Toronto.
Visiting Northern Neighbors
That’s Nice is in the vibrant cultural city of Toronto this week to pursue various investment opportunities.
Partnering Up
We are leaving Bristol, Tennessee and heading north to kick off our investment sweep of Canada. There are some great CDMOs in our neighboring country looking for US investment partners, and we look forward to meeting some of them this week.
Office Downgrade
That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker has announced we’ll be expanding into the woods of Atlanta in this quaint space he discovered during a recent trip. Apparently this writer will be stationed upstairs with the rest of the content team.
Eastman Continues to Thrive
Eastman Chemical Company, one of our original specialty chemical customers from 2000/2001, is still going strong. Pictured here is Eastman’s corporate headquarters in Kingsport, Tennessee, captured during a recent visit to the Volunteer State.
Amid the Frenzy
That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker is in Atlanta this weekend, where Super Bowl 53 will be taking place. See everyone there!
Stark Contrast
According to Nigel, the Atlanta woods is the perfect place to hang out in a chrome jacket before the big game gets underway.
SEA-NYC
That’s Nice leaves Seattle after a successful trip to see a longtime client. With new offices and expanded worldwide services, this company certainly has a lot to promote.
Lamborghini Heaven
Red Murciélago + Yellow Diablo + White Countach + Blue Gallardo = Supercar Heaven (aka the garage of Lamborghini aficionados Jason and Jamie Jones, who we recently had the opportunity to meet in Ohio).
Bound for Warm(er) Weather
Snow has arrived in the Midwest, where That’s Nice has spent the last few days supporting clients. Now it’s off to Mount Jackson, Virginia for our second facility shoot of the week.
Countach: Check
Nigel Walker meets Jason and Jamie Jones of
Lambostuff.com at their fabulous home in Ohio to talk Lamborghinis. This is the first time Nigel has had the opportunity to sit in a Countach – a poster of which he had hanging on his bedroom wall as a child.
That’s Nice in Cincy
That’s Nice returns to Cincinnati this week to visit a new preclinical testing and biosciences lab that has recently expanded its operations.
Snowy Michigan
That’s Nice is visiting customers in Michigan, where it appears there's more snow on the ground than there has been all season in NYC.
Ending on a High Note
It’s their last night in Asia, and Mark and Wei are back in Shanghai taking in this spectacular view of the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower on The Bund.
Year of the Pig
While in China for business, Mark and Wei had the opportunity to welcome the year of the pig, the last in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
Visiting Bora Pharmaceuticals
We just wrapped a productive meeting and site tour with Bora Pharmaceuticals in Taipei and Zhunan, Taiwan. Looking forward to supporting Bora’s CDMO business with a number of strategic marketing initiatives throughout the year.
Sunrise Over Taipei
Mark Allen and Wei Gao have arrived in Taipei, Taiwan where they’ll be meeting with the leadership team at Bora Pharmaceuticals. Pictured here is the sunrise looking over the famous Taipei 101 building (upper right), the 10th tallest building in the world.
Cleanroom-Ready
That's Nice is visiting Porton Pharma Solutions’ API manufacturing site near Chongqing, China today. Pictured here is our strategy director, Mark Allen, dressed and ready to hit the cleanroom.
Team Dinner with Porton
Mark Allen (left) and Wei Gao (right) visit the striking new bridge at the center of Chongqing while meeting our friends from Porton Pharmaceutical Solutions at the famous Two Swans restaurant. We’re told they did not light up the orange especially for us.
Talking Business with Porton
Wei and Mark’s adventure in China continues today as they visit Porton Pharmaceutical Solutions' Chongqing headquarters and R&D labs.
Shanghai Art Scene
As one might have guessed by his intrigued expression, it’s our strategy director Mark Allen’s first trip to China. Here he is checking out an art exhibit at the hotel in Shanghai.
Just Landed
They made it! Mark and Wei are kicking off a week of discovery with a new That’s Nice client in China.
New York to Shanghai
Accounts Director Wei Gao (left) and Strategy Director Mark Allen (right) are pictured here before taking off for Shanghai, the first of many stops on their week-long business trip to Asia. Mark is having his last meal before being forced to step outside his culinary comfort zone.
Spotted at SFO
That’s Nice is traveling to San Francisco this week for the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference. While passing through the airport, our managing director, Nigel Walker, shared a photo of this sculpture he came across in the arrivals lounge.
