Job opening: Operations Assistant/Office Manager + HR + Culture

DaviesMoore in Boise has an opening for an Operations Assistant/Office Manager + HR + Culture. From the job description on their website:

The OPERATIONS ASSISTANT/ OFFICE MANAGER will assist the COO in the agency’s day-to-day operating activities and will need to be versed in a variety of industry concepts, practices, and procedures, relying on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.

With involvement in Human Resources and Culture, the operations assistant will manage the administration of all HR activities and policies, and direct implementation of policies, programs, and procedures.

This person will work closely with members of the DaviesMoore management team to support goals and culture that ensure the success of DaviesMoore.

Reports to the COO

Responsibilities:

  • Ensure maintenance of a clean, healthy office environment for all personnel, and maintain an attractive office appearance for visitors and clients.
  • Answer all phone calls and email inquiries in a friendly but professional manner, and forward all inquiries to the appropriate staff members promptly and smoothly.
  • Inventories office supplies and purchases what is necessary upon approval from COO and director of finance.
  • Restock kitchens each Monday with new groceries and supplies.
  • Communicate regularly with management team to ensure that office needs are met.
  • Interview, screen, and, on approval of COO, assist in the hiring of agency support personnel. Manage employee onboarding process once applicant has been hired.
  • Advise management and employees on HR questions and concerns.
  • Establish and oversee agency records and maintenance procedures to ensure all business operations information is correct and readily available.
  • Oversee OSHA regulations as they apply to the agency, ensuring requirements are met and employees are aware of such requirements.
  • Assist the director of finance with operational duties including file management, building management and various tasks as assigned.
  • Monitor programs and provide feedback on the organization’s culture and work with partners to determine actionable steps toward desired culture.
  • Work with partners to design and develop and implement programs, communications, events, workshops, etc. for leaders, managers and team members that creatively and authentically reinforce our unique values and culture.

Full details about the position and how to apply can be found in the original job listing.

Big boulder in a little pond

You’ve seen it. And probably done it more than once. You’ve picked up that big, heavy rock and heaved it into a pond.

First there’s the big splash.

Then the ripples spread. And spread.

Ripples in water

As we rolled into 2018, the boulder dropped with the seemingly abrupt departure of Ward Duft and Jill Watterson from Stoltz Marketing Group.

Shortly thereafter, a new player emerged in the Boise agency game, and at least two other shops have been pulled into the fray.

The first ripple: Stoltz Marketing Group

The departure of Duft and Watterson left an obvious hole at the top of the agency, as they represented two-thirds of the new leadership announced in the summer of 2017.

The vacancy was short-lived, however, as SMG recently announced that Jaime Ekman has taken the helm of the company as president and COO. This marks Ekman’s second go-around with the company originally founded by her father, Ken Stoltz. She most recently spent the past eight years with Castor & Pollux, now a Nestle Purina brand.

Shortly after taking the reins, Ekman appointed Kate Holgate creative director, and announced that Crissie McDowell will be rejoining the agency as associate creative director. Holgate has been with SMG for 16 years, progressing from art director to associate creative director and now to her current role. McDowell rejoins the agency, having been an art director from 2006 to 2015.

The second ripple: Duft Watterson

Shortly after their departure from Stoltz Marketing Group, Duft Watterson emerged as a new addition to the agency lineup in the Treasure Valley.

According to their website, Duft Watterson is led by Ward Duft as co-founder, CEO and creative director, and Jill Watterson as co-founder, COO and head of client service. Joining them are two other former SMG colleagues, Marc Cowlin as director of content and digital, and Tony Hart as associate creative director.

Rounding out the Duft Watterson team is designer Madeleine Godwin, Kesey Badgett handling branding and digital, accounting specialist Talia Spencer, and Lisa Cloyd as account manager.

Duft Watterson is based in Boise, and also has a presence in the San Francisco bay area.

The Oliver Russell connection

How does Oliver Russell factor into all of this, you ask? The answer, of course, lies in the moves outlined above. At the end of her first stint with Stoltz Marketing Group in 2015, Crissie McDowell departed to join Oliver Russell, where she’s spent the past three years as a senior art director.

The DaviesMoore association

Similarly, DaviesMoore factors into the drama, as Lisa Cloyd spent a short stint with them as director of client services, before joining Duft Watterson in January.

The rest

Time will tell what — if any — other fallout there will be as a result this shakeup in the Boise-area agency scene. Is there more to the story? Most definitely. But those are details that are best left to the parties involved to share (or not share) as they see fit.


On a personal note:
As some may know, I spent several years at Stoltz Marketing Group, and have worked with many of the people mentioned here. That being said, I’ve done my best to be as impartial an unbiased as it relates to these changes. Hopefully it came across that way.

 

New hire and promotion at Oliver Russell

Oliver Russell recently added a new face to their team, and promoted another.

Brandon Stoker

Brandon StokerBrandon Stoker joined Oliver Russell as a graphic designer. He brings experience in app design, paper goods, branding, illustration, video editing, print design and sculpture. He’s helped clients like Yard House, Olive Garden, Scholastic, Boise State University, Corkcicle, Full Sail University, as well as a string of startups. Most recently, Brandon worked as a Junior Art Director at Push, a digital creative agency based out of Orlando, Fl. He also spent nine years at Apple, teaching customers how to use Apple products and gaining valuable insight into the mind of the American consumer.

Shawna Samuelson

Shawna SamuelsonShawna Samuelson has been promoted to Account Services Director. Previously, Shawna worked as a Senior Producer at Oliver Russell. In the new role, she will apply her 10-plus years of client experience to handling all aspects of contract execution, managing the agency’s account services team, and playing a greater role in business development. Shawna graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2006.

Rizen Creative adds project manager

Becky Inglis has joined Rizen Creative as project manager, according to a recent update from the Idaho Business Review.

Prior to joining Rizen, Inglis worked as a marketing co-op specialist at Balihoo, where she was responsible for managing client co-op marketing campaigns for national advertisers, and has also held positions at HP and Scentsy.

Drake Cooper has added to Andrew Piron’s title

Andrew PironLast month, Drake Cooper announced that Andrew Piron has been named President and Chief Operating Officer. He’ll lead Drake Cooper’s team of employees in both the Boise and Seattle offices, with responsibility for management and operations, and will report directly to the agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Jamie Cooper.

Piron, who joined Drake Cooper in 2016 as COO, picks up the addition to his title from Jamie Cooper, who now serves solely as CEO. Cooper will focus on leading the agency’s vision for creativity and innovation, as well as continuing to be a key advisor and strategist for the agency’s clients.