Category : Thinking

3 Positions.

Rebecca Weiser, Associate Media Director

That’s how long it’s been since I’ve updated my resume.

Two and a half years and three positions ago, I was nervously sitting in the hot seat across from Adam Lutz, Lee Goldstein, and Mark DiMassimo, discussing my future as a member of the Proove Accountable Media team. More specifically, I was anxiously maneuvering the delicate yet obligatory balancing act of all interviews: simultaneously convincing the higher-ups to hire me, while searching them for reasons to leave my big agency world – with its big, sexy clients – and become the fifth employee of DIGO’s startup media shop, Proove.

In my naivety, at the time I was convinced that small agency = limited potential. However, speaking with that power-trio about the growth, strategy, opportunities, and leadership I would be given at Proove opened my eyes to the much fuller, more vibrant picture of what exactly I was considering. What I didn’t realize at the time was that small agencies, especially startups, are the dictionary definition of “opportunity.” That most big agencies have come to operate like Eli Whitney’s cotton gin – each employee is an interchangeable part, a cog in the grand wheel of what keeps businesses afloat and profitable. At a small agency, though, each employee holds so much more importance and weight, and as a result, is valued much, much more highly.

Joining Proove in its infancy meant being able to help build a business from the ground up. It meant to establish infrastructure and process… to actually implement my ideas to revolutionize both the way we do business and how we interact with our clients – without running into any red tape. It meant being directly responsible for the growth of our existing accounts, the quadrupling our team, and the acquisition of new business.

Nothing can compare to the genuine high I feel when I get to promote my employees, when my clients personally thank me for the hard work I’ve done in expanding their bottom line, when I set the process and lay the structural groundwork for how this agency will run for years to come … all experiences afforded to me only because I joined Proove. The only way I can hope to describe this feeling is by pointing to my resume, untouched and still intact from that fateful day in the hot seat.

Two and half years and three positions later – I can confidently declare that I am PROUD to call this place my home…. I’m not going anywhere.

My Oscar Moment

Sarah Block, Director of Public Relations at DiMassimo Goldstein

When I started as head of public relations at DiMassimo Goldstein just five short months ago, my first order of business was to map out a plan to help elevate the agency’s profile. At the top of my list, amid scheduling reporter meetings, mapping out speaking engagements and planning agency announcements, was a submission to Advertising Age’s upcoming Small Agency Award.

DiMassimo Goldstein had never submitted for this award, considered one of the preeminent awards for small agencies in the advertising industry, and I knew this was the type of recognition we needed. Throughout my career, I had helped other agencies take home this industry distinction and knew the potential positive impact it could have on our business.

But I’d only ever submitted my clients for these awards. I’d never submitted one for an agency for which I’d worked. This added a whole new level of pressure… and potential reward. When I learned that we’d been selected as a finalist, ensuring a silver or gold recognition, I was overwhelmed with pride. Gold or Silver!? A Small Agency of the Year!? What?
http://adage.com/article/special-report-small-agency-conference-and-awards/small-agency-northeast-gold-dimassimo-goldstein/294263/

We wouldn’t know exactly what we’d won until the night of the award ceremony, so for the next few weeks, I basked in the glory of the win, whatever it was, and began to make arrangements to send someone to represent the agency at the award ceremony in Austin. Naturally I suggested that either Mark DiMassimo or Lee Goldstein attend, but scheduling conflicts and client priorities prevented either from traveling. So I valiantly volunteered myself to forfeit two days in the office to head to Austin. Hard life, I know.

Would I need to give remarks upon accepting? I had no idea! Would I be photographed with the award? Unsure! Like any New Yorker with her priorities straight, I sprang into action, mentally laying out my acceptance outfit and thinking about what I might say if given the chance. This may be the closest I’ll ever come to winning an Oscar, people! Outfits must be planned and words must be prepared!

Although I traveled to Austin solo, the rest of my team was there with me in spirit, texting and emailing me throughout the evening, requesting updates. “Have you heard yet? How’s it going? What did we win?”

Gold, Northeast Region!!!

Of all the small advertising agencies in the Northeast, a region with highest density of deserving advertising agencies, DiMassimo Goldstein, my new family, was selected as the best. And I was the person chosen to accept on their behalf. A proud moment indeed. Certainly the proudest moment of my tenure at DiMassimo Goldstein, and likely the proudest moment of my career.

The ceremony itself was quick. No time for remarks (phew, I was a little nervous about that anyway!), but I was asked to snap a picture with the managing editor of the publication after I’d accepted our recognition (my outfit shined!).

I was beyond thrilled to share the good news with my colleagues holding down the fort at home, and quickly shot off a few texts before embarking on the rest of the night’s festivities – with the award in tow of course. Like I said, this was my Oscar moment, and I wasn’t going to hide it!

But then the unthinkable happened. Not even a half hour after laying my sweaty palms on the crystal statue, I chipped it! And then I cut myself on the chipped crystal! Oh. My. God. How would I tell Mark and Lee that I broke the award they’d sent me to retrieve?

In the end they were good sports about it, since the recognition is what really matters anyway. And, I’m sure it didn’t hurt that, by the time I got back to New York, I’d already arranged for a new statue to be delivered.

I’m beyond proud to be part of such a talented team that gives me the freedom to do great work on their behalf. And I’m even more proud that that work is achieving tangible results for the agency. But mostly, I’m proud of myself, for finding a renewed sense of inspiration for my industry. Thanks, DiMassimo Goldstein.

