Okay, a slight exaggeration.

Still, for the first time in JLB history, we've got two interns working for us at once.

For the past four years, we've tried to throw a bone to our younger counterparts, offering a summer internship to that ambitious, qualified college student. And this past winter, we even had a six-week winter intern (Charlie, aka Stewart) roaming the wooded floors of JLB HQ.

But this summer, we knew we needed more than one person could offer. In fact, we were looking for applicants to help with FranklinIs.com and to help in our graphic design department. The competition for both positions was pretty tough, but in the end, we think we found the right two.

Meet Candace and Lauren. Those who read our blog faithfully (thanks, Mom) already have. That's because C and L just posted their first entries to our blog, in the last couple of weeks. But for those not in the know, I want to call your attention to two, bright, recent college grads, who in four weeks have demonstrated superb ethic and creativity and have already added tremendous value to the work we do.

If you happen by the cottage on FoNo this summer, be sure to give a shout to the newbies. But if I know them, they'll probably beat you to the punch.

Two weeks after graduating from The University of the South, I packed up my belongings from home in Charlotte, N.C., and moved to Nashville. I started my internship with JLB WORKS on the second day of June, and continue to be fascinated and eager to learn everyday.

There are countless things that I have done as an intern at JLB. I have spent a lot of time writing articles, taking pictures at events and updating FranklinIs.com. It has been a lot of fun, and my enthusiasm for the website has probably begun to bother my friends. I also had an amazing opportunity to write nine articles for the Williamson County Fair Guide. It was a challenge because of my lack of experience with county fairs (and magazine-style writing in general), but I ended up being able to connect my personal experiences to the experiences of fair competitors.

I have also had the privilege to work with the creative minds and self-proclaimed "people of action (aka action figures)" at JLB. I was apprehensive about interning for such esteemed individuals with unimaginable superpowers ... possibly this is where my psychology degree could come in and somehow I could warp their minds!

It turned out that mind games were not the superheroes weakness, but they are terrified of insects, spiders and the like. I quickly figured out that my superpower was being able to ward off tiny, eight-legged creatures and squirming cockroaches. So, I am happy that I have a superpower to contribute, even if it is killing the insects found crawling around the offices.

I am really looking forward to the second half of my internship and the challenges ahead.

Hi. I'm Lauren Carlton – a newlywed, a new resident of Nashville, and the newest member of the JLB family. As the graphic design intern, my role is to tackle design jobs, work through problems, and basically do what I am told.

While working towards my bachelor degree in graphic design, I fell in love with print design and everything about it. As weird as it may be, I love creating page layouts! So what am I doing working for a company that does mostly web based design? Believe it or not, print and web design go hand in hand. I know, I was skeptical at first too, but after I had tackled my first website design for JLB, my eyes were opened to a world of possibilities. I began looking at the computer screen the same way I look at a magazine layout.

Though there are certain parameters and limitations when working with the web verses print, many principles are the same. As a designer I can still apply my knowledge of line, shape, color, and texture. The page should be balanced, have a visual hierarchy and be unified with its secondary pages. And unlike print design, web design creates an environment where the viewer can be an active participant through choosing what information they want to see. It's up to me to create a web page that draws the viewer in and to predict what he/she wants to see. Web design is still fairly young, but graphic design principles are constant.

They say that you learn more your first year out of college than you did the past four years in the classroom. In the few short weeks that I have been here, I have learned about business, about print and web design, and have discovered countless Mac keyboard shortcuts. Most importantly I have discovered a new area of design I enjoy creating. Though page layout is still my first love, I have actually developed a little crush on web design.

On a sweltering summer afternoon, clients and guests came out to support JLB and see the finishing touches to the office.  If you haven’t had a chance to see our building, you should stop in sometime.  JLB WORKS, LLC is located in the former Clark home. 

Special care and detail went into making the historic home into a creative work space and office for our team.  Debra Bibb, our interior designer and JLB Director of Acquisitions did a fantastic job with the office. 

It was quite an afternoon with delicious food from Constant Craving Caterers and decadent cheesecakes from Aux Choux, guests mingled and shared in the JLB excitement.  Talking with guests and clients, I was overcome with gratitude for them. 

What an honor it is to have such amazing clients that will come out in 90+ weather and celebrate with JLB on our business and location.  I walked away from the Open House hot and tired, but joyful and thankful for the support that you, JLB clients and friends showed us that day.  Thank you for supporting us and allowing us the opportunity to work with you.  It is truly an honor.

It was a long time coming.

That's probably how Dorie Bolze and her crew at the Harpeth River Watershed Association (HRWA) felt by the time we finished the development of their new website.

In truth, it had taken us a little longer than usual. But the site the HRWA wanted was actually a pretty tall order. See, the HRWA's old site was completely HTML-based. And there were a TON of pages.

So, Team JLB not only had to conceive of a stunning graphic design, but we also had to wrap it inside a very functional, dynamic management system. The CMS du jour? A little Nashville ditty known as SiteMason.

HRWA had heard of this nationally renown CMS (content management system) before coming to JLB with its task list. Team JLB has worked with SiteMason on several projects before (Sewanee - The University of the South, Decatur Heritage Christian Academy and The Williamson Herald, to name a few). So everyone was happy. Now the fun part - building the site.

After honing the graphic design with precision, Team JLB coded a solid CSS-based XHTML layout for the Web pages. Then, we wrapped the design into XSL, SiteMason's preferred dynamic programming language. Using a few SiteMason tools, like the Page Builder, the Custom Form and the News Publisher, we delivered a highly functional site that allows HRWA reps to update and create content on the fly. The best part? No one on the HRWA staff needs to know any "technical" code. And no one needs any additional software.

In fact, the HRWA can access its management system from any Web browser in the world on any computer in the world (as long as they remember their login info). And updating text and images is as easy as knowing how to use Microsoft Word. The interface is that simple!

One more thing - for kicks - Team JLB added a fully functional slideshow to the home page of the site. Now HRWA reps can update, with relative ease, the photos that fade in and out there. No need for Photoshop or Flash or any other cumbersome development program. It only takes a couple of clicks to upload an entire photo album from the HRWA's hard drives to their Web server.

Is the HRWA pleased with their new site?

"THANK YOU for all of your hard work on our new Web site. It is just beautiful!" writes Dorie Bolze, Executive Director for the Harpeth River Watershed Association. "If you would like a testimonial for your Web site from us, let us know. We’d love to be listed as one of your satisfied clients."