Happy New Year from the Walkers
Wishing all of our clients a Happy New Year, courtesy of Nigel, Natsumi, Misaki and Luke Walker.
Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou
Luke Walker, son of That’s Nice managing director, Nigel Walker, says, “Happy New Year!” from Hawaii. Other than the Diamond Head Crater in the background, this photo reminds Nigel of his summers in Cornwall, UK in the early 70s...
Message from Our Founder
Hoping to return from Hawaii with new life and fresh ideas in 2019. I wish all of our clients a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year (from the beach). It’s the first time in 23 years I have not hand-written Christmas cards, but I have typed and emailed 400+ over the past few days (again, from the beach). Cheers, Nigel.
Connecting with Albemarle
It was great to connect with our old friends at Albemarle Fine Chemistry Services, a growth division of Albemarle Corporation, just before the Christmas break. That’s Nice has been working with Albemarle since the early 2000s.
Aloha, Sunshine
Our managing director, Nigel Walker, is headed to Hawaii with his family for the holidays. Rainbows and sunshine are a welcome change from the wintry gray we’ve been experiencing here in New York.
Moving Forward With Marken
Accounts Director
Wei Gao and Managing Director Nigel Walker are heading back to New York after a productive meeting with Marken in Durham, North Carolina. We are pleased to be moving into our sixth year as the agency of record for Marken, a UPS Company.
Growing with Grifols
We look forward to continuing our relationship with Grifols Partnership into 2019, our fourth year supporting the Spanish giant in the sterile bag space.
Visiting Marken
As Wei Gao and Nigel Walker head to NC to see Marken, the global leader in clinical trial logistics and one of our longest tenured clients, we reflect on a year of industry-wide change. The year 2017 saw immense consolidation, and 2018 has brought new alignment across the industry, creating new openings for Marken and its parent company, UPS.
Happy Paw-lidays
Spotted somewhere along Nigel’s travels was this great find, sure to take first prize in any holiday sweater competition. Wishing all our friends and family a warm and ‘meowy’ holiday season.
GSK Year in Review
We’ve just arrived at GSK House in the outskirts of London to conduct a year in review meeting with the pharmaceutical leader and longtime client of That’s Nice.
Visiting Rentschler Biopharma
That’s Nice is in Laupheim, Germany this week to visit Rentschler Biopharma. Rentschler is continuing on its path of growth with the addition of several new senior executive staff members.
Business Lounging
As we make our way to the UK for a client meeting, we’re killing time in the lounge of our favorite airline, Virgin Atlantic. Virgin always has the coolest lounges.
Lessons from the Green
They say the game of golf is 90% strategy. It makes sense, then, that our strategy director, Mark Allen, got his start on the green. In fact, he’s PGA certified, as substantiated by this ‘artifact’ he stumbled upon during his most recent visit to the homeland.
What’s New at GPH
That’s Nice is pleased, as always, to visit the leaders at Gregory Pharmaceutical Holdings Inc. and discuss some of the exciting new projects they have on the horizon.
New Digs in Bristol
One of our main clients is located in Bristol, Tennessee, which means we do a lot of traveling back and forth to the twin city. During our most recent trip, we stayed at the beautiful new Bristol Hotel, a historic, yet boutique style hotel with stunning views of the Appalachian Mountains.
Spotted in ATL
While visiting customers in Atlanta, we came across this striking camouflage-inspired pattern on the airport ceiling as we moved through the terminals. A very creative application using light, monitors and sound.
Escaping the Storm
As an early winter storm continues to slam the midwestern US, That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker is hurrying to escape the flurries after a client visit in Columbus, Ohio. Safe travels, Nigel!
Setting Foot in Columbus
That’s Nice is in Columbus, Ohio this week for the first time in 20 years. Our last visit to the capital city was in 1998 when we helped launch Time Warner’s Road Runner high-speed internet service. Columbus was one of the earliest adopters of the service in the US.
Illuminating Boston’s Seaport
While supporting clients in Boston this week, we couldn’t help but take note of the kaleidoscopic sculptures that have popped up in the Seaport District, adding even more vibrancy to the bustling biotech hub.
Mid-Term Elections
It’s Election Day in the US, with 36 governorships, one-third of Senate seats and all 435 seats in the House up for election. We're in the center of it all in DC, where
AAPS PharmSci 360
also happens to be in full swing.
