Promotion at Wirestone

It's been announced that Tim Cox has been promoted to Creative Services Manager in the Wirestone Boise office.

He was previously a Producer/Art Director, and has been with the agency since 2004.

Congratulations Tim.

Technorati tags: tim cox, wirestone

Client-Side Job Openings: University of Idaho

The University of Idaho has a couple of marketing-related job openings that are worth making note of:

Senior Director of Marketing - University Advancement: "The Senior Director of Marketing oversees the integrated marketing/communications, brand management, and creative development activities of the University, with special emphasis on the future student, parent, alumni, and donor audiences."

Director of Marketing - Athletics: "The Director of Marketing represents the Athletics Department in all Marketing issues and directs all efforts relating to the exposure and promotion of all aspects of the University of Idaho Athletics programs to all our constituency groups including local groups, state group and national groups."

These two positions were originally spotted on the Pullman/Moscow Craigslist site, but you can also find them on the University's Employment Services page as well.

Technorati tags: university of idaho, senior director of marketing job opening, director of marketing job opening, craigslist

Job Opening - Graphic Designer

Side Door Media in Boise has an opening for a Graphic Designer with 3 - 5 years of agency experience. This could very well be the same position they've advertised in the past, but it could also be something completely new.

Full details about the job can be found here.
(Courtesy of craigslist)

Technorati tags: side door media, graphic designer job opening, craigslist

Coffee Morning Reminder and Location

Just a reminder that this month's Coffee Morning is coming up on this Friday morning, July 25th.

The new location for this month's gathering will be at Thomas Hammer on the corner of 8th and Bannock in downtown Boise.

I've heard from a few people that they will be in Sun Valley for the Idaho State Broadcaster's Association Annual Convention, but to those who aren't making the trip, you are welcome to join us for some coffee and conversation.

Technorati tags: coffee morning, thomas hammer, idaho state broadcasters association

New Hire at Stoltz Marketing Group

Stoltz Marketing Group has added Lindzee Frei to their staff, as Director of Business Development. She replaces Traci O'Donnell, who was recently appointed Executive Director of the Idaho Beef Council.

Prior to joining SMG, Lindzee was Retail Sales Manager at Orca Bay Seafoods in Renton, Washington.

Congratulations Lindzee.

Technorati tags: stoltz marketing group, lindzee frei, traci o'donnell, idaho beef council, orca bay seafoods

Where's That Line Between Reporting and Opinion Again?

Something about the Idaho Business Review's cover story this week about "Greenwashing" just rubbed me the wrong way.

Maybe it's the interviews that seem to end with more questions than answers.

Maybe it's because Simon Shifrin takes a residential developer, and their agency, to task in a thinly veiled 'you're not being open and honest' sort of way about their business motivations. Let's not even get into the quoting (somewhat out of context) from the agency's website, without any actual contact with the agency itself.

Or it could just be the "me too" reporting -- writing about "green" activities, environmentally friendly stories and such is all the rage these days, so if the IBR doesn't cover it, they must be behind the times.

This, my all accounts, is much more of an op/ed piece than business reporting. And I don't think I'm alone in that opinion. Rick Carpenter, Robb Hicken et. al., you shouldn't have let this story out the door the way it was published.

Of course, I could just be way off base. Been known to happen before...

Oh, and by the way Simon, it's Stoltz Marketing Group, not Stolz Marketing Group.

Technorati tags: idaho business review, greenwashing, stoltz marketing group

Quiet Week for the Idaho Ad Agencies Blog

Yes folks, it's going to be a quiet week for the Idaho Ad Agencies blog. Brian is taking a "working vacation" in Oregon this week, so new posts could be few and far between.

We'll return to normal programming next week.

In the mean time, here's a few other sites that might tide you over:

Underdog Effect
Ad Age Small Agency Diary
Silicon Florist
American Copywriter
Adpulp

Technorati tags: idaho ad agencies blog, underdog effect, ad age small agency diary, silicon florist, american copywriter, adpulp

Client Side Job Opening - Front End Web Developer

Access Idaho/Idaho.gov has an opening for a Front End Web Developer. This person should have 3+ years of experience, BA/BS in a related field, and a whole slew of other experience and skills.

Full details about this position can be found here.
(Courtesy of craigslist)

Technorati tags: access idaho, idaho.gov, front end web developer job opening, craigslist

Job Opening - Flash/Web Developer

Just came across another anonymous job opening on the Boise Craigslist, this time for a Flash/Web Developer with an interactive web company in Nampa. From the original post:

We are an interactive web company looking to hire on another full-time developer. Our office is in Nampa and would prefer someone that can physically come to the office on a daily basis.

Skills we are looking for:
Flash Programming VERY IMPORTANT (Must have in depth knowledge of Actionscript programming.)
HTML/CSS/PHP
MySQL/ASP/.NET
Design
Creativity

Full details about the position can be found here.

Update: According to a recent comment, this position is with Curious Media.

Technorati tags: craigslist, flash developer job opening, web developer job opening

Anonymous Job Opening - Graphic Designer

There's an anonymous job listing on the Boise Craigslist for a Graphic Designer. According to the listing:

We are a small company looking for a highly creative graphic designer to join our team. Responsibilities would include creating projects from concept to production, design for websites, company identities, layouts for brochures, etc.

