By Mic Wilborn
— September 30th, 2025
At the heart of a children’s research hospital’s work is saving lives. Achieving this mission requires not only world-class medical expertise, but also clear, effective communication that keeps thousands of employees in different roles aligned, informed, and engaged.
Wes Milligan, Director of Internal Communication, and Brittney Bryant, Manager of Internal Communication, are at the heart of elevating the employee experience at one of these hospitals and have deservedly been honored with the Poppulo Impact Award. Wes and Brittney transformed digital signage into a strategic, high-impact channel that supports the hospital’s life-saving mission, making it a favorite communication channel for employees. By ensuring that staff across the hospital’s multi-building campus—and even remote employees—receive timely, relevant, and accessible information, Wes and Brittney have helped create stronger connections, better collaboration, and ultimately, a workforce more empowered to continue the organization’s critical mission.
Key Achievements Under Wes & Brittney’s Leadership:
Data-Driven Approach: Wes anchored the transformation of the institution’s digital signage network in data. By leveraging surveys, badge-swipe traffic data, and focus groups, he ensured that every decision—screen placement, loop length, and content mix—was guided by data that could be tracked over time.
Ecosystem Thinking: Rather than treating signage as a standalone tool, Wes positioned it as a vital part of his team’s larger internal communication ecosystem. He introduced a hub-first strategy, where information originates in the intranet and then cascades across channels, including signage, email, and more—ensuring consistency, reach, and relevance.
Future-Focused Vision: Wes planned beyond the present, ensuring signage was built into the design of buildings not yet constructed and laying the groundwork for innovations like location-based personalization and real-time crisis communication takeovers. This foresight guarantees that digital signage will remain a mission-critical channel at the hospital.
From Flyers to Strategy: When Brittney joined the team, there were hundreds of different content contributors posting a variety of content, but that content didn’t have a cohesive look and was more of a collection of flyers than it was a way to promote strategic communication. Together with Wes, she established governance, brand standards, and strategic intent, transforming the channel into a core part of their ecosystem.
Measured Success: Wes’ focus on strategy and employee feedback paid off. In the most recent communication effectiveness survey, the hospital’s digital signage network achieved an 11% year-over-year increase in effectiveness, the largest of any channel. Today, 93% of employees say digital signage is effective at delivering relevant, timely information—cementing its place as one of the institution’s top 5 communication channels.
Expanding Reach and Relevance: The network now spans nearly 100 screens across campus and offsite facilities, strategically placed based on traffic flow and employee badge-swipe data. By tailoring content to both employee and patient audiences, the team ensures messaging is both context-appropriate and impactful.
Integration and Accessibility: Under Brittney’s leadership, digital signage content was integrated into the intranet, extending its reach beyond campus walls. This innovation ensured that remote employees gained the same timely access to updates as their on-site colleagues. By combining data insights with direct employee feedback, Brittney transformed signage into a channel that consistently delivers communication aligned with what matters most to staff.
Future-Focused Strategy: With plans to expand signage in new construction, personalize content by location, and integrate with crisis communication protocols, Wes and Brittney continue to ensure digital signage evolves as a mission-critical channel at the Children’s Hospital.
Reflecting on the award, Wes said, “Strategic planning is our roadmap to make decisions, and data allows us to make the right decisions. The journey toward digital signage success has truly been a team effort, with an unrelenting focus on ensuring everyone at the hospital remains aligned and moving forward with our mission and strategic plan.”
Brittney added, “When we took over the channel, our goal was to make it more than just background noise. We wanted signage to be something employees actually stopped to watch—something cohesive, branded, and meaningful. Hearing directly from employees about what they want has been key, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see digital signage become such a vital part of our communication strategy.”
Ruth Fornell, CEO of Poppulo, commended their achievements, stating, “What Wes and Brittney have accomplished is remarkable. By transforming digital signage into a data-driven, employee-focused channel, they’ve not only elevated communications but also reinforced the hospital’s culture of care and connection. Their work sets a powerful example of how digital signage can be a strategic asset in mission-driven organizations.”
About the Poppulo Impact Awards:
The Poppulo Impact Awards celebrate individuals and organizations that demonstrate excellence in utilizing digital signage to drive value within their companies. This program recognizes innovators who leverage Poppulo’s solutions to achieve significant results and set new standards in their respective fields.