Spotted in DC
Members of the That's Nice team came across a rather unusual display of standing puppets while attending AAPS PharmSci 360 in Washington, DC this week.
Caught on Camera
Surprise...the 2018 AAPS PharmSci 360 promotional video is out and guess who's smack in the middle of the shot? Our very own Nigel Walker
–
pounding the pavement, of course. Looking forward to seeing everyone next week in Washington, DC!
Green Turned Gold
After their early morning start in Harriman State Park, Nigel and Lucas made their way slightly south to a small community bordering the park, capturing the morning sun shooting across the swampy clearing.
Autumn 'Falls'
On Sunday, That’s Nice photographer, Lucas Visser, and managing director, Nigel Walker, set out on a 5:30am venture to capture one of Harriman State Park’s waterfalls against the backdrop of the emerging fall foliage.
The Graffiti Series Continues
Following Nigel’s graffiti tour of Europe, it’s been determined that Madrid owns the street art space—and that’s coming from a New Yorker.
Street Art in Spain
Following Nigel’s graffiti tour of Europe, it’s been determined that Madrid owns the street art space—and that’s coming from a New Yorker.
Taking Flight
We weren’t expecting to see quite so many hot air balloons Madrid—especially not outside of a royal palace—but as we’ve learned, a balloon ride is a popular (and efficient!) way to tour the historic city
Taking in the Sights
That’s Nice is visiting the Royal Palace of Aranjuez just outside of Madrid before heading back to New York tomorrow.
Día de la Hispanidad
Spain's National Day, also known as Día de la Hispanidad or Hispanic Day, commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Americas. We are excited to witness the day’s celebrations on this post-CPhI Friday in Madrid.
Old World Meets New World
This interesting contrast of 19th and 21st-century Spain was found in Central Madrid—the silhouette of boy on cell phone in front of the Monumento a Alfonso XII.
Umbrellas of Spain
As the weather pattern starts to change and we find ourselves stocking up on rain gear for a sure-to-be-damp fall, Nigel has stumbled upon a far more interesting use of umbrellas while traversing through southern Spain.
Pre-CPhI R&R
Less than a week out from CPhI Worldwide in Madrid, we’re taking a moment to relax and gather our thoughts before the madness begins on October 9th. That’s Nice is ready to hit the ground running at the biggest event of the year.
Remembering The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
With all the traveling he does, one never knows what an ever-curious Nigel Walker might stumble across. Today, it was an original painting of Central London capturing the Diamond Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th anniversary of rule.
Where’s Nigel?
Coming in for landing somewhere over
Calvià
, Spain, Managing Director Nigel Walker is the first member of the That’s Nice team to head to Europe for a series of pre-CPhI meetings. Just one week from today before the pharma industry’s biggest show of the year kicks off!
Nice Views in the Adirondacks
That’s Nice photographer Lucas Visser was recently in Lake Placid, New York, for a fishing trip with friends. He reported fresh air, breathtaking views and no flies, which, according to Lucas, was good and bad. “On the one hand, thankfully there were no flies. On the other, no flies meant no fish.”
Europe, Till We Meet Again
After a few days in Central Europe for business, Nigel is headed back to the States on his favorite airline, Virgin Atlantic. A quick stop in New York to regroup with the team, then it's off to
Madrid for
CPhI Worldwide kicking off October 9th!
Vilnius Old Town
That's Nice is in Lithuania this week to meet with our client, Biotechpharma. But before our morning meeting, we couldn’t resist a nighttime stroll through Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania and a beautiful old medieval city.
Layover in Latvia
That’s Nice is en route to Lithuania by way of Latvia. During a quick layover in the capital city of Riga, we had a bit of time to explore this Baltic city, which sits at the mouth of the River Daugava.
Colors of Fall
With a little less humidity in the air and a few less leaves on the trees, it's officially fall here in New York as well as in Eastern Europe, where our managing director, Nigel Walker, has found himself today. To mark the occasion, Nigel snapped a photo of this vibrant blossom featuring the signature colors of the season.
Back to Paris
That’s Nice is in Paris once again this year, enjoying the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National with clients.
Camo the New Orange
As we spend more time visiting clients in Tennessee and exploring the southern Appalachian Mountains, we’re thinking camo might be the new fall staple—one we may even take back to NYC as a reminder of the fresh air and unadulterated oxygen sorely lacking in the concrete jungle we call home.