They're looking for someone with 2+ years of experience, full knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite and more. Full details can be found here.

Technorati tags: craigslist, graphic designer job opening

Coffee Morning - the July Edition

After falling by the wayside during June, Coffee Morning in Boise is once again poised to make a triumphant return. Okay, so maybe triumphant is a bit strong, but at least it’s back on the calendar.

The next Coffee Morning is scheduled for Friday, July 25th.

Location is TBD at this point. Java has worked okay as a central location for the past couple of events, but it might be time to mix things up a little. Also, there’s a chance that Coffee Morning will be going on the road – more details about that as they become available.

In the mean time be sure to save some time on your calendar -- 7:30am-ish until 9:00-ish. As always, questions or comments are always welcome.

Technorati tags: coffee morning, java

New Hire and Promotion at Drake Cooper

The folks over at Drake Cooper are mixing things up once again. Among the recent changes:

Josh Mercaldo has joined the agency as an Account Manager.
Megan Godwin has been promoted from Brand Ambassador to Public Relations Coordinator.

Congratulations to both.

Technorati tags: drake cooper

The Hallowed Halls

Yesterday was a one-of-a-kind sort of days for me.

Just over a week ago, I got word that Gary Vaynerchuk was going to be speaking at a Legion of Tech event in Portland, Oregon. For those who aren’t familiar with Gary, he helped grow his family’s retail wine business from annual sales of $10 million to $50 million, went on to start a video blog about wine – Wine Library TV, and is incredibly active in the social media space.

The event took place in the atrium of the Wieden + Kennedy offices in Downtown Portland. W+K should need no introduction. It is a massive building, both inside and out. A unique blend of concrete and wood, the physical space itself is impressive. There are a number of open-air walkways throughout the center of the building, with offices / desks / work spaces / meeting areas around the peripheral edges. It is incredibly cool without trying too hard.

While I was listening to Gary speak (an excellent talk, by the way. If you ever have a chance, you really should see him in person), I couldn’t help but notice all of the activity in the building. It was 7:00 Pacific time before the event even got started, and there were still many people in various parts of the building, working, talking, meeting, etc. And, by the time myself and the other stragglers were finally shuffled out the door, there were still people in the building working. I get the sense that there is a dedication to the work, the company, the clients, and the idea that becomes a part of the W+K culture, and those who choose to (or are lucky enough to) work there, adopt that dedication as their own.

Too often, the end result of all of those long hours is discounted by those who will never know the effort that went into making sure every little detail was perfect, that nothing was left to chance. The end-result of the work quickly becomes the target, often by those with absolutely no knowledge of what went into it behind the scenes.

But there they were, putting in the time to make sure that whatever the task or assignment was, it was getting done.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for W+K the company, and more importantly those inside the walls of the building who make it what it is, and those who have passed through the oversized doors that helped it become what it is today.

Part of the reason that I made the trip was simply for the experience. Odds are I’ll never have the chance to step foot inside those offices again (however if invited, I’d accept that invitation in a heartbeat), but it was absolutely worth it. It was a refreshing change, and a good chance to refocus. If given the chance, I’d do the same thing again.

The question ask you, dear readers is this: Within the scope of your own world, agency-related or otherwise, are you willing to put forth the effort to make sure that thing you are working on is perfect? Or, are you satisfied with less? Are you content to check out at 5:00 every day? How much better would the work be if you spent an extra half hour on it? How much better would it be if you spent an extra hour on it? What drives you, and where do you find that motivation?

Heavy questions, and ones that cannot be easily answered. But if they’re never asked, nothing ever changes.

P.S. Yes Gary, in spite of the way it may sound, I really was paying attention…

Technorati tags: gary vaynerchuk, legion of tech, wine library tv, wieden+kennedy

Embracing Their Awkwardness

Over the past couple of years, I've regularly picked on, harassed, and generally tormented to folks over at Stoltz Marketing Group about their lack of updates to their website.

They finally got sick of me pestering them. Or not.

In all seriousness, though, the folks over at Stoltz Marketing Group have launched the latest and greatest version of the agency's website. In addition to the typical fodder -- capabilities, portfolio and such -- they've also shared some of their unique personality, and a lighter side of the agency with a few candid photos from the staff throughout the years.

You'll have to see the site to fully appreciate it.

Now you're on the hook though, folks. Gotta keep it updated.

Technorati tags: stoltz marketing group

Job Opening - Director of Media Buying

The Boise Craigslist has a listing for a Director of Media Buying. The hiring agency is not named, so the guessing games can begin.....now.

A little more about the job, though: They're looking for someone with 10+ years of experience buying media across several mediums - print, television, radio, online, skywriting, dog shaving (okay, those last two were mine, but you never know these days), who can build and lead a team of media buyers and planners.

More details about the position can be found here.

And yes, I know this has been open for a week or so, and I'm just now getting around to posting something about it. Just the way of things these days.

Technorati tags: craigslist, media buying director job opening