Agency of Record
Professional services including, but not limited to, year-round marketing strategy, creative production, media placement, campaign management, email & content marketing, and visual asset coordination. Ability to integrate marketing and advertising with public relations efforts and website content either in-house or alongside other contracted vendors.

Website Rebuild
Professional services including, but not limited to, creative development, design, user experience, SEO, and programming associated with a rebuild and reorganization of visitmccall.org.

Public Relations
Professional services including, but not limited to, media database subscription, pitching, media networking, building journalist database, content creation, press release creation, and soliciting journalists for site visits.

The timeline for the process, according to the Chamber, looks like this:

Timeline:

• RFP Released: March 2, 2026
• Deadline for Receipt of Written Inquiries: March 13, 2026
• Written Responses Distributed: March 20, 2026
• Proposal Due Date: March 27, 2026
• Evaluation Committee Meeting: Week of April 6, 2026
• Interviews (if deemed necessary): Week of April 13, 2026
• Contract Awarded: April 28, 2026

Full details about each of the three RFPs can be found on the Visit McCall website.

Lodge joined the agency in 2005 as a media buyer, when it operated as Marketing Media Group. Over the past two decades, she has guided growth through acquisitions, departmental development, expanded service offerings, and geographic expansion.

“Carolyn has been with our agency for 21 of our 27 years in business; she’s been my partner for the last 14,” said Edward Moore, founder of 116 & West. “The experience she’s gained as our Chief Operating Officer and the tenacity with which she’s worked since day one indicate to me she’s ready to lead 116 & West.”

Kallee Mendonca, Director of Client Services, VP, echoed a similar sentiment. “She has an exceptional ability to anticipate where the industry is headed while holding our work to the highest standards of craft and creativity. Just as importantly, she is deeply invested in her people and committed to mentoring, supporting, and helping each of us grow. There is truly no one better to learn from or work for, and our agency’s continued growth is a direct result of her leadership.”

More details about Lodge’s promotion can be found on 116 & West’s website.

As an aside, Carolyn has been a professional colleague and friend for many years. This promotion is well deserved, and I absolutely expect to see continued greatness as a result.

Congratulations Carolyn.

Media Operations Coordinator

We’re seeking a Media Operations Coordinator to join our media team and play a critical role in keeping campaigns, billing and reporting running smoothly. This role splits time between supporting media billing and accounts payable processes and assisting with the execution, launch, monitoring and reporting of paid media campaigns across multiple channels and client accounts.

As a Media Operations Coordinator, you’ll support the media team by owning key operational and executional responsibilities across billing, campaign launches and reporting. This role is ideal for someone early in their media or marketing career who is highly organized, detail-oriented and eager to learn both the operational and execution sides of modern media buying in a fast-paced agency environment.

Performance Media Specialist

We’re seeking a Performance Marketing Specialist to join our media team and take ownership of performance media including: SEM campaigns, paid media analytics and conversion tracking across multiple client accounts. In this role, you’ll manage campaigns end-to-end, maintain dashboards and reporting, implement conversion tracking strategies and provide actionable insights to improve performance.

You’ll also have the opportunity to support SEO initiatives, including keyword research, audits, on-page optimization and monitoring organic performance. This role provides exposure to multiple platforms, channels and analytics tools and the chance to grow your expertise in digital marketing within a dynamic, fast-paced agency environment. As a performance marketing specialist, you will work with multiple internal teams and external clients from a wide range of industries.

Full details about each position and how to apply can be found through their respective links above.

He shared the announcement of the launch on LinkedIn.

This marks Carew’s second stint as a founder and agency owner. He previously founded Carew Co. in 2007, which operated until its merger with BrandCraft in 2021.

Beginning on October 1, 2025, a new sales tax on services takes effect in Washington. As reported by the Washington State Standard (and republished on the Idaho Capital Sun):

Senate Bill 5814 is one of the biggest moneymakers used to bring in an estimated $3.6 billion over the next two years to fill a shortfall in the operating budget. This law is expected to fuel $1.1 billion in the two-year budget that began July 1, and $2.6 billion over four years. Hundreds of millions of dollars will also flow to local governments, as they get a share of state sales tax proceeds.