Strategy on the Greens
A day of entertaining clients in Tennessee wouldn’t be complete without hitting the golf course. Cattails at MeadowView Golf Course served as the ideal venue on what turned out to be an ideal day for a few rounds.
Pit Pass
After a week of client meetings down south, Nigel decided to extend
his trip a bit to catch the NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway in
Bristol, Tennessee. Pictured here is one of his favorite pit stops—the
Sunoco gas filling station.
Hitting the Course
While in Bristol, Tennessee for business, our managing director, Nigel
Walker, took a quick step off the beaten path to visit “The Olde
Farm,” an exclusive golf course and retreat founded by philanthropist
Jim McGlothlin. Located just outside of Bristol, Virginia, the private
golf club is one of the most highly acclaimed in the country.
That's Nice Visits Gregory Pharmaceutical Holdings
That's Nice is in Tennessee today visiting Gregory Pharmaceutical Holdings (GPH) and its founding members, John and Jeff Gregory. For the past eight years, we have been supporting UPM Pharmaceuticals, a division of GPH, and look forward to learning more about the parent company of our longstanding client.
Heading Down South
That's Nice is visiting customers in the south over the next two days. Our first stop in Atlanta, Georgia is bringing back memories from the 1996 Olympics, for which we designed the US Olympic team crest that the athletes wore on their uniforms. This was done in collaboration with f
ashion designer
Henry Grethel Apparel.
Good People Go Far
Manuel Fernandes, General Manager, Portugal, for Chartwell Actives,
sent us this great group shot from our visit earlier this week.
Judging by Nigel’s hand placement, we’re guessing his thought bubble
might read, “Did I lose my keys?”
Integrated Expertise at Chartwell Actives
While in Lisbon for business, That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker visited Chartwell Actives, an API services company led by General Manager Manuel Eduardo Fernandes. This close-knit team of multidisciplinary scientists is driving the next generation of specialty pharma.
Lots to See in Tricity
While visiting our client in Gdańsk, one of three Baltic cities
comprising Tricity, Poland, the team found time in between meetings to
take in some of the rich history and culture the area has to offer.
St. Dominic's Fair is the largest open-air trade and cultural event in
Poland and a summer staple of Gdansk, attracting tourists from across
Central and Eastern Europe—and on this day, the northeastern US!
Revisiting Lord's Cricket Ground
Back in 1987, That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker worked on the gate at Lord’s Cricket Ground for a summer of tests against various international teams. Thirty-one years later, Nigel returned to the grounds with friend and business partner Haig Armaghanian to see Naple and Holland play in a one-day match.
Biotech Booming in Poland
That’s Nice is visiting the ancient city of Gdansk, Poland, to meet with our customer, Polpharma Biologics. The life science community is growing in this Baltic city on the sea, and with the low cost of living and continued corporate investment, expats are returning home.
Catching Up in the Garden
While visiting London this weekend, Nigel met up with an old friend and business partner, Haig Armaghanian. The two visited the flower nursery inside St. John’s Wood—an interesting find in the middle of London.
Eisbach Wave
While walking through Munich early this morning, we came upon two unusual sights—a 20-kilometer English garden in the middle of the city and some surfers looking to catch what we can only assume was the
Eisbach Wave
.
Allianz Arena at Night
A late-night trip through Munich found Nigel in front of the brightly lit Allianz Arena, the 75,000-seating capacity football stadium that’s been home to the mighty FC Bayern Munich since 2005.
Brain Break in Pompeii
After a marathon week of meetings, Nigel is "taking a half day" for a bit of inspiration at the Pompeii ruins near Napoli, Italy. Mount Vesuvius erupted more than 2,000 years ago, covering the village in lava.
Reaching New Heights with Servier
Nigel Walker and Brian Pierce of That’s Nice joined Servier CDMO’s Gwenael Servant in France this weekend for a journey in his first restored plane.
“Fearless” Flyers
The team had all the confidence in the world hopping into this 1950 North American Aviation T-28 Trojan—that is, until they went airborne.
An American (Jeep) in Paris
Keeping in line with the theme of the weekend, a 1940 “World War II” Jeep was used to extract a series of vintage jets from their hangers as members of the That’s Nice team and one of our clients enjoyed some aerial fun in an airfield just outside of Paris.
