Category: agency news

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News from the North

Advantage Advertising in Lewiston has a new owner.

The Lewiston Tribune recently reported that Michelle Ralston purchased the agency from Charles Christopher.

Ralston, who was previously the agency’s Media Director, will now serve as the agency’s main point of client contact and manage the agency’s accounts. Christopher will remain with the firm.

Advantage Advertising was founded in 1986 by Charles Christopher and Frank Bruneel, of Bruneel Tire Factory, with Christopher taking full ownership in 1987.

The transaction closed on January 1st.

Congratulations to Michelle, and everyone at Advantage Advertising.

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Double digit growth

Over the past few months Drake Cooper has seen notable staff growth, with sixteen recent additions to their team, including:

Kelsie Clegg, Creative Director
Tyler Penner, Designer
Gabe Silva Trevino, Senior Integrated Producer
Lauren Nopar, Project Manager
Nari Bowie, Human Resources Generalist
Dee Marunde, Production Artist
Kara Boonstra, Account Supervisor
Jamie Levey, Senior Copywriter
Mario Bibian, Senior Art Director
Harry Orton, Creative Director
Ginny Guzmán, Creative Resource Manager
Mandy Waldorf Graham, Executive Director of Strategy & Analytics
Amanda Yoon, Senior Strategist
Ben Ducey, Media Buyer
Corina Luna, Account Supervisor
Alyssa Hiller, Designer

New Drake Cooper employees

Mindy Stomp, CEO of Drake Cooper, said about the recent hires, “When I look at these new hires, the diversity of experience excites me. By rough count, these new employees bring experience at 18 recognizable agencies, 32 recognizable brands, and education from eight universities previously not represented at Drake Cooper.”

Congratulations to all.

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Foerstel is now Foerstel+Piper+Martin

Today, the agency formerly known as Foerstel Design revealed their new name and identity: Foerstel+Piper+Martin.

Led by Co-CEOs Laura Martin and Claudia Piper, Foerstel+Piper+Martin is “a colorful mix of creative visionaries, explorers, and strategists! When the sun’s up, we’re crafting brilliance for our amazing clients, hustling to make their brands the next big thing.”

Here’s a sampling of the announcements they’ve shared online today:

Congratulations to Laura, Claudia, and everyone at Foerstel+Piper+Martin.

Looking forward to seeing what’s next.

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Visionkit Studios is executing on their vision for growth

That vision started coming to life earlier this year, with the addition of Stephani Norell as Executive Producer, and Isabel Sarhad as Creative Lead.

Stephanie and Isabel both joined Visionkit back in April (yes, I know I’m horribly tardy on that front). From the release about the hiring of these two talented individuals:

Stephani, with nearly two decades of experience in the industry, has joined Visionkit to lead the expansion of their services to include video production. During her tenure at Drake Cooper and North by Northwest Productions, she has successfully managed numerous campaigns and has gained extensive knowledge and expertise in producing high-quality photo and video content. In her new role at Visionkit, Stephani will be responsible for overseeing the entire production process, from planning and organizing client feedback to final delivery, ensuring every project is executed with precision and excellence.

Isabel’s journey in the field of design started during her time as a Marketing student at Boise State. She was able to leverage internships, coursework and her own personal pursuits in order to immerse herself in the fundamentals of design, internships, elective courses, and personal pursuits, she learned the fundamentals of design. After a two-year stint with the National Student Advertising Competition team, she discovered her passion for the creative side of advertising. Isabel then spent over three years at 116 and West, honing her skills in the ad industry before venturing into a marketing-centric role at Hummel Architects. With her vast experience in creative design, brand design, visual aesthetics, social media design, as well as marketing strategy and brand development, Isabel has now joined the team at Visionkit to offer her expertise.

Learn more about Visionkit, and see what they’ve been up to recently here.

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116 & West went north

And came back with a new agency.

Boise-based 116 & West has acquired Klündt Hosmer, a Spokane, Washington-based agency of similar size that was founded in 1987 by Darin Klündt and Rick Hosmer.

In a statement about the acquisition, Darin Klündt said, “We have worked with thousands of organizations, created hundreds of brands, and guided visual communications for clients throughout the Inland Empire, and we’re excited to offer more robust full-service marketing with the additional resources and experience 116 & West provides.”

Also, from Carolyn Lodge, chief operating officer at 116 & West, “Klündt Hosmer’s design-centered approach, longevity in the market, and value proposition to a loyal client base made them an attractive addition to 116 & West, and Spokane is a city we love and have had roots in for many years.”

The four partners of Klündt Hosmer will remain with the company, as principals, with offices in the historic Commission Building in downtown Spokane.

This marks the second acquisition for 116 & West. As MMG, the agency acquired Davies Rourke in 2009. The newly-combined entity subsequently rebranded to DaviesMoore, which then took on its current 116 & West identity in early 2020.