Jun 24, 2022

FUELING GROWTH: LAUNCH ADDS CREW TO LEADERSHIP TEAM

Award-winning brand strategy and creative agency builds on momentum, promotes three to principal.

Two decades ago, partners Diane Seimetz Duncan, David Wilgus and Michael Boone set out on a mission: deploy their years of marketing experience working on high-profile national and international clients to help new brands successfully achieve lift off, and guide mature brands back to the success they once enjoyed. They named the business Launch because it perfectly fit what they wanted to build, a creative company able to give innovative businesses the strategic thinking and creative firepower to launch or relaunch successfully.

And soon after its own launch, the burgeoning agency had built a star-studded roster of dotcoms and startups, including Match.com, Hotels.com and Paris Las Vegas; as well as high-profile relaunches – among them restaurateur Phil Romano’s eatZi’s Market & Bakery, and retail giant Sam’s Club.

Today, Duncan, Wilgus and Boone are making room at the helm for three new principals: Group Creative Director April Steinbach, Account Director Jason Giles, and agency Controller Ray Ives.

Left to Right: Ray Ives, April Steinbach, Jason Giles

“We have always believed – and reinforced to clients – that launching is not just for startups. It’s a mindset. Something you do every day, evolving and innovating your way to the top,” said Diane Seimetz Duncan, Principal and Creative Director for Launch. “Expanding our leadership capabilities with key talent like April, Jason and Ray is putting that deeply held belief into practice in our own business.”

April Steinbach is on her second tour as a Launcher, starting in 2004 as senior copywriter and returning in 2018 as Group Creative Director. She brings with her extensive digital and mass media experience from BBDO/Organic and TM Advertising, leading campaigns for American Airlines, AT&T, Bausch + Lomb, Community Coffee among others, and earning recognition from Communication Arts, Graphis, The New York Times, Muse by Clio and the American Advertising Federation. April currently heads creative efforts for Baylor Scott & White Health along with new business initiatives.

Jason Giles, Launch employee #2, has been with the agency since the doors opened over 19 years ago. Coming to the shop with a strong background in retail, service businesses and automotive, Jason was key in helping longest-standing client, Park Place Dealerships, grow to a more than $2 billion luxury brand powerhouse. He has also been instrumental in new business, and has led strategy and growth efforts for Baylor Scott & White Health, the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas, since the client joined the roster in 2017.

As the newest addition to the senior leadership team, Controller Ray Ives, lends nearly 30 years’ experience to the agency’s financial and business operations. The USC grad spent more than 17 years at San Antonio-based Bromley and Associates, where he served as Finance Director and Chief Financial Officer during his tenure. Prior to that, he was Senior Financial Analyst at DMB&B, and most recently at Publicis Groupe’s Spark Foundry, NYC, where he was SVP Finance Director.

“We feel very fortunate to have the caliber of talent, integrity, loyalty and work ethic we have in April, Jason and Ray,” said Michael Boone, Principal and Account Director for Launch. “Each has already earned the respect and trust from peers, partners and clients. With the promotion to principal, we are just formalizing the role, and look forward to leading alongside them in the years ahead.”

Jan 24, 2020

Can’t Launch without a Boost

Recognition in the workplace comes in many forms, a high-five or simple thank you. Here at Launch, we show our appreciation by giving “boosters” with our own Bonusly program that invites team members to give each other booster points whenever they’ve created outstanding work, had a great presentation or simply helped to do something outside the norm. When Launchers post a Bonusly booster “shout out” via Slack, everyone in the agency sees it and piles on the praise.

Account Supervisor, Megan Lucy, thanking her team for their hard work.

Principal Diane Seimetz tells us how the program was introduced to the agency and what it has done for the culture.

What gave you the idea to introduce Bonusly to the agency?

My daughter was working for a company that offered a similar program. I could see how excited she was to receive appreciation from her peers and management, and I started looking into something similar for us.

How many different options did you look at before deciding on Bonusly?

Three different programs were considered. The one we ultimately went with was a start-up at the time, and I’m always drawn those. I reached out to the CEO, and we had a really good conversation about the company mission, and his vision for the organization. They aligned closely with our own, making us a good fit.

What do you like most about Bonusly?

The ability to customize is a great feature. We were able to name the program, “Boosters,” in keeping with our rocket/Launch theme. The company offers a catalog of rewards (Starbucks cards, big-box retailers, specialty stores, etc.), but we are also able to modify to include local favorites as well as charities, where employees can donate their points. The program also integrates perfectly with Slack, our collaboration software platform.

Use Boosters to redeem Australian Red Cross donations, Starbucks and Amazon gift cards, and more.

What do you think Bonusly has done to the culture at Launch Agency since being introduced?

Launch is already a family culture; people genuinely care about each other and want to make the agency a better place together. These small tokens – “micro-rewards” – have cultivated the practice of “noticing” extra efforts or a job done especially well and providing the opportunity to show meaningful appreciation for them. It also allows leadership to recognize those who go above and beyond in real time, versus waiting months (or years!) for a performance review.

A last-minute scramble to get our work submitted to the ADDYs resulted in several Bonusly shoutouts.