Boeing-Stearman Kaydet Trainer
The 1943 model of this historic two-seater was one of
8,584 Kaydets built by Boeing between 1936 and 1944
. The
biplane
, which remained in service until the early 1990s, was widely used by the U.S. Army and Navy as a trainer aircraft. Today, it continues to be flown, on rare occasions, by airplane aficionados like our friend Gwenael.
Taking Flight with Dr. Servant
This 1943 Boeing Stearman “Kaydet” Trainer is being piloted by Gwenael Servant, a longtime friend and client of That’s Nice. We had the opportunity to see Dr. Servant’s passion come to life this weekend when we joined him for some aerial action at a private airfield in France.
That Moment When…
…You find yourself upside down traveling at 550 knots over the French country side. Caption that photo.
Up and Away
A well-prepared Brian Pierce is set for what might as well be a bombing run, as there’s no room for hesitation today. The skills he gained during his time in the Coast Guard seem to be translating well as he takes flight.
Inaugural Flight
Brian Pierce takes off on the biplane's maiden voyage. As the wind begins to pick up, we realize this is no time for amateur hour.
The New Lambo SUV
The Lamborghini Urus is out and, as far as Nigel is concerned, is a must-add to the That’s Nice Lambo portfolio—orange or not.
On Location in Paris
Members of the That’s Nice team are in Paris this weekend for an exhilarating experience with one of our clients. As usual, Nigel Walker is at the ready with the Nikon D5.
Scouting Skyways
Servier CDMO Managing Director Gwenael Servant and That’s Nice Director of Digital Capture Brian Pierce are 30 miles south of Paris scouting an old World War II airfield before taking flight
tomorrow
in Dr. Servant’s first restored plane.
Views
Accounts Director, Partner,
Wei Gao is enjoying the sites and sounds of Paris on his summer vacation. Can you spot the Eiffel Tower?
Nice View
Nigel takes a quick "food-with-a-view" snap at a resort club while on vacation in Hawaii. The first marketing book published by That’s Nice was called
View,
which made this a fitting photo op 23 years later.
Day of Infamy
Visiting Pearl Harbor and being reminded of the loss of life on December 7th, 1941, we are humbled by the determination demonstrated by the service men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.
‘Nice’ Tree
Always on the lookout for a bit of ‘nice’ in nature, Nigel came across this tree while on vacation in Hawaii this week. Unique in shape, size and, of course, color, he declared it a ‘That’s Nice’ tree, which means we could see something similar in a future campaign concept...
Good Morning, Hawaii
Taking in some of the serene landscape along Hawaii’s Waikiki Beach, it’s hard to believe the destruction happening just an island away as Kona’s Kilauea continues to spill lava rivers into the Pacific.
Island Life
That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker made bit of a detour this week to the Hawaiian Islands. As lava continues to flow from the Big Island’s erupting Kilauea volcano, it’s business as usual on Oahu.
First Roses of Summer
A happy garden makes for a happy gardener, and with more than 700 roses in bloom for the first crop of the summer at his Bronxville, New York home, That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker is considerably content.
Enhancing the Pharma Landscape
Trilantic Europe is a mid-market private equity firm with investments across a number of industries, including healthcare. No better way to round out our nine-company excursion this week than with a visit to Trilantic’s offices in central Milan to discuss the growth of the industry.
Innovation in Bloom
It’s the last day of our European travels as we head over to meet with one of the largest API manufacturers in Europe. A main takeaway from our journey has been that innovation is thriving in pharma and biotech worldwide, as the various individuals with whom we’ve met are working to solve some of the greatest challenges in modern medicine.
Continued Expansion of Olon SpA
We’ve landed in Milan for the last leg of our European trip to meet with Olon SpA, a European leader in API manufacturing. With the company’s recent expansion of its clinical API manufacturing capabilities in the US, it’s time to talk strategy.
Quiet in the Arrondissements
It’s a peaceful
Thursday around Paris’ museums as That’s Nice catches up with our longtime client and friend Gwenaël Servant, Managing Director for Servier CDMO.
Bière Artisanale
Grabbing a quick craft brew with lunch before our next client meeting, we opted for the Ambree Porte Doree—a beer Nigel wagers could remove the chrome off a doorknob.
Exploring Paris
We may be Paris for business, but it would be a crime to ignore a photo op in front of the Eiffel Tower, one of the most photographed pieces of architecture in the world.