The Hardest Thing I Ever Did

Q Choi, Motion Graphics Designer at DiMassimo Goldstein

I was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. I graduated from business school there without aim and worked with no passion. I knew that it was not what I wanted, and decided to study graphic design in New York. I finally moved to NYC in 2009.

I didn’t expect to be working at an ad agency when I graduated from SVA. Now, it has been almost 2 years since I started working at DiGo.

Since I majored in motion graphics, I tried to get a job at post-production or broadcasting companies, and I thought I should. I had freelanced at several studios and broadcasting companies, and enjoyed experiencing the field. However, I needed to get a full-time position at some point due to my visa status. Fortunately, I got a chance to interview with Mark DiMassimo. And he gave me a great opportunity to start a motion graphics department at DiMassimo Goldstein.

Mark and the Creative Director allow me a lot of freedom to create motion graphic pieces — much more than I expected. In the past few years, we were awarded Best In Show at the Financial Communications Society Portfolio Awards, and Silver at New York City ADDY’s. And now, DiMassimo Goldstein was just honored with Small Agency of The Year, Northeast Region in 2014. I am so proud to be a part of all of these.

It’s not just our client work, but our internal projects motivate me a lot as well. We have created agency reels, party movies, chalk wall drawings and holiday videos. These inspire us and keep us fresh.

Additionally, It’s always fun to hang out with DIGO people and they actually help and encourage me a lot. I had a hard time to communicate and speak in English. Especially, I didn’t have the confidence to speak, and it is actually much harder for me to write this blog than designing or animating. These passionate and outgoing co-workers help me to speak more and make the happy hours happier.

DiGo allows me what I want to do and treats me like a family. We have been creating better projects this year, and I’m sure we are going to get more than we’ve achieved.

This is the note I got to write to our team members.

The Best Small Agency In The North East, According to AdAge. You.

Yup, that’s right. Sarah just reported from The AdAge Small Agency Awards in Austin that DiMassimo Goldstein has taken the GOLD for the North East region.

Take a look at a map or globe — that’s a pretty large parcel of real estate!!

This one is really about all of us. All of us together. And the clients too, sincerely. And the great leaders we have built and earned. But mostly the leadership that flows in every direction at our place, up and sideways, and ping pong-like too.

This really is about courage, love, and understanding.

And it really is a story of a leap to greatness.

Not that you should think I’m suggesting we’re there yet, though I don’t question AdAge’s judgement. For myself, I think we’re in mid-leap and we still need all of those values — every bit of them that we can muster — to get where we’re going.

But, we’ll take this encouragement. We’ll celebrate. And we’ll use it too!

I’m proud of you.

Mark

On Fighting Past Failure

Kevin Karp, Associate Creative Director/Art Director at DiMassimo Goldstein

“Alright, what do you want to do?”

I’d spent the last nine months trying to answer the question for myself. Now, the creative director at DiMassimo Goldstein was asking me the same, while clicking through my website half-heartedly. Considering the lack of advertising in my book, it was a fair question.

In the months after my start-up company crumbled, I’d lost a lot: confidence, purpose, direction, and most of the progress I’d made as a self-supporting, high-functioning adult. I hadn’t touched my design portfolio since the first term of the George W. administration, and the only reason I had a meeting with him at all was because he owed a favor to a recruiter. And he was desperate. (more…)

The Comeback Kid

Richard Roberts, Business Development Executive at DiMassimo Goldstein

Zero. That was how much experience I had with advertising before walking through the doors of DiMassimo Goldstein back in April 2013. As a matter of fact, it the was first time I saw the inside of an ad agency other than while watching Mad Men, even though I was already a self-proclaimed Don Draper (could also be the hair or love of skinny ties).

I was interviewing for an “Account Executive” position, but hell, I would have interviewed for a position digging ditches for DiGo, if that’s what it took to get into this industry and more so with this company. The reason I was so adamant about getting into advertising is a story for another blog, but long blog short, I got an offer despite my lack of experience. My lack of experience began to show quickly, and the agency was changing just as fast. A few months later it looked like I was going to be walking out of those glass doors (which I think might look better with ‘Roberts’ added to them as well, just saying) for the last time… a short ride that started after a year of incessant emailing to Mark DiMassimo. (more…)

NYC or Sweet Tea?

Kevin Still, ACD/Writer at DiMassimo Goldstein

I never wanted to live in New York City, frankly the idea sent chills down my spine so cold it froze my southern roots. All I heard growing up was how rude New Yorker’s were because they got mugged every single day.  Plus, where do you even get real sweet tea in New York anyhow?

So, when I received an email from an old instructor and DiMassimo Goldstein creative director about visiting and checking out the opportunity to become a copywriter here, I thought, “Eh it’s a free trip to NYC, but working and living there? Not a Slurpee’s chance Hawaii.”

I have to say, no matter where you’re from; flying over the NYC skyline is breathtaking. You can see and feel the energy, even from the plane. And for the first time in my life, I was greeted at the airport with a driver dude holding up my name on a sign. I felt like kind of a big deal.

When I walked into DiMassimo Goldstein I could feel the energy. The air was electrified with creative excitement, bursting from a sleek and strikingly designed office. Complimented by the ultimate cherry on top: a Ping-Pong table! The next couple of hours were kind of a blur; I met with my potential partner (also named Kevin) and other amazingly creative and extremely talented people. (more…)