38
1997
Boise, ID
Full-service
20
Underdog
We break the big agency playbook, and the norm that bigger is always better. While others chase headcount, we’ve built a model that prizes senior talent, direct access, and clear thinking over layers of approvals and politics. We stay intentionally small so clients always get the A-team, not a bait-and-switch. We focus on work that actually moves people and the needle. We tear down silos so strategy, creative, and media think together as one team. And unlike agencies that shy away from values, we put ours to work — speaking up when it matters, investing in our community, and using our creative voice for more than billable hours. We leave ego at the door and would rather be underestimated than overhyped.
We’re free to put people first. We hire curious, kind, senior talent and give them room to think and create without layers in the way. Our vibe is collaborative, candid, and scrappy. Clients feel like partners because they actually are. Independence also means we can use our own voice when it counts — speaking up on issues that matter to our people, our community, and the industries we serve. That freedom to live our values out loud makes our culture sharper, faster, and more authentic. The work we make matters because it’s not just client work — it’s a reflection of what we believe in.
Independence lets us work the way big networks can’t. When Idaho needed a statewide workforce development campaign, we built it from research to launch in 75 days on a budget that forced every dollar to work twice as hard. For Idaho Falls Community Hospital, we outperformed national systems by stretching a fraction of their budgets into creative that turned heads and built trust. Scrappy for us isn’t jargon—it’s knowing where to push, where to cut, and how to make limited resources look unlimited.
Stoltz started with three simple principles from our founder: do good work, have fun, and make some money. No grand plan, no corporate ladder — just a belief that great ideas and good people can build something lasting. That mindset still drives us today: keep it simple, keep it human, and let the work speak for itself.
As an independent, our biggest challenge has been getting invited to the larger pitch opportunities. Without a holding company name, we’re not always on the shortlist, or the list at all! Instead of waiting to be invited, we've found other ways in — partnering directly with larger, prestigious brands like Intuit, PayPal, and Winter Park Ski Resort by proving our value through smaller projects, scrappy starts, and relationship-driven wins.
We believe independence will matter more, not less. Clients are increasingly disillusioned with bloated teams, safe work, and the politics of holding companies. The future belongs to agencies that are small enough to be brave, fast, and personal — and bold enough to use their own voice when it matters. Our role is to prove that model works at the highest level.