Steriles Leader Cenexi
That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker met with the Cenexi senior management team in Fontenay Sous Bois, Paris. Following Cenexi’s 2017 acquisition of its world-class steriles facility in the Normandy region, there is much to discuss as the sterile fill-finish leader adds new lines and capacity.
Willkommen in Deutschland
Continuing on our trek through Europe, we landed in Stuttgart to a massive welcome from Bosch. Nigel is hitting the road for Laupheim tonight, a quick one-hour drive south.
Innovation in Progress at Tecrea
Nigel met with Dr. Liam Good, Director of Microbiology for Tecrea LTD, at the London Bioscience Innovation Centre today to learn more about his new nanoparticle technology.
Bobbies of All Sizes
A midday report from London assures us the city's biotechs are hard at work on the next big breakthrough, and its police force is keeping watch over citizens and visitors alike--from all vantage points. Known locally as "Bobbies,"
the London Police force has a tough job with the amount of traffic that comes through the UK's biggest tourism hub.
Central London, Past & Future
Our tour of London’s biotech circuit continues this week as Nigel kicks off the day with Tecrea, an innovative nanoparticle and polymer company looking for new pathways to the drug delivery world. But first, a quick snap in front of historic St Pancras, an architectural contrast to the modern London Bioscience Innovation Centre to which he’s en route.
A Nostalgic Detour
While the world was abuzz with excitement around the royal wedding, That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker was in the UK this weekend for a different reason. But before heading to London for business, he made a quick stop in his hometown of Studham, South Bedfordshire, for a visit with mum.
On the Way to GSK
Even for UK-born native Nigel Walker, there is still new territory to explore as he revisits the country for business. This week, he made his way to the “mother ship” of one of our longest-standing accounts—GSK House in Brentford, London.
Fermentation Across Industries
That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker was in St. Paul, Minnesota this week for a series of visits with some of the area’s biggest innovators, both past and present. Built in 1904, the former Jacob Schmidt Brewery became one of the largest in the nation by the mid 1900s. The building was converted into Schmidt's Artist Lofts in 2012.
Hazy Morning Travel
Masked by the shadowiness of a springtime fog, the sunrise over Stamford, Connecticut provided a picturesque backdrop to the northeastern morning commute, as a mixture of moisture, cool temperatures and hindered sunshine created an almost Impressionist landscape.
Meet me in St. Louis
Director of Digital Capture, Brian Pearce, takes in the St. Louis sun while shooting for a client.
Looking Up in St. Louis
The creative eye is always open to new inspiration, even after a long day of work. Brian Pierce, director of digital capture for That’s Nice, is doing just what his title implies while visiting Forest Park in St. Louis following a video shoot of Alcami’s newest facility.
Silver Tree Sculpture, St. Louis
Anyone who knows That’s Nice knows we have a mild obsession with all things chrome, inspired largely by the eye of our managing director, Nigel Walker. Imagine our delight when we received this photo from St. Louis, where members of our accounts and digital capture team are on site for a video shoot with Alcami, a key That’s Nice account.
On Location with Alcami
Accounts Director Wei Gao and Director of Digital Capture Brian Pierce are on site in Missouri this week shooting Alcami’s new analytical testing lab in St. Louis' Cortex Innovation Community. The new state-of-the-art facility launched in Q4 of 2017.
Florida Heat
It's hot outside! Nigel Walker is definitely not in NY, as he enjoys the 86 degree temperatures while visiting clients in West Florida.
Easy Being Green
Floral aficionado, Nigel Walker poses in front of a wall of vibrant greenery inside the lobby of
“1 Hotel, South Beach.”
Spring Regression
The team at That's Nice woke up to a winter wonderland yesterday, a full two weeks into spring. This photo, furnished by our business logistics manager, Albert Bruan, was taken in Glen Ridge, NJ, where more than 6 inches of snow was reported.
Visiting Market Leaders
Basel is a city full of innovation, with the likes of BASF, Novartis, Roche and Lonza establishing operations in the northern Switzerland city. That’s Nice had the opportunity to visit Lonza’s Basel site, where the organization’s drug product services are conducted.
Swiss Style
The team is wrapping up day two in Switzerland, where That’s Nice traveled this week for business. Before heading back to New York for DCAT week, Mark and Nigel came across an interesting restaurant with what appears to be a Swiss cheese style room divider.
Basler Münster
Even during the quickest of business travel turnarounds, we can still make time to take in our historical surroundings. Built originally of red sandstone in 1019-1500, the famous Münster Cathedral of Basel was converted from a Catholic to Protestant church following the Reformation.
