Remembering Midge Flinn Yost

How do you fully convey in one post how someone you lost has impacted you, your work family and the community? It’s impossible. But Midge NEVER shied away from a tall task. In tribute to her, neither will we.

Midge was part of the fabric of O’Keefe, having been involved with the company for over 30 years. She started as the Director of Video Production during a time when Beta was king. She guided and grew the department, wowing clients and accumulating awards with her creative, out of the box ideas. And when talk of, gasp, digital video and new editing platforms started to gain traction, Midge fearlessly jumped in, ensuring everyone would soon be fans.

To pursue her passion projects, Midge went freelance for a while, still actively collaborating with O’Keefe. During that time, she received an Emmy, among her many accolades.

Luckily for us, Midge came back to O’Keefe full time in 2016 as Creative Director. Her ingenuity was once again on full display as she led beautiful production design and brainstormed with clients to take their events to the next level and inspire audiences across the country.

No matter what stage of her career, Midge’s enthusiasm for production knew no bounds. She viewed each project and every challenge as an opportunity to showcase our talent and try new things. That energy was – and is – infused in us.

She also thrived on seeing her team succeed. She empowered each of us to embrace our gifts and step out of our comfort zones. And, when Midge said she was there if you needed her, she meant it. While her talent and drive ensured her days were full, she always found time to be a supportive ear or an extra eye. When she loved something, her reaction made your day. Who didn’t get a joyful smile hearing her enthusiastic “That looks flippin’ awwwwesome!”?

The word “wanderlust” seems custom made for Midge. Her sense of curiosity and adventure was imbued in her professional and personal life. Having grown up in Maine, she loved exploring nature and documenting wildlife in her beloved Harpers Ferry. In fact, she used her photography and filming skills to help advance conservation and preservation in the area. She also mentored students in the community, encouraging them to pursue their limitless video talents. And, maybe to go after, as Midge would jokingly say, the next “million-dollar idea.”

It’s not fair that Midge is no longer with us. But her spirit, values, and contributions live on in our hearts and our work. As a company, we are committed to honoring her legacy by embodying the principles she stood for: creativity, compassion, integrity, and collaboration.

Thank you, Midge, for being a part of our journey. You will always be remembered as a guiding light, an enduring symbol of what it means to live a life of passion and purpose.