Advertising services are among those that will now be taxable, and is expected to bring in roughly $475 million over the next four years, according to the Washington State Standard. Comcast, however, believes the sales tax on advertising services is illegal, and is suing to get it overturned.

The Washington State Department of Revenue issued a release in July outlining details:

Starting Oct. 1, 2025, businesses must collect retail sales tax on advertising services. Additionally, gross income from these activities is subject to business and occupation (B&O) tax under the Retailing classification.

What are advertising services?

Advertising services means all digital and nondigital services related to the creation, preparation, production, or dissemination of advertisements, including, but not limited to:

• Layout, art direction, graphic design, mechanical preparation, production supervision, placement, referrals, acquisition of advertising space, and rendering advice concerning the best methods of advertising products or services.
• Online referrals, search engine marketing, and lead generation optimization, web campaign planning, the acquisition of advertising space in the internet media, and the monitoring and evaluation of website traffic for purposes of determining the effectiveness of an advertising campaign.

Advertising services do not include:

• Web hosting services and domain name registration.
• Services rendered in respect to the following:
  • Newspapers as defined in RCW 82.04.214.
  • Printing or publishing under RCW 82.04.280.
  • Radio and television broadcasting within this state as defined in RCW 82.04 (section 1, chapter 9, Laws of 2025).
• Services rendered in respect to out-of-home advertising, including:
  • Billboard advertising.
  • Street furniture advertising.
  • Transit advertising.
  • Place-based advertising, such as in-store display advertising or point-of-sale advertising.
  • Dynamic or static signage at live events.
  • Naming rights.
  • Fixed signage advertising.
  • Note: This does not include direct mail.

It will be interesting to see what comes of this, particularly the Comcast lawsuit, and how it ultimately affects agencies in Washington. It’ll also be worth watching to see if lawmakers in neighboring states — including Idaho — draft similar legislation in the future, using this model as a source of additional tax revenue.

Both are two year contracts, with the option to renew and extend up to a total of six years.

The Public Relations RFP response is due by October 1st, and the Marketing Services RFP is due by October 7th.

The Idaho Department of Commerce has set up a site to provide background information to potential bidders here: https://commerce.idaho.gov/rfp/

Also, a notable “unique consideration” found in the Marketing Services RFP:

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and the Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) anticipate using this resulting contract. Anticipated annual usage by both agencies is approximately four (4) combined projects, governed by Project Service Orders (PSOs). These projects are generally education and awareness campaigns intended to be proactive about issues, promote new service offerings, and inform scheduled maintenance that will affect visitors, etc.

Good luck to those participating.

Account Coordinator
Boise, ID

The primary area of responsibility for this position is to provide support to the agency’s largest account, as well as day-to-day management of the agency’s various accounts. This includes providing administrative assistance and coordinating internal workflow, including maintaining a high level of awareness and organization of client activities, detail-oriented project management, and professional communication with key client contacts as needed.

The individual who fills this position must be driven and exemplify strong leadership qualities, be able to work in a fast-paced environment, handle stress well, multitask, and fit into the agency culture. This position is designed for quick growth, so the ideal candidate will come in hungry for opportunity and willing to put in the work for it.

Graphic Designer
Boise, ID

We are seeking a Graphic Designer who is passionate about strategic marketing and thrives in a fast-paced, results-oriented atmosphere. As part of the creative team, the graphic designer works on design and production for a wide variety of marketing solutions including print, TV, radio, digital campaigns and website design.

The graphic designer works independently on assigned projects, or as a member of a project team and directly with client services, to complete design requirements. The graphic designer reports to the creative director, with supervision from the art director.

Knowledge of production processes, with experience using digital illustration and layout software including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and other industry design and production software; reasonable drawing skills; printing processes and specification; paper specification; ink specification; familiarity with typestyles, type design and type specification; stock photography; computer retouching and image manipulation; art direction of original photography skills are desirable.

Full details about each position and how to apply can be found through their respective links above.

I left this site unattended for a while. It’s been pretty quiet, and there’s been no shortage of other things going on. You know, life and whatnot.

But in my absence, it seems some nefarious folks managed to weasel their way in, post some things they shouldn’t have, and generally cause a little havoc.

For those who may have seen any of that nonsense, apologies.

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.

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

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.