An Office Building of the Future
Standing tall above the houses lining the Rhine River is the new Roche building in Basel, Switzerland, a 41-floor, 178-meter tall high-rise showing the organization's "clear commitment" to its Basel site.
Swiss Chocolatiers
It’s almost game time in Basel, Switzerland, but before the team makes their big pitch, a bit of a pick-me-up is in order. Pictured here is Strategy Director, Partner and newly appointed Master Chocolatier, Mark Allen.
Epicenter of Innovation
Managing Director Nigel Walker and Strategy Director Mark Allen have landed in Basel, Switzerland, a city filled with pharma industry leaders. Is it BASF, Novartis, Roche, or Lonza they will be visiting? Stay tuned!
Basel, or Bust!
Our executive team is heading to Basel, Switzerland for a presentation today, making a quick stop for a layover in Amsterdam. Tulips for all!
The Evolution of Manufacturing
Our clients are in manufacturing, but what has become of U.S. Steel and the origins of U.S. industrial manufacturing from the 1860s? That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker pondered these thoughts after coming across the abandoned Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Bethlehem, PA.
Meeting ACS
Accounts Director Wei Gao and Managing Director Nigel Walker made a quick trip to Washington DC yesterday to discuss ongoing opportunities with the American Chemical Society (ACS), a seven-year active client of That's Nice.
The Shard
As London continues to build new skyscrapers, the character of this European melting pot continues to develop. The Shard opened in 2012 is currently the tallest landmark in the United Kingdom.
Last Stop, London
After a week-long jaunt across Europe for business, That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker made a stop in London for a spin around the city before heading back to New York. For a minute there, he was sure he left his bag in the Tardis.
Royal Palace of Madrid
Nigel is rounding out the week at the Royal Palace of Madrid before heading off to London, his last stop on what has been a whirlwind week of jet-setting across Europe for business.
Plaza Mayor, Madrid
While in Madrid to meet with Insud Pharma / Chemo Group, Nigel stopped by the Plaza Mayor, a beautiful historic square where the royal family lived during the reign of Philip III of Spain.
Talking Strategy with Chemo Group
That's Nice met with Insud Pharma / Chemo Group at the company's Madrid headquarters this week to discuss new business opportunities, including Nice Match.
Creative Inspiration
As That’s Nice works to develop and refine our 2018 creative campaign, the Picasso Museum was a must-stop for some inspiration while in Barcelona, and also a revisit to the subject of Nigel’s dissertation back in 1993.
Visiting Grifols, S.A.
That’s Nice met with Grifols in Barcelona today, a truly disruptive corporation innovating a number of life-saving technologies and products.
SGD at Pharmapack
That’s Nice is meeting with SGD Pharma at Pharmapack 2018, taking place at Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles. If you are attending, come visit SGD at booth D34 to learn about the company’s new vision for 2018.
Exhibition Break
With a bit of a lag in between meetings, Nigel is back at Musée d'Orsay for the second time around. Boasting 173 meters in length, there is still plenty to discover on day two.
Meeting with Servier CDMO
More than six inches of snow fell overnight, providing a picturesque backdrop to this morning’s meeting with Servier CDMO at the organization’s Suresnes headquarters.
La Tour Eiffel
“The Eiffel Tower is ready for some orange.” – Nigel Walker, Founder & Managing Director, That’s Nice.
Parisian Snowfall
After a productive meeting with Novacap, the snow continues to fall on this wintry Paris evening, covering the parks and sidewalks with a glistening blanket of white.
Musée d’Orsay
One of few museums open in Paris on a
Tuesday, the Musée d’Orsay was a must-see for art enthusiast Nigel, as it houses the world’s largest collection of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism pieces.
Centre Pompidou
Thirty-one years after his first visit to the Pompidou Center at Paris’ Museum of Modern Art, Nigel is revisiting the 20th-century wonder with a fresh perspective. Much has changed since 1987, but the museum’s grandeur has certainly endured through the years.
Musée du Louvre
It’s a snowy day in Paris today, and Nigel is spending time between meetings visiting some of the city’s greatest treasures. Naturally, his first stop was the Louvre.
Checking into the French Capital
Nigel is in Paris this week to meet with a new That’s Nice customer. Before hitting the pavement, he checked into the Hilton Paris Opera hotel, a “jewel in the Hilton portfolio,” according to Nigel.
