The Advantage is You + AI: Inside Our 2026 Company Offsite
Every other year, we pull everyone out of the day-to-day and into the same room. This year, that meant almost every one of our remote teammates getting on a plane to join us at Red Rock Casino Resort in Las Vegas for a full day of planning, learning, and building together.
The theme was The Advantage Is You + AI. It builds on the goal we set at the start of the year, AI + Me = Greater Productivity: people drive the work, and AI helps them move faster. The offsite was our chance to put that idea to work, live, as one team.
We planned it the way we work
AI was part of this offsite before anyone walked into the room. We used it across the planning process, from shaping the event branding to designing the afternoon challenge to drafting the communications that kept everyone informed.
But AI didn’t plan the offsite. People did. AI gave us more options, faster, and our team made the calls. It’s the same balance we ask of ourselves every day.
Heather Y., Executive Assistant, led the charge on planning and facilitating the day. Here’s what she had to say regarding her process:
Everyone in one room
56 teammates, 16 of them remote, together in person. Flexible and remote work is part of how we operate, and we value it. But some conversations land differently face-to-face, and some working relationships only click once you’ve shared a table.
Robert J., a remote Software Developer Team Lead, said:
It was great to get to know other teams better, especially outside of the Development Department. The best part of the trip was spending time with all the people at Red Dog! We have great people!”
Same room, same information
We opened with our quarterly company meeting, held live and in person. We reviewed what Q3 delivered and laid out our priorities for Q4, so everyone heard the same results at the same time, with the chance to ask about them.
Next, the 14 teammates who attended an AI conference in August shared what they learned with the rest of the company. We covered their early takeaways in Beyond the Buzzwords: What Our Team Has Learned About AI. The short version: prioritize by value, not novelty, and make it safe to experiment.
Then Bryce L., our CEO, led an open town hall. Teammates asked what was on their minds, and Bryce answered them directly. That kind of transparency is how a high-performing team stays aligned.
Off the Leash: two hours, one clock
The afternoon belonged to Off the Leash, a challenge we built from the ground up for this offsite. Teams had two hours to find a new opportunity in performance paid search, either by strengthening a vertical we already serve or by expanding into a new one.
The structure was tight. Brainstorm. Pressure-test. Define the brand and the offer. Build a live landing page or app. Then pitch it in two minutes. Every team also had to show its thinking: keywords organized by search intent, sample ads, a campaign structure, and rough economics showing why the math could work.
AI was every team’s collaborative partner. It brainstormed, challenged assumptions, and helped build. But the rule was simple: AI generates, humans decide.
Teams scored each other on problem clarity, creative use of AI, real-world impact, whether the idea actually came to life, and presentation energy.
The Memory Wall
We wanted to capture the day in our team’s own words. Cards on every table asked teammates to finish one of three prompts: their favorite thing about Red Dog Media, the moment they knew it was the Last Place You’d Want to Work, or their best memory here.
While the cards came in, a live artist sketched them into a Memory Wall poster that now hangs in our office. One answer showed up more than any other: the people.
What would you tell a friend about?
“Breakfast and lunch every day, made in-house by our amazing chefs.” — Anonymous
“The people are great. We solve problems together.” — Robert J.
“People are really passionate and motivated about their work. It makes me excited to come in every day.” — Anonymous
“My team has my back. They’ve shown me more than once that they’re in my corner.” — Jacob P.
“I love how much our company invests in our growth, with access to all the AI tools and courses.” — Heather Y.
Why would you never want to leave?
We call Red Dog Media the Last Place You’d Want to Work because we’re building an employee experience so good you’ll never want to leave. Here’s what keeps our team here.
“Everyone, from peers to leadership, is supportive and invested in your growth, both personally and professionally.” — Anonymous
“The flexibility, from an awesome office setup to the benefits, PTO, range of projects, and autonomy.” — Anonymous
“Honestly, it’s my teammates. The company is full of truly great people.” — Randy O.
What’s a memory that still makes you smile?
“Trying my first dirty soda with my new teammates. Now I’m a proud member of the Friday Dirty Soda Club.” — Leslie P.
“A couple of years ago, a bat somehow made its way into our building. It was truly entertaining watching our team problem solve in a new and unexpected way in order to safely and successfully coax the bat back outside where it belonged.” — Anonymous
What a championship team looks like
The day ended with the people who make the work possible. Teammates’ families joined us at Red Rock’s VIP Bowling Alley. The people at home support the work we do every day, and it was good to thank them in person.
A championship team isn’t one that never disagrees. It’s one where people know each other’s strengths, challenge ideas without making it personal, and move fast because they trust each other. Days like this are where that trust gets built.
We came back with clear Q4 priorities, a handful of ideas worth building, and stronger connections across every team. That’s the advantage: talented people, the right tools, and each other.