The Idaho Lottery Commission has issued a “Request for Proposal for bids from responsible, responsive, and experienced advertising and marketing firms interested in providing advertising creative services,” according to a recent press release.

Details of the RFP are available on the Idaho Lottery’s website.

Respondents have until 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time on Friday, April 12, 2024 to provide the Idaho Lottery with written proposal submissions.

Director, Creative Services, Post-Production

Join Boise State’s talented team of creative services professionals as a Director of Creative Services (Post-Production) in Athletics. This position will be responsible for overseeing the video post-production needs across all varsity sports and supporting areas, including the management and oversight of digital content creation for the purposes of revenue generation and overall marketing of the department. Strong technological and innovative abilities are vital. This position will also act as the primary contact for any post-production needs of Bronco Football and will be in charge of production shoots, including intro videos and specialty features.

Creative Services Manager

Join our team at Boise State University as a Creative Services Manager! As a manager in our Communications and Marketing department, you’ll lead a team of creative professionals in producing high-quality graphic designs, photography, videography, and written content for both print and digital media. With your strategic mindset and leadership experience, you’ll balance leading and doing through management of workflow, assignments, and strategy while ensuring brand compliance and driving innovative marketing campaigns. If you’re ready to make an impact in a dynamic environment and collaborate with talented individuals, apply now to elevate our creative direction to new heights!

Associate Director, Advancement Communications & Marketing

University Advancement is growing! Join Boise State’s talented team of development professionals as our Associate Director for Advancement Communications & Marketing. This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of creating the best culture of philanthropy and alumni engagement of any public university in the country!

Full details about each position, how to apply, and other relevant information can be found in the respective job listing links.

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.

We are looking for a Senior Copywriter/Conceptor to join our Creative Team. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, knows the ins and outs of the advertising business, and can write both short-form and long-form content. You will be responsible for generating impactful headlines, helping to conceptualize innovative ad campaigns, and create compelling stories for B2C and B2B clients.

Full details about the position and how to apply can be found here.

Creative Resources Manager

Account Manager

Media Buyer

HR Generalist

Account Supervisor

Full details about each position can be found via their respective links above.

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.

There were shenanigans, shameless self promotion, and a lot of ‘show’ to the awards show. A few highlights from the evening:

Duft Watterson took home Best of Show for their Idaho Transportation Department Motorcycle Safety campaign.

Duft Watterson, SOVRN, and Lovevery also won Regional ADDY awards, in addition to their respective Gold Rockies.

Kate Holgate of Stoltz Marketing Group was the recipient of this year’s IAF Silver Medal Award.

Congratulations to everyone who took home hardware at the end of the night. There’s a lot that goes into creating award-winning work, and I have long held the belief — and still do to this day — that the talent in, and the work coming out of the state of Idaho is just as good as what comes of larger, more recognizable places.

Some pictures and video others shared from the evening:

A full list of winners should be available on the Boise Advertising Federation’s website in the near future.

Graphic Designer

Art Director

Account Coordinator

Account Manager

Full details about each position and how to apply can be found through the respective links above.

Separately, they’re also accepting applications for their Unrestricted Internship program.

For those who aren’t familiar with the award:

The IAF Silver Medal Award is presented annually by the Idaho Advertising Federation to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to advertising by advancing the industry’s standards, demonstrating creative excellence, and promoting social welfare.

Following receipt of nominations, the IAF Board of Directors selects a regional panel of Idaho judges to review nominees based on the criteria that follow. Only one Silver Medal is awarded each year, and judges may elect not to award the Silver Medal in any given year.

The Silver Medal winner is announced at the annual Rockie Awards Banquet hosted by the Idaho Advertising Federation. The recipient’s name is listed with other winners throughout the nation for presentation to the National Conference of the American Advertising Federation.

More details about the award, and the nomination process, can be found on the Boise Advertising Federation’s website.

Nominations for this year’s award must be submitted by Friday, March 10th.

No matter the reason or motivation, here are a couple openings we’ve come across recently that might help point you in the right direction.

Account Coordinator at Drake Cooper

UX/UI Designer at 116 & West

Learn more about the openings and how to apply through their respective links.

Also, subscribe to The Good Jobs Report, a newsletter for Boise-area engineering, design, product management, and marketing jobs published every other week by Loren Morris.