Ciao Milano
That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker is in Europe this week on a series of client meetings. First stop: Milan, Italy.
H-D Museum
Following a client video shoot in Germantown, Wisconsin, Director of Digital Capture Brian Pierce and Accounts Director Wei Gao made their way slightly south for some complementary footage from the Harley Davidson Museum in downtown Milwaukee.
Video capture in the north
Brian Pierce, Director of Digital Capture, and Wei Gao, Accounts Director, visit Germantown, Wisconsin to capture video footage for an online 360º facility tour experience. Hope it’s not too cold, boys.
Visiting Pearl Harbor
The Walker family spent the day at Pearl Harbor, possibly the largest catalyst to the scale of World War II and its ultimate ending. Mono and Tonal were the camera filters of choice, in keeping with the tone of December 1941.
Supporting our Troops in Orange
While in Hawaii, That’s Nice Managing Director Nigel Walker and his family paid a visit to the famous USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor, the historic battleship used for the ultimate surrender at the end of World War II.
Hawaiian Jedi Warrior
Nigel and his family are spending the holiday season on Oahu in Hawaii. Pictured here is Nigel’s son Luke “The Last Jedi” Walker.
Vertical Garden
San Francisco’s Centurion Lounge has done a remarkable job of bringing the atmosphere to life through plant wall design. This display was spotted during Nigel’s recent trip to Hawaii for the holidays.
Federal Equipment Company
Our final customer visit of the year was to used manufacturing equipment supplier Federal Equipment Company in Cleveland, Ohio. Looking forward to continuing our relationship into 2018 and beyond.
Nice Find
Technology may inspire rapid and significant change, but the science behind our greatest inventions endures through centuries. An example of this phenomenon, this 20th century antique Toledo scale was discovered in Atlanta during a recent That's Nice business trip.
Looking Forward with UPM
Nigel is in Bristol, Tennessee today to talk 2018 strategy with UPM Pharmaceuticals, a leading independent CDMO and one of our favorite That's Nice clients.
A Piece of History
On his way to visiting clients in Bristol, Tennessee, Nigel made a stop at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, one of the largest homes in the U.S. and part of the 19th century Vanderbilt empire.
Innovation in Progress
That’s Nice has just arrived back from Colombia after meeting with a new customer, CapsCanada. The team could not have been more welcoming during the five-plant tour, and we are looking forward to their new pharma plant coming fully online in 2018.
That’s Nice in Colombia
After a quick 24 hours in Colombia to check out a new client’s facility, Nigel reports, “there’s lots of marketing to be done” as the company prepares for a new pharma facility set to open in 2018.
Home for the Holidays
After flying 34,000 miles in the last two weeks, Nigel is heading back to NYC for the last four weeks of the year. But not before making a quick stop for some last minute shopping in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo.
"A City Within a City"
Nigel is in Japan this week visiting our client Bushu Pharmaceuticals. He is pictured here at Tokyo's Roppongi Hills, Japan's largest integrated property development.
That's Nice on Safari
Before leaving San Diego, Nigel took a moment to reflect on the week's events with a stop at San Diego Safari Park. Now that AAPS is over, That's Nice is embarking on a two-day strategy session to organize new resources for a push toward $20 million in 2018.
Formulated Solutions
Nigel is in Florida at
Formulated Solutions, a family-owned
company ready to take on new frontiers, with its innovative synergy between product development and manufacturing.
Photoshoot in San Francisco
The That's Nice Design Director, Director of Digital Capture and Senior Project Manager headed west to San Francisco to work on a client photoshoot.
Frankfurt Messe - Night Time
It's the first day if CPhI Worldwide 2017 and we're happy to report there is a lot going on!
Stuttgart, Germany
Nigel Walker is in
Stuttgart, Germany, which is the home of an industry leader. Fall is coming up fast in Germany — leaves are changing and CPhI is closer by the day!
Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
Nigel is enjoying a client visit in Schwäbisch Hall
, Germany.
Dashboard Testing in Raleigh
Before jetting off to Europe, Nigel visited Raleigh for work on two important channels. That's Nice is currently beta testing our
PharmasAlmanac.com
and
NiceInsight.com
dashboard, with four key accounts in the area. After the last few days of testing, Nigel and the team are ready for CPhI where they will have over 60 more demos.
