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At Minneapolis-based advertising agency Olson + Co. Inc., everyone is a champion.
Employees, no matter what their rank, no matter what their job title, are encouraged to express their ideas.
"We're very respectful to people's roles when it comes to the daily grind of producing work and making things flow well in the business," said Cindy Olson, co-owner and art and design director. There is a sense of dignity, where everyone - even those at the highest level of the company - is held accountable to be considerate and respectful. And, contradictory to what has been written about the agency, working there isn't just about fun and games.
In 1992, Olson and husband John, president and CEO, started their agency with two employees. Boasting a growth of 500 percent in the past six years, the Olsons recently snatched two senior-level partners from Carmichael Lynch. Kevin DiLorenzo came on board last fall as managing director and senior vice president. Brian Kroening started in June as executive creative director and senior vice president. And the firm hired its 60th employee while this article was being written.
It's important to the Olsons that during the interview process, potential employees understand they will work hard and that synergy is key. If an employee isn't passionate about working and does not insist on being the best, he or she doesn't stay around very long.
"We grew from the bottom up as a grass-roots company, nurturing talent," John Olson said. "But because this isn't the easiest...