New year. New hires at Drake Cooper

Screwball headline aside, Drake Cooper started off the new year with two senior-level additions to their staff: Colleen Morgan, who’s joining as Sr. Graphic Designer and Susan Becker, joining as Brand Manager.

From the post on Drake Cooper’s site about their new hires:

Colleen Morgan

Colleen MorganColleen brings over 16 years of design and advertising goodness to Drake Cooper. In that time, she has lived in the agency world as well as both corporate and non-profit sectors while honing her skills in branding, design and creative strategy. In that time, she has lived in the agency world as well as both corporate and non-profit sectors while honing her skills in branding, design and creative strategy. For a designer, her right and left-brain are surprisingly balanced.

Susan Becker

Susan BeckerSusan brings over fifteen years of marketing experience to her role at Drake Cooper, seven of those being with Portland-based Columbia Sportswear. As the promotions operations manager for Columbia she developed sponsorship programs with partners including NBC’s 2002 Winter Olympics, ESPN’s XGames, Sundance Film Festival, and The Discovery Channel. Since moving to Boise in 2008 Susan’s roles have included marketing manager at BOB Trailers, sponsorship manager with The Exergy Tour, and various consulting roles for businesses in the area.

From the ‘things we missed in 2013’ file

Scott Peyron & Associates is no more.

And now that some readers have had a small cardiac incident, let me clarify. They have not gone out of business or closed up shop.

They changed their name.

The firm, which had been known for years as Scott Peyron & Associates, is now Peyron Strategic Communications. From their release last fall about the name change:

Public relations and marketing expert Scott Peyron today introduced a new identity for his two-decade Idaho agency as Peyron Strategic Communications. The company continues to represent Fortune 500, technology, natural resources and travel leaders in driving awareness and business within selected target groups.

In addition to the name change, Peyron has also grown their staff with two new additions and the promotion of a third. Ed Vining and Jessica Hunt joined the firm as Client Team Media Relations Leader and Client Team Coordinator and Digital and Social Media Program Leader, respectively. Additionally, Noelle Lovern was promoted to Client Team Leader.

New Creative Director and Digital Media Producer at Stoltz Marketing Group

Ward Duft

Stoltz Marketing Group in Boise recently added two new faces to its staff: Ward Duft as creative director and Bill Doty as digital media producer.

Ward DuftIn his new role at SMG, Duft will oversee the agency’s creative team in the development of campaigns and concepts for clients in a variety of industries, including construction and building materials, insurance, healthcare, foodservice, consumer packaged goods, agribusiness, resort/travel, financial services, higher education, and more.

“Ward brings more to the table than just creative ideas,” says Ken Stoltz, president of SMG. “He delivers a unique blend of strategic insights and creativity and inspires others to do their best work. We’re all looking forward to the growth and success he will help us achieve.”

Prior to joining SMG, Duft served as creative director at Magner Sanborn, located in Spokane and Seattle, where he developed integrated campaigns for national, regional, and local clients and helped the agency earn Ad Age’s 2012 West Coast Small Agency of the Year. He’s also worked for agencies and companies in San Francisco, Atlanta, and Seattle for brands such as Eddie Bauer, Intel, Westin Hotels, Disney, Nordstrom, and Birkenstock. Duft received his undergraduate degree from East Carolina University and studied post baccalaureate at Duke University and Seattle’s School of Visual Concepts.

Bill DotyBill Doty joins the agency as digital media producer. Prior to SMG, he worked for Turner Broadcasting for three years, writing and producing content for digital media and television. During his career he’s been a featured producer for Funny or Die, Adult Swim, Comedy Central, and Fox Network. He’s written for The Onion, Broken Newz, Yahoo!, AOL, and National Lampoon, working in markets such as Los Angeles, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and New York. Doty studied communications at Fresno State.

Congratulations to both.

Disclosure

New hire at Oliver Russell

Mitch Kuhn

Oliver Russell in Boise continues to add to its staff, little by little. Most recently, graphic designer Mitch Kuhn.

From our friends at Oliver Russell:

As a graphic designer, Kuhn will develop engaging visual solutions for interactive, print, and motion graphics projects. Prior to Oliver Russell, he worked for AHM Brands in Eugene, OR, where he served as the lead designer on U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials and Hop Valley Brewing Company, among others. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, majoring in advertising with a minor in gender studies.

“Mitch is a real find. His work is advanced well beyond his years,” said Russ Stoddard, Oliver Russell President and Founder.

And while we know that he’s been there for a couple of months already, we still say congratulations Mitchel.